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Wilson Golf

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Wilson Golf History

1913 : Wilson Golf
Chicagos Ashland Manufacturing Company is founded to develop innovative ways of using the slaughterhouse by-products of the meat packing firm Schwarzchild and Sulzberger.

1914 : Wilson Golf
Ashlands original product line include surgical sutures, inexpensive tennis racquets, tennis racquet string and two models of baseball shoes. The company is shaped by its first general manager, E.C. Seaton, who was one of the early experts of the sporting goods industry. After Thomas E. Wilson is named president, the young company breaks from its parent to focus on sports oriented products. The goal is to grow through innovation and quality, and to promote athletics and sports.

1915 : Wilson Golf
Football jerseys, basketballs and indoor baseballs are added to the line, and the Star tennis racquet is advertised at $.75.

1916 : Wilson Golf
Growth and innovation continue: Ashland Manufacturing is renamed as Thomas E. Wilson Co. and the company purchases Hetzinger Knitting Mills to manufacture athletic uniforms and apparel. As a result of significant growth, the company moves into a building of its own, a red brick schoolhouse on Chicagos south side. The Indestructo Caddie Bag Co. is purchased and the complete luggage line is reduced to only golf bags. The J-4 basketball and the A-5 football are introduced.

1917 : Wilson Golf
The sporting goods industry is shocked by the 2-year unconditional quality guarantee for all of the companys products advertised in The Saturday Evening Post. Golf club manufacturing begins. Football helmets are added to the line. Joe Tinker of the famous Tinker-Evers-Chance infield joins Wilson as a baseball business manager.

1918 : Wilson Golf
Following a change in senior management, L.B. Icely is named the new president at the Thomas E. Wilson Co. Continued commitment to quality results in rapid growth. Sales hit $1 million, and the J-4 is adopted as the official basketball of the AAU National Championships.

1919 : Wilson Golf
Wilson pioneers the idea of co-op advertising with a new Dealer-Aid program. A 50 percent increase in sales stretches manufacturing capacity. Wilson acquires Chicago Sporting Goods Co. for its expertise in uniforms, and Sells Manufacturing Co. of Canton, Ohio. Sells produces the highest quality leather products and employs many of the industrys best craftsmen including Arch Turner. In the years to come, Turners designs have a profound effect on the game of football as modern era passing offenses make use of Wilson balls that are more easily thrown, caught, and handled in all weather conditions. A distribution agreement with Western Sporting Goods boosts the Wilson reputation as a premier supplier of uniforms, and Wilson becomes the official supplier of the Chicago Cubs.

1920 : Wilson Golf
The Thomas E. Wilson company continues to grow through the acquisition of both the Chicago Sporting Goods Co. and the National Baseball Manufacturing Co. In addition, golfer Jock Hutchison is signed as the first endorsed athlete, and a line of JH clubs is developed, setting the basis for a future Wilson advisory staff.

1922 : Wilson Golf
The Ray Schalk 507 catchers mitt sets the industry standard for padding and comfort. The Pacific Coast League and Eastern League adopt Wilson as their official baseball. On Thanksgiving Day, the Wilson Advisory Staff is born. Golfer Gene Sarazen becomes the Wilson Golf first athlete to work for the company as an advisor. Sarazens spectacular career earns him two U.S. Opens, three PGATM Championships, a British Open title, and a Masters victory on his way into the PGATM Hall of Fame.

1924 : Wilson Golf
Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne, a consummate innovator, begins making periodic trips to Wilson factories as a member of the newly established Advisory Staff. The result is the new Wilson double-lined football that's used by the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. University of Illinois' Red Grange runs for five touchdowns and throws for a sixth in a 480-total yard effort against Michigan.

1925 : Wilson Golf
The Rockne/Wilson team produce the first ever valve inflated football, eliminating the need for a stem which previously had caused a lump under the laces; for his efforts, Wilson put Rocknes own name on the ball. The KR football can be thrown in a wobble-free spiral, signifying the first contribution by Wilson to the development of the modern-day passing game. Red Grange goes on to play for the Chicago Bears and serves as a spokesperson for hometown based Wilson. Mid-year, the name Thomas E. Wilson Co. is replaced with Wilson-Western Sporting Goods Company. Wilson also introduces cardboard tubes as containers for tennis balls instead of the paper wrapping and boxes previously used. The tubes, with metal edged tops and bottoms, were advertised as moisture-proof containers.

