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Product Review: 2012 Nike Golf VR Pro Limited Edition Fairway Wood

February 14, 2012 By 2 Comments
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I recently had the chance to review the Nike Golf VR Pro Limited Edition Driver, and I was impressed with its solidity, the distance I got and the control I had with that club. Nike Golf also sent me one of the new VR Pro Limited Edition Fairway Woods (the 19-degree 5-wood) to test and review, so I headed over to my local course Stonecreek Golf Club for a few testing sessions on the range and a couple of live rounds on the course to put the VR Pro LE Fairway Wood through its paces. Here are the results of my testing:

FIRST IMPRESSION: DESIGN/APPEARANCE
Out of the box you can tell the VR Pro LE fairway wood is designed for the serious player. From the playing position it has a traditional pear shape, similar to last year’s VR Pro STR8-FIT fairway wood. The crown has the same metallic black finish, the sole again features Nike’s Compression Channel technology, and the sole plate has the same configuration, although on this year’s model the paint color is metallic red across the entire sole, just like the VR Pro LE Driver.

Like the VR Pro LE driver, the biggest difference between this year’s VR Pro LE fairway wood and last year’s VR Pro is the absence of the STR8-FIT adjustability system — this year’s model is a glued version. The VR Pro LE also has a small white Swoosh on the toe that further distinguishes it from the VR Pro. The face has a similar profile to last year’s model, but it does not have the STR8-FIT icon in the middle of the face, the grooves go all the way across the face.

The club comes with a stock Diamana ‘ahina shaft and a Nike VR Tour Velvet grip from Golf Pride. The VR Pro LE comes with the same old school knit headcover that the driver comes with, and as I said in that review I’m a big fan of the sock headcover.

My first look at the VR Pro LE fairway wood gave me the impression of a player’s club that’s designed for distance, shot making and controlling the golf ball.

FIRST IMPRESSION: PERFORMANCE
My first swings with the VR Pro LE confirmed my initial impressions — like the VR Pro LE driver, the fairway wood is rock solid, it rips the ball off both tee and fairway, and it makes shaping shots a breeze. First, the weighting of the club head and the solid feel when striking the ball really impressed me. The pleasing “thwack” sound at impact has no trace of a “plink” that you hear with other fairway woods — this club is solid all the way. It’s long too, the ball just shoots off the face, and I picked up 5-10 yards over my VR STR8-FIT 5-wood. I love being able to smooth a shot with this club off the tee or fairway with an easy swing, and watch it just fly down the fairway. The VR Pro LE is also very forgiving thanks to the compression channel technology in the sole, which helps to give shots hit low on the face about as much distance as those struck in the middle of the face.

From the playing position, the look of the VR Pro LE fairway wood invites shot shaping, and it does not disappoint — I was able to easily hit draws and fades with this club. The playability of this club makes working the ball an absolute joy, it really lends itself to moving the ball right and left, and makes pulling off shots from tough lies and tricky positions easy and fun.

My first impressions of the VR Pro LE’s performance were that of a player’s fairway wood built for bombing the ball and shaping shots when and where I needed to.

DISTANCE
The VR Pro LE fairway wood really made the ball go for me, both off the tee and off the fairway. I picked up 5-10 yards over my VR STR8-FIT 5-wood. I love being able to swing easy with this club — I’m able to make a controlled swing and still get great distance while maintaining control over the golf ball.

FEEL
The VR Pro LE has terrific feel, it gives a really solid strike to the ball and has a great feeling at impact. Mis-hits have good feel also thanks to the compression channel technology in the sole. The Diamana ‘ahina shaft also contributes to the smooth, solid feel of this club.

PLAYABILITY
The traditional pear shape of the VR Pro LE 5-wood invites shot making, and this club has great playability. Moving the ball right and left is a breeze, and it makes shots from trouble spots and difficult lies easier to pull off.

ACCURACY
I really enjoy placing shots where I want to with the VR Pro LE. I use this club off the tee on long par 3’s, or on par 4’s or 5’s when driver or 3-wood is too much and I absolutely must hit the fairway. Off the fairway this club is a pleasure to hit — nothing beats the feeling of watching the ball fly high, long and straight at my target, and seeing it land softly on the landing area or putting green.

FORGIVENESS
The VR Pro LE 5-wood is very forgiving, thanks to the compression channel technology in the sole that gives thin shots and shots hit close to the heel almost as much distance as shots struck in the middle of the face. Mis-hits went just about as far as solidly struck shots, and they held their line almost as well also.

ACOUSTICS
This VR Pro LE produces a solid “thwack” at impact, not the tinny “plink” you sometimes hear from other fairway woods. This club has just about the best acoustics I can remember hearing from any metal fairway wood I’ve ever hit.

SUMMARY
The VR Pro Limited Edition fairway wood follows the VR Pro LE driver’s lead as a players club built for distance and shot-shaping control. The traditional pear-shaped head design looks great from the playing position, and invites the player to work the ball. This club is long, it has a great solid feel that makes drawing and fading the ball easy, and the forgiveness of the compression channel adds to the club’s playability. The confidence the VR Pro LE inspires takes the intimidation out of difficult shots, and its outstanding acoustics makes the great shots this club produces even more memorable. I’ve had this club in my bag for three months now, so I feel qualified to say that if you’re looking for a new fairway wood to add to your bag this season — one that will make the ball go a long way, where you want it to — the VR Pro LE fairway wood may just be the one for you.

