TaylorMade's Innovation Test

TaylorMade's R9 driver is the result of CEO Mark King broadening his "relentless innovation" strategy to include middle managers

BusinessWeek, February 23, 2009 — When TaylorMade Golf's R9 hits retailers in March, it will be the 45th new metal driver the company has produced since 2003. Thanks to that torrent of product introductions, the Adidas subsidiary has more than doubled its annual revenue, to $1.3 billion, catching up with once-larger rivals Callaway Golf (ELY) and Acushnet and rising to the top in sales of drivers, the game's priciest clubs.

Chief Executive Officer Mark King calls the company's lickety-split rollout schedule "relentless innovation."