SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (February 2005) - Nippon Shaft is providing its hallmark lightweight steel shafts as stock items in Callaway Golf's new Big Bertha Fusion irons designated for worldwide distribution. It marks the first time Nippon Shaft has been selected as the stock shaft for a Callaway product designated for worldwide distribution, according to Hiroyuki Fukuda, head of North American sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft, which is based in Yokohama, Japan. Previously, Callaway had stocked Nippon Shaft products only in the Asian market, he said.

"We at Nippon Shaft are honored that Callaway Golf has decided to stock Nippon Shaft products in its Big Bertha Fusion irons," Fukuda said. "Both of our companies are committed to providing golfers with the highest quality products and we look forward to working with Callaway toward that goal."

"The 2005 Big Bertha Fusion irons are equipped with the N.S. Pro 990GH shaft, a mid-kick shaft weighing approximately 99 grams," Fukuda said. The N.S. Pro 990GH is based on Nippon Shaft's revolutionary N.S. Pro 950GH, the world's first consistently-manufactured sub-100 gram steel shaft. Like the N.S. Pro 950, the N.S. Pro 990 maintains the same weight for each iron - one through pitching wedge.

Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia, where it controls more than 80 percent of the market. It is the second-largest selling shaft in the world. "All Nippon Shaft products are made in Japan, so that the company can maintain the highest quality labor, manufacturing and technical standards," Fukuda said.

"Currently, some 100 touring pros worldwide use Nippon Shaft products in their clubs," Fukuda said.

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