Read Nike Golf’s press release about the VR Pro LE fairway woods >>

Check out this Oven Tech video about the VR Pro Compression Channel >>

Visit the VR Pro microsite on nikegolf.com >>

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for testing and reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: 2012 VR Pro LE Fairway Woods, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Fairway Woods, ngnation.com, Nike Golf, Product Reviews

Product Review: 2012 VR Pro Limited Edition Forged Driver

January 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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Early last year I had the opportunity to test and review the 2011 VR Pro STR8-FIT Driver, and I was impressed with the combination of length, forgiveness and shot-shaping control I got from that traditionally pear-shaped driver. Late last year there was a lot of buzz about what would be the next generation of the VR Pro Driver, and on November 1, 2011 Nike Golf released the 2012 VR Pro Limited Edition Forged Driver at retail.

Just before the release date, Nike Golf sent me one of the VR Pro LE Drivers in 9.5-degree loft with a stiff shaft to test and review. Since then I’ve hit it on the range several times and gamed it in several rounds, so I have a pretty good feel now for what this driver can do. I share the results of my testing with you here.

FIRST IMPRESSION: DESIGN/APPEARANCE
Out of the box, my first impression of the VR Pro LE Driver was that of a finely-crafted player’s driver, designed for distance and control. I also immediately noticed there are several differences that distinguish the 2012 VR Pro LE from its predecessor, the VR Pro STR8-FIT. The first thing you notice from the playing position is the absence of the STR8-FIT collar on the hosel, as the driver head is glued onto the shaft in this model. The second difference from the playing position is the slightly smaller 430CC head size — the VR Pro STR8-FIT head size was 460CC. The VR Pro LE has the same metallic paint on the crown as the VR Pro, the same compression channel and sole plate configuration, but the metallic red from the compression channel on the VR Pro LE continues all the way to the rear of the sole, where it faded from black to red on the VR Pro STR8-FIT. The face of the VR Pro LE has the new NexCOR technology icon, and there is a small swoosh on the toe that also distinguishes it from the VR Pro.

Another big difference is the headccover. The VR Pro LE comes with a red, white and black knitted sock headcover with a special VR Pro LE patch on the back and pom-pom on top, a big change from the VR Pro headcover. I really like this old school headcover, and think it was great idea to use it on the VR Pro LE. The VR Pro LE features a Diamana ‘ahina shaft (the VR Pro had a Project X shaft) and comes with a stock VR Tour Velvet grip from Golf Pride.

The look of the VR Pro LE is that of a driver built for players looking for more distance and more ability to control the ball off the tee box.

FIRST IMPRESSION: PERFORMANCE
From the playing position, the traditional pear-shaped look of the VR Pro LE inspires confidence, and the smaller head size immediately says “ball control”. This truly has the look of a player’s driver. And the VR Pro LE is solid, really solid. From the first few swings I could feel pure contact with the ball, I heard the pleasing “thwack” sound at impact, and I saw the ball fly far and where I wanted it. This must be due to the new 4-piece forged construction of the head.

I was really impressed with the distance I got from the VR Pro LE — I picked up about 5 yards over my VR Pro. The ball really shot off of the face, I’m assuming because of the new NexCOR material used in the face. According to Nike the NexCOR face technology maximizes distance for the widest range of players through a new speed-expanding multi face thickness design (read more in Nike Golf’s press release about the VR Pro LE Forged Driver). I was able to produce a mid to high ball flight with the VR Pro LE, both because of the head construction and the Diamana ‘ahina shaft. And not only was the VR Pro LE long, I was able to shape shots right and left with ease.

The VR Pro LE is also very forgiving on mis-hits. The compression channel in the sole also helps maximize the NexCOR face by helping to increase speed in more spots on the clubface. This shows up when I hit one a bit high on the face or low on the heel and the ball still goes surprisingly far.

I was really impressed with the performance of the VR Pro LE. It’s solid, really long, forgiving, it helps me shape shots and most importantly for me it gives me confidence when I stand on the tee box.

DISTANCE
I was happy, and a bit surprised at the distance I got with the VR Pro LE driver. I gained about five yards over my VR Pro driver, and when I hit the ball on the sweet spot I gained closer to 10 yards at times. I felt the performance of the Diamana ‘ahina shaft also contributed to the increase in distance I got with this club, as it seemed to me to be a bit stiffer from the middle down to the tip than the Project X.

ACCURACY
The VR Pro LE made me feel like I could put the ball in the fairway of the tee, and for me that increased confidence is one of the biggest benefits I got from this club. I was able to swing easier because I was less worried about where the ball was going to go, and as a result I was able to put a smooth swing on the ball and put the ball where I was aiming (and get even more distance as a bonus).

PLAYABILITY
The VR Pro LE is made for shaping shots — moving the ball right and left is a breeze with this club. From the appearance at address I felt I could set up to create a fade or draw and this club would help me make it go there. Better players will really like the shot-shaping characteristics of this club.

