My Custom Nike Split-Cavity Irons

[Outfoxed]

Recently, my wonderful family conspired to buy a new set of custom-fit Nike Irons and wedges for me. They knew that I had been playing with Taylormade Burners from my college days. ('91) Despite my complete denial of the grip wear, these irons helped me shoot consistently in the high 90s. At some point during the ump-teen moves between college and my current abode, golf gremlins made-off with my 9-iron. So the shots I had from less than 100 yards consisted of a hard, medium, flop PW and the same for my Hickory Stick 56 wedge. Needless to say, I had to be a little lucky for me to hit my targets.

My family's generosity started with a trip to the local big box golf store for a fitting where I found out I needed 1 degree upright, stiff shafts, and +1/32 grips. Clubs were ordered. Two weeks later, presto, new fitted clubs at my door step.

The new clubs looked so pretty. I stood them up in my living room so that I could stare at them as I iced a new injury. Turns out "free fall" is possible from a ladder. At times the clubs seemed to talk to me saying, "Come on, it's only pain. Besides, you can have a off-road wheelchair that will carry you, a buddy, and two sets of clubs. Come on"

Well after weeks of 6x daily icing, they wore me down. It may have been an invite to play with friends at a very nice local course, too. I managed to get a right foot into a spiked shoe. But the other foot wasn't leaving the cast any time soon. I can only imagine what the folks at the practice range were thinking as I caned up to the tees and pulled out all my new irons. In my mind, I'm was hoping someone was looking at my clubs thinking, "Ooooh, those are the new Nike VR irons." The reality was most likely they were thinking, "That guy should be at home icing."

The clubs felt great in my hands. Looking down at the head, I saw nothing but current technology that is there to help my game. It took me nearly a dozen swings to feel like I had some kind of swing-plane with my left cast running interference. Though the feel of the clubs was instantaneous, I could not stop the ball from going left, way left. I just had too much rotation from half of my body, and nothing from the other half. The round consisted of several lost balls, my buddies helping me into and out of bunker shot (they raked), and lots reminders of how nice it was not to be icing. I managed to shoot a 106. My buddies were rather impressed with both the new Nike irons as they took many opportunities to "borrow a club" for a shot and with the fact that I was actually out.

When I got home, my wife asked right away about the new clubs. Just before she told me get on the couch and start icing. This time, the clubs were in the car, ready for the next outing.