Equipment

Nike Sumo Press Release

Nike debuts radical new Nike Square Sumo Driver
Nike Golf Press Release

The power of Nike Golf’s geometry has led the way in taking the moment of inertia (MOI) in clubhead design to its highest level, it has made the award winning SasQuatch (SQ) driver by far the winningest driver on the 2006 PGA Tour – and now it’s gone squared.

With today’s announcement of the new square shaped SasQuatch SUMO² driver and the new SasQuatch SUMO driver, Nike Golf once again leads the way by elevating golf club design and creation to revolutionary and radical new levels. Nike Golf is the first to make it cool to be square.

Following in the giant footprint of the ground-breaking Nike Golf SasQuatch driver, Nike Golf has evolved the leading innovation of geometric design to bring golfers even more distance, forgiveness and accuracy through new record levels of MOI. Named SUMO for the SUper MOment of Inertia created by Nike Golf’s geometric designs, the SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO sport the same distinctive yellow soleplate as the original SQ. Both the SasQuatch SUMO² and the SasQuatch SUMO will be shipped in mid-January 2007, to be available for purchase in golf shops and stores in the US on February 1.

Now even more visually distinctive due to its square head design, the SQ SUMO² features golf’s highest MOI of 5300. This advanced MOI is created by the geometric square design combined with the utilisation of a multi-material construction. A deeper beta titanium face, a titanium body and a composite crown combine to bring about material weight savings that are redistributed into the square design, making the driver hotter, longer and more responsive. As such, the square geometry dramatically enhances the SQ PowerBow and SQ Max Back Centre of Gravity (CG) technologies, which work together to increase MOI.

“Bringing a new product to market is always an exciting moment, but the introduction of the SQ SUMO² is particularly rewarding since this is the culmination of a vision that has been evolving for more than a decade,” said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. “Now, with the power of Nike Golf geometrics, we’ve evolved my fascination with the possibilities and benefits of a square shaped driver into a performance enhancing reality for all golfers.”

The SQ SUMO, which features an all-titanium head, incorporates the same design evolution of the SQ PowerBow and SQ Max Back CG, raising its new super MOI to 4950, the highest in an all-titanium driver. Nike Golf’s club wizard Tom Stites’ new design has created the ideal ratio between the width of the clubface and the depth of the club head. As with the SQ SUMO², the SQ SUMO geometry pushes the breadth-to-face length ratio up, resulting in a larger, more forgiving sweet spot.

“The uncompromising quest of Tom Stites and his Nike Golf research and development team to bring new and exciting technology to golfers has resulted in another break-through product introduction with the SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO,” said Stan Grissinger, Category Business Director for Clubs and Balls for Nike Golf. “The industry-wide success of the SasQuatch driver franchise set new standards in 2006, and now the SasQuatch evolution to the SUMO and record MOI is poised to raise the bar yet again.”

The SQ SUMO² and the SQ SUMO are both 460cc, feature SasQuatch/Diamana shafts, are available in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, and 13°, and will carry respective suggested retail prices of US$479.99 and US$359.99.

The introduction of the SasQuatch SUMO² and the SasQuatch SUMO comes at a time when Nike Golf is enjoying its rise as arguably the fastest growing golf company in the industry. It continues to enjoy global success as evidenced by the fact that three of its athletes lead the money rankings on three tours. Tiger Woods is the money leader on the PGA TOUR, Paul Casey holds the lead on the PGA European Tour’s Order of Merit and Shingo Katayama ranks number one in money earnings on the Japan Golf Tour. Nike Golf also is the PGA TOUR in the following categories:

* Most driver wins with 15
* Most iron wins with 15
* Most fairway woods wins with 13
* Most wedge wins with 15

Source – Nike Golf

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