FORGIVENESS
The VR Pro LE’s compression channel technology in the sole makes it very forgiving. When I hit the ball thin it went almost as far as a shot hit closer to the middle of the face. Shots hit off-center, low on the clubface or toward the heel went just about as far as solidly stuck ones.

ACOUSTICS
The VR Pro LE continues the VR line’s ability to produce the pleasing “thwack” at impact that its predecessors the VR Pro STR8-FIT and VR Pro are known for. The VR Pro LE sounds as solid as it feels.

SUMMARY
The VR Pro Limited Edition Forged driver carries on the tradition of the VR line — that of a player’s club that’s built for performance and distance. The smaller 430CC pear-shaped head design will appeal to the better player’s eye, and also promotes shaping the ball. The 4-piece forged construction of the head creates a solid feeling at impact, and the new NexCOR face technology increases ball speed and makes the ball fly off the face. The compression channel technology adds forgiveness to an already winning combination of characteristics. If you’re in the market for a new driver for the upcoming golf season, and you want one that can not only help you put your ball in the fairway but also push it past the other players in your group, I suggest giving the VR Pro LE some serious consideration.

Read Nike Golf’s press release about the VR Pro LE Forged driver >>

Check out this Oven Tech video about the Compression Channel >>

Visit the VR Pro microsite on nikegolf.com >>

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Drivers, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, ngnation.com, Nike Golf, Product Reviews

Product Review: Nike Golf Belts

January 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
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The 2012 PGA Merchandise Show is less than a week away, and the eyes of the golf world will be on Orlando, Florida’s Orange County Convention Center to see what new products the golf equipment, footwear, apparel and accessory industries have to offer for 2012. Last year I had the good fortune to spend some time in the Spirit Leatherworks booth, the official licensing partner for Nike Golf and Tiger Woods accessory collections. Nicole Leatherbury from Spirit gave me a tour of their booth, and left me with two belt samples, and mailed me two more after the show. I’ve worn these Nike Golf belts faithfully all year, and here I share with you what I think of them.

LASER ICON RED ENAMEL BUCKLE WITH BLACK BELT
When Nicole first showed me this belt, I wasn’t quite sure it was for me. I’m more of a conservative accessory guy — black and brown belts are the norm for me — and the bold red swoosh on the buckle seemed a little flashy. But after I wore it a few times, I really started to like this belt. The 1.25″ soft Nappa black leather belt has some really cool design details — the red stitching and golf ball dimple pattern are great accents, and the buckle has tiny nike shoes molded into the back that hold the post and belt attachment clip. The belt is very sturdy, comfortable, and obviously very stylish. This progressive belt design has made this conservative belt guy a convert.

SIGNATURE SWOOSH WHITE BELT
This belt also challenged my conservative style — I don’t consider myself young or hip enough to be wearing a white belt. Again, after wearing this belt a few times, I changed my mind about white belts. The 1.5″ white belt is sturdy and comfortable, and the swoosh design cut out of the brushed metal makes for a very stylish design. Several Nike athletes can be seen wearing this classic Nike belt design on tour, as it complements a wide variety of apparel and footwear combinations. I may not be young and hip enough to be wearing this belt, but I like it so much I’m wearing it anyway.

PERFORATED REVERSIBLE BLACK/BROWN BELT
When a box arrived at my door from Spirit Leatherwear, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after their initial selections for me at the PGA Show. But Nicole did a great job in selecting two belt designs for me that are just my style. The Perforated Reversible Black/Brown belt is an awesome design that gets much use with my wardrobe. The heavy-duty brushed metal swivel buckle makes switching from one color to the other a breeze (the buckle swivels at the base where it meets the belt). The 1.25″ soft, perforated Nappa leather belt is comfortable and breathes well on hot summer days — which we have plenty of here in Phoenix. This belt is also very durable, I’ve worn it several times a week for a year and it shows minimal signs of wear. All in all this is a great belt design that I wear often.

NIKE CASUAL BROWN BELT
The second belt that was in the box was the Nike Casual belt in brown with brass buckle and rivets. This casual belt looks great both on the course and off. The 1.5″ oil-tanned leather belt has brass rivets at the tab by the buckle and at the tip, and the tab has a debossed swoosh on it. The brass buckle has a small, tasteful swoosh on it, and the brass looks great with the brown leather (the belt also comes in black with brushed metal buckle and rivets). The leather belt is not as thick as the other three, so it’s a little more flexible than the others, but it’s plenty durable and has stood up to a year’s use with minimal signs of wear. This belt looks great with jeans as well as golf pants, and it will continue to be an integral accessory in my wardrobe.

I’m really impressed with the belts and accessories Spirit Leatherworks continues to produce for Nike Golf. They offer a wide variety of designs that range from formal to casual, and styles that will please both progressive and conservative tastes. I personally can’t wait to see what Spirit has come up with for 2012 that they will be unveiling at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show.

