Nike to Introduce KARMA Golf Balls
Posted October 14th, 2007 by Guest Author
A little karma goes a long way. Or at least that's Nike's claim.
If Nike's new golf ball does what it boasts, it may just drive away some potential buyers. That's because the new ball is named KARMA, so if you're playing too slow, or don't bother to tip the cart girl, you might just find yourself behind a tree, or fishing your balls out of the water. On the other hand, maybe this will become the golf ball with the best hole-in-one record. Or maybe it'll just go in the hole more frequently for those who are about to ascend to another plane of existence…
Nike likes to point out the fact that they have the "2006 PGA Tour Winningest Driver, Irons, and Fairway Woods." Of course, most of those are due to Tiger Woods, with additional help by K.J. Choi.
But Nike isn't just about their top-tier guys. Nike cares about the short hitter, the duffer, the anti-Tigers in the world. Now they are giving back a little to this "other" tier with the addition of the KARMA ball.
Soft Compression
"Our objective is to create a soft 50-compression ball that would compress enough at impact to deliver a 100% performance - and I believe we have accomplished that," says Nike's Director of Ball Creation, Rock Ishii. "When men and women with slower swing speeds hit the KARMA, they will immediately feel how soft it is and see how well it carries."
According to Nike, this new ball is "bringing good KARMA to golfers" in the form of the softest compression ever for a Nike golf ball. The compression rating is 50, 10 less than Nike's previous softest ball (the "Power Soft"). Will that extra 10 make a big enough difference to warrant its creation, carve out a niche in the market, provide a stable future, and be well liked all around the world? Or is all the rage over "the softest ball ever created by&helip;" well, anyone going to matter?
A lower-compression ball is more easily compressed than a higher compression ball, giving the slower swingers better distance than they would get with the firmer ball. Players with high swing speeds will lose tremendous amounts of energy by over-compressing the ball, resulting in a distance loss. So, long hitters need not apply.
The only other 50 compression ball I could find is the Wilson Staff Fifty, and it seems to be a well liked ball, so perhaps that is good news for the future of KARMA.
312 Dimple Design
This two-piece ball has a cover made of Ionomer and 312 dimples. We have seen the same amount of dimples before on the Nike Juice 312 ball, and the Juice seems to have decent aerodynamics. "When golfers need more good KARMA to carry it over a lake, bunker, or any other obstacle that can get in the way of a good shot, the KARMA ball will provide them with renewed confidence with its new 312 dimple design that delivers high trajectory."
My issue with that statement is the fact that the Nike Juice - which came out November 1, 2006 - has the same number of dimples, so it's not so new. The KARMA is set to be released one year later, on November 1, 2007. Is the KARMA merely a softer Juice? Will the Juice be replaced? We shall see.
Looks
According to Nike, "The KARMA ball also includes a unique and distinctive face stamp graphic, distancing itself from any other ball in the market." Unfortunately, the markings are not yet known as Nike sources are keeping images of the balls close to the vest.
Packaging
Nike "consciously has packaged the KARMA ball with 50% recycled content." The balls are packaged in a rectangle with four three-ball sleeves forming an upright square-ended rectangle, just like most of Nike's other balls.
The box itself is adorned in earth tones, and I must admit that the packaging looks rather warm and inviting. If KARMA does help these, maybe they'll be the first dozen balls that I don't lose in the trees or water. Perhaps the calm design of the box will be enough to make us take a deep breath and calm down before every shot, reminding us not to over swing.
Or not.
Price and Availability
The Nike KARMA is due out November 1, 2007 at an MSRP of $28. Of course, that's $28 that you could donate to charity. One tactic will get you "12" karmas. The other… a decidedly different variety.
The Wilson Staff Fifty goes for about $16, which makes the KARMA balls about $8-12 more per dozen, raising the age old "is it worth it?" question.
This guest article was written by Count B.M. Henderson.
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Posted 20 Oct 2007 at 1:12am #
Well Karma is definitely what seems to be in the mind of the guys at Nike Golf. One of the things being that they have packaged the golf ball with 50% recycled content. That automatically gives them some good Karma points and if “Karma†plays its part they are bound to drive up the sales of the golf ball. The average golfer I am sure would have been happier if they also decided to follow the path of Karma when they went about pricing it because it seems expensive at 28 dollars.
I must confess it is a wonderfully fascinating concept to give it the name that they have given and is bound to automatically arouse interest in the product. Of course if they want the tag of the “Winningest Golf Ball†they would have to pray that the big names choose to add this golf ball to their bag.