1927 : Wilson Golf
Wilson premieres a line of youth equipment with special packaging that was a first for the industry. The company again leads the industry in tennis with the introduction of the first hermetically-sealed tennis ball can.

1928 : Wilson Golf
Rockne and Wilson do it again, this time creating football pants with removable pads to allow greater freedom of movement.

1931 : Wilson Golf
Tragedy strikes as a plane carrying Knute Rockne and Wilson comptroller John Happer crashes killing all aboard. Big mergers with Lowe and Campbell Co. and Horace and Partridge Co. drastically increase distribution. Wilson-Western officially changes its name to Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

1932 : Wilson Golf
Dana X. Bible, football coach of Nebraska University, is added to the Advisory Staff. His immediate contributions are the development of two helmets and two models of shoulder pads. Gene Sarazen uses a secret weapon on his way to winning the 1932 British Open after a plane ride inspired him to create a club head that glides smoothly through sand. The explosion shot was born, and that year Wilson sold 50,000 of the club known as the R-90, the most popular sand wedge in golf.

1933 : Wilson Golf
Golfer Willie Oggs design for distributing weight in the toe of the club head is featured in the Wilson Ogg-mented irons, the forerunner of perimeter weighting.

1934 : Wilson Golf
The Wilson Ellsworth Vines Autograph racquet was born, which uses a unique blend of several different woods in the construction. Wilson subsequently signs a licensing agreement with top womens tennis player Suzanne Lenglen of France to put her name on a racquet. The football rules committee selects the Wilson KR ball as the prototype for specifications of all official game balls. Amateur golfer Helen Hicks is also signed to design a line of golf clubs.

1935 : Wilson Golf
Four additional Ellsworth Vines tennis racquets are introduced featuring a revolutionary range of balance options. Players can now choose a racquet with either more weight near the head or near the handle.

1937 : Wilson Golf
25-year old Sam Snead signs with Wilson at the start of a career that earns him three PGATM Championships, three Masters victories, and a British Open crown.

1938 : Wilson Golf
Blue RidgeTM Golf Clubs, named for Sam Sneeds native section of Virginia, are introduced to the Wilson line and remain for more than 50 years. Don Budge joins the Wilson Advisory Staff and has two racquets named for him, The Ghost and The Phantom.

1939 : Wilson Golf
Golf will never be the same after Wilson technicians use controlled hydraulics to bond several layers of wood together in a criss-cross pattern. The resulting Strata-Bloc woods are golfs biggest innovation since the steel shaft and provide more power and direction with a longer life than previous woods. The same process is used to produce Wilson tennis racquets bearing the name Strata Bow.

1940 Wilson Golf
22-year old Patty Berg joins the Advisory Staff and goes on to win every major womens tournament at least once. Berg wins 80 tournaments in her career and conducts over 10,000 clinics and exhibitions as an ambassador of golf and Wilson.

1941 Wilson Golf
The new Wilson Duke football is chosen as the Official Ball of the National Football League. The Duke features the finest materials, hand-sewn ends, triple lining, and lock-stitch seams. Patty Berg Cup Defender clubs are introduced and sell nearly one million sets. The world is at war and all or part of every Wilson owned factory is committed to the war effort by making tents, duffel bags, and helmets for the nations soldiers.

1944 Golf Wilson
Wilson continues to grow by expanding and fostering increased participation in sports. The Helms Athletic Foundation honors Wilson for noteworthy services rendered on behalf of athletics through sponsorship of important projects which led to the advancement of sports. The companys youth-targeted advertisements also win acclaim. Walter Hagen becomes part of the Wilson golf line.

1946 Wilson Golf
Ted Williams becomes an Advisory Staff member on his way to 13 All-Star selections and a lifetime .344 batting average.

1947 Wilson Golf
The Father of Modern Tennis, Jack Kramer, begins a long relationship with Wilson. As a world champion, a commentator, a director, an organizer, and an equipment consultant, Kramer eventually does more to promote tennis than any other individual. Clothing manufacturing operations are relocated to Cookeville, Tennessee.