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

 

LASER ICON RED ENAMEL BUCKLE WITH BLACK BELT:


SIGNATURE SWOOSH WHITE BELT:


PERFORATED REVERSIBLE BLACK/BROWN BELT:


NIKE CASUAL BROWN BELT:


Filed Under: Accessories, Apparel, Belts, Footwear & Apparel, Footwear & Apparel Product Reviews, ngnation.com, Nike Golf, Product Reviews

Product Review: Nike Golf Departure Shoe Tote

December 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
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This is the third in my series of reviews of the Departure accessory bag collection — previously I’ve reviewed the Departure Backpack and Roller. I’m a big fan of the Departure line, and my enthusiasm continues here with this review of a fairly simple, yet elegantly-designed item, the Departure Shoe Tote which I purchased earlier this year.

What can be so special about a straightforward item like a shoe bag? Well, in the case of the Departure Shoe Tote, several things. Start with the heavy duty nylon that it’s constructed from, add a heavy-duty handle (the same handle design that matches the roller), and this tote has durability written all over it. The roomy main compartment is fleece-lined to protect the shoes inside, and a fleece-covered divider keeps them from rubbing against each other in transit.

The shoe compartment is vented on both sides with mesh, and on the back end by three grommets, which keeps my shoes fresh even in the hot summer months. The tote opens and closes from the top with a 3-sided flap (as opposed to a straight center zipper) that makes getting the shoes in and out very easy. The flap has a heavy-duty zipper with two tabs that matches the rest of the departure line.

The bag also has a zippered, fleece-lined valuables pocket where you can keep special items like a watch or jewelry safe and protected. There’s also dimensional swoosh on both sides on a small panel over the mesh side vents.

So this review is sweet and simple, just like the Departure Shoe Tote — a spacious, thoughtfully-designed shoe bag that gives my lunar controls the royal treatment. If you’re looking for a new shoe bag or, if you don’t have one, a great way to carry your shoes with you, check out the Departure Shoe Tote. It also makes a great gift, and it’s one of my top picks in our 2011 Nike Golf Holiday Gift Guide: Equipment Edition.

If you have the Departure Shoe Tote, let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

Editor’s note: The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Accessories, Departure Shoe Tote, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Luggage, ngnation.com, Nike Golf

Product Review: 2011 VR Pro Cavity Irons

December 5, 2011 By 7 Comments
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Early this year Nike Golf released its line of VR Pro irons, which features classic iron designs in three different models for three levels of play. The line includes the VR Pro Blades for better players, the VR Pro Combo Irons for low- to mid-handicappers and the VR Pro Cavity Irons for mid- to high-handicappers. After reviewing the VR Pro Combos, I was curious to see how the VR Pro Cavities would compare. Earlier this year Nike Golf sent me a set of the VR Pro Cavities to test and review, and I share my findings with you here.

FIRST IMPRESSION: DESIGN/APPEARANCE
Out of the box the VR Pro Cavity irons have the appeal of a traditional iron design that also incorporates game-improvement characteristics. The head design is clean and classic, with progressive elements incorporated into the cavity. The head is beautifully chromed from hosel to toe, with the exception of the face where the grooves are and inside the cavity. The cavity incorporates an Opti-Mass insert (the same material that’s used in the new Method Core Drone putter) that moves weight lower and deeper in the head, keeping the center of gravity in an ideal position to optimize trajectory and distance. The CG also moves throughout the set, keeping its position ideal for each club in the bag (read more about the technology in the VR Pro Cavity irons in Nike Golf’s press release). There is also extra weight added to the toe to help higher handicappers close the face at impact. The toe profile is higher than in the VR Pro Blades or Pro Combos, the topline is thicker and the sole is wider, all to increase forgiveness. The stock shaft is the True Temper Dynalite 110, and the stock grips are VR Tour Velvet by Golf Pride. Overall The VR Pro Cavity is a great looking iron with built-in game improvement technology.

FIRST IMPRESSION: PERFORMANCE
From my first swings on the range I could feel the game improvement characteristics of these irons. These irons are very solid and easy to hit, without the clunkiness that some super game improvement irons have. This was confirmed on the course, where the VR Pro Cavities helped me get the ball in the air and swing with confidence. These irons have a great feel and solid sound at impact, and produced a mid to high ball flight for me. They have a great combination of forgiveness and workability — they make it easy to get the ball in the air and still have great feel for working the ball in either direction. Distance was great with these irons, both because of the technology in them and the fact that I was able to swing easily and confidently. Overall I was very pleased with the performance of the VR Pro Cavities — they were easy to hit, produced a great ball flight and allowed me to swing with confidence.

APPEARANCE AT ADDRESS
The topline of the VR Pro Cavities is thicker than that in the VR Pro Blades or Pro Combos, but I did not find this bothersome or distracting. The cavity was not visible in any of the irons in the set. These irons have a slight offset that will help higher handicappers close the face at impact. The look at impact is pleasing, that of a traditional, classic iron design.

PLAYABILITY
These irons are easy to hit and make it easy to move the ball right or left. I was able to spin the ball when I wanted to, but I didn’t get as much spin as I do with my Pro Combos. I was able to hit the ball high and land it softly when I needed to, and with the confidence I had with these irons I felt I had control of my golf ball on the course.

