Nike Equipment

[iacas]

Justin wins in his second week with Nike gear, yet many think Nike's kind of an inferior company. How they still think that - Tiger wouldn't sign with an inferior company, regardless of price, I have to believe - is beyond me, but that's the rap.

What do y'all think? Nike's got an impressive list of touring pros in their pocket, and it seems to grow every week.

Titleist is still the #1 ball in golf. For how long? Will the Ignite begin to challenge TaylorMade for tour dominance? Will Nike buy a putter company so they have more to offer than the "Blue Oz"?

[gas_can]

Justin wins in his second week with Nike gear, yet many think Nike's kind of an inferior company. How they still think that - Tiger wouldn't sign with an inferior company, regardless of price, I have to believe - is beyond me, but that's the rap.

Anyone who honestly thinks that Nike's got inferior equipment is out of their mind. They started off getting Tom Stites from Ben Hogan who's a darn good club designer. I'd rate their forged products on par with any from Titleist and Mizuno. Their lead golf ball designer Rock Ishii pretty much killed the wound golf ball with their Tour Accuracy line. As you said, the one area they do need to improve is their putters, but it's very difficult to compete against independent houses such as Scotty Cameron, Bettinardi, and Rossa.

I don't know if they'll ever replace Titleist and TM from their positions of dominance, but I do think they'll take a big chunck out of their leads. They make a great product, and for some reason they're perennially underrated by traditionalists for some reason.

[bobkin]

Tom stites is one of the best and most respected designers in the business. I dont have any idea how nike got such a bum rap!

[iacas]

Tom stites is one of the best and most respected designers in the business. I dont have any idea how nike got such a bum rap!
Player haters? :-)

[bobkin]

That might be the best explanation i've heard! :-)

[TomG]

Has Stites been at Nike from the beginning? For some reason, I feel like he hasn't. If he hasn't, that is probably why they got a bum rap in the beginning.

In terms of not being popular, I think it is mainly because they're drivers have not been too successful and really, when you think about it, the best way to make headway in the industry is to have a significant tour presence, a great ball, and a great driver....and until the last year or two, they haven't really had anyone but Tiger.

They are a young company in terms of equipment, in my mind, they are doing pretty darn well for they're age.

[iacas]

The funny thing is I hear that people hate their shoes. Blisters and all kinds of stuff. Lots of people I've read won't ever buy a pair of Nike golf shoes ever again.

WTF is up with that?! :-)

[TomG]

Actually, I agree, the shoes have ripped my heels apart.

On another club-note...I am surprised Leonard used Titleist blades. The Nike blades are pretty good, and let's be honest, how different can they really be from the Nike's, why didn't he just use them?

[iacas]

On another club-note...I am surprised Leonard used Titleist blades. The Nike blades are pretty good, and let's be honest, how different can they really be from the Nike's, why didn't he just use them?
Why didn't he just use Titleists when? I'm not sure I understand what you mean. He's a Nike staff player... so he uses Nike gear. Before that it was Hogan (and a Titleist ball).

[gas_can]

The funny thing is I hear that people hate their shoes. Blisters and all kinds of stuff. Lots of people I've read won't ever buy a pair of Nike golf shoes ever again.

WTF is up with that?! :-)

I absolutley love Nike's shoes. I've got four pairs: Air Excel Lites which I practice in, a pair of SP-6 which I walk in all the time, and I just picked up two pairs of Dri-fit tours which I've loved so far.

I've worn Nike shoes pretty much my whole life, so perhaps I was predisposed to liking them. But now, the only company that could make me switch is if New Balance came out with golf shoes as comfortable as my beloved 991's.

[iacas]

I absolutley love Nike's shoes. I've got four pairs: Air Excel Lites which I practice in, a pair of SP-6 which I walk in all the time, and I just picked up two pairs of Dri-fit tours which I've loved so far.
I spent about eight hours walking around (and hitting balls) in some bite shoes (http://www.biteshoes.com/golf/index.htm) today for a review I'm going to be doing. They were very comfortable. I'd almost wear them to bed as a test if that would prove anything. :-)

[TomG]

Erik, your "in-the-bag" post (http://thesandtrap.com/archives/winning_gear/2005_bob_hope_chrysler_classic.golf) on Leonard, you list that he used Titleist blades in his Hope win. I'm thinking, why didn't he just use Nike blades (the clubs he is actually being paid to use)? If he is going to make the leap and take his Hogan blades out of the bag, why not just go right to the Nikes, rather than fooling around with the Titleist blades? They really aren't that much different (Titleist blades and Nike blades).