1948 Wilson Golf
Legendary Yankee Vernon Lefty Gomez begins his long career with Wilson which sees him participating in thousands of speaking engagements and charitable assignments. When completing his Wilson job application after leaving baseball, the Hall of Fame pitcher responds to Reason for leaving last job? with Couldnt get anyone out! Wilson president L.B. Icely provides the financial backing for the new Womens PGA, the predecessor to the current LPGA. Patty Berg and new Wilson Staff member Babe Didrickson Zaharias each win three of the inaugural seven tour events. The top golfer of her era, Zaharias had already established many U.S. and world track and field records on her way to attaining legend status as the worlds greatest female athlete. The Wilson organization reaches its largest size to date; it owns 15 factories with 31 branch sales offices and warehouse locations. The Jack Kramer Autograph tennis racquet is produced featuring all Ash laminated construction. Over 10 million Jack Kramer racquets are eventually sold between 1949 to 1981. The racquet is used by John McEnroe, Tracy Austin, Arthur Ashe, Chris Evert, and many others on its way to winning more Wimbledons, French, U.S., and Australian Opens than any other racquet.

1949 : Wilson Golf
Wilson becomes the first company in the sporting goods industry to initiate the use of the computer for inventory control.

1950 : Wilson Golf
L.B. Icely, Wilson President since 1918, dies and is succeeded by Fred Bowman.

1953 : Wilson Golf
Top grade leather and a four-ply reinforced carcass is used to make the Wilson KP-4, later known as the Comet, the ball of choice of the NBA for 30 years.

1954 : Wilson Golf
Babe Didrickson Zaharias returns from a battle with cancer to win four tour events, including the U.S. Open.

1955 : Wilson Golf
The purchase of the Ohio-Kentucky Manufacturing plant in Ada, Ohio proves extremely important to the ongoing leadership of Wilson as a producer of footballs. The TD football is developed which provides a permanent tacky feel, a characteristic that is tanned in during the production process. When the ball is first used in a college All-Star game, the players comment that the TD is easier to grip when wet than other balls are when they are dry.

1956 : Wilson Golf
U.S. tennis sensation Maureen (Little Mo) Connolly joins the Wilson Advisory Staff. At 19, she had accomplished what had never been done before, winning the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open tennis championships. By the time she was 21, she had been named (Woman Athlete of the Year) three times, taking Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles each year. Wilson also introduces the first double break catcher's mitt, autographed by Roy Campenella of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

1957 : Wilson Golf
A new glove for baseball is developed. Wilson craftsmen take their leather making tools to spring training camps and work with ball players to modify their fielding gloves. The changes: a deeper pocket located at the base of the web; a wider web; the Snap Action feature allows the glove to open and close more quickly; and a stiffer thumb to give the glove a permanent form. These innovations raise the standards of defensive play forever. Plays are made faster and more consistently with the new glove, and the spectacular one-handed catch becomes a part of the game. The glove never features an autograph, but it becomes famous simply by its stock number A2000. To this day the A2000 remains the best selling glove in the history of the industry. A new home for Wilson is built in River Grove, Illinois, 17 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.

1962 : Wilson Golf
More international expansion occurs as offices in Wimbledon England, Weisbaden Germany, Tokyo Japan, and Hong Kong China are opened, as well as a baseball manufacturing plant in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

1963 : Wilson Golf
Expansion continues with the purchase of the Masters Golf Bag Co. (Collierville, Tenn.) and the Cortland Tennis Co. (Cortland, New York) for racquet production.

1964 : Wilson Golf
The 50th anniversary of Wilson is commemorated by introducing specialty promotional items with a black and gold anniversary wreath to symbolize the celebration. Wilson purchases the Wonder Products Co. (Collierville, Tenn.), a manufacturer of quality toy items and custom molded products. This new facility enables Wilson to mold parts for football protective equipment and baseball leg guards.

