The #1 Ball in Golf

[Fore_Man]

was built on Callaway golf technology

Anybody else on the Callaway email list? Did you just get that email? hehe made me laugh.

NOTE: See below... Avatar was nice enough to post it here for those who are not on Cally's email list.

[mat562]

What's that old saying?

 

Something about counting chickens..? Before something..?

[robb01]

I laughed when I saw that

[codylowrygolf]

Don't forget Bridgestone. They actually won the law suit. We'll see with Callaway. Either way people are figuring it out that Titleist is not the end all. They will continue to loose market share in coming years. I hope they have a strategy in place.

[tpariff]

What's so funny about it? Titleist released its "fact sheet" and Callaway released something of its own. Regardless of what either of the companies say, the courts will determine the outcome.

 

Kevin

[Fore_Man]

PM me w/ your emaill address... I'll FWD it to you..

 

Hasn't the jury already spoken???

[jaskanski]

I couldn't care less if they (proV's) were invented by the Avon lady. Would the knowledge of this have any effect an either the ball or my game? Nope.

And even if they did infringe someone else's copyright, would they perform any different? Nope.

Does any court ruling prevent me from using balls that I purchased over a year ago? Nope.

Am I concerned over the long term future of any brand of balls? Nope.

Do Callaway get on my t*ts just a teensy bit? You bet.

[tpariff]

PM me w/ your emaill address... I'll FWD it to you..

 

Hasn't the jury already spoken???

 

I have it and read it. I didn't see anything funny about it.

[Fore_Man]

not sure why you're so bitter. I play ProV1 and I thought the approach of the email was humorous as it seems to have intended to be. Wah.

[cyberious]

Actually wouldn't title of the thread be more accurate if you said The #1 Ball in Golf, was built on Spaulding golf technology, (which was purchased by Callaway golf to avoid being sued, then based on ideas from the guy who originally designed the ball for Spaulding while he was working for Titleist. And since Callaway can't innovate their way into market share with a superior product have to sue for market share.)

 

OK a bit wordy but you get the point.

[tpariff]

not sure why you're so bitter. I play ProV1 and I thought the approach of the email was humorous as it seems to have intended to be. Wah.

 

Bitter? :ok: Take it easy, dude. I could care less if Titleist wins or loses because I haven't played a Titleist ball in two years or longer. I play Bridgestone, TaylorMade and Callaway.

 

I still don't see how Callaway's release is "funny". Here's the release from Callaway's website:

 

"You may have heard about the recent federal court injunction barring the sale of Titleist Pro V1 golf balls in the United States beginning in 2009. There are a lot of questions out there, and we want to give you the straight story from our perspective. What does Callaway Golf have to do with this injunction and what does it mean to you, the consumer? In a nutshell, we believe the court victory described below shows that the Pro V1 golf balls were built on Callaway Golf technology. In fact, after hearing all the evidence, a federal court has ordered Titleist to stop selling the infringing golf balls effective January 1, 2009. Read on for the details.

 

What is the injunction? This is a legal ruling that validates and protects Callaway Golf’s proprietary, patented golf ball technology. A federal court has issued a permanent injunction to block the manufacture and sale of infringing Titleist Pro V1 family of golf balls by Acushnet and by participating retailers. As a result, the infringing Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls cannot be sold by retailers in the United States after Jan. 1, 2009. At the request of Callaway Golf, the federal court has allowed professional golfers to play current and past model Pro V1 golf balls through the end of the current calendar year.

 

When did this happen, and how long is it in effect? The ruling, issued Nov. 10 from the United States District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, grants Callaway Golf's request for a permanent injunction to stop the sale of Acushnet's infringing line of Titleist Pro V1 family of golf balls. In an earlier concession in the case, Acushnet admitted that it infringed our patents. In its November 10 ruling the Court also rejected Acushnet's request to overturn a December 2007 jury verdict that found Callaway Golf's golf ball patents were valid.

 

Why does this matter to Callaway Golf? Callaway Golf has some 1,130 U.S. patents and more than 2,100 worldwide patents; in 2007 alone, the Company was granted 94 U.S. patents. Callaway Golf vigorously defends its technology and inventions against infringement.

