Jump to content
IGNORED

Why do the high-end Nike balls get so much disrespect?


Note: This thread is 4771 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

The Nike ONE Tour ball has been one of my favorite balls to play, but I have always heard such bad things about the high-end Nike balls from other people.

Don't be fooled by my obscene dedication to Nike clubs, I'll be very open-minded on this subject.

Where have you, or others found short comings in the ONE Tour, ONE Tour D, and any other high-end Nike balls?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Distance.  Nikes dont get quite as much distance as do the high-end balls from other manufacturers.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I really like the tour d, it is a really good ball all round but the tour is probably the shortest ball I have ever hit with my driver, it just spins so much.  I have just played a few holes with the 2011 vapor speed and was impressed, it has a great feel good distance and very good control around the green.  Probably the best mid sector ball I have played, it's certainly up there with the NXT tour.

adams.gif Speedline fast 10 9.5˚
adams.gif Speedline fast 10 15˚
adams.gif A7 17˚
adams.gif Idea Pro 3-PW
mizuno.gif MP T-11 52˚, MP T-10 58˚  cameron.gif Red X  titleist.gif NXT
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have no idea.  I read a study where they took shots from a robot hitting the best and worst balls out of the roughly 700 on the market and the difference was something like 10 feet.  It was put out by the guy who does the conformity acceptance testing for the USGA.  Get a ball that fits your game, is the right compression, and feels great to hit.  Mine was the Taylormade TP Red, but they don't make it anymore.

[ Equipment ]
R11 9° (Lowered to 8.5°) UST Proforce VTS 7x tipped 1" | 906F2 15° and 18° | 585H 21° | Mizuno MP-67 +1 length TT DG X100 | Vokey 52° Oil Can, Cleveland CG10 2-dot 56° and 60° | TM Rossa Corza Ghost 35.5" | Srixon Z Star XV | Size 14 Footjoy Green Joys | Tour Striker Pro 5, 7, 56 | Swingwing

Link to comment
Share on other sites




Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Distance.  Nikes dont get quite as much distance as do the high-end balls from other manufacturers.



A little bit, yeah. I know this is a few years old, but this graph is pretty telling: http://www.golf.com/golf/features/flash/ballguide3.html

The One Platinum (and it's subsequent successors) didn't go far because it's spin rate was through the roof, but the One Black didn't go far because of other factors. It wasn't designed as well, I guess. What is really telling is that the PD Soft, one of Nikes distance balls, went shorter than Taylor Made's tour balls. I also find it a little weird that Taylor Made's tour balls are the longest of any- rock hard balls included.

  • Upvote 1

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Personally I think that Nike Golf as a whole gets a bad rap. I think people look at Nike's massive ad campaigns and sponsored players and think that they just bought there way into the golf world (which I will admit they did), and there equipment is just garbage that is marketed like crazy. I bet alot of people wont even give nike clubs a chance, when in reality, they make some very good clubs.

Driver: Taylormade R9 (10.5)  3wood: Nike SQ DYMO (15)   Hybrid: Nike SQ Sumo (19)  
Irons: Nike SQ Sumo (4-A)   Wedges: Taylormade RAC (56, 60)   Putter: Odyssey White Ice #1

Link to comment
Share on other sites




Originally Posted by Jchuba03

Personally I think that Nike Golf as a whole gets a bad rap. I think people look at Nike's massive ad campaigns and sponsored players and think that they just bought there way into the golf world (which I will admit they did), and there equipment is just garbage that is marketed like crazy. I bet alot of people wont even give nike clubs a chance, when in reality, they make some very good clubs.


Of course Nike bought their way in with marketing and when they first came out not too many people took them seriously.  I have never thought of Nike as a golf equipment company and probably never will.  I love their golf apparel, but for some reason have never had an urge to try a Nike ball.  Part of that is brand loyalty because with everything being equal, I would opt for what I feel is a name when it comes to a premium ball (ie Titleist, Bridgestone).  I kind of have the same feeling about TM and Cally.  While I have played TM in the past and now have Cally woods, I don't think of either of them as ball manufacturers. But that's OK, because I never thought of playing Ram, Hogan, or Pinnacle balls either over Maxfli back in the day.