1966 : Wilson Golf
Billy Cunningham, the first player chosen in the 1965 NBA draft, begins his long affiliation with Wilson as an Advisory Staff member. After eleven seasons playing for the 76ers, Cunningham coaches the team from 1977-1985, winning a world championship in 1983 and never finishing worse than second in the standings.

1967 : Wilson Golf
Ling-Temco-Vought buys Wilson meat packing and Wilson Sporting Goods is restructured as a subsidiary of the Dallas-based aerospace conglomerate. Former French tennis professional and entrepreneur Rene Lacoste brings an unusual aluminum tennis racquet design to Wilson, where it is introduced as the T2000. The (steelie), used by touring professional Jimmy Connors, is an immediate success due to its strength and light weight and it breaks all previous sales records.

1968 : Wilson Golf
The Wilson goal of promoting participation in sports is evident in the companys series of inspirational advertisements addressing the nation's youth. The series wins critical acclaim and thousands of customer requests for reprints are filled. Shipping and receiving is centralized in Nashville.

1970 : Wilson Golf
PepsiCo, Inc. purchases Wilson Sporting Goods, citing the leadership of Wilson in the industry, quality image and growth potential as reasons for the acquisition. When the National and American Football Leagues combine, they select Wilson as the Official Ball of the new NFL citing consistent product quality as the reason.

1974 : Wilson Golf
Jerry West plays his final season as guard for the Los Angeles Lakers before becoming the team's head coach and then general manager. A Wilson Staff member since the mid 1960s, Wests NBA accomplishments include a 27.0 points per game average (3rd best of all time), 13 All-Star team selections, and election to the NBA Hall of Fame.

1975 : Wilson Golf
For the first time in the history of Wilson, tennis volume surpasses that of golf.

1976 : Wilson Golf
In order to capitalize on the growing European tennis market, a modern manufacturing facility is opened in Galway, Ireland.

1977 : Wilson Golf
The new management of PepsiCo divides Wilson Sporting Goods into divisions: Golf, Racquet Sports, and Team Sports. The three separate units begin to operate independently, each with its own specialized sales and marketing groups. A 35-year relationship with Converse ends (Wilson had been the largest distributor of Converse sneakers) and a new short term relationship is formed with Bata, the worlds largest shoe company. But (Wilson by Bata) does not live up to expectations and the line is dropped so that the company can focus on its core businesses.

1978 : Wilson Golf
Wilson begins to manufacture tennis balls at a new factory in Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

1983 : Wilson Golf
The Wilson Pro Staff is introduced as the first tennis racquet to use a unique braided graphite and Kevlar construction. Almost immediately, composite materials replace metal in racquet frame construction throughout the industry.

1984 : Wilson Golf
The incomparable Michael Jordan is drafted by the Chicago Bulls and joins the Wilson Advisory Staff. At the PGA Show, the Ultra golf ball is introduced and advanced sales far surpass any previous ball in the companys history.

1985 : Wilson Golf
The burning competitive fire and awesome work ethic that makes Wilson Staff member Walter Payton the NFLs All-Time Rushing leader help carry the Chicago Bears to their first Super Bowl Championship. Wesray Capital Corporation buys Wilson Sporting Goods from PepsiCo.

1987 : Wilson Golf
Wilson is selected as the Official Baseball of the NCAA Championships. The Wilson Profile is introduced as the industry's first widebody tennis racquet, which features patented Dual Taper Beam construction. The new design creates a stiffer racquet that produces incredible power and the largest sweet spot to date.

1989 : Wilson Golf
The Amer Group Ltd. of Helsinki, Finland purchases Wilson. Amer is a publicly traded company (shares listed on the Helsinki and London stock exchanges) and has diverse holdings in Atomic, the number two winter sports brand.

1990 : Wilson Golf
Wilson introduces the Hammer 2.7si tennis racquet. Weighing only 10 oz., the head heavy Hammer design offers one of the highest sweet spots in tennis, and becomes the best selling racquet in pro and specialty shops over the next three years.

1991 : Wilson Golf
Wilson is selected as the Official Ball Glove of Major League Baseball. Wilson Advisory Staff Members and college basketball coaches Dean Smith (University of North Carolina) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) win three national championships in a row. (1991, 1992, 1993)

1992 : Wilson Golf
For the ninth straight year, Wilson sells over 1 million Michael Jordan signature basketballs.

