Nike Dymo and Dymo2 Driver Review
Posted March 7th, 2009 by Danny Ottmann
I think Nike is finally starting to get things right
When I first saw that Nike had come out with another set of drivers I have to say I wasn't all that excited. My experience with Nike's golf gear has been favorable for the most part. I have carried their clubs in my bag from time to time, but I have always found myself going back to the manufacturers that have been around a little longer. I am a traditionalist at heart, and Nike's drivers just always seemed a little "out there" for me. They had these goofy two tone crowns and the noise, the sound that emitted from them was ear shattering at best. There was always that one little thing about my Nike club that bothered me. Not bad equipment, but just not my cup of tea.
So when these two new Dymo series drivers arrived at my doorstep, I gave myself a little pep talk in the form of "Let's give 'em a shot!" I am happy to report that I'm glad I did. Nike seems to have read my mind and improved on their drivers in virtually every way they could have (to me). It looks to me like a great deal of good traditional golf club design went in to the making of these. And out came what I believe to be the best product I have seen Nike put out to date.
Design and Technology
The folks at Nike, like many other companies and Nike themselves in previous years, are offering two models in the Dymo line: the Dymo and the square-headed Dymo2. The square head geometry is about "straight and long," say the Nike people. This is the same technology that Tiger Woods does not play because he was quoted saying the ball went "too straight." The more traditional and workable Dymo, Tiger's new driver, remains rounded.
Though neither are traditional pear in shape, the rounded Dymo (left) is closer than the Dymo2.
The name DYMO stands for DYnamic MOment of inertia. This is different from the previous SUMO models which stood for SUper MOment of inertia. The designers at Nike have tried to maximize performance by tweaking the club specifications for each different loft. Things like lie angle, MOI, overall head size, face depth, and center of gravity vary from one loft to the next. Nike engineers say their new "Progressive Powerbow Weighting puts the center of gravity where it is most needed" for each different loft. The CG is higher and more forward for the lower lofts to reduce spin and create a more penetrating ball flight. The CG is moved lower and more to the rear of the club for the higher lofts to increase spin rates and help get the ball into the air.
All this head design is coupled with a new stock UST wide body shaft design with an AXIV core. A larger overall shaft diameter is supposed to enhance shaft stability through impact and UST's new AXIV core material in the shaft's tip will help deliver more power to the ball. Of course both head designs can be special ordered with most custom shafts available today.
Esthetics
It is in this area where I believe Nike has made great headway (no pun intended). Thank goodness, gone are those ridiculous looking silver "Powerbows" around the back of the crown. Nike has instead decided to tone that area of the clubhead down by replacing the silver with a much smaller, darker grey Powerbow. The difference is great. To me the old silver areas utterly failed at making the clubhead look more compact, one of their stated goals if I'm not mistaken. Instead, they made the clubhead look large and clunky and did nothing but detract from the overall look of the club.
The Dymo (top) has a bit of a higher arch than the flatter, more elongated Dymo2 (bottom).
The sole of the clubhead has also been toned down. The loud yellow SUMO from past models has been replaced by an easier-on-the-eyes red DYMO. The rest of the sole is black or a muted grey color except for a small yellow line that links the DYMO with the SUMO.
The black and yellow stock shaft is another thing altogether. You will love it if you happen to be a big fan of bumblebees. I unfortunately am not and will be looking for another shaft to replace it. I guess it's not that bad - I just don't know why the Nike people just didn't go all the way and completely reinvent the looks of these drivers, shedding the past (yellow) and looking to match the black/grey/red scheme found elsewhere in the DYMO. Someone at Nike must just be a big fan of yellow.
Performance
We as golfers have heard and seen it all, time after time. Every year the club manufacturers flood the market with the next best thing that, without even a little effort (or practice), promises to instantly drop five strokes off your game.
I tell you, it's amazing with all the scientific tinkering that goes on in these R&D departments that we all are not shooting Golden Tee-like scores by now. But we are not, and will not. There is no special club out there that will instantly fling open the doors to Scratchville and invite the average player to come on in. Not even the new Dymo line from Nike.