Part of it may be due to what I grew up with.  Equipment manufacturers that were big with my friends and club pros were Wilson, Titleist, and MacGregor.  I still think of MacGregor as a premium company even though it isn't even close to what is used to be in the late 80s (I would compare it to today's Mizuno brand).  Back then a guy with Wilson or Mac blades was no one to fool with!

But there is hope as this thread has alerted me to my prejudice.  I am thinking about going out of my comfort zone and trying a Srixon.  Maybe there will be a Nike ball in my future as well.  Naaaa, can't do the swoosh on a ball just yet.

Cobra LTDx 10.5* | Big Tour 15.5*| Rad Tour 18.5*  | Titleist U500 4-23* | T100 5-P | Vokey SM7 50/8* F, 54/10* S, SM8 58/10* S | Scotty Cameron Squareback No. 1 | Vice Pro Plus  

Link to comment
Share on other sites




Originally Posted by TourSpoon

Of course Nike bought their way in with marketing and when they first came out not too many people took them seriously.  I have never thought of Nike as a golf equipment company and probably never will.  I love their golf apparel, but for some reason have never had an urge to try a Nike ball.  Part of that is brand loyalty because with everything being equal, I would opt for what I feel is a name when it comes to a premium ball (ie Titleist, Bridgestone).  I kind of have the same feeling about TM and Cally.  While I have played TM in the past and now have Cally woods, I don't think of either of them as ball manufacturers. But that's OK, because I never thought of playing Ram, Hogan, or Pinnacle balls either over Maxfli back in the day.

Part of it may be due to what I grew up with.  Equipment manufacturers that were big with my friends and club pros were Wilson, Titleist, and MacGregor.  I still think of MacGregor as a premium company even though it isn't even close to what is used to be in the late 80s (I would compare it to today's Mizuno brand).  Back then a guy with Wilson or Mac blades was no one to fool with!

But there is hope as this thread has alerted me to my prejudice.  I am thinking about going out of my comfort zone and trying a Srixon.  Maybe there will be a Nike ball in my future as well.  Naaaa, can't do the swoosh on a ball just yet.


Haha It never hurts to at least try right? In all honesty I am not the biggest fan of Nike balls, I fell in love with the NXT tour. Most of Nike's balls seem hard and dont have great feel. With that said, I think that nike makes great woods, and there new lines of irons are gorgeous imo.

Driver: Taylormade R9 (10.5)  3wood: Nike SQ DYMO (15)   Hybrid: Nike SQ Sumo (19)  
Irons: Nike SQ Sumo (4-A)   Wedges: Taylormade RAC (56, 60)   Putter: Odyssey White Ice #1

Link to comment
Share on other sites



The TP Black is a beast.  Longest ball I've hit, and tons of greenside spin.  I picked up some PD Softs the other day 'cause they were $12, and they performed really well.  One even produced a wind and dry fairway assisted 325 yard drive, and they checked up better than I expected from a budget ball.

Originally Posted by jamo

A little bit, yeah. I know this is a few years old, but this graph is pretty telling: http://www.golf.com/golf/features/flash/ballguide3.html

The One Platinum (and it's subsequent successors) didn't go far because it's spin rate was through the roof, but the One Black didn't go far because of other factors. It wasn't designed as well, I guess. What is really telling is that the PD Soft, one of Nikes distance balls, went shorter than Taylor Made's tour balls. I also find it a little weird that Taylor Made's tour balls are the longest of any- rock hard balls included.



Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have Wilson Staff and Macgregor blades, and probably shouldn't be fooled with.  Not because of my golf game...but I do what I can.  Nike is a solid golf company.  I had no desire to try a TM ball either until the glowing review here at TheSandTrap convinced to try out the TP Red/Black, and they're absolutely stellar.  Nike One Tours stopped on a dime even on dry Arizona greens during the height of summer, and my Nike SQ Dymo Str8-Fit is an outstanding driver.  I understand, I'm still partial to Wilson, MacGregor, and especially Titliest, but as far as I'm concerned the more golf companies the merrier.