1993 : Wilson Golf
The world's finest ball gloves become even better. The Conform baseball glove is introduced, which enables players to customize the glove to the hand, resulting in incredible feel. Staff coach Marsha Sharps Texas Tech Women's Basketball team wins the National Championship as future Advisory Staff member Sheryl Swoopes scores a record 49 points in the final game. Designed with a revolutionary optic yellow cover, Wilson softballs are selected as the Official Softball of the NCAA Softball Championships. The Sledge Hammer 3.8si performance tennis racquet is introduced as the lightest performance racquet to date at a mere 9.2 oz. New president John Riccitiello joins the company and focuses efforts on innovation and improved technology while increasing spending in the company's research and development facilities.

1994 : Wilson Golf
The awesome tradition of Wilson Advisory Staff Members continues to grow. Top ranked tennis professionals Steffi Graf and Pete Sampras both play with Pro Staff racquets. John Daly and Bernhard Langer blaze through the PGA using the latest Staff Ultra Irons and Killer Whale metal drivers. Rushing leader Emmitt Smith carries Wilson footballs and wears Wilson football gloves. Three-time National league MVP Barry Bonds makes spectacular catches with the Conform fielders glove. Wilson footballs are used by 35 of the 38 teams competing in college footballs post season bowls (including National Champion Florida State). A synthetic indoor/outdoor leather version of the Jet basketball is introduced which brings the highest quality ball outdoor for the first time. Wilson is named Manufacturer of the Year by Sporting Goods Dealer Magazine, and NFL Licensee of the Year.

1995 : Wilson Golf
Wilson racket innovation continues with the new Sledge Hammer 2.8si Stretch, the first in a series of longer rackets for the company. The racket features a 281/2 inch long frame with a 116-inch headsize. After only four months on the market it becomes the number one selling racket in the U.S. Wilson Golf introduces the Staff RM midsize irons. The cavity backed forged clubs are hand designed and crafted by Robert Mendralla, a clubmaker with Wilson for nearly fifty years. After Wilson basketball superstar Michael Jordan returns to the Chicago Bulls, the company quickly manufactures ten new signature basketballs to welcome him back. Wilson Advisory Staff Member and Atlanta Braves pitching sensation Greg Maddux wins an unprecedented fourth Cy Young Award. His discipline, meticulous study and dedication to the sport of baseball has made him the games best right-handed pitcher in 75 years. Wilson Team Sports hits the beach and signs Association of Volleyball Professional (AVP) star (AVPTM) star Mike Whitmarsh to an endorsement contract. In an effort to provide todays youth with the right equipment, Wilson Youth Sports is added to the Team Sports division. The Youth Sports products, available in the basketball, baseball, football, soccer, golf and street hockey categories, are designed to create a positive first sports experience for children while providing for an easier transition to the next level of play and performance. Wilson becomes the Official Football of College Football USA.

1996 : Wilson Golf
Beach volleyball explodes at a rate unprecedented by any other recent team sport. Wilson is poised to become a leader in the sport. January 1, 1996 marks the adoption of Wilson as the Official Volleyball of the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP ). Wilson Team Sports answers the demand for womens sports products by designing special equipment for women in basketball, softball, volleyball and uniforms. The astounding success (50% market share) of the Sledge Hammer 2.8si Stretch leads Wilson Racquet Sports to introduce four additional Stretch racquets rackets in the spring of 1996. Wilson continues its tradition as the footwear choice for serious tennis players with the introduction of the ProStaff eXtreme 300. The shoe features the industrys only 10-month shoe guarantee! The shoe is the number one selling shoe in tennis footwear for the year. The golf division introduces game improvement products for the average player with the introduction of the Staff Titanium golf ball line. Which includes distance and spin models. Titanium in the core acts to bond all of the materials into a single cohesive unit. This bonding action allows all of the energy from the club to be transferred in the same direction at impact. The focused energy transfer results in Maximum distance with breakthrough feel. Fat Shaft RM Tour Players irons are introduced. The club head is designed by master clubmaker Robert Mendralla and features Fat Shaft accuracy. 1996 also sees the introduction of the Jet Evolution basketball and it becomes the companys first composite leather indoor basketball.