LAUNCH ANGLE
The VR Pro Cavity irons promote a mid to high ball flight throughout the set. With the longer irons I got a lower, boring trajectory and with the short irons I was able to consistently produce shots that fly high and land softly.

DISTANCE CONTROL
I had very good distance control with the VR Pro Cavities. I was able to swing easier and get great distance, and distance was consistent from club to club and from shot to shot. Both long and iron shots traveled the distance I expected.

ACCURACY
The confidence I gained from these irons allowed me to play more aggressively with these irons. I felt I could aim at my target, swing easy and the ball would go there. Off-center hits also kept their line very well thanks to the game improvement technology in these irons. These irons promote confidence, and for me confidence promotes accuracy.

FEEL
The VR Pro Cavities have great feel and feedback considering the game improvement technology these irons possess — not the same feel you would get from a blade, but substantially better than a super game improvement iron. They feel pure and solid when the ball is hit near the center of the clubface, and off-center hits have a solid feel also thanks to the dampening effect of the Opti-Mass insert. And even with the solid off-center hits, I was able to consistently sense when I mis-hit a shot and where on the club face.

FORGIVENESS
These irons are very forgiving — I was able to get good distance on off-center hits, almost the same as one hit near the center of the face. The taller toe helps with misses out towards the toe (where most higher handicappers tend to miss). My mis-hit shots felt solid, went towards my target and went about the distance I would expect from a good shot hit in the middle of the club face.

ACOUSTICS
The VR Pro Cavities have nice solid sound at impact. I had heard that they had a “clanky” sound at impact, sort of like a “plink”, but this was not my experience. I only heard a pleasing “thwack” when I struck the ball.

SUMMARY
The VR Pro Cavities lived up to my expectations, and they complete a trio of great iron designs in the VR Pro line. They look great, they have great feel and the game improvement technology they possess helped my game. The traditional lines of the head design looked great in my bag. They felt solid at impact, I was able to work the ball right or left, and controlling distance was easy. The mid to high ball flight allowed me to hit longer iron shots on a medium trajectory that held its line, and short iron shots flew high and landed softly. The high toe profile and extra weight behind the toe helped shots missed in that area of the club face to hold their distance and direction. And the Opti-Mass insert dampened off-center hits and gave each shot a solid feel. These irons are part of the 2012 Nike Golf equipment line also, so if you’re looking for an iron that has a clean, classic look and will also help you improve your score and make the game more fun, look no further than the VR Pro Cavity irons.

Have you tried the VR Pro Cavities yet? If you have, let us know what you think in the comments below.

Check out this video in which Nike Golf athletes talk about the VR Pro Cavity irons >>

Read Nike Golf’s press release about the VR Pro Combo irons >>

Check out the VR Pro Microsite on nikegolf.com >>

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Irons, ngnation.com, Nike Golf, VR Pro Cavity Irons

Product Review: Nike Departure Roller

November 11, 2011 By 5 Comments
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A while back I posted my review of the Nike Departure Backpack, and since then I’ve added a few more pieces from the Departure line to my luggage collection. One of these is the Nike Departure Roller, a carry-on size case that is now part of my standard traveling ensemble. I’m a huge fan of this piece of luggage, I don’t travel without it and below are the features that are the reasons why:

FEATURES
The Departure Roller features three main interior compartments, two on one side of the bag and one on the other. A heavy duty zipper bisects the bag so it opens flat for easy access to all compartments. The main compartment is the full height of the bag, the second compartment is about 2/3 the height and the smallest takes up the remaining third. All compartments have zippered mesh covers to keep contents securely in place. The smallest compartment is accessible from the outside, which is very handy. The outside of the case also has a roomy pocket that’s the perfect place for a sweater or light jacket. The case has inline skate wheels and a telescoping handle (long enough for this 6’3″ traveler to not have it hit my heels) that makes rolling through the airport a breeze.

PERFORMANCE
This bag is the perfect size to fit 2-3 days worth of clothes and accessories for a short trip (maybe even 4 days if you pack efficiently). This is now the case I use for all trips — I use it in combination with my Departure Backpack, and between the two I can fit all I need for my trip. On a plane the roller fits perfectly in the overhead compartment, and the backpack fits easily under the seat in front of me, so I have everything I need at arms reach. The case rolls easily, and I can also put the backpack on top of the case resting on the handle and roll both together, a great feature.

DURABILITY
I’ve used the Departure Roller on at least 6 trips in the last 8 months, and it still looks like new, with only a few scuffs here and there. The heavy-duty nylon has no rips, tears or signs of wear. All zippers are working fine and the mesh pocket covers are like new. The telescoping handle and skate wheels are all still working perfectly. From what I can tell, this is a very sturdy piece of luggage.

CONVENIENCE
The Departure Roller has several convenient features that make it a winner on short trips. Two pockets that are accessible from the outside make it easy to put away items while going through security at the airport. Top and side heavy duty reinforced nylon handles, and a molded plastic handle at the bottom make handling the case and putting it in the overhead bin on the airplane a cinch (it’s also the perfect size to fit in the overhead bin straight in, not sideways). The telescoping handle and being able to put my Departure Backpack on top of the case so I can roll both together is very handy also.

