Tiger Shark Adds Legendary Golf Inventor to R&D Team

April 22, 2008

WARREN, Mich. — As Tiger Shark continues to expand their line of premium products, they have added. Often referred to as the Thomas Edison of modern golf, Flood's list of accomplishments is that of legends. Some of his many inventions include the graphite shaft, Odyssey putters, the Ernie Els Training System and the SKLZ Power sleeve.

"We are thrilled to have such a renowned figure as Jim Flood join our team," said Tiger Shark President Dean Dingman. "His contributions to the golf industry have changed the way the game is played today. His foresight and creativity have influenced the golf industry around the world and we are confident that he will have a major impact on the Tiger Shark line of products."

Flood got his start in the golf industry with his invention of the graphite shaft which led to the founding of the Aldila shaft company in 1972. His next notable innovation changed the way golfers looked at putting—literally with the Basakwerd putter. The unique design positioned the shaft on the opposite end of the putter blade, thus having the blade closer to the golfer than the shaft. This prevented the golfer from pushing putts. Expecting to sell 25,000 putters the first year, 200,000 were sold in three months.

Another of Flood's inventions was the Orizaba Power Pod driver. The Power Pod was the first anti-slice driver in the market and was the forerunner of closed face technology in drivers. Flood later teamed with Brad Adams, son of TaylorMade founder Gary Adams, to start the Odyssey Golf Company and designed the putters that grew the company into the leading putter company in the industry.

He teamed up again with Adams to develop the Ernie Els Training System that became one of the most popular full swing and short game teaching systems in the industry."

"In all, Jim has developed more than 50 important golf products in the past 35 years," said Dingman. "We are in the process of developing several new products with Jim to be released this fall that will help position Tiger Shark among the top club manufacturers in the industry."