1997 : Wilson Golf
The new Wilson Fat Shaft irons are introduced, the most stable iron in golf...deadly accuracy, remarkable distance. While head sizes of clubs have gotten bigger and bigger, shafts have not...until the Wilson Fat Shaft. The most important, yet not emphasized, performance variable in an iron performance shaft is torque, less torque means less twisting, which equals greater accuracy. Fat Shaft technology provides a larger tip diameter (.500 versus typical .370 or 35% wider) providing 40% more torsional stability than skinny shafted irons for greater accuracy. Cliff Swain, the number one racquetball player in the world becomes a member of the Wilson Advisory Staff. Wilson also becomes the Official Footwear and Apparel of the USPTA. The A9010 Optic Yellow NCAA softball becomes The Official Softball of the NCAA Softball Championships. The optic yellow leather is frequency matched for maximum visibility. Its brighter than traditional white softballs, it contrasts with all playing backgrounds and is more visible, making it safer.

1998 : Wilson Golf
Wilson Sporting Goods is proud to be the exclusive sporting goods equipment sponsor of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. A donation will be made to this important cause with the purchase of any Wilson womens sports product which carries The Breast Cancer Research Foundation logo. Wilson Golf defines game improvement technology with their newest golf ball, the Staff Titanium Straight Distance. The Straight Distance sets itself apart from all distance golf balls by being not only the longest, but also the straightest distance ball available. Fat Shaft technology is merged into Fat Shaft putters and wedges in 1998. Fat Shaft Dyna-powered wedges incorporate the most popular shaped wedge on the tour, (Dyna Powered 58) to provide the ultimate feel in a forged carbon steel golf club. Wilson introduces revolutionary racket technology with an ultra-high modulus material called Hyper Carbon. Originally used in the aerospace industry, Hyper Carbon is four times stiffer, 65% lighter and four times stronger than titanium. After its introduction in October, the Hyper Sledge Hammer 2.0 quickly becomes the number one selling racket in the U.S. Lindsay Davenport, Wilson Advisory Staff Member, wins her first US Open and finishes the year as the world's top-ranked woman playing with the Hyper Hammer 5.3 Stretch featuring Hyper Carbon technology. Wilson unveils the Intrigue, the first tennis shoe designed specifically for women to address the fit considerations of a woman's foot. A portion of the sales proceeds is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.The Jet Select basketball is introduced. This premium composite leather game ball is designed for both indoor and outdoor play, for the serious player. The Jet Select features the Wilson Cushion Core Technology which combines low density sponge rubber with ultra-durable butyl rubber producing a basketball with exceptional soft feel. Rotationally wound with 2,700 meters of high performance three-ply nylon thread producing superior shape retention and consistent rebound.