Regardless of the model, the face presents a fairly clean look with a grooveless sweet spot.
That said, these are very good drivers. So good that many of my own playing partners have offered to send them back to Nike for me at no charge! I first took the pair out to the driving range at my local course to get used to the feel and see how they perform. It would be safe to say they did well though the two do perform as differently as they look.
Both the Dymo and Dymo2 came to me with the stock UST shaft, extra stiff, and with 8.5° of loft. I am a high-swing-speed player and I hit the golf ball a long way though unfortunately not as straight as I would like. My length is a great asset that, on one or two holes each round, turns into a liability. I am a fan of the driver, I like to hit the driver, and I probably hit the driver at times when I shouldn't. But enough about me.
Each club at address. Notice how much less pronounced the "Powerbow" is in both.
I felt that if I was going to give both clubs their due I should use each one for at least three to five rounds. That way I could more easily get the feel for each and be able to compare. I first took out the round-headed Dymo. Being that it was supposed to be the more workable of the two I put it through the paces hitting draws and fades and adjusting tee height to see what I could get it to do.
First off, trajectory was higher than what I expect from an 8.5° driver. The ball got way up in the air right away. Even teed lower a bit I had a hard time keeping the trajectory down. This could probably fixed with a different shaft which is why you should always get fitted. The high trajectory did not, however, adversely affect distance. I hit the Dymo just as far or farther than my own driver. The big high drives were impressive to watch but I certainly wouldn't want to have to play it with more than a breath of wind.
Workability with the Dymo is right on with what Nike promises. The rounder head makes way for the player to be able to work the ball in the direction you choose, as long as you choose high draw or high fade. Off-center hits were forgiven just like one should expect from a modern 460cc head, but not excessively so.
With modern clubs I feel the sound at impact is an important factor when choosing a driver. The sound the ball makes coming off the Dymo is by no means a thing of beauty, but is also not as bad as its Sumo predecessors. At least nobody ever stared at me on the range.
After several rounds with the Dymo, I decided to take the Dymo2 on the course. As I have stated above I am more of a golf traditionalist and have scoffed many, many times at the mere mention of a square driver. A square golf club? I mean… what a ridiculous concept! So realize how painful it is for me to eat my own words. The Dymo2 is a very good golf club. Very good at going straight. So good that it looks to make it into my bag for this season.
This is one of the straightest drivers I have ever hit. I have averaged 44% of fairways hit over the past two years. In fact out of my last 40 rounds I have hit above 50% of the fairways only a handful of times. By comparison, the two times I have taken this driver on the course I have hit 10 and 11 fairways respectively. The ball seems to be drawn to the fairway. Even most of my not-so-great swings sent drives right down the middle of the fairway. Straight is this driver's middle name. Yeah, you heard me right: Nike Straight Dymo2. Says it right here on this Cabbage Patch-like birth certificate I've got. OK, I made that part up.
The traditional Nike sweet spot marking - the two little triangles - remain on the Dymo2 driver.
To be fair, even though I really liked this club, I have to give one warning. Watch out, straightness does come at a price. The ability to work the ball is highly diminished. I now understand why Tiger decided against putting it in his bag. If working the ball around the course is your thing, this is not the driver for you. Just about all swings produced a ball flight best described as either "dead straight" or "slight fade." Attempts to draw the ball were unsuccessful except for a few baby draws that would have probably been big hooks with other drivers.
Oddly, the trajectory and height was better and easier to control with the Dymo2. My ball flight was right on where I like to see it, and I was able to hit the ball lower or slightly higher if needed with Dymo2 than with the Dymo. That's good, since I will have to hit it over trees from now on instead of curving it around them.
Again the sound from impact was much like its sibling: not great, but not ear shattering either.
Specs and Str8-Fit
Both the Dymo and Dymo2 are available for right handers in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 11.5°, and HL and have a 45.75 inch shaft standard. Lefties will find them in 9.5°, 10.5°, and 11.5°. The ladies' model comes in 11.5° and HL with a 44.5 inch shaft.
