Why does every new club look like a Nike iron

[tsecor]

every club looks like a nike iron?    lol

 

 

[Triple Putt]

I ran into brooks caddy years ago in Mexico, he said Brooks hated playing Nike and couldn't wait to play what he wanted once they ended the club contracts. He also stated that the balls were trash and that Tiger had equipment that was not readily available to any other Nike staffers. 

[PostandGhost]

Just goes to show that a swoosh can ruin any great design

[Bad9]

7 hours ago, KING246 said:

I ran into brooks caddy years ago in Mexico, he said Brooks hated playing Nike and couldn't wait to play what he wanted once they ended the club contracts. He also stated that the balls were trash and that Tiger had equipment that was not readily available to any other Nike staffers. 

 

Do you know his caddy?

 

He only was signed with Nike for one year (2016) before they exited the equipment market and he could play what he wanted.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Bad9

[North Butte]

19 hours ago, tsecor said:

every club looks like a nike iron?    lol

 

 

Sure and every putter nowadays looks like a Scotty Cameron.

 

Or was it like a Ping?  I've heard it both ways...

[thejuice]

On 5/4/2021 at 6:51 PM, lefthack said:

 

Nike has done this quite a few times. Either get out before it's too expensive, or sell it off.

 

Nikes hardware is legit and they had the best guys building and designing (ever hear of Artisan Golf). But they were "too flashy" for most old guys and old guys buy hardware. The profit margin on soft goods is HUGE.

THIS!!!!! We used to argue with the old farts on WRX about how they didn't like the colors, etc. Who cares about the color of the back of the iron when you're looking at a forged steel face??? LOL! 

[dugue4]

On 5/5/2021 at 10:13 AM, nostatic said:

 

If other companies swooshed up, Nike would have sued them for trademark infringement...

[SylvesterLundgren]

15 hours ago, KING246 said:

I ran into brooks caddy years ago in Mexico, he said Brooks hated playing Nike and couldn't wait to play what he wanted once they ended the club contracts. He also stated that the balls were trash and that Tiger had equipment that was not readily available to any other Nike staffers. 

That why he and tony finau played the NIKE vapor fly pro iron for a grip after they closed down. 🙂 no contract monies but still played a club that’s shyte.... not for a couple months.... but years tho? Lol 

[lefthack]

30 minutes ago, SylvesterLundgren said:

That why he and tony finau played the NIKE vapor fly pro iron for a grip after they closed down. 🙂 no contract monies but still played a club that’s shyte.... not for a couple months.... but years tho? Lol 

 

https://www.pgatour.com/equipmentreport/2021/01/28/brooks-koepka-tony-finau-nike-3iron-kevin-na-callaway-fred-couples-squarewood-henrik-stenson-irons.html

 

WRX asked former Nike Tour Technician Ben Giunta for insight. 

“Players have positive vibes with that model,” he said. “It doesn’t have a ton of offset. It’s consistent. It fits their eyes, and it is really hot.”

Edited May 6, 2021 by lefthack

[puttingmatt]

On 5/4/2021 at 1:43 PM, Bad9 said:

You could argue that Nike design was indeed ahead of the curve. Although there are models from the past that have a similar weight distribution pattern, weighting towards the toe-Wilson Staff Tour Blade and other Wilson models, Several Hogan models and I'm sure many others that don't mirror the specific look and shape pf the Nike Vapor as much.

Yes, I would say that Nike copied many designs, not sure you could say they were ahead of the curve.

Their blade designs were very much like everyone else's.

I don't play sgi or gi irons, so there could be something there, but I don't recall any earth shaking club  design talk about Nike

[joostin]

Per the OP, the Vapor and Engage line moved the COG more centered by distributing more weight out to the toe (mostly low some high), away from the hosel, which a lot of companies are doing now either by a similar muscle / cavity design or toe weights or both.  Moving weight away from center also increases MOI for more "forgiveness".  So yes, solid design with the V shaped back.   They are all different but variations of the same idea.  I personally like the design, feel, and performance of VPC.

[North Butte]

Ping was moving weight out toward the toe for more forgiveness back in the 1960's. And it wasn't a completely novel idea then, the principle was well understood.

