Looks like Callaway can officially file this one in the “oops” department as they’ve gone and cost themselves what is probably a significant sum of money. Looks like something occured, an error of some sorts during production, that caused some of Callaway’s Tour i golf balls to come in over the USGA weight limit and therefore end up non-conforming. Oops.
<.Tour i.> Balls Affected
Doing the right thing, Callaway discovered this error that they say affected only 1% of their golf balls and has therefore asked the USGA to remove any of their balls stamped with the <.Tour i.> symbol from their list of conforming golf balls because of the chance that some may be overweight. According to a Press Release from Callaway:
“The deviation in ball weight was traced to a manufacturing anomaly that occurred on two days in mid-2008.” Callaway went on to say that less than 1% of Tour i balls were affected. Theoretically, the heavier balls could fly farther on well-struck shots.”
New Stamp to Differentiate Old Balls from New
Looks like they are removing those golf balls and replacing them, and the stamp that they put on them, with a new stamp that will say <..Tour i..>. Two dots instead of the one before and after the Tour i Logo. The good news is that the only players this will actually affect are professionals and elite level amateurs. Apparently in June, people playing at that level will have to switch to the double stamped ball, while all of us non-professionals can continue to play with the old balls, even if we’re playing for handicap. Hopefully that will save you some money and hey, maybe give you a yard or two extra off the tee?
Well Played Callaway
Nevertheless, good to see Calaway address their error and do the right thing. Well played Callaway, well played indeed.
(image via golf.com)
