TIGER is PLAYING the RETAIL 08 NIKE ONE

KMeloney · April 4, 2008

I read somewhere (I think it might have been the Golf Magazine ball test) that the Nike One Platium was, at least on paper, significantly softer than the next softest ball, making it THE softest ball. Is this true?

Don't know for sure, but based on the spin numbers, I'd say that that certainly could be true. It IS crazy-soft. Love the way it reacts around the greens. I still need to give it a whirl with my new driver (since my old driver was a spin machine, and that's a BAD combo with this ball) to see how it goes from the tee.

/< / /2 /<

threeputter · April 4, 2008

I read somewhere (I think it might have been the Golf Magazine ball test) that the Nike One Platium was, at least on paper, significantly softer than the next softest ball, making it THE softest ball. Is this true?

I switch balls baster than Imelda changes shoes. But I believe they said it had the softest cover. that doesn't mean a soft ball. The new Cally IX I believe has a softer cover than the older HX tour but the ix is a lot firmer ball, almost old rockflite hard.

But this year I've primarily used the V1, which is odd for me since I hated the pre-2007 V1 and V1x. I picked up some of the Platinums just to see. Not saying I am the longest, because based on what I read here, I am probably a one of the shortest hitters. I probably average 280 in summer (265 in winter). That said, in playing the NOP I was hitting it at my average. It is firmer than the V1, but not rock hard like the V1x, IX, or a lot of these other "distance" balls. In doing driver fitting recently I was swinging at 107 with a ball speed over 150. My spin was fairly high and I have a higher lauch angle. But the NOP were fine for me. Not quite like the V1, but I could spin these things and had a few low pitches that just hit and backed up perfect, even more than the V1 does.

Whether tiger uses it or not doesn't matter. It's a decent ball, little firm for my taste, but bites a little more around the green. So overall, better in some areas, worse in others.

skinkman · April 4, 2008

I heard he plays the Pro V1 with a NIKE stamp

hmm..that's probably true..but I wonder if it is the titleist Pro V1 or the one titleist stole from Bridgestone and Callaway ;)

deceit and lies don't make a champ ;)

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · April 4, 2008

Oglive+ Titleist Pro V = Win at Doral in all sorts of conditons.
"nough said............. Nothing equals a Pro V. Done!
Ha Ha... you're kidding, right?

Woods + Nike One = double digit wins all over the world in every imaginable condition

(rain, wind, calm, freezing cold, sweltering heat, sun, fog, night, day, desert, mountains, swamps....)

Its not the ball, its the player.

His ball is SLIGHTLY softer. 2 or 3 points softer (can't remember the exact term for the scale).
His old ball was 2 or 3 points softer.

A few years ago Nike got their privates in a wringer over the question of whether Tiger plays the same ball you and I can buy. He didn't, he played a slightly different prototype (slightly softer cover) but Nike's advertising was telling people they could play Tiger's ball. Nike even released a TW ball in limited numbers afterwards.

After that episode, all of Nike's advertising had a small disclaimer stating that Tiger played a Prototype Platinum ball.

That disclaimer is now missing from their ads and Tiger has publicly stated that he is playing the same ball that is on shelves.

I find that history pretty telling, and it is very unlikely Nike would put themselves in the position of being publicly embarrassed over this a second time.

AND, you were remiss and didn't mention about how he won the British Open with said ball only using DRIVER TWICE.

BRS216 · April 4, 2008

I heard this at a dinner where Tiger was speaking and I was lucky enough to attend. And, given the legal stuff surrounding the Pro V, I decided to give this ball a run to start the season. My swingspeed is typically 110-112 with the driver, and this ball is not right for me at all. I loved it off the irons, great to chip with and rolls nice on the greens BUT it dropped out of the sky off the tee for me... Nike is not kidding when you need to play like Tiger to make it work...

great read - just confirms that I will not play the NOP! Amazing ball for sure, but when you only hit the ball about 250 off the tee I need all the distance I can get!!! lol.

The NOP around the greens is great. Maybe I can drive with a HX Hot and chip with a NOP....... just kidding.

If you are looking for distance then you should hit the NOB '08 unless you have a high swing speed. The NOB is a great ball. That is why 60% of their tour staff is now suing it.

Sorry. What I meant to say was, "Since when does whether a ball was used by one tournament winner equate to what an awesome ball it is?"

Like many others, I find the NOP just goes...NOWHERE...off the tee. I'm already distance challenged. The NOB is, for me, a much better combo - still plenty of spin around the greens with good distance off the tee.

I haven't seen this posted anywhere, forgive me if it has been.

I've seen a ton of posts arguing what ball Tiger uses. This is a direct quote from Tiger's newsletter:

I'm always testing golf balls. I don't ever put a ball in play unless I've tested it pretty hard. Nike always keeps me informed about everything they put out. I hit every club they make, whether it's game improvement clubs all the way through to the wedges. I see everything and always have an idea what's coming out. Obviously, a lot of it doesn't really suit the way I play the game and what I like to do with the golf ball, but it helps a lot of other players out. So that's the whole idea.

It's also interesting to note that this is the first time I have played a production ball, meaning you can buy the exact same Nike One Platinum right off the shelf.

So I would assume it to be truth since I'm sure they'd risk a lawsuit. So no, the balls are not hand made by Muira or have a Mizuno brandname rubbed off of them. I thought this was pretty cool info.

I have said this before and now hearing it from Tiger should silence all of the stupid rumors.