SUMMARY
I’m a huge fan of the Nike Departure line of luggage, and of the Departure Roller in particular. It’s a must-have for short trips, and this is the bag I now always travel with. If you are looking for a new carry-on bag to take on your next adventure, I highly recommend checking out the Departure Roller.

Note: I’ll be reviewing the Departure Shoe Tote, and hopefully the new Departure Messenger bag here on the blog in the near future.

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Accessories, Departure Roller Duffel, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Luggage, ngnation.com, Nike Golf

Nike Golf VR Pro Limited Edition Driver and Fairway Wood: In-hand Pics

October 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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The VR Pro Limited Edition Driver and Fairway Wood will be available at retail on Tuesday, and Nike Golf sent me a 9.5-degree driver and 19-degree 5-wood to test and review. I will be testing them later today, but I wanted our NG Nation readers to get a first look at these beauties here. Take a look at the photo galleries below and I’ll post the results of my testing in my product reviews in the next few weeks. Enjoy!

VR PRO LIMITED EDITION DRIVER (9.5-DEGREE, STIFF SHAFT):

 

VR PRO LIMITED EDITION FAIRWAY WOOD (5-WOOD, 19-DEGREE, STIFF SHAFT):

Filed Under: 2012 VR Pro LE Fairway Woods, 2012 VR Pro LE Forged Driver, Drivers, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Fairway Woods, ngnation.com, Nike Golf

Product Review: 2011 VR Pro Combo Irons

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It’s taken a few months for me to provide some good feedback on the 2011 Vr Pro Combo Forged Irons from Nike Golf. Fortunately, I had been playing the older model of the Pro Combo irons (which I absolutely fell in love with), so I had a good baseline to compare the old with the new.

Before I start, here’s a little history about the Vr Pro Combos from Nike:

In 2009 Nike Golf introduced its line of Victory Red irons, which featured three different models for three levels of play — The VR Forged TW Blades for better players, the VR Forged Split Cavity Irons for low- to mid-handicappers and the VR Cast Full Cavity Irons for mid-to high-handicappers. Nike Golf then updated and (slightly) renamed the VR line for 2011 to be the new VR Pro line, again consisting of three iron models — the VR Pro Blades for better players, the VR Pro Combo Irons for low- to mid-handicappers and the VR Pro Cavity Irons for mid- to high-handicappers. The VR Pro line retains the classic look and feel of the previous VR line, and reintroduces a club design that fans of Nike Golf have been asking about for the last several years — the Pro Combo iron.

DESIGN/APPEARANCE

I don’t know if it was because my old PCs were dirty and dinged up, but I was so impressed by the appearance of this new set. The moment I opened the box and removed the plastic wrap I knew I was opening something special. The chrome on the heads is so shiny and sleek. The faces are crisp and clean. It just gave me that new iron excitement. These are truly beautiful sticks.

From a design/appearance perspective, there are four core differences from the old PCs and the new PCs:

  1. Head size: The new PCs have noticeably smaller heads than their predecessors. In terms of height, they are about 2 to 3 grooves less (more on that in a bit), and in terms of width, it’s just a smidge smaller.
  2. Offset: The new PCs have very little offset vs. the old PCs. This has definitely taken some getting used to. Check out my pic comparison of the 3- iron and the 7-iron to see for yourself.
  3. Grooves: With the recent groove changes to u-shaped grooves, Nike has tackled this change by increasing the overall number of grooves and spacing them closer together.
  4. Cavities: The biggest change is the replacement of the full cavity with the pocket cavity in the 3 and 4-irons. Also the blades no longer have the two tone cavity and now look like a single forged blade like the old forged irons or the new Vr Pro Blades. The split cavities also have a slightly different look. However, one thing to note is that from address, the appearance of the cavity is unnoticeable.

PERFORMANCE

I think players who have played the old PCs and made the switch to the new PCs will have a bit of adjusting to do. Those who play blades or “players” irons will likely find the transition seamless. The smaller heads took me some time to get used to especially with the 3, 4 and 5-irons. However, the feel of solid contact is so much better on the new PCs. At first I was overshooting greens left and right, and it took me a few times to get used to my 10 yard gains. Unlike Bob, I have gained yardage on my irons although that could be due to old age and wear and tear in my old PCs.

Off the tee I am so accurate with these irons. I am still working on my long irons which I had been hitting so well with the old PCs. A few more rounds and some time on the range should rectify that.

In terms of spin, I am definitely not seeing a change from the pre-2011 grooves and the X3X grooves. In fact I have generated a lot of spin with my blades but again that could be due to the wear and tear on my old clubs.

APPEARANCE AT ADDRESS

Everyone is always so concerned with the topline view of irons these days. I would say that the Pro Combos are near the thinner side but certainly not super thin. In fact, I think they are pretty similar to the old PCs.  The offset issue had initially caused some issues with the fact that I was laying my irons slightly open. I will say that the Golf Pride Decade Multi-compound grips on my old clubs really helped with my alignment. The Tour Velvets on the new clubs don’t have any alignment aids, but I will be replacing the grips soon.

