TRUE TEMPER INTRODUCES SHAFT LAB™

Memphis, Tennessee - May 15, 1996 - This month, True Temper will introduce a revolutionary new shaft fitting service called Shaft Lab™. Shaft Lab is a computerized swing analyzer designed to match a shaft’s flex properties with an individual player’s swing profile. Specially designed vans will transport Shaft Lab to golf courses and facilities across the country giving golfers the opportunity to see their personal swing profiles and to select the shaft that will maximize their distance and accuracy. Shaft Lab was developed over a two year period and has logged over 2800 swing profiles from both professional and amateur golfers.

Each golfer will receive a one-on-one session with the Shaft Lab technician who will monitor the golfer with a specially instrumented golf club. As the golfer hits range balls, a computer reads bending data from the club and computes actual downswing time, peak club deflection, clubhead droop, kick velocity, and lead/lag at impact. These parameters have a direct affect on clubhead speed and the position of the clubface at impact, two keys to maximizing distance and accuracy. The computer compares the golfer’s unique swing profile to the bending properties of hundreds of True Temper shafts to determine the shaft that will maximize performance for the golfer. A customized report includes the golfer’s swing profile, an explanation of shaft loading, a prescription for True Temper shafts, and a list of OEM clubs using those shafts.

True Temper is the largest producer of golf shafts throughout the world and is consistently the number one shaft used on the PGA tour -- bypassing all other shaft companies combined.