For the tinkerers out there Nike has also introduced the Str8-Fit Line. The Str8-Fit line comes with an adjustable hosel that allows the user access to eight unique head positions to help correct or tweak ball flight. The Str8-Fit line also comes standard with a slightly upgraded UST AXIV shaft.
Of course they all come with the most poorly designed headcover in the industry. It is both hard to get on and does a poor job protecting the head. They designed a good club now maybe they might turn their attention to the headcover, but then again there are always aftermarket headcovers that will do the job nicely.
Final Thoughts
I am truly impressed with what the Nike folks have put out this season. The Victory Red line of forged irons are beautiful and now the Dymo line gives them a solid driver to go with them. Someone at Nike golf has been working overtime and it's starting to pay off.
I think Nike will be very happy with the reception this whole series gets. I believe anyone who is looking for a new driver this season will be doing themselves an injustice if they don't at least hit the Dymos. You never know these could be the next club you can't live without.
Nike got off to a rough start, and may have lasted only this long due to someone named Tiger, but they're now a serious contender in the golf game.
Feedback
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Expressed opinions are not necessarily the opinions shared by others on The Sand Trap or The Sand Trap itself.
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 4:04pm #
Great review. I'm looking forward to hitting a Dymo.
With drivers I've never much considered workability - for me the driver is about raw distance tempered only by accuracy therefore if the Dymo2 is as straight as you (and Tiger) say then I'll be tempted to invest.
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 5:11pm #
I have last year's Sumo 2. I like it quite a bit, and can't see anything with this year's model that I have to have.
I will agree that Nike's driver club head covers are weird. They protect the head good enough, but don't do much to protect the shaft. There wasn't a club head cover cooler than the R7 TP covers... Small nit, but we're spending a lot of money on drivers these days...
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 8:27pm #
Nice piece.
Have to say that this is the only review I've ever read that makes me think that I'd like to give any Nike golf club a go.
Posted 08 Mar 2009 at 9:05am #
I have hit the dymo at least 3 different times already this year, I am very impressed with the results this club gave me, good ball flight, great distance, and accuracy. I also hit the speedline, r9, s91, launcher, ft-9, and the nike was wth the best of them, and cheaper too.
Posted 08 Mar 2009 at 8:47pm #
this driver is great. i hate nike but am extremly mad that i bought it before r9 came out.
Posted 09 Mar 2009 at 12:58am #
A good review. But I hate to subsidize Tiger's income and the only way I can do anything about that is not to buy Nike's products. So perhaps on balance I will stay away.
But a well written review.
Posted 09 Mar 2009 at 5:03pm #
I can't get past how ugly the club is. I hate to say it, but I have some stigma against playing Nike. I know that is very closed minded, but I could never shell out my money to buy Nike. Maybe I need some couch time to sort out my Nike Golf issues.
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 12:47pm #
I have the 2007 Sumo and I have tried the Dymo twice. While it feels good at impact, I'm not sure I like the weight. The Sumo has the weight at the base of the club and just feels lighter to me. I'm not a pro by any means, but I get more distance (about 275-300yds) with the Sumo.
Posted 07 Apr 2009 at 2:03am #
Great review, purchased the club and took it out on the course this past weekend. I have never owned a driver and just recently used this one a couple times at the range. Third hole, hit a ball 320 yards. I didnt even see where the ball went and my friends were yelling, that was the only way I knew how well I hit it. Highly recommend this club, only problem is it sounds like a college baseball bat, but if I hit it like that again I want people to turn and see the shot!
Posted 07 Apr 2009 at 10:49am #
Alright, I am going to add something about this Nike Dymo Driver.
I have last years Sumo and I love the thing.
I went to hit it this weekend and my spin was 2400 with the ball speed of 180. Lets take my current driver with a spin of 2800 and ball speed of 180. More consistent ball flight and roll. The 10.5 degree with the pro launch red is the ideal setup for me. Great driver that I am buying this week. I have the new NIke VR red irons to, amazing feel. I am a Nike guy converted from Mizuno. I love the way they feel.