[iacas]

Erik, your "in-the-bag" post (http://thesandtrap.com/archives/winning_gear/2005_bob_hope_chrysler_classic.golf) on Leonard, you list that he used Titleist blades in his Hope win. I'm thinking, why didn't he just use Nike blades (the clubs he is actually being paid to use)? If he is going to make the leap and take his Hogan blades out of the bag, why not just go right to the Nikes, rather than fooling around with the Titleist blades? They really aren't that much different (Titleist blades and Nike blades).
Uhhh, oops. I copied and pasted the format from an older "Winning Gear" post and missed changing "Titleist" to "Nike."

So, my mistake, not Justin's. Thanks for pointing it out. D'oh!

[Ben]

Justin wins in his second week with Nike gear, yet many think Nike's kind of an inferior company. How they still think that - Tiger wouldn't sign with an inferior company, regardless of price, I have to believe - is beyond me, but that's the rap.

What do y'all think? Nike's got an impressive list of touring pros in their pocket, and it seems to grow every week.

Titleist is still the #1 ball in golf. For how long? Will the Ignite begin to challenge TaylorMade for tour dominance? Will Nike buy a putter company so they have more to offer than the "Blue Oz"?

You know, I've never had a pair of Nike shoes in my entire life. I know they are a good company, and like mentioned, have a ton of atheletes signed to endorsement deals. But something of Nike just doesn't feel right to me, and I can't really explain what it is? Perhaps its the big, corporate feel of it all? This huge, world-wide, super sports company. I probably won't ever use their clubs nor hit their balls.

The new Nike One commercial has a ton of big names though. And like posted, with Justin swtiching and winning right away, there is certainly something to be said for that. I just can't figure out how someone could switch from being a Hogan man, to Nike? That's crazy!

[iacas]

Hogan and Nike: kinda opposites in as many ways as you could think, huh?

[TomG]

Hogan and Nike certainly do seem to be different companies. I think Leonard likes the idea of being viewed as an athlete. He ran in a marathon several years ago, yada yada...

[DBake]

I have had two pairs of Nikes one pair was very good and the other was crap, blisters above my heels. I am looking at the Adidas Tour Metal for next season.

[iacas]

I have had two pairs of Nikes one pair was very good and the other was crap, blisters above my heels. I am looking at the Adidas Tour Metal for next season.
The Tour Metal kinda got lost in the shuffle what with the Tour 360 coming out. I got major blisters from the Tour Metal, but the 360 was a little better.

Adidas shoes just don't fit me terribly well, I guess.

[Chris (Golf Dude)]

Titleist will always be the #1 ball in golf.......

I am sorry to say, but, I just cannot see Nike overtaking Titleist as the Ball King.

[Everardo]

When I ran competitively I remember Nike running shoes hurting my feet and giving me blisters but I have two pairs of SP-5’s and I love ‘em!

[The Gill]

Justin wins in his second week with Nike gear, yet many think Nike's kind of an inferior company. How they still think that - Tiger wouldn't sign with an inferior company, regardless of price, I have to believe - is beyond me, but that's the rap.

I agree that Nike gets a bad rap.

[Puttin4Bird]

I agree that Nike gets a bad rap.

Huh?! You've gotta bring more to the table than that if you're going to resurrect a 2+ year old thread man!

This did get me thinking though, what is everyone's thoughts now on Nike Golf? They seem to be signing a lot of players all the time and it isn't the least bit surprising anymore to see Nike SQ bags, and subsequently drivers, but what about irons? I had the original Pro Combo for a while and loved them, their newest irons out today just don't quite seem to stack up though. Are they more of a game improvement iron or do you see any low hdcp players using them? I'd be curious to see what Cink, Leonard, Choi, Campbell, and Paul Casey use for irons...

[The Gill]

[QUOTE=Puttin4Bird;123667]Huh?! You've gotta bring more to the table than that if you're going to resurrect a 2+ year old thread man!
QUOTE]

Sorry!:-[]

I didn't notice the date. I was doing a search for Nike Blades, trying to find some info..

Our local pro got signed by Nike. He used the CCI's last year, but this year he switched to the 4D Slingshots. He's been in the money all year since the switch. The design of the 4D is similar to the AP1's.