 

"Callaway Golf has invested millions of dollars in research and development to create innovative products for millions of golfers around the world, and has protected those products with one of the broadest patent portfolios in golf," said Steve McCracken, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Callaway Golf. "We are very pleased with the Court’s decision which will stop the sale of these infringing Pro V1 golf balls. We believe in and encourage vigorous competition in business and on the golf course, because it helps create better products and better golfers, but we also believe in playing by the rules."

 

What happens now? Acushnet recently announced that it has converted its production facilities to make an interim version of its existing Pro V1 golf balls that, Acushnet asserts, do not infringe the Callaway Golf patent in issue in the current lawsuit. Callaway Golf is examining those interim golf balls to determine if they violate any Callaway Golf patents. Acushnet has also announced it will appeal the trial court’s rulings."

[InTheHole]

Didn't Titleist already announce a stop in production for the current line and a new line of ProV1 and ProV1x due out in early 2009 that does not use any of the disputed technolgies?

 

I know I read that somewhere.

 

How does this affect my current stock of balls which I found on the golf course?

[e-dog9]

This is mean spirited by Callaway, and quite frankly dumb. Honestly, its like the rooster taking credit for the sun coming up. Cally bought Spaulding/topflite, and got propritary rights to ball technology.

 

Hey, thats how it works, if they make a good ball I'll play it, but they should tone it down!

[tpariff]

This is mean spirited by Callaway, and quite frankly dumb. Honestly, its like the rooster taking credit for the sun coming up. Cally bought Spaulding/topflite, and got propritary rights to ball technology.

 

Hey, thats how it works, if they make a good ball I'll play it, but they should tone it down!

 

This is the stuff I don't understand, and I'm not taking a shot at you. But why is it "mean spirited" or spiteful, etc. if a company defends its intellectual property by suing a company or person who violates it? Callaway paid good money for a troubled company, and that purchase included all patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc. Why shouldn't they defend themselves and their property, whether purchased or developed? Bridgestone did, and they won. I just don't see why Callaway is being blasted for defending its property.

 

The court system will determine if they have a viable case.

 

Kevin

[fridsdotcom]

Actually wouldn't title of the thread be more accurate if you said The #1 Ball in Golf, was built on Spaulding golf technology, (which was purchased by Callaway golf to avoid being sued, then based on ideas from the guy who originally designed the ball for Spaulding while he was working for Titleist. And since Callaway can't innovate their way into market share with a superior product have to sue for market share.)

 

OK a bit wordy but you get the point.

 

 

Well said my friend...completely agree

[Jay4]

Thanks, this is interesting information... I bought a dozen of PROV1X last week.

[Togatown22]

in my opinion, it's just slightly cheesy the way Callaway is positioning this.

analogy:

Guy inherits millions of dollars from a long-lost relative. Guy buys a huge house, buys a few nice cars, and starts to act and talk about how 'successful' he is with all his new rich buddies.

 

I don't think it's wrong at all for them to defend themselves legally. It's the way they are thumping their chests to the general public that could be considered annoying.

[e-dog9]

This is the stuff I don't understand, and I'm not taking a shot at you. But why is it "mean spirited" or spiteful, etc. if a company defends its intellectual property by suing a company or person who violates it? Callaway paid good money for a troubled company, and that purchase included all patents, copyrights, trademarks, etc. Why shouldn't they defend themselves and their property, whether purchased or developed? Bridgestone did, and they won. I just don't see why Callaway is being blasted for defending its property.

 

The court system will determine if they have a viable case.

 

Kevin

 

Kev. note there are two ideas behind my post. The second being, they should defend everything they own, thats life, thats business, thats competition, and thats why balls keep getting better and better, it sounds like we agree on that.

 

My first point about being mean spirited, and the rooster, was more a reflection on the tone of certain parts of their announcement. I mean, wheile they talk about the millions in R&D, they are silent on the millions spent on Purchase & Sale that really made this possible.

 

 

Honeslty, I have no problem with how they are trying to open up the premium ball market, but they did not invent the "Golf Ball".

 

Not that people would know on this string, but I've also criticized Tity prov1 commercials for their pompous tone. Their commercial with all the tour pros showing their ball bug me, their commercials about what makes the ball good are perfect. Thats me, I get bent out shape about little things like that.

 

Anyhow, cheers.. I wonder what the ball tity responds with will be like.

[gregcindyh]

I would think that 98% of the general golf public will still buy Titlrist balls. Most people don't even really know or care about what happened! I'll buy whatever I think works best for my game.

