What Happened to Precept Golf Balls?

During the 1990s and 2000s, Precept Golf established itself as a leading golf ball manufacturer, even achieving the #2 market share position at one point.

But in recent years, Precept balls slowly faded from prominence and shelves at major retailers. So what exactly happened to the once popular Precept golf ball brand?

Background of Precept Golf

Precept Golf was founded in 1996 in Seattle, Washington by industry veterans with experience at companies like Wilson and Titleist.

Precept focused exclusively on golf balls, bringing innovations in multi-layer technology and cast urethane covers to their designs. One of their first successful balls was the MC Lady appealing to female golfers.

Rise to Popularity in the Late 90s

Capitalizing on cast urethane cover technology, Precept built a popular following among better players seeking a soft feel from the late 1990s into the early 2000s.

Models like the MC Lady, Laddie, and EV Extra Spin found success. The precept also offered custom logo imprinting services on their golf balls, contributing to popularity.

Innovations Drove Market Share Gains

Precept differentiated itself through innovations like the liquid-filled Power-Core center and molecularly-aligned cast urethane covers.

This cutting-edge technology helped Precept capture up to 20% market share at times, second only to Titleist. Precept balls could compete with any premium model in playability.

Focus on Soft-Feel Multi-Layer Golf Balls

Unlike some brands, Precept remained dedicated strictly to multi-layer performance golf balls for better players rather than expanding into value-priced lines.

Precept balls came at a premium cost but delivered high-end playability for the price. Their identity centered around soft feel and responsive control.

Prestigious Tour Usage and Endorsements

Significant investment in marketing and tour endorsements helped raise Precept’s profile.

Notable players who played Precept balls included David Duval, Tom Lehman, and Cristie Kerr. Tour success stories promoted the brand’s quality.

Acquisition by a Korean Company in 2004

In 2004, Precept Golf was acquired by Korean chemical company Kolon Industries for $170 million.

This gave Precept access to new materials technology and Asian manufacturing capabilities. But changes started impacting the company.

Company Steadily Declines After Acquisition

In the mid-to-late 2000s after being obtained by Kolon, Precept Golf seemed to slowly lose momentum and stability despite continued innovations.

Market share dropped back to the low single digits by 2010. New leadership brought strategic changes that disrupted the brand’s legacy.

Manufacturing and Distribution Disruptions

After the acquisition, Precept Golf struggled to consistently deliver adequate stock and supply to retailers.

Offshoring manufacturing created logistics headaches. Popular models were frequently out of stock. Customer frustration grew at the decline in availability and marketing.

Lawsuits and Leadership Challenges

In 2011, founder Mike ONeill resigned from Precept alleging Kolon failed to uphold the initial acquisition agreements.

He sued Kolon over rights to the Precept brand name and intellectual property. This instability exacerbated problems.

Distribution Declines in the Late 2010s

By the mid-2010s, most green grass golf shops stopped even carrying Precept balls with supply shortages rampant.

The brand disappeared from prominent displays. Retailers turned to newer competitors and brands they could rely on stocking consistently. The slide accelerated.

Precept Models No Longer Competitive

On a product level, competitors argued Precept failed to keep pace with investing in new materials and technology through the 2010s.

This left their designs and performance trailing versus other brands that innovated more during the decade.

Reorganization Into a Korean Parent Company

In 2019 Precept Golf essentially dissolved as a distinct entity with operations shifting to the parent Kolon Industries Korean headquarters.

A limited product line was maintained but the brand went dormant in the United States market. Website and social media stagnated without updates.

Remaining Presence Primarily In Asia

Currently, Kolon Industries continues selling a small selection of Precept golf balls primarily in South Korea and select Asian markets.

But the brand has minimal remaining presence in the United States or Europe. Only random older stock remains on certain retail shelves.

Used Precept Balls Still Appear on the Secondary Market

While new production of Precept balls has mostly ceased for Western markets, used, refurbished, and leftover stock appears on secondary e-commerce sites like eBay and Mercari.

Certain discontinued models sell for collectors given brand nostalgia. But performance concerns exist with old stock.

Could Precept Make a Comeback?

With ownership still under Kolon, there remains a possibility the Precept brand could get revived again at some point for global markets. Nostalgia for the soft feeling

Precept balls of the 1990s could drive demand if quality and marketing return. Time will tell if Precept rediscovers past magic.

In summary, Precept Golf balls commanded significant market share and usage in the 1990s and early 2000s but a steady decline after an acquisition led to the loss of stability, supply shortages, leadership changes, and waning interest from golfers and retailers. Competitors surpassed Precept’s technology.

But for those who played their balls, Precept delivered some of the best performing, softest feeling golf balls in their era. The brand deserves remembering as an influential pioneer.