Nike Golf has slowly released their 2015 equipment line up over the past couple of months. First, we saw the Vapor Irons released in New York City during a media event held at Liberty National Golf Course and featuring Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jimmy Fallon. These irons is what Nike Golf calls the blade, reinvented especially with the Volt colourway.
During the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Rory McIlroy opted to replace the Covert 2.0 driver he’s swung so beautifully with the new Nike Vapor Pro driver. It was a shock to the golfing world that Rory would switch equipment ahead of such an important competition, but he had been practicing with the new driver for several months and even said that he’s not only gained more distance, but also gained an even better ability to shape the ball with the Vapor Pro driver, which also utilizes the Volt colourway.
*In hand photos from @MyGolfSpy
Today, Nike Golf held another media event at their research and development centre, The Oven, where they introduced the rest of the Vapor Driver, Wood and Hybrid family. Earlier in the year, we got a sneak peek at the Vapor Flex Driver, which is 420CC and is a near replica of the drivers that Tiger Woods uses, in terms of shape. It has a black crown with a Volt swoosh near the heel, but perhaps the most innovative part of this driver is the dark RZN insert in the sole of the driver called the FlexFlight adjustability system.
FlexFlight features a 15 gram RZN tube with a high-denisty weight on one end, called the FlightPod, which is located in the cavity of the club. By flipping the FlightPod, golfers can actively move the center of gravity of the Vapor Flex driver to further optimize their launch conditions. The CG can be changed from low and forward to low and back which impacts launch angle, spin rate, forgiveness (increased in the “mid” setting) and workability (enhanced in the “low” setting).
Nike’s FlyBeams is also used to stiffen the cavity back as well as a re-engineered Compression Channel and FlexLoft 2 for even more adjustability. The Vapor Flex driver comes standard with a Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ Blue Board 60 shaft and will cost $499 when it arrives in stores Jan. 30. It will produce the lowest launch angles and offers the most workability of the Nike Vapor driver family, which also includes the Vapor Pro and Vapor Speed.
Next, we take a look at the Vapor Speed driver, which has the largest and most stable chassis of the new Vapor drivers. Similar to the Vapor Flex and Vapor Pro, the Vapor Speed driver also features a black crown with Volt swoosh, Volt cavity back and compression channel. This driver is designed to promote a higher launch angle with low spin. Of course, FlyBeams is used to reinforce the cavity back and works in combination with the compression channel. This compression channel enhances the trampoline effect observed on the NexCOR face to increase ball speed on hits struck across the entire face.
FlexLoft 2 also allows golfers even more adjustability. It gives golfers the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings. This new system is five grams (30%) lighter without compromising function. This redistribution of mass creates more stability, better launch conditions and faster swing speeds. Another benefit of FlexLoft 2 is its forward and backward compatibility. Golfers with previous generations of Covert can use shafts with the original adaptor in the new head or vice versa. The Vapor Speed driver will be available January 30, 2015 with a Fubuki Z 50G Series shaft for $299.
Fairway Woods in the Vapor family were also introduced earlier in the month. Golfers will be able to choose between the Vapor Speed ($199) and Vapor Flex ($249) fairway woods, also available January 30, 2015. Like the new Vapor drivers, the Vapor Speed fairway woods feature Nike’s new FlyBeam-reinforced Covert Cavity Back design, a reengineered Compression Channel and a NexCOR face – all combining to stabilize the chassis, maximize ball speed and promote longer and straighter distance. The low CG provides a high launch with a lower-spin flight.
The Vapor Flex fairway woods highlight the same technologies found in the Vapor Speed on a more compact chassis, except the Vapor Flex has added Nike’s FlexLoft 2 adjustability system, allowing the golf athlete the functionality of five lofts and three face angles within 15 different settings. Again, the FlexLoft 2 system is also utilized in these two clubs.
Lastly, the Vapor family also extends to hybrid golf clubs, which are also offered in Vapor Flex and Vapor Speed models and feature Volt in the cavity back and compression channel. The new Vapor Flex hybrids ($229) feature FlexLoft 2, a lower center of gravity, and lower, straighter leading edges based on athlete feedback. A FlyBeam-reinforced Covert Cavity Back directs impact energy to the re-engineered compression channel for increased ball speed across the face.
The Vapor Speed hybrids ($179) feature a unique design that engineers at The Oven call “Linear Progression.” The longer hybrids feature a larger body and shallower face and progress to a sleek body and deep face on the short hybrids. This progression allows for more forgiveness and speed on long hybrids, while yielding shot-making accuracy and workability on shorter hybrids.
The entire family of Vapor golf clubs including the drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons have been designed with the insight of all of Nike Golf’s athletes. What the athletes wanted, the engineers at The Oven were able to deliver. And these clubs are now available to the general public either. What the pros get, so will the general public – currently, Rory McIlroy’s is 100% stock. By giving the public what the pros are using, Nike Golf is also ramping up their custom fitting services. We’ve already seen the Nike Golf Fitting Centre at Archerfield and hopefully, we’ll see more of these centre’s in North America.
It’s also great that they’ve made Volt a franchise colour. It’s definitely a turning point in the company from Tiger Woods and Victory Red to the new, younger generation of golfer/athlete, such as Rory McIlroy. There’s also rumblings of new wedge offerings and new lines of Method putters coming soon, so stay tuned for that! It’s safe to say that 2015 will definitely be a huge year for Nike in the sport of golf!