1999 : Wilson Golf
New Fat Shaft oversize cast irons are introduced, featuring a wider shaft tip diameter for even lower shaft torque and a redesigned head for a larger sweet spot with forged club head feel. Metal Matrix Composite Woods are introduced containing a new head material which is a combination of tungsten carbide, cobalt and nickel chromium, more durable and harder than titanium and stainless steel. The Wilson Staff Smart-Core golf ball becomes the newest breakthrough in ball technology. Strike it hard, it is longer than any distance ball on the market. On touch shots, it reacts with exceptional feel. How? Wilson, in a joint partnership with Goodyear, developed Smart-Core technology. Smart-Core has two components which deliver its performance; Urethane + Titanium. The soft polymer urethane is the key to reactive technology, while the patented titanium compound bonds the soft-polymer urethane into the core to produce maximum initial velocity. In tennis, consumer and industry reaction to Hyper Carbon greatly exceeds company expectations. Wilson dominates the market with six Hyper Carbon models in the top ten. The Hyper Sledge Hammer 2.0 and the Hyper Hammer 5.3 become the top-rated rackets of the year. Wilson Advisory Staff Members embrace Hyper Carbon technology and over 80% of the top 100 players switch to Hyper Carbon rackets. For an unprecedented sixth time in the 90s, Wilson Advisory Staff Member, Pete Sampras, reaches the #1 world ranking. Wilson introduces Dynosphere Technology, a revolutionary new midsole technology for footwear that provides the most cushioning, shock absorption and flexibility available. Venus and Serena Williams become Wilson Advisory Staff Members, and Serena goes on to win her first US Open singles title and her first doubles title with sister Venus. Wilson introduces a new hybrid composite leather basketball, which will revolutionize the way people play basketball. Designed for Collegiate and High School competition, the new Wilson Solution basketball features a proprietary surface treatment, which absorbs moisture for superior ball handling performance. Manufactured with a unique Wilson Cushion Core technology, the new Solution basketball offers serious players the most consistently gripable game ball available today. Also, the NCAA names Wilson Sporting Goods Co. the Official Ball of its football championships and NCAA Football. The agreement extends to NCAA Division 1-AA, II, and III in which Wilson will be the official ball of those championships. Designed to provide a huge pocket for improved ball handling for players of baseball and softball, Wilson introduces the new Big Sweet Spot design in a wide line. The Big Sweet Spot offers a 15% larger prime catching area and has been incorporated into a variety of pitcher, infield and outfield models of baseball and softball gloves. The A1001SST (Super Seam Technology) baseball is introduced. The secret is a patented design and manufacturing process that allows Wilson to make SST seams 20% higher than traditional raised seam balls. SST was developed by an expert panel of active players and coaches to make the best feeling, best playing baseball ever. SST was developed by an expert panel of active players and coaches to make the best feeling, best playing baseball ever. The result is a baseball that feels great and is easier to control. Three out of four players preferred Wilson SST balls over their current ball. SST has created a buzz in the industry. Pitchers, fielders, batters and coaches like the new Wilson SST balls for the superior feel, control and durability. Wilson becomes the Official Volleyball of the Amateur Volleyball Association.

