Titleist

Image:975D Driver by Terry McCabe.jpg.]]

Philip E. Young, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded Titleist in 1932.{{cite book|last1=Echikson|first1=William|title=Shooting for Tiger: How Golf's Obsessed New Generation is Transforming a Country Club Sport|date=2009|publisher=Public Affairs|isbn=9781586485788|url=https://archive.org/details/shootingfortiger0000echi|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/shootingfortiger0000echi/page/69 69]|quote=titleist + 1932.|access-date=May 22, 2018}} When playing a round of golf with his dentist, Young missed a sure putt that seemed to be caused by the weight of the ball. He then asked his dentist friend to X-ray the ball and the film showed that the rubber core was off-center. After this initial discovery, Young took X-rays of more golf balls and found that most were poorly constructed with off-center cores and prone to erratic shots. This inspired Young to produce his own line of golf balls, which would become known as Titleist.{{cite news|last1=Fry|first1=Erika|title=The Maker of Titleist Golf Balls Failed to Impress Wall Street|url=http://fortune.com/2016/10/28/titleist-golf-balls-acushnet-ipo/|access-date=May 22, 2018|publisher=Fortune|date=October 28, 2016|archive-date=May 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523172429/http://fortune.com/2016/10/28/titleist-golf-balls-acushnet-ipo/|url-status=live}}

In 1930, Young developed a machine that could uniformly wind rubber string around a rubber core, making a "dead center" golf ball. He named the ball "Titleist," noting it was the "winner" of the quest to create the best for the game. The golf division of the Acushnet Process Company produced the Titleist golf ball in 1935, which became the company's most successful product.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

In 1948, Titleist introduced "Dynamite Thread" to increase the yardage of their balls. A year later, Titleist became the most used ball at the U.S. Open Tournament.{{Cite web|url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/us-open/us-open-news/95959titleist-1-ball-usopen-95959|title=Titleist mark 68 years as the most played ball at the US Open|last=Monthly|first=Golf|date=June 17, 2016|website=Golf Monthly|language=en-US|access-date=October 2, 2019|archive-date=October 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002180732/https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/us-open/us-open-news/95959titleist-1-ball-usopen-95959|url-status=live}}

Titleist was purchased by American Brands (later renamed to Fortune Brands) in 1976. In 1985, American Brands sold off the Acushnet Company's Acushnet Rubber division, which was Acushnet's original business (circa early 1900s).{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}

On December 8, 2010, Fortune Brands announced that it would soon sell or spin off Titleist and some other brands.Aaron Smith, [https://money.cnn.com/2010/12/08/news/companies/jim_beam_titleist/index.htm Jim Beam, neat, is company's new strategy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002092606/https://money.cnn.com/2010/12/08/news/companies/jim_beam_titleist/index.htm/ |date=2020-10-02 }}, CNN Money, December 8, 2010.[https://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20101208-903042.html?mod=wsjcrmain Fortune Brands Announces Intent to Separate Company's Three Businesses], The Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2010.[http://newssun.suntimes.com/business/2746214-420/brands-business-fortune-golf-includes.html Fortune Brands to split into three companies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164053/http://newssun.suntimes.com/business/2746214-420/brands-business-fortune-golf-includes.html |date=July 16, 2011 }}, Lake Country News-Sun, December 9, 2010. It was then announced on May 20, 2011, that a Korean group associated with Fila Korea, Ltd. and Mirae Asset Private Equity would purchase Acushnet for $1.23 billion in cash.[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-20/fortune-brands-to-sell-acushnet-to-fila-for-1-23b.html Fortune Brands to Sell Titleist Golf Unit to Fila Korea for $1.23 Billion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231627/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-20/fortune-brands-to-sell-acushnet-to-fila-for-1-23b.html |date=2013-12-30 }}, Cotten Timberlake and Lauren Coleman-Lochner, Bloomberg, May 20, 2011.[http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/may/20/acushnet-be-sold-fila-korea-123-billion/ Acushnet to be sold to Korean group led by Fila] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523055437/http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/may/20/acushnet-be-sold-fila-korea-123-billion/ |date=2011-05-23 }}, Gene Yasuda, Golf Week, May 20, 2011.[http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/business/chibrkbus-fila-plans-to-buy-fortune-brands-acushnet-golf-unit-20110520,0,3685245.story Fila set to buy Fortune Brands' golf unit for $1.2B] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523163445/http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com/business/chibrkbus-fila-plans-to-buy-fortune-brands-acushnet-golf-unit-20110520,0,3685245.story |date=2011-05-23 }}, Dow Jones Newswire, May 20, 2011.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/20/ap/business/main20064933.shtml Fila takes swing at golf biz with Titleist buy]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, CBS News, May 20, 2011.

Image:Titleist Pro v1 golf balls.jpg.]]