Andy Brown
Posted 29 Oct 2007 at 4:21pm #
Just purchased a box of 12 at a local GOLF USA location weekend on sale and was VERY IMPRESSED! The extra distance forced me to go up a club for the entire round. The feel off the tee and on the greens was smooth and un-forced...especially when taking long putts for birdie or par. With a 16.8 handicap, I'd definitely recommend these to anyone who is looking for a ball which offers both true feel and distance. My swing speed of the tee is in the 80's and 90's... The only downside is the price....$19.99 is a little steep, but well worth the occasional treat.
Posted 03 Nov 2007 at 10:56pm #
I tried a sleeve today for the first time and I liked the balls. I'm a female junior golfer with a 20 handicap and found the balls to feel pretty good off the tee. They had a tendency to be a little fast on the greens, but they didn't bother me to the extent that other balls have. Karma has a relatively good balance because I didn't feel I lost a lot of distance or control. My biggest and probably, only complaint about them are that their soft cover scratches easily. I didn't hit the balls into any rocks or cartpaths (the hardest surface they hit were the hardpan), but they still scratched and peeled before the 18 holes were over. This is the first ball I've ever played with that scratched so soon, so that was a bit unpleasant. Overall, I think it's a good ball and I would play with them again. I recomend it, but definitely bring some replacements with you... it's not such a good thing to play with a scratched ball.
Posted 07 Nov 2007 at 7:41pm #
I just bought these balls today and was satisfied with them. I would rather lose the distance for a softer ball than hit a rock hard ball. The feel you get from these in putting makes up for the loss distance in other clubs.
Posted 17 Mar 2008 at 11:20pm #
These balls play great! Nice feel off the tee and my putting was much improved...Well worth the few extra bucks...which is less than the lessons I was taking..lol
Posted 21 Mar 2008 at 9:19pm #
Just learned today the Karma will be no more PGA store are not going to get any more.
Posted 22 May 2008 at 11:31pm #
All I can say is that these balls must bring good Karma or something. Played with them for the first time tonight in local golf league and I shot my lowest score yet this year.
I didn't think I would like them since the dimples seem "larger" and there is no alignment aid. I am almost confinced for my game not havng the alignment aid helped. I didn't focus so hard on just line and one putted 7 out of 9 greens.
I usually play one platinums, but for $20 at wally world I think I'm switching. Now I just hope that Nike doesn't screw up and take these off the market like they seem to do everything else I like.
Posted 26 May 2008 at 6:59am #
I still have quite a high handicap (30,9) and am too old to learn the fast and easy swing of youngsters. Last Sunday my wife spent me a package of Nike Karma Balls: And I played the BEST ROUND in my golf career so far (93 on a par 72) including one birdie (on a par 4) and three pars. So: I think I will stay with good Karma in the future!!!!
Posted 17 Jun 2008 at 11:14am #
I really enjoy the Karma ball from Nike. I am a pretty big hitter and a six handicap and I didnt find that I lost much distance off the tee, and the putting feel was exceptional.
Posted 26 Jun 2008 at 12:56pm #
I have to say that the "karma" from the Nike Karman ball was great for me.I had a hole in one on 6/21/08 at Richmond Country Club # 7 playing about 225 y using a driver. It was witnessed by our teaching pro Joe Vavra and is my first! I am a Karma fan.
Posted 07 Jul 2008 at 8:55am #
These balls do what they need to do and exactly what they promise to do. I'd give them 9.5/10 simply because the shots are carried with short swings and adapt to almost any golfer. The soft, comforting cushion while putting makes the ball every dream a golfer would want and sinking those 10ft. + putts.
Posted 11 Jul 2008 at 3:13am #
I think paying a little extra for The Nike Karma is worth it i shot the best game with Karma (48 on par 36, only been playing a little less than a year) and it feels great when you make contact..i noticed it gives you better lift while pitching and chipping..
Posted 13 Jul 2008 at 9:51pm #
Posted 18 Aug 2008 (2 weeks ago) at 6:22pm #
Posted 25 Aug 2008 (5 days ago) at 5:42pm #
Freddie said on May 22, 2008:
I think you should definitely kick that habit of using and alignment aid except for really long put across the green. learning to align well will help the rest of your game.
btw, a nike one platinum is better for a player with swing speeds over a hundred to take advantage of its distance. Hitting it with speeds lower than that will significantly reduce it's speed. But it does have excellent control.