[littleeasy]

What's funny to my mind is that Titleist make a ball with Callaway technology and its STILL a superior ball than Callaway can make :D

 

Titleist's follow up email shot titled "We had to manufacture the #1 ball in golf coz Callaway couldn't"

[MG 1977]

I belive the rule 35 was the 1st non wound multi core ball which most Patents refer to in the case?

 

I play Pro V1X and I will be stocking up on this years model as I fear that it might take Titleist a year or two to get back to where the 2008 ball is.

[Sean2]

Here is the email I received with picture:

 

Serious golf companies are just as competitive with one another as serious golfers. And when we push each other to create superior products, the technological leaps that result help all golfers play better. It’s no secret that the Titleist® Pro V1® is the most popular golf ball ever. What is not widely known is that after Titleist admitted its Pro V1 golf balls infringed various Callaway patents, a jury found those patents valid, and a federal court has now ordered Titleist to stop making and selling infringing Pro V1 and Pro V1x® golf balls after January 1, 2009.

 

We will continue to push the performance of golf balls, and we look forward to competing head-to-head with original ideas. Because that’s good for all golfers.

 

For more information, visit CallawayGolf.com.

[e-dog9]

I won't quibble Cally is correct. But that strident tone is going to bother more people than it brings in.

[TM golf guy]

I think it is funny. I personally prefer the Cally ball anyway. Some of you guys defend the Pro V like it is your child. Titleist has the strongest mafia around. I don't care what anyone says about Scratch guys being bad, we don't hold a candle to the Titleist supporters.

[Big A HG]

Here is the email I received with picture:

 

Serious golf companies are just as competitive with one another as serious golfers. And when we push each other to create superior products, the technological leaps that result help all golfers play better. It's no secret that the Titleist® Pro V1® is the most popular golf ball ever. What is not widely known is that after Titleist admitted its Pro V1 golf balls infringed various Callaway patents, a jury found those patents valid, and a federal court has now ordered Titleist to stop making and selling infringing Pro V1 and Pro V1x® golf balls after January 1, 2009.

 

We will continue to push the performance of golf balls, and we look forward to competing head-to-head with original ideas. Because that's good for all golfers.

 

For more information, visit CallawayGolf.com.

 

 

Stuff like this will only make me despise Callaway more than I already did before the lawsuit ever came about. They should start marketing their ball retriever (yes, they have one). Then they could at least maybe have a chance at being the "#1 Ball Retriever in Golf"

[jaskanski]

I think it is funny. I personally prefer the Cally ball anyway. Some of you guys defend the Pro V like it is your child. Titleist has the strongest mafia around. I don't care what anyone says about Scratch guys being bad, we don't hold a candle to the Titleist supporters.

 

Careful. You might wake up in bed with the head of your Scratch wedge cut off....

[e-dog9]

I kind of like Nike's ball advert this year, how many majors has your ball won. Not that playing a nike from time to time has helped me qualitfy for the Masters or US Open! :man_in_love:

[InTheHole]

Just because it infringed on Callaway's (purchased) patents does not mean that that technology is sufficient to make the ball. They may have used several of the patented ideas and then added other production steps to the process.

 

So while the balls may infinge on the patents, it is interesting that Callaway could not create their own ProV1.

 

If Titleist can substitute different production steps for the Callaway patents, they'll wind up with the same ball in a non-infringing way.

[alcap26]

I personally love the Cally response to the Titleist "fact" sheet. Way to go Callaway.

[Totti]

I couldn't care less if they (proV's) were invented by the Avon lady. Would the knowledge of this have any effect an either the ball or my game? Nope.

And even if they did infringe someone else's copyright, would they perform any different? Nope.

Does any court ruling prevent me from using balls that I purchased over a year ago? Nope.

Am I concerned over the long term future of any brand of balls? Nope.

Do Callaway get on my t*ts just a teensy bit? You bet.

 

 

Titleist 905T 9.5* UST V2 Stiff 66g

Titleist 980F 15* Graffalloy Prolite Stiff

Titleist 690MB 2-iron (not-dot)DG S300

Titleist 690.MB (dot) 3-PW DG S300

Vokey Black Nickel 54* (10* bounce) DG S200

Vokey Black Nickel 58* ( bent to 59* with personal grind) DG S200

Scotty Cameron Newport Mil-Spec (33" - 350g)

Titleist S-82 staff bag

Titleist ProV1

 

Bias.