The Pro V1 ball made its debut on the PGA Tour at Las Vegas on October 11, 2000, the first week it was available to the pros. A longtime Titleist user, Billy Andrade, won that first tournament with the new ball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story?id=1255790|title=2000 Invensys Classic at Las Vegas results|date=September 27, 2001|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=October 2, 2019|archive-date=July 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723161959/https://www.espn.com/golf/story?id=1255790|url-status=live}} The Pro V1 was available to the public by December. The Pro V1 was a dramatic change in innovation for the golf ball market as a whole and for the brand, which had traditionally used a wound-ball construction (with a liquid-filled core center) for its top-of-the-line golf balls.

Shortly after its introduction the Titleist Pro V1 became the most played ball on the PGA Tour and has been for the past 20 years, picking up the most worldwide wins from both direct brand ambassadors (meaning they play Titleist equipment) and players who are not directly under contract and considered brand ambassadors from Titleist.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/6664-Titleist-overwhelmingly-trumps-ball-count-at-PGA-Championship|title=Titleist overwhelmingly trumps ball count at PGA Championship|website=WorldGolf.com|access-date=2011-09-28|archive-date=2008-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201155732/http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/6664-Titleist-overwhelmingly-trumps-ball-count-at-PGA-Championship|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thetourvan.com/ |title=Home - THE TOUR VAN |access-date=2011-09-28 |archive-date=2011-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015131808/http://www.thetourvan.com/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://3jack.blogspot.com/2011/06/61011-golf-ball-data-pga-tour.html|title=3Jack Golf Blog: 6.10.11 Golf Ball Data - PGA Tour|first=Rich|last=H|date=June 11, 2011|access-date=September 28, 2011|archive-date=April 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424231345/http://3jack.blogspot.com/2011/06/61011-golf-ball-data-pga-tour.html|url-status=live}} Three years after Titleist's initial breakthrough with the Pro V1 came the Pro V1x, a ball with 60 fewer dimples. The combination of a larger firmer core, a thinner cover, and 60 fewer dimples resulted in a ball that retained the same soft feel of the Pro V1 while reducing spin and increasing distance.{{cite web|url=http://www.worldgolf.com/products/titleist-pro-balls.htm|title=Golf Equipment - Golf Clubs - Putters - Golf Drivers|website=WorldGolf.com|access-date=2011-09-28|archive-date=2008-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008033101/http://www.worldgolf.com/products/titleist-pro-balls.htm|url-status=live}}

In December 2007, Acushnet lost a patent infringement suit brought by Callaway.{{cite news |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/14/sports/NA-SPT-GLF-Callaway-Acushnet-Suit.php | title=Callaway wins patent infringement suit over Acushnet |publisher=International Herald Tribune |date=December 15, 2007 |access-date=November 21, 2008}} The following November, Callaway won an injunction in a Delaware court, ruling that sales of the Pro V1 golf balls must be stopped from January 1, 2009, with professionals being able to continue with their use until the end of the year. Acushnet immediately announced that they would be appealing the decision.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2008-11-11-calloway-patent_N.htm |title=Callaway wins court order to halt sales of Titleist's Pro V1 golf balls |publisher=USA Today |date=November 12, 2008 |access-date=November 21, 2008 |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218135420/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2008-11-11-calloway-patent_N.htm |url-status=live }} Acushnet somewhat redesigned the Pro-V1 during the dispute. On August 14, 2009, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the judgment against Acushnet and ordered a new trial. On March 29, 2010, a federal jury ruled in favor of Acushnet (Titleist), and found that the Callaway patents were invalid.{{cite news|url=http://www.pbn.com/detail/48837.html|title=Acushnet wins golf ball suit after 4 years|publisher=pbn dot com|date=March 30, 2010|access-date=June 19, 2010|archive-date=April 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100408052328/http://www.pbn.com/detail/48837.html|url-status=live}}

File:三井アウトレットパーク 木更津 Titleist - panoramio.jpg, April 2015]]

Titleist has maintained endorsement deals with many leading professional players, including Ludvig Åberg, Cameron Smith, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Will Zalatoris.

Players previously contracted with Titleist include Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, before both moved to Nike and then later TaylorMade,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/tiger-woods-golf-gear-through-the-years-146771 |title=Tiger Woods' Golf Gear Through The Years |magazine=Golf Monthly |first=Elliott |last=Heath |date=May 22, 2020}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/rory-mcilroys-golf-gear-through-the-years-147116 |title=Rory McIlroy's Golf Gear Through The Years |magazine=Golf Monthly |first=Elliott |last=Heath |date=March 18, 2019}} and Phil Mickelson, who switched to Callaway shortly after his 2004 Masters Tournament win.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/features/the-game/phil-mickelsons-golf-equipment-years-150619 |title=Phil Mickelson's Golf Equipment Through The Years |magazine=Golf Monthly |first=Elliott |last=Heath |date=May 22, 2020}}

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