You are here: Home / Archives for Product Reviews / Equipment Product Reviews

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

February 14, 2012 By 2 Comments
Pin it

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
Pin it

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 Departure Shoe Tote

December 22, 2011 By 1 Comment
Pin it

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
Pin it

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
Pin it

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
Pin it

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
Pin it

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?

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

August 16, 2011 By 6 Comments
Pin it

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

Product Review: Nike Method Core Putter

July 6, 2011 By 1 Comment
Pin it

It wasn’t long after Nike Golf’s Method putter began appearing in the bags of Nike Athletes in late 2008 that it began racking up wins. Paul Casey won twice with it before the 2009 Masters, and later that year it captured two majors in a row when Lucas Glover won with it at the U.S. Open at Bethpage and Stewart Cink won the Open Championship at Turnberry using the Method putter. Since then it has racked up several more victories including this year’s Masters, where Charl Schwartzel won with his Method 004.

Nike Golf established the Method putter in the premium putter market by introducing its Polymetal Groove Technology, which produces a fast forward roll at impact. The difference in roll is really noticeable, and I talked about this in detail in my product review of the Method putter. In March of this year Nike Golf released another version of the Method putter, the Method Core, which incorporates Nike’s Polymetal Groove Technology into an insert. This allows the putter to produce the same great roll on the ball at a little more than half the price of the original Method (milled version) — about $250 for the Method milled and about $130 for the Method Core.

But is the Method Core as good as the Method Milled? What are the differences? I will attempt to let you know in this product review of the Method Core. Shortly after its release, Nike Golf sent me the Method Core 3i to test and review, and since then I have bought the Method Core 1i. I own the Method Milled 001 and 003 models, and have played several rounds with all four putters (all four putter models can be seen in the photo gallery below), so I can give you a good idea of what I think of the Method Core and how it compares with the original Method milled version. And if you want to read what Alan Numsuwan thought of the Method Core 4i, you can read his review here.

FIRST IMPRESSION: DESIGN/APPEARANCE
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the Method Core was the new Nickel plating on the putter head. I really like the darker look of the Nickel finish, it’s a great contrast to the lighter silver head of the original Method Milled (the Method Core’s head is cast, the original Method is precision milled stainless steel). The Polymetal Groove Technology is incorporated into the face using an insert that is comprised of an anodized red aluminum faceplate backed by white polymer. The red aluminum with the white polymer lines look great with the darker head color.

The lines on the Method Core are softer than on the original Method milled version, with more curves and rounded corners incorporated into the design. There are five models in the Method Core line (five models also in the original Method line), and as I mentioned above I have the Method 001 and 003 models. Both are blade style, heel-toe weighted designs, the 001 has a thinner blade and features a slant neck, the 003 has a deeper flange and features a plumber’s neck. The 001 has a sightline on top of the blade, the 003 has the sightline on the flange. Both models feature a Method Core stepped shaft by True Temper (the Method shaft is stepless) and the Method Core Pistol Grip by Golf Pride, which is tackier than the Method’s Golf Pride Method Tour Tradition grip, which has a more “velvety” feel.

FIRST IMPRESSION: PERFORMANCE
The first thing I noticed when I rolled my first few putts with the Method Core was how similarly it rolled the ball to the original Method. The roll was immediate, and the ball noticeably hugged the green on its way to the hole. The roll really is different with the Method putter line (both the Method Core and the original Method) — the ball comes off the face and almost immediately starts rolling, without skidding or hopping.

The Method Core’s weighting feels similar to the original Method, and it feels really solid when you strike the ball. There is a slight difference in feel between the two putters that is difficult to describe, but I make an attempt in the “Feel” section below. I had a lot of confidence with the Method Core right out of the box, it was easy to control the distance of my putts because of the fast forward roll off the face, I felt like I could lag it close from long distance and pretty much make everything from close range. Short putts were no worry with this putter.

FEEL
The feel is slightly different between the original Method milled version and the Method Core — neither is better or worse, just different. Both produce the same fast forward roll, but there is a very slight difference in feel between the two putters. The best way I can describe it is the directly-injected polymer of the original Method milled version feels more fully integrated into the entire head of the putter than the Method Core ‘s insert. With the original Method you are striking the actual face of the putter that has the groove lines machined out of it, and then filled with the polymer. The Method Core has the area for the insert machined out of the face, and the 2-piece insert is put in its place — so you are striking the insert, not the actual face of the putter, which gives a slightly different type of feel and feedback. I don’t prefer the feel of one more than the other, they’re just a little different from each other, but I felt I should mention it. Both putters feel very solid and the difference is very slight and hard to describe, so I suggest trying both to feel the difference and decide which you model you like best.

ROLL
The Method Core yielded the same, fast, green-hugging forward roll that I experienced with the original Method. The ball comes off the face and starts rolling almost immediately, and tracks straight and true on its line. I saw no difference in roll off the face between the Method and Method Core, both give the same benefits from the Polymetal Groove Technology in the face.

WEIGHTING
The weighting feels similar between the Method Core and the original Method. The Method milled features tungsten weights in the heel and toe that create the perimeter weighting. The Method Core does not have these weights, but gets its perimeter weighting from a slightly larger putter head, and the redistribution of the weight removed from the center of the face (to make the cavity for the insert) to the heel and toe of the putter head. The weighting of the Method Core and the original Method felt similar to me.