PLAYABILITY

There is definitely a high ball flight with the new Vr Pro Combos. Fading the ball has been a slight challenge with the new irons but I am working on that. Drawing the ball on command has been a quick adjustment.  Spin has been a slower adjustment. In my last round I hit a 5-iron off the tee to a green about 195 away and it went so high and literally rolled back off the green through a fairway into the pond protecting the front of the green. The backspin was remarkable. My suggestion is to get to a range and understand your distances and trajectories. These irons will allow you to do whatever you want to the ball, so commanding control of them is paramount.

FEEL

The iron faces are so hot and solid that shots on the mark will feel great. For those looking to try blades out, this set is a perfect transition into them. I feel super confident and accurate with the blades and I believe that mid-handicappers out there will appreciate the usability of these irons. In terms of forgiveness, the 3 and 4-irons really are players’ irons so despite the pocket cavity, it will be extremely important to make solid contact. I found the shorter irons to be extremely forgiving however.

SUMMARY

I made the change from my old Pro Combos to the new Vr Pro Combos mid season this summer. The transition has been a good experience but one that will take some practicing. The best gains so far for me are from the solid feel, the extra distance, and the spin workability. The points of improvement for me are adapting to the reduced offset and the smaller heads. I have no doubt that I’ve made an upgrade, but like with any irons, it will take some getting used to. As an aside, my friend Stephen, who played golf at Coastal Carolina, recently bought the Vr Pro Combos and upgraded from a different manufacturer. As a scratch golfer, Stephen has given me some great input on how solid they feel and how well he can work them. Clearly, he has adjusted to the Vr Pro Combos better than I have but that is testament to his scratch handicap and my 11-handicap. The best response he wrote to me when I asked him how he liked his new clubs was that they have helped him scramble very well because they’ve given him a variety of shot options in terms of workability and trajectory. My plans for my Vr Pro Combos are to keep working on my long irons, put some new grips on them and keep working on spin control. I really stand behind these clubs and recommend them for low and low/mid handicap players.

Check out this video in which Nike Golf athletes talk about the VR Pro Combo irons >>

Read Nike Golf’s press release about the VR Pro Combo irons >>

Check out the VR Pro Microsite on nikegolf.com >>

Check out Bob’s review of the Vr Pro Combos >>

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Equipment Product Reviews, Irons, ngnation.com, VR Pro Combo Irons, What's In YOUR Bag?

Product Review: Nike Golf Air Range Shoes

September 26, 2011 By 1 Comment
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With the proliferation of athletic and street-style golf shoes hitting the market late this year, more attention is being paid to casual golf shoe designs. For years Nike Golf has had several athletic golf shoe designs in its lineup, and I have owned several of these including the Air Max Edge and last year’s Air Rate. This year Nike Golf added a new athletic shoe to their footwear line — the Nike Air Range.

Every spring I pick up a new pair of warm weather golf shoes for summer play here in Phoenix, as I prefer lighter, more breathable shoes for those hot summer rounds (in winter, I wear a standard pair of Nike leather golf shoes). Earlier this year Nike Golf sent me a pair of Air Ranges in the White/Blue colorway to test and review, and I also bought a pair in the Dark Gray colorway. I’ve put them through thorough testing in many rounds over the past six months, and below I share my findings with you.

INITIAL IMPRESSSION
Out of the box these shoes are very comfortable, and they have a definite athletic feel to them. They are very light, and the predominantly mesh upper is very breathable just like a running or training shoe. The sole has the same integrated spike pattern as the Air Rate, and the same Nike Air unit in the heel. I found the fit to be true (the Air Rate was a bit narrow for me), and the shoe was comfortable straight out of the box. The Air Range feels basically like a running or training shoe with a sole pattern that incorporates golf spikes.

VISUAL DESIGN
With casual golf shoes gaining greater acceptance (and fewer sideways glances) on the course, the Air Range fits right in with this new trend in golf footwear. A smart visual design features a mesh upper with synthetic leather accents. The 2011 line features three colorways — White/Blue/Black, White/Black/Red and Gray/Dark Gray, and a fourth colorway is being added for 2012 (Black, White/Yellow). The design is that of an athletic shoe all the way.

TECHNOLOGY
One feature of the Air Range surprised me — its 2-year Limited Waterproof Warranty. At first glance it looks like the mesh would be porous, and I’m not sure how Nike achieved the waterproofing but I can attest to it because in my first round wearing these I stepped in a puddle and the water did not seep through. As mentioned above the mesh breathes well and my feet feel cool and dry while wearing these. Like the Air Rate, the sole features a molded spike pattern, with two spikes at the ball of the foot and two at the outer heel. The rest of the sole has molded ridges that provide plenty of traction. The heel features the Nike Air unit that is visible at the back of the heel, and the Nike Power Channel runs in a zig-zag from the toe to the heel.

COMFORT
The athletic design, mesh upper and Nike Air technology in the heel all make this a very comfortable golf shoe. They feel great right out of the box, and on the course the shoes are very light on my feet, to the point that I don’t feel like I’m wearing golf shoes. The breathable mesh kept my feet cool and dry in the blistering Phoenix heat. I wore my Air Ranges for every round this summer, alternating between the white and dark gray pairs, and I can attest to the coolness and comfort these shoes provide.

