SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (January 25, 2005) - Nippon Shaft, the world's second-largest manufacturer of steel shafts, has been selected by Cobra Golf to supply stock steel shafts for Cobra's two new iron models, the company's new Baffler utility wood, and the new Cobra SZ fairway wood.

"Nippon Shaft is extremely proud to be the stock steel shaft provider for four of Cobra Golf's excellent products," said Hiroyuki Fukuda, manager of sales and marketing for Japan-based Nippon Shaft. "Our relationship with Cobra Golf - and its parent company, Acushnet - is something we value very highly."

Renowned for its precision manufacturing of steel shafts known for their light weight and consistency, Nippon Shaft is providing the stock steel shaft for Cobra Golf's new 3100 I/XH irons and 3400 I/XH irons, according to Fukuda. Both iron models currently are on the market.

The Cobra 3100 I/XH irons come with Nippon Shaft's N.S. Pro 1030X shaft, which weighs approximately 100 grams. The Cobra 3400 I/XH irons come with the N.S. Pro 900XH shaft, a 90-gram shaft.

In addition, Cobra's Baffler hybrid utility club comes with Nippon Shaft's N.S. Pro 950. The Cobra SZ Fairway Wood is outfitted with the N.S. Pro 950FW. Both shafts weigh approximately 95 grams.

"Nippon Shaft's exhibitor booth at the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando will display the Cobra Golf products," Fukuda said.

Nippon Shaft has been providing shafts to Acushnet brands - including Titleist - since 1995, Fukuda said. Nippon Shaft provides the N.S. Pro 970 as the stock shaft for Titleist's 804 irons and provides the stock shaft for Titleist's famed Bullseye putter.

"Our company is honored that major golf equipment brands, such as Cobra and Titleist, which are known for their high quality, have chosen Nippon Shaft as the stock steel shaft for several of their most exciting products," Fukuda said.

Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia with more than 80 percent of the market. The company currently ranks No. 2 in the North American market. "Currently, more than 100 touring professionals use Nippon Shaft products in their clubs," Fukuda said. All shafts sold by Nippon Shaft are made in Japan in order to maintain the highest quality labor and technical expertise.

Nippon Shaft's major breakthrough in North America came in 2000 with the introduction of the N.S. Pro 950GH shaft, the world's first consistently-manufactured sub-100 gram steel shaft. The N.S. Pro 950GH was the first shaft in the industry to maintain the same weight for all irons - one through pitching wedge.

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.