DISTANCE CONTROL
I was able to easily control the distance of my putts with the Method Core, which is one of the primary benefits of the forward roll produced by the Polymetal grooves. The more consistent forward roll makes it easier to more consistently roll my putts the same distance. That control increased my confidence, and more of my putts started finding the bottom of the cup.

ACCURACY
Because of the more consistent roll produced by the Method Core, I was able to keep my putts on line more consistently, and hit my targets more often. Whether that is a certain point on the line of a breaking putt or the back of the hole itself, I was able to be more accurate with this putter because of the way I could control the roll of my putts more consistently.

SUMMARY
The Method Core is a great looking putter that gives all of the benefits of the original Method milled putter for a little more than half the price. It gives the same roll, but feels slightly different than the original Method milled, so I suggest trying both putters to see which one you like better. The head designs also vary between the two lines, so that may also influence your decision on which model you go with. You can’t go wrong with either the original Method milled or the new Method Core in my opinion, but if you want to see the benefits of Nike’s Polymetal Groove Technology help your putting game, and you want to save a few bucks in the process, the Method Core may be the putter for you.

Read Nike Golf’s press release about the Nike Method Core Putter >>

Check out the Method putter microsite on nikegolf.com >>

VIDEO: See what Nike athletes think of the Method Core putter >>

Read Alan Numsuwan’s review of the Method Core 4i >>

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, Method Core, ngnation.com, Nike Golf, Putters

1 Round, 3 Balls :: 20XI-X, ONE Tour D and ONE Vapor Speed Comparison

June 12, 2011 By 3 Comments
Pin it

Over the past two years, I’ve played 2 balls far more than any other; The Titlelist Pro V1x and the Nike ONE Vapor Speeds.
With the recent release of the Nike 20XI’s, I knew I had to try these. Along with the 20XI release, there was a significant price drop in the Nike ONE Tour balls, so I picked up a dozen of those, too.

I decided to play 1 round, playing 6 holes with the three Nike Golf Balls; 20XI-X, ONE Tour D and ONE Vapor Speed. I headed to The Links at Penn Hills to go birdie hunting.

I alternated balls for each hole, as (like most), I play better as the round goes on.

PRACTICE GREEN

I arrived about 30 minutes early so I could spend a bit of time with each ball hitting some chips and putts. Especially since this was my first time with the 20XI’s.  I was used to the feel  of the Vapor Speeds, so this was really just for the ONE Tour D’s and 20XI’s. All the balls felt great chipping and putting, but it was hard to get a good feel as I was just warming up myself.

Winner? Draw.

OFF THE TEE – DISTANCE, ROLL and BALL FLIGHT

I crush my Vapor Speeds, as I should, but where the Tour D’s and 20XI-X are distance Tour balls, I figured the distance would be pretty similar between the two of them. I prefer the higher ball flight of the Vapor Speeds, but the lower ball flight of the 20XI and ONE Tour D were nice, too. However, I felt like the 20XI-X kept true to it’s trajectory and seemed to be the most pure. I found the ONE Tour D had the most roll off of the tee.

Winner for Roll? ONE Tour D
Winner for Distance? ONE Vapor Speed
Winner for Ball Flight? 20XI-X

APPROACH – DISTANCE, SPIN and BALL FLIGHT

The only complaint I have with the Vapor Speed is that it lacks the spin of of a premium tour ball, that’s why I would alternate the Pro V1x. However, the 20XI-X felt extremley soft and stuck on my approach shots from 150 yards and closer. It was silly. The ONE Tour D was decent, but seemed to have a lower ball flight with my irons, so I give this to the 20XI-X hands down. I like the Ball Flight of the Vapor Speeds, it just doesn’t have the spin. In terms of distance, I felt like the ONE Tour D was about 5 yard longer than each of the other balls, but I prefr

Winner for Spin? 20XI-X
Winner for Distance? ONE Tour D
Winner for Ball Flight? 20XI-X and ONE Vapor Speed

ON AND AROUND THE GREEN – FEEL

I know my Vapor Speed inside and out. I know how to hit it on flop shots, punch shots and any distance putt on the green. With that said, I’ll try and be as unbiased as possible. I can say that the ONE Tour D felt much like the Pro V1x in that it was soft off of the putter face and seems to lack the roll that the Vapor Speeds have. When it came to the 20XI-X’s, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected something close the the ONE Tour D, but it seems to jump off of the face a little more, but not too much. I think it had just the feel that I want..quick, but not too quick off of the face with a great roll and pace.
Around the green, The 20XI-X checked amazingly. The contact and feel felt much like the Vapor Speeds, but with much more sping.

Winner? 20XI-X

SUMMARY

Overall, I really liked the 20XI-X, however can I justify the price? I’m sure I could, but with the ONE Tour D’s on sale as the same price at the Vapor Speeds…it’s hard to say if it’s worth the price jump. The best ball of the three is the 20XI-X, but for the value of Vapor Speeds, and now if you can find the ONE Tour’s on sale, you honestly can’t go wrong with any ball. I’ll play out the rest of my Vapor Speeds and Tour D’s and them I’ll probably pick up some 20XI’s.

Agree/Disagree? Let me know what you think below!

Check out Nike Golf’s golf ball recommender here >>

Check out the NGNation ONE Vapor Speed review >>

Check out the NGNation 20XI-X and S review >>

 

 

Filed Under: 20XI Ball, Balls, Equipment, Equipment Product Reviews, Nike ONE Tour D, Nike ONE Vapor Speed