New ball aims for longer drives

Women golfers can thank the DuPont Co. if their drives fly farther using Callaway Golf Co.’s new HX Pearl ball.

The Carlsbad, Calif., golf equipment giant included a layer of DuPont HPF resin in the ball, which hit stores around the world earlier this month.

The ball is geared for women players, who drive the ball an average of 65 to 70 yards shorter than male golfers. The HPF resin, developed by John Chen, a scientist at DuPont’s Experimental Station, helps golfers drive the ball a greater distance, while giving them greater ability to control its direction.

Callaway’s HX Pearl targets a well-to-do market with the potential for lots of growth. The National Golf Foundation estimates there are about 8 million female golfers in the U.S., with an average household income of $91,540. Women spent $112 million on golf balls in 2002, the most recent year studied.