[Triple Putt]

On 5/6/2021 at 4:09 AM, Bad9 said:

 

Do you know his caddy?

 

He only was signed with Nike for one year (2016) before they exited the equipment market and he could play what he wanted.

No I don't. Just happen to run into his caddy Dick and a few of his buddies while at a bar in Mexico. My MIL actually was talking up my golf game to those guys and ended up texting me saying "come down and meet this guy, he said he's a caddy for someone on the tour" ahahaha

 

They wanted to take me out to play the next day but I didn't have my sticks with me. 

[Ben Berube]

On ‎5‎/‎5‎/‎2021 at 2:35 PM, tobybear said:

https://www.golfwrx.com/600144/nike-golf-club-nostalgia/ 

OMG Love that commercial, never saw it hahahahahaha!

 

[joostin]

4 hours ago, North Butte said:

Ping was moving weight out toward the toe for more forgiveness back in the 1960's. And it wasn't a completely novel idea then, the principle was well understood.

That's true, those Karstens!  Same can be said though for the general iron and wedge shape - big toe, small heel to offset the hosel weight.

 

But I think COG hasn't exactly been as much at the forefront of designs over the years until somewhat recently including with Nike, especially with wedges.  I have a Cleveland 588 RTX CB head, 2012, that I measured the COG is 7mm (over 1/4") off center toward the heel.  That's not so long ago, but nowadays they would never design a COG that far from center (as they started advertising with RTX3 and CBX).  Same line of thought for Nike. 

 

Maybe it was just other desired features like general perimeter weighting or mass behind the center or cosmetics that a centered COG just wasn't cared for as much before.  Now with everyone splitting hairs who has the better "tech", they have to play the COG game. 🤷‍♂️

[Kylekoz17]

I would’ve been curious to see how they did during the pandemic.  Tons and tons of new and younger golfers started playing and I think those were the target Nike customers.  Ones that like the flashy colors and don’t have comfort/experience from prior clubs with the older brands 

[Loose_Ferrule]

24 minutes ago, Kylekoz17 said:

I would’ve been curious to see how they did during the pandemic.  Tons and tons of new and younger golfers started playing and I think those were the target Nike customers.  Ones that like the flashy colors and don’t have comfort/experience from prior clubs with the older brands 

As much as I don't agree with them being leading edge and having great equipment, they would be absolutely killing it right now.

 

Without question they would be like every other manufacturer with 4-6 week and even longer delays.

Edited May 8, 2021 by Simmer7

[joostin]

12 hours ago, Kylekoz17 said:

I would’ve been curious to see how they did during the pandemic.  Tons and tons of new and younger golfers started playing and I think those were the target Nike customers.  Ones that like the flashy colors and don’t have comfort/experience from prior clubs with the older brands 

Probably, though golf hard goods would be just a small piece of their pie.  They've done pretty well without it 🙂.  Chart below showing since late 2016 when Acushnet (Titleist Footjoy) went public.

 

Nike, NKE:  $217.7B mkt cap ($37.4B revenue 2020)

Acushnet, GOLF:  $3.8B cap ($1.61B 2020)

Callaway, ELY:  $5.7B cap ($1.59B 2020)

Added Adidas and Under Armour:

 

Even if they owned Acushnet, that would only be 4% of their sales!

 

[Loose_Ferrule]

2 hours ago, joostin said:

Probably, though golf hard goods would be just a small piece of their pie.  They've done pretty well without it 🙂.  Chart below showing since late 2016 when Acushnet (Titleist Footjoy) went public.

 

Nike, NKE:  $217.7B mkt cap ($37.4B revenue 2020)

Acushnet, GOLF:  $3.8B cap ($1.61B 2020)

Callaway, ELY:  $5.7B cap ($1.59B 2020)

Added Adidas and Under Armour:

 

Even if they owned Acushnet, that would only be 4% of their sales!

 

You are correct it wouldn't mean a lot to the overall company sales but it would mean a tremendous amount to the golf division and all of the people that were employed in that division at one time.

 

It's not a very fair assessment.

