Nike is everwhere - how much is marketing vs. quality

I've watched their increase in the world of golf with interest.  Their equipment is everywhere.  Several of the local course pro shops only carry Nike now.  I've actually tried some of their clubs during demo days, and I've come away reasonably pleased, although wasn't always able to do a fair comparison between equipment.

My main experience is with the Nike Vapor balls, which I feel are a great product for the price.  I've also hit some of their hybrids, and I was pleased with the results.  I'm very interested in their combo irons, but I play Mizuno now, and the last Nike irons I hit did not give me the same feeling I enjoy with my Mizuno's.  Are the new combos better?  Finally, I've tried the wedges, which were fine, and the drivers, which I didn't care for at all.

Finally, I've noticed a significant increase in the amount of players (pro and otherwise) using their equipment.

I'm sure many of you now have Nike products in your bags, and many more have tried their stuff.  So what are your thoughts?  How much is just marketing, vs. how much is really quality gear.

To be clear, I don't think it's fair to judget a club manufacturer as a whole because each product will have it's own pros and cons, so what are your thought specifically about individual products they have?

I am still not fully on board with Nike Golf. I think there clubs look amazing and apparel is cool looking but for some reason will not buy them. I finally hit a 3 wood the other day and didn't like the feel at all. It was on sale for $79, that is what made me try it, it was inexpensive but it did have a weird feel to it. I will say I do love the looks of the blades they make. The apparel and shoes to me are nice looking but that drives me nuts. Plus I love the way my Adidas shoes always fit me.

My experience with Nike is limited to the PD Soft balls (great value at £12.00 per dozen) and a SQ Dymo 4-wood, which is an exceptional recovery club (the v-shaped sole design is nothing new, however).  Oh, and I liked the look of the previous str8-fit driver, but wasn't bowled over by the adjustable technology.

Well, Nike is extremely popular in the sporting industry. For example; the Ohio State Buckeyes have a deal with Nike, that Nike is the only company allowed to make replica jerseys, etc. Their name is just so popular, that people go for it since they're held so high in the sports industry.

I don't have any experience with the Nike equipment but my cousin just went on board through their club staff program and he seems to be fine with their clubs.

Nike is a marketing powerhouse and I think that is the key to their success.  I remember when they signed Michael Jordan and he was gold for them way back in 84.  I think that really put them on the map and they have continued that winning formula since then.  Most recently they stood by Tiger and I remember thinking that if they cut him they cut their throats.  He is another franchise that they had to gamble on and if they lost him they would definitely take a hit in their golf division.  Like any other company, they have some good stuff and then they have their clubs for the masses.  Nothing they have made has really got my attention except in their apparel line.

I have played several of their clubs. Their VR blades are actually really nice. I would say their irons are on par with just about any manufacturer out there. The drivers I have played have performed well, but they tend to make the most god awful sounds off the club face. The Nike ONE golf ball line, on the other hand, are the very worst premium balls on the market in my opinion. I know several pros that are on Nike staff and they even play Titleist or some other ball. Their premium balls just seem considerably harder than other brands.

I do really like Nike apparel though. I think Nike has the very best golf clothing line on the market.

The pros rocking Nike is almost pure marketing, they're paying them the most.

The quality of their clubs is increasing 10fold as of late. Their blades are absolutely phenomenal along with the combos which plan on being my next set of sticks when the time comes. Their drivers are absolutely awesome. I love the machspeed black (the sound not so much, but thats fine) They're also finding the balance between Nike-esque clubs (sling shots, machspeed squares) and the traditional looking clubs (entire line of VR)

Their shoes are of course amazing. If there's any company I trust with me feet out there, it's Nike. They're so comfortable and ultra stylish stuff. Apparel, same deal.

I'm right there with you guys on the apparel.  If nothing else they tend to make some of the best looking, most functional apparel out there.  Honestly, this wasn't very hard for them.  Most of the stuff on the market before Nike got serious looked like it was designed for 70+ year olds.

I also have some Nike shoes, and they are more comfortable than my old Footjoy shoes.  I actually think the Adidas shoes are better looking than what Nike puts out, but the Nike's are very comfortable.

I think it depends, as the OP said, on the equipment in question.

Square drivers look ridiculous no matter who's logo is on them. If you have one and love it, fantastic. Some people think Geena Davis is hot stuff too.

Not sure what to make of that waffle pattern in the VR cavity. I know Tiger loves waffles, but WTF?!?

