Bridgestone Introduces OTTO, The World’s First Autonomous Ball Fitting Cart
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2022-01-26
COVINGTON, Georgia — Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, introduced OTTO (Autonomous Ball Fitting Cart), the latest in golf ball fitting technology. Designed to be both engaging and entertaining to use and informative at the same time, OTTO provides yet another easy way for players to find the right Bridgestone golf ball for their game.
“The genesis of the idea for OTTO was to bridge the gap between entertainment golf and on course golf,” said Dan Murphy, President and CEO, Bridgestone Golf. “Currently there are over 25 million golfers who participate in non-traditional golf, meaning at off course entertainment venues or on simulators. As the leader in golf ball fitting, we feel a responsibility to make sure players continue to be excited and engaged while also having the ability to choose gear that best suits their game. With OTTO’S innovative design we’ve developed a great way to do it.”
When it comes to golf ball fitting, Bridgestone has unrivaled qualifications, with over 15 years of experience in the category and over 3 million fittings on record. That experience led to the creation of OTTO, which looks and talks like a hi-tech robot but is as simple to use as a basic launch monitor. Stationed on a driving range, OTTO requires no more than a touch of the screen to get started, indicating your current gamer, and three driver swings to come up with a sound recommendation of which Bridgestone Golf ball is right for you. With each shot, OTTO provides carry and total distance, ball velocity, spin rate, and launch angle. After three shots, OTTO will audibly tell you which ball best fits your game based on your shot data. Players can feel confident with the recommendation as Bridgestone engineers utilized a wealth of ball fitting data to develop the algorithm used by OTTO, which is reliable and accurate every time.
“Bridgestone Golf took the lead in ball fitting many years ago and has consistently focused on developing processes to help all levels of golfer find the right ball for their game,” said Adam Rehberg, Ball Fitting Manager, Bridgestone Golf. “We offer in-person fittings, online fittings, video fittings, and now OTTO, an autonomous fitting cart, which nobody else has even begun to develop. With so many options we feel confident we can fit anyone and do so in a way that is comfortable, convenient, and effective.”
Maybe the best thing about OTTO is that it offers an alternative to one-on-one sessions with a professional fitter or an impersonal fitting on Bridgestone’s website. All of these methods work but for some players an in-person fitting can be uncomfortable and for others an online fitting isn’t in-depth enough. OTTO is perfect for both groups as it’s simple and entertaining to use.
“We know from extensive experience that players enjoy the game more when they have gear that fits them,” said Elliot Mellow, Golf Ball Marketing Manager at Bridgestone. “The ball is used for every single shot during a round and finding the model that fits your swing is critical. With the addition of OTTO, we feel Bridgestone clearly offers the most comprehensive fitting options in golf.”
OTTO will be available for trial at the PGA Show Demo and Fitting Day on Tuesday, January 25, and will continue to be available at Bridgestone’s strategic events and golf course partners for the remainder of 2022 and beyond. OTTO is free to use and offers the option of emailing fitting results. For more information about the new OTTO Autonomous Ball Fitting Cart, locations where it can be found, or Bridgestone’s other fitting options including V-FIT, live fittings, or the self-fitting App, please visit bridgestonegolf.com.
About Bridgestone Golf
Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over 3 million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection and its V-FIT video ball fitting. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau, and Lexi Thompson. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.