BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Jack Nicklaus, widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all-time, is using Aerotech's SteelFiber i95 shaft, the company has proudly announced.

Nicklaus was playing a Nicklaus Golf Equipment IronMax HiMax Hybrid featuring the SteelFiber i95 shaft during the recent Masters Tournament, which he has won a record six times over his 45 appearances.

It is an incredible honor to have someone of Jack's caliber and stature select the Aerotech SteelFiber shaft for his personal use,- says Chris Hilleary, vice president of Aerotech Sports Golf Division. It certainly further validates the technological advances that Aerotech has made in golf shaft design.

Nicklaus says, "I was looking for a composite shaft that has similar playing characteristics to the Dynamic Gold steel shafts I play in my irons. I found that performance with the SteelFiber shaft. Most people know I won't put any piece of equipment in my bag unless I have tested it and feel it has the performance characteristics that meet my needs."

Aerotech's new SteelFiber is the first shaft design that effectively combines the best of both graphite and steel. SteelFiber's high-modulus graphite inner core is surrounded by a complex stainless steel-fiber surface layer with 59-plus miles of steel-fiber covering the entire surface of each shaft. The diameter of each micro-thin steel-fiber is approximately 1/10th the diameter of a human hair. The high-density steel surface fiber optimizes the weight without substantially increasing the wall thickness, promoting a more solid feel through impact. In addition, the graphite core dampens vibration, increases clubhead speed and maximizes distance, while the steel-fiber surface layer adds stability and control for pinpoint accuracy. Aerotech manufactures the SteelFiber in Wood, Hybrid and Iron shaft models, ranging in weight from 65 to 95 grams.

Aerotech's SteelFiber shaft is available through Golfsmith and GolfWorks and as a custom offering at select original equipment manufacturers. The wood shafts retail under $40.00 while the Hybrid and Iron shafts are under $30.00.

Nicklaus owns 73 PGA Tour, 10 Champions Tour and 30 other worldwide victories, including a record 20 major championship titles (six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens, three British Opens and two U.S. Amateurs). He and his wife, Barbara, have five children–Jack II, Steve, Nan, Gary and Michael–and 16 grandchildren.

Aerotech, in recognition of Nicklaus' longtime contributions to the golf industry and children's charities, is also a contributor to the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which supports the Nicklaus Children's Hospital at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Aerotech Sports Corporation, www.aerotechsports.com, designs, engineers and manufactures composite structures for the sporting goods and medical industries, and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of modern composite hockey sticks.

For more information and product images, contact Mary Beth Lacy at mb@mblacy.com or 760-202-1181.