Posted 11 Apr 2009 at 8:38pm #
Sean said on April 7, 2009:
I'm totally with you. I swore I would never buy a square driver as I was trying the Dymo2 is the 9.5* stock, stiff shaft. The Nike rep dropped the ProLaunch Red shaft in a 10.5* head..... SOLD. The perfect set-up for me as well.
Posted 13 Apr 2009 at 8:08pm #
MAN!!! I bought the DYMO2 driver because i went to demo nike, ping, cleveland, and taylormade. I must say that i was impresed with all the clubs but i got more distance and accuracy with the DYMO2 it was not alot but a little is a lot in golf. It is also very easy to hit a draw with the Dymo2 but it does make it a little harder th hit a fade the saft feels great also.
Posted 14 Apr 2009 at 4:52pm #
Gar said on April 11, 2009:
Hilarious! Did you go to the same Demo Days as me. I tried the Prolaunch XStiff Red in Dymo2(10.5-getting9.5) and was sold also! The club is the biggest "cheaters club" I have ever come across...and thats 30+ yrs of playing. Tried everything else and none had the grouping that the Dymo2 had...not even close.
Posted 19 Apr 2009 at 11:36pm #
Just picked up the dymo2-9.5° with stock stiff flex shaft....played my first round and missed a couple of fairways but not by much. Don't think I will have to worry about hitting into other fairways anymore with this driver. Compared this to 8 or 9 other drivers and this one definitely goes the straightest....and you can't beat the price. Next on my list is the Nike Vr irons with stiff flex shafts as well.....demo'ed some of these and they have great feel.
Posted 12 May 2009 at 8:36pm #
I did a recent comparison with Adams 9015D, Hibore XLS and a Dymo Str8 Fit. Always want to like Nike clubs and had heard good reviews already about this latest club. But with the DYMO I found the club to be very dead and I was unable to get any max distance with it.
The Adams has fantastic distance but was a little erratic (possibly the Matrix stock shaft) and the Cleveland was the most consistent in disperson and distance was same as Adams.
Not a fan of the Nike driver aestheics but would easily forgo looks (ex Hibore) for results.
Caveat Emptor
Posted 21 May 2009 at 5:03am #
Love the review. I'm a total Nike guy and I am heading to a demo this weekend for Nike and really leaning towards the Dymo2. But one thing that would of been nice to see in this review is how the Dymo2 compared to your usual/previous driver you play with.
Anyone else that owns the Dymo2...how does it compare to your previous drivers?
Posted 21 May 2009 at 12:20pm #
Glen said on May 21, 2009:
Not much of a comparison. I previously had a Callaway Fusion FT-3 with a custom shaft(Aldila MOI Proto XStiff 9.0).
Head is obviously bigger(Dymo2)....its just consistent. My rounds are giving me more chances at the green and less time scrambling. I wouldnt say the distance is a whole lot better ,but, that is not my focus for improvement.
Main thing is,playing 30 yrs., I know when I have hooked it or sliced it. When I do the same thing with the Dymo2 , the ball flight will "fight" going far left or far right. Its pretty amazing.
Good Luck.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 5:52pm #
I just got the Dymo2 , took it for my first round....First of all I feel it sound like a tin can I wish it would sound more solid for the price I pay for...my distance is way short from my ex Big Bertha 10 degree....I will give it another couple of rounds in order to Update this rating/comment.
To be candid, it may be that I have yet to hit the sweet spot, not that I am a long hitter...but my best so far was about 230 yards straight with the Dymo2.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 10:34pm #
JOE R said on June 18, 2009:
Well JOE R i have the dymo2 and the shaft was HORRIBLE. So what I did was get a steel shaft put in and it feels and sounds much better. I can hit it farther with a shaft that weighs more because i can swing it the same speed 120mph. So i recammend getting a knew shaft. but make sure u want to try that before u spend the money for it.
Posted 20 Jun 2009 at 9:26pm #
i got the dymo2-10.5 today and i got to say, i hit my first shot and was amazed i had normally been hitting the ball about 250yds with a nasty slice using a old cleveland launcher but now with the dymo im cranking the ball 275 and dead straight. Buy this club.