Could never wear a Nike shoe. It's the wrong shape for me anyway, but based on the total garbage they were putting out when I started playing (late 80s), I'll never own a swoosh branded golf shoe.

Their 2011 stuff look great, but still, that swoosh . . .

just picked up a new set of VR combos (not the 2011 version-see sig for details)

always wanted a set like this and snapped it up for $295USD brand new and bent to my specs for free

i ONLY wear Nike shirts and pants - only because they are the only brand the actually fits my long ass torso properly, without a big wide bottom and pants that are the right length

i have said it before on other theads, Nike makes good irons...no GREAT irons

not sure about anything else tho....

yep big, lucrative marketing company that makes great golf stuff too

sorry Miller.....but i love the swoosh! hahaha!

I wish I could've found a set like yours. I would've loved the P, 9 and 8 in blade form (though how much am I really needing to work those clubs anyway) as they look nicer and I don't need the forgiveness.

Oh well, still great irons.

I've played a whole bunch of Nike stuff off and on. I didn't care for their driver (Dymo2) or their fairway woods, (also Dymo2), but they have tons of great products that have really worked for me. I still use my SV tour wedges (love them), I had a  Sumo 2 hybrid that treated me great until I got tired of the shaft in it and tried something else. I stockpiled PD Soft balls for my last two seasons golfing and really liked those, and their shoes are top notch. Honestly I don't really care for a healthy chunk of their products, but not for quality reasons, just personal preference.

Nike by far makes the nicest golf tshirts and, were the ones to pioneer the patterns for "younger players" which all the other companies now follow (most notably, Addidas).  Before that, all of the other brand made BS old man patterns.  From the aspect of clothing, Nike didn't need the help of marketing because their patterns and the feel of their material spoke for itself.

As it pertains to their clubs however, they needed excessive marketing to balloon the perception of their clubs which many people bought into when they made crappy clubs in the past.  Internally, they new their clubs weren't good enough and hired people throuhgout the years to help imporve upon their lineup of clubs which we all see now as being up there with the best.  So in the past, yes their clubs were more marketing than quality.  Now, their clubs are equal parts marketing and quality.

As far as apparel goes, I love Nike, I have a few hats and love the Nike shirts I have as well.  In the past I've had 3 pieces of Nike equipment, the square Sumo 5900 driver and the matching 3w.    I didn't really care for the driver and the 3w was just ok, but that wouldn't stop me from buying their equipment again. The other piece was a stand bag that I had years ago... it worked just fine, but I ended up selling it to a buddy and replacing it. I also own two pairs of Nike shoes which while not the greatest aren't bad either.

I have the SV wedge, I really like it. I am a nike shoe guy too. Their sneakers have always fit me the best. So their golf shoes work just as well. The PD soft balls are fantastic. I really like them, dont know much about the premium balls but the PD soft is really a nice ball.

I've played a lot of Nike clubs (I started golf in 2004 with some Slingshots)...

As far as quality goes, it's on par with all the other manufactures. Most of Nike's golf balls are made in Japan by Bridgestone. Their bags are mostly made by Ogio and Sun Mountain (as is most manufacturers). Their forged irons are all over the map (as is most manufacturers, with exception of Mizuno and Mirua), although you can find some Endo forged Pro Combo Tours out there that are absolute butter. I think they've announced that all their 2011 forged clubs will be done by Endo. I don't think any will argue the quality of grips and shafts...

What I'm getting at, it no one can make a serious argument for Nike's quality being statistically better or worse than any other manufacturer as it's made by the same people you're comparing them against. The only thing you can realistically argue is club design and Nike has Tom Stites . Tom knows golf clubs. For the most part, the designs work great but they sure don't have the right look for everybody.

They're the same quality as clubs from any other top brand, no better, no worse.  Kind of a silly question-for some reason the topic of Nike golf clubs brings out conspiracy theorists, extreme supporters, and extreme detractors every time.  I play regularly with MacGregor, Mizuno, Titleist, and Nike irons-ball goes in the air in the same fashion no matter what I'm using.  Every club feels slightly different, but not all that much.  I play 2 Titleist drivers and a Nike driver-same story as the irons.

I haven't used Nike's clubs, but the bags are well made.  My last Nike stand bag lasted 10yrs.  Just got another one (Xtreme III) and it is great.  They hold up to a lot of abuse and are a good balance of features for the weight of the bag.