2000 : Wilson Golf
Returning to its roots, Wilson Golf makes a major push with teaching professionals as it becomes associated with 4,700 PGA Pros, up from only 300 in 1996. Wilson also introduces new patented performance innovations designed to improve glove functionality. The Wilson Conform, a 2000 Conform glove new standard in long-lasting comfort and performance. The CoolMax Comfort System improves ventilation, wicks moisture away from the hand, and maximizes flexibility with no binding. Robert Mendralla Signature irons are added to the line resulting in the culmination of 53 years at Wilson Golf. Designed by Master Craftsman Robert Mendralla, the irons feature progressive weighting throughout the set. The short irons have weighting up high in the back cavity, while the long irons have weighting down low. It also features the Fat Shaft . 450 tip for increased playability for the low handicap golfer. Wilson develops an innovative technology in the Rollers racket. Rollers technology replaces the traditional grommets in the racket head to create free-moving strings for maximum energy transfer. Hyper Hammer 2.6 with Rollers wins the 2001 Design Award from Popular Mechanics magazine. Wilson unveils the Rally ball following an amendment to the Rules of Tennis allowing the use of larger balls in tournament play. The Rally ball enhances the game of tennis by generating longer rallies, more reaction time and greater visibility. Although the Rally ball is 6% larger in diameter, it is two grams lighter than a conventional tennis ball due to the Wilson LiteCore technology. Long-time Wilson Advisory Staff Member Pete Sampras wins Wimbledon for the seventh time and sets a new record for most Grand Slam titles with thirteen wins. Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge, Wilson Advisory Staff Members, break the record for most doubles titles with fifty-eight victories. Wilson Advisory Staff Member Venus Williams wins her first Wimbledon singles title and her first doubles title with sister Serena. Wilson Team Sports announces the purchase of DeMarini Sports, Inc., a technology leader in baseball and softball bats. DeMarini, based in Hillsboro, Oregon develops, manufactures and markets baseball and softball bats. With the development of Double Wall and FLI technology, DeMarini is clearly recognized as the leader in bat technology. Wilson introduces EZ Gear protective equipment for youth baseball and softball players. EZ Gear is designed to make putting on and taking off protective equipment simple and easy. Made with heavy duty Velcro straps for a quick and easy fit, sternum plate for added chest protection and non-tangle back straps for easier adjustment. Wilson Team Sports introduces the biggest innovation in volleyball since the removal of the laces, with the Reaction volleyball. With Floating Cover Technology Construction, the Reaction gives players exactly what they want in an indoor volleyball, softness, control and speed. The Reaction provides longer contact time for more control and accurate passing while maximizing velocity on spikes. 74% of all players preferred the Reaction over the Tachikara SV5W-Gold. The Reaction volleyball signals the most significant innovation in the volleyball industry. Vince Carter joins the Wilson Advisory Staff. Vince earned Rookie of the Year honors following an electrifying debut season in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors, who obtained him in a draft day trade. In only his second season, he ranked fourth in the league in scoring at 25.7 points per game. He was the leader in fan balloting for the 2000 All-Star Game and the winner of the NBA.com Slam-Dunk Contest. Wilson is named the Official Sponsor of Little League Baseball. Wilson will be the exclusive Equipment Starter Kit for Little League Baseball; The Official Baseball of Little League Baseball World Series and The Official Softball of the Little League World Series. Wilson is also named the exclusive Official World Series Baseball for Pony Baseball and the exclusive softball for PONY Oregon develops, manufactures and markets baseball and softball bats. With the development of Double Wall and FLI technology, DeMarini is clearly recognized as the leader in bat technology. Wilson introduces EZ Gear" protective equipment for youth baseball and softball players. EZ Gear is designed to make putting on and taking off protective equipment simple and easy. Made with heavy duty Velcro straps for a quick and easy fit, sternum plate for added chest protection and non-tangle back straps for easier adjustment. Wilson Team Sports introduces the biggest innovation in volleyball since the removal of the laces, with the Reaction volleyball. With Floating Cover Technology Construction, the Reaction gives players exactly what they want in an indoor volleyball, softness, control and speed. The Reaction provides longer contact time for more control and accurate passing while maximizing velocity on spikes. 74% of all players preferred the Reaction over the Tachikara SV5W-Gold. The Reaction volleyball signals the most significant innovation in the volleyball industry. Vince Carter joins the Wilson Advisory Staff. Vince earned Rookie of the Year honors following an electrifying debut season in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors, who obtained him in a draft day trade. In only his second season, he ranked fourth in the league in scoring at 25.7 points per game. He was the leader in fan balloting for the 2000 All-Star Game and the winner of the NBA.com Slam-Dunk Contest. Wilson is named the Official Sponsor of Little League Baseball. Wilson will be the exclusive Equipment Starter Kit for Little League Baseball; The Official Baseball of Little League Baseball World Series and The Official Softball of the Little League World Series. Wilson is also named the exclusive Official World Series Baseball for Pony Baseball and the exclusive softball for PONY Fast Pitch and Slow Pitch National Championships. A volleyball named Wilson plays an award-winning role alongside Tom Hanks in the box-office smash hit Cast Away. Directed by Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump), Tom Hanks finds himself stranded on a deserted island where he befriends what appears to be an ordinary volleyball. When Hanks finds the volleyball which was washed up on shore, he quickly gives the volleyball a face and names him Wilson. Wilson becomes an amazing confidante for Hanks. Wilson left such an impression on moviegoers alike that The Broadcast Film Critics Association created an award exclusively for Wilson. Wilson traveled to Los Angeles for the 6th Annual Critics Choice Awards and received the award for Best Inanimate Object in a Motion Picture. The media attention to the Wilson brand was unbelievable.

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Lets look at the Wilson Golf Products.

Wilson Staff True Velocity Golf Balls
The worlds only Perfectly Balanced golf ball, True Technology Putts Truer and Flies Longer. For the player looking for the longest ball in the True line.

Jack Long Ball
USGA limits for distance. 30 compression points softer than competitive distance balls.

Jack Spin Ball
Outrageous spin off the wedge for maximum stopping power. 9800 RPM off pitching wedge. Soft feel and great distance.

Jack High Ball
Higher launch angle maximizes distance for slower swing speeds. Soft feel and great distance.

Jill
Soft Feel, higher spin and higher trajectory promotes maximum distance. BCRF® ribbon on every ball. Contribution to BCRF with every purchase.