What happened?! Nike VR line

[imtomtomim]

Ever since Tiger stopped playing his VR irons, it seems like that line has dropped off the planet. I've hit the blades and the half-cavity and thought they were a pretty decent club. It seems like no one is really playing them on tour either. I think it was Immelman sporting the half-cav's but the past major winners being nike guys are still playing older cci models. There was so much hype about being able to get TW spec clubs and it seems like all of that fizzled out and the line was just about a complete failure market wise. Anyone gaming these clubs now or have an opinion on what happened?

[denver_nuggs_15]

I would guess that guys aren't playing them because they aren't as good as previous models. We've seen it a lot with the TM r9 and a little bit with 907s. Tour pros play the best clubs they can and apparantly they aren't that good. I've never hit them, but maybe they're not as soft as previous forged models. Maybe they're not as consistent in terms of distance control and spin. I thought releasing the TW spec clubs was more of a marketing ploy to appeal to "regular" golfers more than tour pros, but I could be wrong.

[gmanuel25]

I wonder if its an ego thing. Would these professionals, who are highly accomplished golfers but obviously not Tiger, find it hard to stomach that they are playing 'Tiger's' clubs. However, guys like Glover and Cink could just be very comfortable playing what they have. The old it if it ain't broke....

[DavidFehertysBike]

Ever since Tiger stopped playing his VR irons, it seems like that line has dropped off the planet. I've hit the blades and the half-cavity and thought they were a pretty decent club. It seems like no one is really playing them on tour either. I think it was Immelman sporting the half-cav's but the past major winners being nike guys are still playing older cci models. There was so much hype about being able to get TW spec clubs and it seems like all of that fizzled out and the line was just about a complete failure market wise. Anyone gaming these clubs now or have an opinion on what happened?

Ive hit them at a range, and thought they were fine. In some ways i think the VR MB's are easier to hit than the cavitiy backs are. Which was very odd. Besides, if the best player in the world dumped the VR's and went back to an older model, thats not particulary sending a good marketing message.

I wonder if its an ego thing. Would these professionals, who are highly accomplished golfers but obviously not Tiger, find it hard to stomach that they are playing 'Tiger's' clubs.

I wouldnt be surprised by that for a second. Though i belive Michelle Wie and another LPGA player use the VR MB's, but they're not competeting agaist Tiger, obviously.

[tjy355]

Ever since Tiger stopped playing his VR irons, it seems like that line has dropped off the planet.

Some data to support your proposition?

[Golfaway]

Did Tiger stop playing VR blades?
What is he playing now then?

[enis750]

in a recent Canadian Golf Magazine they had a spotlight on Ames, and he was using the pro forged combos!
it looked like a 3i he was using, so it could have been just that one club he keeps in his bag..but not sure

[lumpuckeroo]

I hit the Nike blades and did not like them at all. I felt the Mizuno, Titleist and Wilson blades were much better. I have no doubt that the equipment might not meet the standards of the pros.

[walfice]

Some of the pro's still use the old pro combo 2 and 3 irons and play more recent clubs in the rest of their irons. Paul Caseys 'what's in the bag' video shows him with a pro combo 3 iron, vr split cavity 4 and 5 iron and blades for 6-lw.
I don't think the vr line has dropped off the planet, plenty of people at my course have them.

[dmband8985]

pga pros play a demanding schedule, and major equipment changes take time. i remember reading once that vijay won't put new irons in the bag until they are completely worn out. fred couples plays with a 15-20 year old wedge. paddy is still playing pi5's. tiger has been using the same putter since '99, and he still had steel shaft in his driver long after everyone switched to graphite...and i still think he's got steel in his woods but that i can't say with certainty.

[wedge player]

I hit the Nike blades and did not like them at all. I felt the Mizuno, Titleist and Wilson blades were much better. I have no doubt that the equipment might not meet the standards of the pros.

the 08 nike blades are one of the sweetest clubs ive ever hit,and ive played them all,jmo though.

[plark]

The Nike VR Line plummeted because the pros did not like them. Anthony Kim turned down the VR line and stucky with the normal nike blades.. TW got his own set of TW blades that are suppose to be the 'VR' line, but i heard they are just making it HIS line. So i think they just didnt sell well and the pros didnt promote them.

[CG031]

They certainly look awesome. I'd love to try them to see how they compare to my MP-57's.

I wouldn't even consider switching irons at the moment right now though.

[Titleist Man]

pga pros play a demanding schedule, and major equipment changes take time. i remember reading once that vijay won't put new irons in the bag until they are completely worn out. fred couples plays with a 15-20 year old wedge. paddy is still playing pi5's. tiger has been using the same putter since '99, and he still had steel shaft in his driver long after everyone switched to graphite...and i still think he's got steel in his woods but that i can't say with certainty.

no he plays graphite in his woods. 103 x Diamana blueboards i think and an 83 x in the driver whiteboard but i could be wrong.

[smarsh]

tiger is still playing the vr blades. the ones he plays are just his prototypes he used to play last year. they are all the same just different finish and stamping