Posted 28 Jun 2009 at 9:34pm #
I want one, where is the best place to buy it.
Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 4:34am #
my brother has the squared dymo driver and it is the best driver i have ever hit. It is straight andhas the best ever trajectory when hit properly. Awesome club
Posted 04 Jul 2009 at 8:36am #
I like the dymo 2 driver but my nike sq is better because the impact sound on my driver is superb. On the dymo2 driver which is no different to my driver is less loud on the impact sound and the colour is just just a dull comparred to my driver which is a bright yellow colour that i love. The addjustable shaft i do not like I think is a gimick because its something people cannot be bothered with but whats the point in having it? it wont improve peoples game it will make the game more harder with the 8 different places it turns. My appeal on the square shape is a phenominal with its accuracy because i can hit my driver more straighter with a great impact sound to top it off lol.
Posted 15 Jul 2009 at 3:41pm #
Paul said on March 9, 2009:
Don't hate the player. Hate your own game!!
Posted 06 Aug 2009 at 5:21pm #
"Someone at Nike must just be a big fan of yellow."
Of course, look at the college Phil supports. Go Ducks!
As for the driver, I just picked one up here in Eugene and it's the best driver I've ever hit. Fiddler's Green is lucky their range has a net at the end of it or else they would've been collecting golf balls in the blackberry bushes.
Considering how young Nike Golf is, it's amazing how their equipment has caught or surpassed most of the competition. All of my woods, hybrids and golf balls are Nike. I was hitting the original SuMo but was just getting into golfing when I bought it a couple years ago and ignorantly bought a Reg Flex when my swing speed is 115. It was going to be $215 to put a stiff Mitsubishi Diamana shaft in it or I could just get the new DyMo for $189...needless to say, I got the new club.
Also, I refuse to hit any golf club with a square head!!!
Posted 12 Aug 2009 at 10:27pm #
Quote from Robbie G
"Also, I refuse to hit any golf club with a square head!!!"
Why? I'm not picking on you Robbie G, there are lots of you guys out there, but I can't help but wonder why?
Remember when woods were made from wood? I wonder if there were players then who said "I refuse to hit a wood made of metal"?
What about golf balls, weren't they made from guttaperka? I'm not sure if they still use that in the core of some but I know its not in the Pro V1.
Anyway all I'm trying to say to everyone out there, not just Robbie G, is open your mind a little you never know when you'll have to eat crow.
Oh yeah, the Dymo2, got one on order, can't wait to find a new head cover for it.
Cheers
Ken
Posted 01 Sep 2009 at 6:56am #
Gar said on April 11, 2009:
Been playing Mizuno MX-23's for a few years. Just demo'd Nike VR's and really liked them. But when they put the graphite shaft on them they really performed well for me. Now I am comparing the Dymo2 Str8 fit to my Ping G10 driver. I have to say, I'm leaning towards the Dymo2.
I am Curious what swing speed and tempo you guys have that works so well with the ProLaunch Red.
Posted 13 Oct 2009 at 6:35am #
I am just about to buy a Dymo driver but stuck on the shaft options. My swing speed is 115 and ball speed 170mph. The pro recommended the ProLaunch Red Xtra Stiff shaft. Can anyone tell me if the stock Nike x stiff shaft can suit my swing speed as I feel the pro is just trying to get more money out of me (£60 more for shaft)
Thanks
Posted 04 Nov 2009 (3 weeks ago) at 9:05am #
Found a regular stock shafted Dymo 10.5 degrees in the Used clubs section of my local golf shop/range. £99 and not a mark on it. One bucket of balls later, it was in the bag. Best range session I can remember, draws, fades and even straight shots on demand! They're still £200 new in the UK, I feel like I stole it!
Ok, you say, what happened on the course? Well... I've only played twice since, shot 8 over on my home course and 10 over at a friend's course. Not bad for a 13 handicap - I didn't hit all the fairways, but I was always in play. Regularly 10-20 yards longer than my R7 425.
Looking forward to next season!