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

Of course Nike bought their way in with marketing and when they first came out not too many people took them seriously.  I have never thought of Nike as a golf equipment company and probably never will.  I love their golf apparel, but for some reason have never had an urge to try a Nike ball.  Part of that is brand loyalty because with everything being equal, I would opt for what I feel is a name when it comes to a premium ball (ie Titleist, Bridgestone).  I kind of have the same feeling about TM and Cally.  While I have played TM in the past and now have Cally woods, I don't think of either of them as ball manufacturers. But that's OK, because I never thought of playing Ram, Hogan, or Pinnacle balls either over Maxfli back in the day.

Part of it may be due to what I grew up with.  Equipment manufacturers that were big with my friends and club pros were Wilson, Titleist, and MacGregor.  I still think of MacGregor as a premium company even though it isn't even close to what is used to be in the late 80s (I would compare it to today's Mizuno brand).  Back then a guy with Wilson or Mac blades was no one to fool with!

But there is hope as this thread has alerted me to my prejudice.  I am thinking about going out of my comfort zone and trying a Srixon.  Maybe there will be a Nike ball in my future as well.  Naaaa, can't do the swoosh on a ball just yet.



Link to comment
Share on other sites


Living on a golf course, I probably have 10-12 dozen premium balls in my garage at present, all lost by others.  Because of this, I can and do play any and all brands.  I can remember taking several new (as in recently lost by someone else) balls out to compare.  They were a ProV1, and TM Penta and a Nike One Tour.  I hit all three off the tee on several different holes.  The Nike ball was consistently far shorter than the others, up to 10 yards shorter. Penta went the furthest.  I know when I strike the ball well, so it wasn't a case of mishitting the Nike ball.

To me, the Nike ball just does not compare with the other premium brands.  The official distance stats just confirmed what I had already discovered.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I know it's not a premium ball, but I think the Nike PD soft's are the best ball for the money.  I don't go through a ton of balls(1 per 18 holes is about average for me, I'll throw it out from being too beat up before I lose one) so most of the time I'll spend the extra money and get NXT tours, but I'm a big fan of the PD's.  IMO, unless your trying to make money playing golf, you have no need for a $40-50/dozen ball....

Cleveland Launcher DST 10.5*

Ping G15 17*

Mizuno MP-53 4-PW with GS-95

Mizuno MPT-11 Black Nickel 52* and 58* with GS-95

Ping Redwood Anser

Link to comment
Share on other sites




Originally Posted by ajschn06

I know it's not a premium ball, but I think the Nike PD soft's are the best ball for the money.  I don't go through a ton of balls(1 per 18 holes is about average for me, I'll throw it out from being too beat up before I lose one) so most of the time I'll spend the extra money and get NXT tours, but I'm a big fan of the PD's.  IMO, unless your trying to make money playing golf, you have no need for a $40-50/dozen ball....



This. I really liked the PD soft. None of Nike's other balls are appealing to me. I stick with Titleist NXT, NXT Tour, and Bridgestone e6. Those PD Softs are a killer deal, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I don't really notice the supposed extra/less ten yards I'm getting off the tee from a Titleist ProV1 as opposed to the ONE Tour... It's not like my driver is the same exact distance every time I catch it (what I think to be) clean.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Well ever since the someone gets beaten over the head by a nike 3 wood, people just get the wrong idea

I played Nike tour(d) all last year, pretty good ball, horrible if you have any sort of weak cut, the distance loss is insane. I am switching to Srixon this year.

