Nike is Releasing Vapor Speed Driver with Tiger's Specs

[billchao]

http://www.golf.com/equipment/nike-release-tiger-woods-vapor-speed-driver

Quote:

The Vapor Speed TW driver ($399) features many of the same design characteristics as the standard Vapor Speed including a reinforced cavity back for added forgiveness and improved launch conditions and a compression channel in the sole for faster ballspeed on shots struck in the mid and low areas of the clubhead.

All the technology comes in a more compact, pear-shaped clubhead that is permanently bonded with a fixed hosel rather than the adjustable version available in the standard model. The TW also features 10.5-degrees of loft and comes with a Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board 73 shaft.

For those of you looking to work on your traj. Okay all kidding aside, if I could afford it, I'd buy one.

[RayG]

Why would I buy a driver that even TIGER can't hit straight anymore? :-P

[Judah Ben-Hur]

Why would I buy a driver that even TIGER can't hit straight anymore?

Ouch!

[dkolo]

Why would I buy a driver that even TIGER can't hit straight anymore? :-P

Hey, if I could hit it as far as Tiger, I wouldn't care which fairway my ball landed on either.

[newtogolf]

Based on what I've been told, Nike sales numbers for the Vapor line is below expectations so they are hoping Tigers name will help stimulate some sales.  As @RayG pointed out, Tiger isn't hitting this driver particularly well, they'd have been better off making it the version Rory uses.

If it helps stimulate Vapor sales I'd expect Callaway to release the Phil BB Driver and TM will release the Dustin Johnson R15 version.

[billchao]

Based on what I've been told, Nike sales numbers for the Vapor line is below expectations so they are hoping Tigers name will help stimulate some sales.

That doesn't really surprise me. I've never considered Nike as a leader in woods and I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.

[Mr. Desmond]

Tiger moves the needle -- He and Como better work on that driver swing, and then, when they straighten it out, Woods needs to play... doesn't he morally owe that to Nike? Play and earn your millions.

[dkolo]

Based on what I've been told, Nike sales numbers for the Vapor line is below expectations so they are hoping Tigers name will help stimulate some sales.  As @RayG pointed out, Tiger isn't hitting this driver particularly well, they'd have been better off making it the version Rory uses. If it helps stimulate Vapor sales I'd expect Callaway to release the Phil BB Driver and TM will release the Dustin Johnson R15 version.

Am I going to need to learn how to swing left handed to play the Phil BB? [quote name="Mr. Desmond" url="/t/82254/nike-is-releasing-vapor-speed-driver-with-tigers-specs#post_1147393"]Tiger moves the needle -- He and Como better work on that driver swing, and then, when they straighten it out, Woods needs to play... doesn't he morally owe that to Nike? Play and earn your millions. [/quote] I don't think Tiger is in any morally dubious position with respect to Nike. He's been busting his glutes working on his game. Just hasn't come together for whatever reason yet.

[Judah Ben-Hur]

Based on what I've been told, Nike sales numbers for the Vapor line is below expectations so they are hoping Tigers name will help stimulate some sales.  As @RayG pointed out, Tiger isn't hitting this driver particularly well, they'd have been better off making it the version Rory uses.

If it helps stimulate Vapor sales I'd expect Callaway to release the Phil BB Driver and TM will release the Dustin Johnson R15 version.

Good God, TaylorMade will have 5 versions before the years out.

[Kieran123]

That doesn't really surprise me. I've never considered Nike as a leader in woods and I'm sure there are others who feel the same way.

Based on what? Hopefully not by multiple reviews of the clubs, because the last 3 models Nike has delivered have been pretty damn good.

[dkolo]

Based on what? Hopefully not by multiple reviews of the clubs, because the last 3 models Nike has delivered have been pretty damn good.

Not being a leader and not making good clubs isn't the same thing.

