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Titleist responds to Costco’s suit with 284-page countersuit

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Wondering how Acushnet/Titleist’s legal team would respond to Costco’s pursuit of a judgment that the Kirkland Signature ball didn’t infringe on any Acushnet patents? With creativity and overwhelming force, it seems.

Almost five months removed from Costco’s suit, Acushnet is predictably denying all claims, as well as filing a 284-page countersuit of its own. The substance of the suit: Alleging the Costco ball infringes on 10 Acushnet patents.

But this isn’t all: Titleist is also taking issue with the Kirkland Signature Guarantee. You know, the company’s proclamation that, “Every Kirkland Signature product is guaranteed to meet or exceed the quality standards of the leading national brands.”

Acushnet suggests there’s no way a Costco private label product of the same quality as the Titleist Pro V1. Thus, in this case, the Guarantee amounts to false advertising.

In this case, the Kirkland Signature Guarantee, Acushnet alleges, is intended to deceive consumers into believing the Kirkland Signature ball “meets or exceed the quality standards” of Titleist’s Pro V1 line. Further, Acushnet doesn’t believe Costco has conducted the comparison testing required to make the such claims and guarantees.

Kirkland_Signature_Box

Acushnet, in the countersuit, indicates it has done the requisite comparison testing between the Kirkland Signature ball and the Pro V1/Pro V1x. The company found Costco’s ball didn’t go as far across a range of swing speeds, had less back spin, and was less durable.

Not only should the court declare Costco is infringing on the 10 patents in question, the countersuit says, but Costco should pay three times “adequate damages” for the infringement. Even further, Acushnet wants Costco to hand over three times Costco’s profits on the K Sigs.

As of now, Acushnet is not asking for a specific amount in damages. Rather, the company is seeking a jury trial to determine infringement and damages.

This all began with a letter from Acushnet in December. The Pro V1 manufacturer told Costco it believed the company was engaging in false advertising and infringing on company patents. Costco filed its aforementioned suit in mid-March. Acushnet 284-page countersuit represents a response to that motion.

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

Equipment

Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping

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Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.

That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.

On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”

On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”

“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.

Check out Shipley’s full what’s in the bag and the rest of his wedge stampings here on “Inside the Ropes” from Colonial.

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear.  All prices include shipping. 
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Whats in the Bag

Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)

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Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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