FIT
The Air Range fit true to size for me. I mention this because certain pairs of Nike Golf shoes have felt narrow to me — the Air Rate and my old SP-5’s are examples of this. It seems like in more recent designs the fit has been a little wider and more true to size (I noticed the true-to-size fit in the Lunar Control also). As always I recommend trying these on before buying to make sure the size is right for you.

PERFORMANCE
From the name one would expect that shoe is designed for the practice tee and casual play, but this shoe is ideal for serious play on the course. The molded spike pattern on the sole provides more than enough traction on full shots. The shoe gives plenty of support at mid-foot, and it’s very stable on full swings. The lightness and comfort of this shoe is a bonus when walking the course.

SUMMARY
Nike Golf has created another great athletic golf shoe design in the Air Range. It is a light, breathable, waterproof golf shoe that is very comfortable, stylish, performs well on the course and is perfect for warm weather. Now that more casual shoe designs are gaining notice in the golf footwear marketplace, perhaps the Air Range will get the attention it deserves. If you are in the market for a comfortable athletic golf shoe, I highly recommend trying the Air Range.

Editor’s note: The product reviewed above was supplied by the manufacturer to the reviewer/author free of charge for reviewing purposes only. The reviewer/author was not paid for this review, and the opinions expressed in the review are strictly those of the reviewer/author.

Filed Under: Air Range, Footwear, Footwear & Apparel, Footwear & Apparel Product Reviews, ngnation.com, Nike Golf

Initial Impressions :: First 36 Hours With My VR Pro Combos

August 16, 2011 By 6 Comments
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Monday August 15

11:47am - I receive a call from my Mother that my clubs arrived. (Yes, I shipped them to her because she’s always home and I was at work)

11:50am – Leave work to go to my Mother’s and pick up my clubs.

12:10pm - Arrive at my Mother’s and stare at the box. Too scared to open box, I decide to open them at home after work. (Iron Specs pictured)

Yes, I got graphite shafts. These Project X Graphite Iron shafts should really change the stigma people have with graphite shafts. Drivers went graphite, Woods went graphite, Hybrids went graphite…what’s next, irons? Matt Kuchar is half-way there with steel-fiber shafts in his irons. Less wear on your joints and body and I’m just trying to show that they’re not just for “old men” with slow swing speeds.

12:30pm - Back to work, clubs sitting in the car.

4:36pm - Leave work, go to pick up the lady.

4:56pm – Arrive home.

6:00pm – 9:00pm - Open. Drool over clubs, take pictures, reorganize golf bag.

These clubs are gorgeous. I want to eat off of them. They look so clean, I want to perform surgery with them. These are my new babies. I was speechless all night. I just looked at the clubs, peeled off some stickers, made sure they weren’t scratched. I don’t have kids, but let me tell you, I just got 8 gems I will take care of for years to come.

B = Blade
S = Split Cavity
P = Pocket Cavity

(Pictures shown below with comparisons to my Nike Slingshot 4D’s)

9:01pm – hit an 8-iron punch shot in my bedroom into a pillow. (only ball I hit all day). BUTTER. I love these new grooves. There’s so many that I could feel them gripping the ball.

 

 

9:30pm – 10:30pm – Complete PGA Championship and Weekend Wrap-up posts for NGNation.

11:00pm – Tweet with Chris Wang and David Mullen about WWE

11:01pm – Good night.

Tuesday August 16
(sorry, no pictures)

6:45am - Wake up

7:50am – 4:30pm – Work

5:00pm - Go to GolfTown and help @thejanesnyder (loyal Fantasy Four player) pick out a new driver. She got a square SQ Machspeed Black! (Check out our NGNation review here >>)

7:00pm – 8:30pm – Serious range session. I hit the Pro Combos so well. I honestly was intimated by these clubs. Let me tell you this, the 8 iron is my favourite club by far. It feels like I’m hitting a wedge, except this is going with some serious distance. I probably gained 10 yards on these clubs. Can’t know for sure though.

I honestly hit them great. I mis-hit my 3-iron three times, because I haven’t hit a 3-iron in about 5 years. But I still had good shots with them. I hit the Split and Blades no problem. Heck, I even took my 4-iron on with some serious results.

I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time I was hitting these clubs. This was the BEST I’VE EVER HIT THE BALL. I’m not even lying. Ask Jane, she was with me. Best range session ever.

I’m going to try and put in 9 holes Thursday, 27 on Saturday and 18 on Sunday. I have a tournament on Monday for work, so I want to put in some work as much as possible before then.

I’m in heaven.

9:00pm - Call my brother who is visiting this weekend to tell him I’m going to CRUSH him when we play.

I’ll be back with a full review after a few rounds.

Check out Bob’s full review here >>

*Just some background info on me since this isn’t a detailed post. That will come later. I’m a 16.7 handicap. I’ve played 15 rounds this year on the East Coast of Canada and I’ve been playing Nike Slingshot 4D’s for the past 4 years. I play a slight fade on my irons, I wear black socks when I golf and I work as hard as I play*

Filed Under: Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Irons, ngnation.com, VR Pro Combo Irons