Matt Dougherty, P.E.
 fasdfa dfdsaf 

What's in My Bag
Driver; :pxg: 0311 Gen 5,  3-Wood: 
:titleist: 917h3 ,  Hybrid:  :titleist: 915 2-Hybrid,  Irons: Sub 70 TAIII Fordged
Wedges: :edel: (52, 56, 60),  Putter: :edel:,  Ball: :snell: MTB,  Shoe: :true_linkswear:,  Rangfinder: :leupold:
Bag: :ping:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I never really worried about distance balls, thats why I have no problem playing the nike one tour balls.  They spin a ton and are a lot of fun.  I will take my spin control over distance for atleast the next 40 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


For me the Nike One Tour was maybe 3-5 yards shorter (on a drive) than a distance ball or a TP Black/Red, but had tons of greenside spin and felt great off the putter.  For dry firm conditions it was a no-brainer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 4771 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • I agree with @klineka, you're clearly doing something right.  Its always going to be a bit of a guessing game if you don't have any scoring history.  On the other hand, understanding that it takes only 54 holes to establish an actual handicap, and they have about 6 weeks in which to play and post enough scores, I don't think its at all unreasonable to require them to have an official handicap before they become eligible for prizes.  I don't know how you structure the fees for the series of competitions, but if its possible they'll play with the group without being eligible for prizes, you could consider a way to let them do that without contributing to the prize pool.
    • I run tournaments and want to put in a local rule that allows relief from tree roots and rocks that are not loose impediments. We have some really terrible lies in some of our courses in my area and nobody is getting paid enough to break clubs. Let me know if you think the verbage for this rule makes sense. Local Rule Roots and Rocks You may move your ball from a tree root or buried rock one club length for free relief no closer to the hole. However you may not use this rule to get relief from a tree, bush, boulder, or other foliage hindering your swing. Your only option here is to play it as it lies or take an unplayable for a one stroke penalty.
    • Makes sense.  Like I said, I wouldn't have been upset at their original offer either, and based on the fine print it seems like they've held up their end of the deal.  
    • If you've only had to adjust retroactively one time in 8 years and have around 5 people each year without handicaps, that's like 40-50 people total so it sounds like you're doing a pretty good job. I think your questions give enough to go off of. This might be a good way to get new people to actually post a few scores during the 6 weeks leading into the first event. Something like "New members will be eligible for tournament money once they have at least 3 posted rounds in GHIN" or something like that. If they can get 3 rounds in prior to their first event, then they're eligible. If not, they'll soon become eligible after an event or two assuming they play a little bit outside of events.
    • This is a loooooong winded narrative so if you don't like long stories, move on. 😉 Our senior club typically gets about 25 new members each year. We lose about 25 members each year for various reasons (moved to FL/AZ, disabled, dead, too expensive). Of the new members, usually 20 have an active GHIN handicap. About 5 each year do not have a GHIN handicap. When they join our club, we give each member a state association membership that includes GHIN handicapping services. We play a series of handicapped tournaments over the summer. When we sign up a new member who does not have a GHIN handicap, we attempt to give them an estimated index until they have sufficient scores posted to have an actual GHIN index.  Our first event typically is around May 15 so, in theory, a new member has about 6 weeks to post a few scores. Posting season in the Mitten starts April 1. Inevitably, several of the unhandicapped individuals seem  to either not play until the first tournament or can't figure out how to enter scores (hey, they are seniors). That situation then leads to my contacting the new member and asking a series of questions: a. Did you ever have a GHIN handicap? If yes, which State and do you recall what it was? b. Do you have an alternate handicap through a non-GHIN handicap service or a league? c. What do you think your average score was last year (for 9 or 18) d. What was your best score last year? Where did you play and which tee was used? e. What do you consider a very good score for yourself? Based on their responses I attempt to give them an index that makes them competitive in the first couple events BUT does not allow them to win their flight in the first couple events. We don't want the new members to finish last and at the same time, we don't want someone with a "20" playing handicap to win the third flight with a net 57. In the event some new member did shoot a net 57, we also advise everyone that we can and will adjust handicaps retroactively when it is clear to us that a member's handicap does not accurately reflect their potential. We don't like to adjust things retroactively and in the 8 years I have chaired the Handicap Committee, we have only done it once. So here are the questions to the mob: Any ideas how to do this better? Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap? Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...