I actually agree with you that they're really good clubs. My brother leaves his clubs with me, so I've played his Covert Tour 3-wood and Tour 2.0 hybrids, and they're very good clubs. I don't care for ther Covert drivers and never seem to get good numbers from them, and I know some reviewers had that experience as well, especially with the new Vapors. But you don't think of Nike in terms of moving the state of the art for the clubs forward the way Callaway, Titleist, and Taylormade have. Which is somewhat unfair, maybe, because they did make broad adjustability in their drivers cheap and accessible very early on and they did the cavity thing (which they've been filling in since and seems more gimmick than revolution in hindsight). But, rightly or wrongly, their reputation has largely been "Tiger and Rory play well in spite of the Nike clubs" rather than "Hand a Nike club to anyone and they'll be better for it" which is the reputation that Callaway, Taylormade, and Titleist have cultivated over the years.

[billchao]

Based on what? Hopefully not by multiple reviews of the clubs, because the last 3 models Nike has delivered have been pretty damn good.

Doesn't matter what it's based on. It's probably based on long outdated information about their clubs. What's important is that I think this about their woods and that's something that their marketing/promotion departments have to deal with. When I think drivers, I don't think Nike.

The same kind of thing works in a company's favor, too. For example, when I'm looking for wedges, I start at Vokeys. Reputation is a pretty powerful thing.

[Kieran123]

Doesn't matter what it's based on. It's probably based on long outdated information about their clubs. What's important is that I think this about their woods and that's something that their marketing/promotion departments have to deal with. When I think drivers, I don't think Nike.

The same kind of thing works in a company's favor, too. For example, when I'm looking for wedges, I start at Vokeys. Reputation is a pretty powerful thing.

Yes, these companies do have to deal with ignorance all the time.

Of course it matters what it's based on. That's how having an opinion works.

[dkolo]

Yes, these companies do have to deal with ignorance all the time.

Of course it matters what it's based on. That's how having an opinion works.

His point was just that he wasn't surprised the Vapors weren't selling well because Nike doesn't have a good reputation for their metalwoods. Whether or not you, he, or I believe differently doesn't matter if the general population isn't buying, or perhaps even trying, Nike clubs based on a (possibly outdated) negative brand reputation in this area.

[billchao]

Yes, these companies do have to deal with ignorance all the time. Of course it matters what it's based on. That's how having an opinion works.

The list of things I'm ignorant of far outweighs the list I'm knowledgeable of and I'm okay with that. I neither have the time nor the desire to try every club released by every manufacturer every year. The onus is on the companies and their promoters to convince me to try their products. [quote name="dkolo" url="/t/82254/nike-is-releasing-vapor-speed-driver-with-tigers-specs#post_1147527"]His point was just that he wasn't surprised the Vapors weren't selling well because Nike doesn't have a good reputation for their metalwoods. Whether or not you, he, or I believe differently doesn't matter if the general population isn't buying, or perhaps even trying, Nike clubs based on a (possibly outdated) negative brand reputation in this area.  [/quote]Yes, this is exactly what I was saying, thank you.

[Kieran123]

The list of things I'm ignorant of far outweighs the list I'm knowledgeable of and I'm okay with that. I neither have the time nor the desire to try every club released by every manufacturer every year. The onus is on the companies and their promoters to convince me to try their products.

Just curious, what do you think Nike ( or any other brand ) would need to do to convince you? Or at this stage, do you think it's a lost cause?

Again, I have never seen the negative onus on Nike's clubs until this thread ( probably my ignorance ). I believe they were the steadiest whilst others have declined in the past couple of years. This could be due to clothing and not clubs at all.

[jamo]

FWIW, I'm almost finished with a review of the Vapor Flex, and it's going to be VERY positive. Like it a lot.

[dkolo]

FWIW, I'm almost finished with a review of the Vapor Flex, and it's going to be VERY positive. Like it a lot.

Relative price to the regular Vapor Speed reflected in that positivity?