[Nippon Golf Shafts]

SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (November 16, 2009) - Titleist has selected Nippon Shaft to provide premium lightweight stock steel shafts for its new high performance AP1 irons for avid golfers, Nippon Shaft officials said today.

Titleist's AP1 irons will come equipped with the N.S. Pro 105T lightweight steel shaft, which weighs approximately 105 grams, according to Nippon Shaft officials. The shaft, which is exclusive to Titleist, features a medium-firm tip for increased control as well as a softer mid section for improved feel.

"Nippon Shaft is proud to have been selected by Titleist to provide the stock steel shaft for its new AP1 irons," said Hiroyuki Fukuda, head of sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft USA. "Avid golfers who use AP1 irons with the stock shaft will find that the design of the new N.S. Pro 105T shaft provided control and playability and hadds to the club's outstanding feel."

Over the course of its longstanding relationship with Titleist, Nippon Shaft has supplied shafts for some of Titleist's most popular products, including the iconic
Bullseye putter as well as a number of iron models.

"Nippon Shaft values its relationship with Titleist, which everyone knows is one of the elite iron manufacturers in the golf industry," Fukuda said.

Titleist's goal in making the AP1 iron was to combine great performance with great feel rather than performance at the expense of feel.

Steel and graphite Nippon Shaft products are available as custom options from golf equipment manufacturers Cleveland Golf/Srixon, Mizuno, Ping, and TaylorMade.

In addition, Nippon Shaft N.S. Pro models are available for installation and customization through Shaftology Centers (www.shaftology.com), a network of independent clubmakers authorized to install Nippon Shaft products. Premier clubfitters operating these centers are able to fit shafts to specific needs, assemble them using the latest technology, and finish them to a golfer's personal taste and game.

All shafts sold by Nippon Shaft - both steel and graphite - are made in the company's factory in Japan in order to maintain the highest quality labor and technical expertise, according to Fukuda.

Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia with more than 80 percent of the market and ranks No. 2 in North America. Currently, more than 100 touring professionals worldwide - including members of the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour - use Nippon Shaft products, resulting in more than 50 victories over the last four years, Fukuda said.

Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of privately held NHK, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer based in Yokohama, Japan. Nippon Shaft's North American headquarters is in Schaumburg, Illinois.