Edited May 8, 2021 by Simmer7

[7018]

I've played Nike clubs off and on most of my life.  And to this day, the Vapor Pros are the best irons I have ever tried.  Always searching for something to kick them out of the bag but have yet to find anything.  Only thing close were a few sets of Mizuno blades.  Nike will always hold a soft spot in my heart, really wish they would have stuck with it

[akronswitness]

On 5/4/2021 at 6:51 PM, lefthack said:

 

Nike has done this quite a few times. Either get out before it's too expensive, or sell it off.

 

Nikes hardware is legit and they had the best guys building and designing (ever hear of Artisan Golf). But they were "too flashy" for most old guys and old guys buy hardware. The profit margin on soft goods is HUGE.

 

Tell me about it, it cost $50-$60 for a simple solid colored Nike golf polo just because it has a 'swoosh' on the sleeve

[joostin]

45 minutes ago, Simmer7 said:

You are correct it wouldn't mean a lot to the overall company sales but it would mean a tremendous amount to the golf division and all of the people that were employed in that division at one time.

 

It's not a very fair assessment.

Oh no doubt about the people it affected when exiting.  I would love to have them back in the equipment mix (and apply at Nike Golf!).  Just showing what we already know that they're so big, and it just didn't pan out in their business model. 

[lefthack]

2 hours ago, akronswitness said:

 

Tell me about it, it cost $50-$60 for a simple solid colored Nike golf polo just because it has a 'swoosh' on the sleeve

 

Go to the Employee Store, I think they were $5 last time I was in there. 

[akronswitness]

3 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

Go to the Employee Store, I think they were $5 last time I was in there. 

 

Employee store? That's like 5 states away from me haha

Edited May 8, 2021 by akronswitness

[lefthack]

11 minutes ago, akronswitness said:

 

Employee store? That's like 5 states away from me haha

 

It's like 2 blocks from my office. The World Campus is across the street from my office. That place is bad a**, but I haven't been on campus in a few years.

 

Columbia Sportswear bought out our old buildings and we just moved a few months back. 🤣

[akronswitness]

2 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

It's like 2 blocks from my office. The World Campus is across the street from my office. That place is bad a**, but I haven't been on campus in a few years.

 

Columbia Sportswear bought out our old buildings and we just moved a few months back. 🤣

Oh gosh your lucky then! I guess I will have to settle for $5 Nike polos retailing at $55 at Dicks Sporting Goods.

 

Side note, went to FLA recently and went to a department store called Bealls (sp?) And got a bunch of the name brand Callaway, Nike, PGA brand, ECT apparel for like $25 a pop. That was a good find. Got like 3 new pairs of golf shorts for like $60 total.

[clinkinfo]

On 5/4/2021 at 6:51 PM, lefthack said:

 

Nike has done this quite a few times. Either get out before it's too expensive, or sell it off.

 

Nikes hardware is legit and they had the best guys building and designing (ever hear of Artisan Golf). But they were "too flashy" for most old guys and old guys buy hardware. The profit margin on soft goods is HUGE.

 

I think he’s right.  I think the “‘flash” was the mistake.  They used their bright fluorescent colors in a time when that wasn’t golf, like at all.  I think many just ignored them as a result.  

[puttingmatt]

5 hours ago, clinkinfo said:

 

I think he’s right.  I think the “‘flash” was the mistake.  They used their bright fluorescent colors in a time when that wasn’t golf, like at all.  I think many just ignored them as a result.  

I always associated Nike's fluorescent badging on clubs as

Putting lipstick on a pig.

If players won't talk about the club,

Let them talk about the fluorescent color

[clinkinfo]

1 minute ago, puttingmatt said:

I always associated Nike's fluorescent badging on clubs as

Putting lipstick on a pig.

If players won't talk about the club,

Let them talk about the fluorescent color

 

but in this case, the lipstick prevented people from even looking at the clubs seriously.  Some of their stuff was decent, it wasn’t bad equipment, it just looked really dumb at the time.

[puttingmatt]

21 minutes ago, clinkinfo said:

 

but in this case, the lipstick prevented people from even looking at the clubs seriously.  Some of their stuff was decent, it wasn’t bad equipment, it just looked really dumb at the time.

Agreed,  personally I liked the blades

best ,  very clean lines with good performance and feel. After that, 

Everything turned into a sasquatch looking mess with bright colors. Lol's

Except the method putter, that showed promise.

Edited May 10, 2021 by puttingmatt