[Puttin4Bird]

A quick check with our friends at thegolfchannel.com shows that most of these guys mentioned above are playing the Nike blades, which are the first Nike irons that came out, that sort of puzzles me as to why they haven't come out with a newer line for pros? I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it huh?

Chad Campbell (as of the Viking Classic last Sept) is using the Nike CCI Cast other than that Cink showed up as Pro Combo and the rest blades. So there you have it.

[Puttin4Bird]

[QUOTE=Puttin4Bird;123667]Huh?! You've gotta bring more to the table than that if you're going to resurrect a 2+ year old thread man!
QUOTE]

Sorry!:-[]

I didn't notice the date. I was doing a search for Nike Blades, trying to find some info..

Our local pro got signed by Nike. He used the CCI's last year, but this year he switched to the 4D Slingshots. He's been in the money all year since the switch. The design of the 4D is similar to the AP1's.

Don't apologize to me, I was just flipping you some grief, no harm done. I think it's an interesting topic!!

[nykfan4life]

I don't think it is bad. If the clubs didn't have a nike logo, they wouldn't get such a love/hate relationship. There are a league of newer golfers who flock to nike because it is a familiar brand; there are other golfers who think its a lame attempt at a golf division. Also, you are naming a lot of older equipment; the one is thier pro-v1 type of ball.

I think they are as formidable equipment maker as any.


The funny thing is I hear that people hate their shoes. Blisters and all kinds of stuff. Lots of people I've read won't ever buy a pair of Nike golf shoes ever again.

WTF is up with that?! :-)


Nike shoes are awful. Footjoys are my favorite. In my experience, Adidas takes a bit longer to break in, but after that they are just as comfortable as FJ.





EDIT: wow, I didn't notice someone resurrected this thread from 3 years ago! I guess at the time you(iacas) were listing the current equipment.

[The Gill]

A quick check with our friends at thegolfchannel.com shows that most of these guys mentioned above are playing the Nike blades, which are the first Nike irons that came out, that sort of puzzles me as to why they haven't come out with a newer line for pros? I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it huh?

Chad Campbell (as of the Viking Classic last Sept) is using the Nike CCI Cast other than that Cink showed up as Pro Combo and the rest blades. So there you have it.

Our friends at www.golfwrx.com have been saying that there will be an SR "Sunday Red" line. The Nike rep at the demo day confirmed that there will be new line of forged irons at the end of 2008...

I wonder what kind of pressure the pros get in using newer equipment. Just because something is new, it doesn't mean it's better. A lot of people think the Mizuno MP-33's might have been the best blade ever made, but you can't buy them.

In the golf industry, there's a lot of brand loyalty. The only thing that's gunna get a Titlest blades player to buy new irons, is issue some new blades. Same with all the other companies.

Look and see how many pros are playing irons and drivers that aren't made anymore. It's next to nothing.

[lordnazgul]

I dont understand the hating of Nike shoes, i have a couple of pairs, and hav enever even seen a sign of a blister!

When it comes to clubs however, i think they peaked a couple of years back, the pro combos and the original SQ drivers were great. I am not a fan of the newer stuff at all.

I think a lot of the hating of nike equipment actually arose out of tiger woods using it, people who buy the equipment are automatically labelled as wannabe tiger woods! I bought a pair of shoes from my local golf shop and the salesman said "going for the tiger woods lookare we?" I could have punched him!

[RichF]

I dont understand the hating of Nike shoes, i have a couple of pairs, and hav enever even seen a sign of a blister!

When it comes to clubs however, i think they peaked a couple of years back, the pro combos and the original SQ drivers were great. I am not a fan of the newer stuff at all.

I think a lot of the hating of nike equipment actually arose out of tiger woods using it, people who buy the equipment are automatically labelled as wannabe tiger woods! I bought a pair of shoes from my local golf shop and the salesman said "going for the tiger woods lookare we?" I could have punched him!
Somebody said that to me as I use a Nike driver and 3-wood - I also wore a Nike 'swoosh' cap.
I answered back to them, "No - Stewart Cink, actually"
B-)

[BASHERBAKER69]

how long will it be until Nike bring out a Nike Deluxe Cheeseburger?..they have their fingers in a lot of pies now- most of the technology they use has been bought off other companies..Bridgestone for the balls, and for Tigers blades -Titleist?(?)

Looking at previous posts, there is no doubt the Footjoy still make the best and most affordable shoes in golf (although i also have a pair of Oakley shoes as well). I have 3 pairs of Dryjoys, 1 is 10 years old, so that tells us something about how they have been made...very well.

I like the Sumo2 driver by Nike but that is about all- i only like it for it noise.

I believe that Nike should stick to track and field and also tennis, as so far, i have not been impressed with the gear they have produced in golf. Part of the problem is they lack pedigree in the golf field- how can they just pop up and claim they make great gear with no experience under their belt?- it does not ring true to me.

As for who is using Nike?- look at the money they pay for endorsing..Duval still gets $7mn per year (his contract is due to expire soon) and he can't even make a cut. Nike is bought by people who are relatively new to the game i feel, who see Nikes' excellence in trainers etc and think that that same standard is applied in golf. Not yet, but it's still early days!

[mutadayen]

I've had a pair of Golf Joy, Callaway, and Nike's and honestly, the Nike shoes have been the most comfortable and the most durable. I have a pair of the 2007 Nike SP-6 shoes (http://www.tgw.com/customer/category/product.jsp?SUBCATEGORY_ID=8174) and they are very very comfortable. No complaints about them.

As far as their clubs, a few years ago I wouldnt have touched them, but I recently picked up a demo'd Nike forged 6-iron for $10 to goof around with, and I have to say, i was impressed. I've also been a Nike person when it came to shoes and clothes (golf, basketball, running, etc), but when it came to golf equipment, I didnt like anything they had. Im open to trying out their stuff now as they have come a long way in the last 5 years, but we'll see. I'm still a fan of TM products...

[Wisco-Kid]

I can't speak for all the equipment Nike has out there but I am a huge fan of the SV Tour wedges. I absolutely love them. I want to replace my CG12 56 with a Nike.

[wolverine318]

Ive wore Nike golf shoes for about 3 years now with no problem. But with any type of show I think some brands cater better than others for certain people. Ive worn Adidas basketball shoes as well as nike with no problems with either.

I second the SV Tour wedges, they are great IMO. As well as the N1B. I have not hit or used the irons or drivers and fairway woods.

[nykfan4life]

I think, when you buy something, you should be as open minded as possible. The name stamped on it is the least important thing.

[The Gill]

At the last 3 demo days where I live, Nike was the only manufacturer to bring a launch monitor. To me, that shows me that they care enough for me to get the right club.

[nykfan4life]

I can't speak for all the equipment Nike has out there but I am a huge fan of the SV Tour wedges. I absolutely love them. I want to replace my CG12 56 with a Nike.

Love them too. They spin the ball like crazy on full shots. But chips roll on and on and on.....

[Puttin4Bird]

how long will it be until Nike bring out a Nike Deluxe Cheeseburger?..they have their fingers in a lot of pies now- most of the technology they use has been bought off other companies..Bridgestone for the balls, and for Tigers blades -Titleist?(?)

Looking at previous posts, there is no doubt the Footjoy still make the best and most affordable shoes in golf (although i also have a pair of Oakley shoes as well). I have 3 pairs of Dryjoys, 1 is 10 years old, so that tells us something about how they have been made...very well.

I like the Sumo2 driver by Nike but that is about all- i only like it for it noise.

I believe that Nike should stick to track and field and also tennis, as so far, i have not been impressed with the gear they have produced in golf. Part of the problem is they lack pedigree in the golf field- how can they just pop up and claim they make great gear with no experience under their belt?- it does not ring true to me.

As for who is using Nike?- look at the money they pay for endorsing..Duval still gets $7mn per year (his contract is due to expire soon) and he can't even make a cut. Nike is bought by people who are relatively new to the game i feel, who see Nikes' excellence in trainers etc and think that that same standard is applied in golf. Not yet, but it's still early days!

Out of curiosity, you aren't the same kind of person who hates Microsoft because...well they're so big, or so good, or so popular? Or hates Tiger...well because he wins so much? Just wondering.

I think, when you buy something, you should be as open minded as possible. The name stamped on it is the least important thing.

AMEN to that, excellent point!!!

[BASHERBAKER69]

no i never pigeon hole people for what they believe in. I don't dislike Callaway or Titleist- they are bigger than Nike still in terms of golf market share. I don't dislike Tiger, but please look at my comments in Tour Talk regarding the 'Sampras Effect'.

[wolverine318]

Love them too. They spin the ball like crazy on full shots. But chips roll on and on and on.....

Ive only played 3 rounds with them, but cannot say that I have experienced the same thing on chips. Honestly are you really putting that much spin on chips that its the clubs fault for it not stopping?