Getting Back To Their Roots
Nike launched its first piece of retail golf equipment almost 10 years ago…man how time flies. They have spent that time trying and somewhat struggling to put a face and identity with their golf brand. At first their designs might have been considered more tour inspired…well at least when it comes to their shape. Although the last few years Nike has been one of the only companies willing to REALLY push the envelope with head design. It wasn’t to long ago that the color yellow on a club would have been considered product suicide…well Nike made it commonplace. You can thank Nike for the explosion of colors now being used by all the other golf companies. And their most recent patents would have most golf club designers head spinning.
Nike Gives The Gear Heads What They Asked For
Their original more tour inspired designs quickly turned to names like Slingshot, Powerbow, Dymo and Sasquatch…but with this new release of clubs they seem to have come full circle and gone back to their roots. Many online golf gear heads would say it’s a welcomed departure from their most recent design trends. It is kind of odd (actually very odd) but when it comes to irons most of the true gear heads out there don’t want any new advanced technology or terms like High MOI and Perimeter Balanced. They have actually been begging Nike and others to make one of the most common designs every produced in golf. They just wanted them to make the clean lined, super traditional, plain jane…”Standard Blade” or what Nike is calling the 2011 Nike VR Pro Blade. So…Nike must have been listening…because not only did they give them that super clean standard blade but they also went back to a combo set the Nike VR Pro Combo Irons…that I still think is one of their most versatile designs to date.
2011 Nike VR Pro Line
Also included in this years line will be the 2011 Nike Method Core Putters…which I am sure was an obvious choice with the original Method’s success. You will also see the new 2011 Nike VR Pro Driver , 2011 Nike Machspeed Black and 2011 Nike VR Pro Cavity Iron.
P.S. – Have Your Voice Heard
Tell the guys and gals over at Nike Golf what you think of the new line-up. Do you think Nike has found its identity? What do you like about the new Nike VR PRO line for 2011?
2011 Nike VR Pro Blade Irons
2011 Nike VR Pro Combo Irons
2011 Nike VR Pro Driver
2011 Nike Method Core Putters
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{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I think the new line up looks great! However I’m not sure what kind of sales they are going to get out of line up of clubs that cater to the low handicap players since they probably only count for about 10% of the population, if that. But all in all I think it looks SAWEET!
I dont have any idea if I could play these (20ish handicap)… but DAMMMM they look sweet!!
Back when they hired Duval and Woods, and launched the first Nike clubs the goal was to get the player first. First the player, then the wannabes. This is just a touch up on the player line, not a new direction. BTW that blade looks a lot like the Pursuit M510 muscle back, if you ask me.
Hence the term “Full Circle” Robert.
Yes, MGS. I know you get it. Was more directed at Jeff’s comment on “why” they would go after a small part of the market. Thanks for posting the comment! Peace.
Big thumbs up – love the direction Nike Golf is moving (back) to.
They look very clean and precise!
Nike has finally introduced a line that is worthy of the name.
Clubs look great! Now, I did notice a “pro-combo” on the irons…. Does that mean Nike is bringing back that style of a set? I still have my ORIGINAL pro combos from Nike, arguably one of the best sets to ever hit the market! I’m intrigued to see if they are of the same make up that the old pro-combo was , ex. 3-5 = cavity back, 6-7 = muscle cavity, and 8-P = blade. I will be pre-ordering mine this October, can’t wait!
What will be the headsize of the vr pro driver ?
420cc or460cc??
I have said this since Nike started making clubs do what Mizuno, Titleist, and even Adams has started doing. Go after the better player they will talk up your product. Produce quality over quantity and you will sell more. The entire line looks so much better keep making these kind of clubs then slowly get back to the slingshot and machspeed etc. stuff. Just my opinion
Why do the Vr Pro irons look like last year’s Vr line? Seems they’re still trying to push the “power channel” gimmick, as well.
I wonder why the irons don’t have a “power channel”…
Credit were credit’s due this new enhanced VR range looks fantastic. The original Victory line apart from the blades just looked so unremarkable. These look great and I’m sure they play great as well. Well done Nike! I’d gladly be an all Nike player…
These are gorgeous! I am still playing my Forged Pro Combos, and have been waiting for them to come out with another set of them. Something that I think would be great to do with the Method putter, is to let the consumer choose what color of Polymer they want their grooves to be. I just think that would add a nice level of customization to an otherwise off the shelf putter. Just a thought.
Lookin’ good. Nike has moved from a newbie to a player. I see more and more of our members using them at our club. Nike is being accepted, and that’s good. The more the merrier. TM & Calili and Zuno need the competion.
If these clubs perform, they’ll be in the bags of average to above average players. When they go to the racks to purchase a new set, the Nike’s will certainly be considered.
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Looks like the old line with PRO next to VR. At least on the blade. The Pro Combo irons were always great glad they brought them back with rebadging. The putter is the only thing thats newish looking. And even that is a stretch, just colored an insert area red, (hey look we have a new putter) Not seeing a lot of innovation here but, sell what works and the original Nike blade was awesome and so was the original pro combo.
I just don’t understand what direction Nike is going to. They are putting out a club that was designed somewhere in the early 60′s. Trying to attract sales from a market that is in the neighborhood of 6% to 9%. How can Nike have found there identity with a club that is an exact copy of what Wilson, MacGregor, Titleist, Mizuno and OEM’s have done 40 years before Nike came to the golf market.
Last year Adams put out an MB Blade that was too, similar in Blade design, but at least it looked cooler w/its Nickel Chromium finish and smoked KBS shafts. There current CB1 irons are a gorgeous blade that was uniquley desined with computer milling. Good luck Nike. BR
Nike’s banking on the Nike-philes flocking to these… It doesn’t matter if they’re unoriginal designs, the swoosh is what they’re banking on. It’s the same reason so many buy Camerons, when all they are are Ping Ansers with someone else’s name on them.
If Nike wants to attract more serious amateur buyers — I would get rid of those swooshes and red paint and come up with a new logo.
I do not and never have liked Nike clubs. I like some of their balls. Zero clubs.
Thanks for your insightful comment that added so much to the conversation David.
As for the lineup, bringing back a Combo set is very exciting. Their newer clubs have been much better all around starting with the SQ line and last years Machspeed and VR line is their best yet.
They are just another clubhead on the market. As usual they will be overpriced and still only a 38″ 5 iron length and sold with stiff shafts as std. Being a custom clubmaker about 5% of golfers will use a stiff shaft. Too many of you are Brand Washed
I think the new irons look great, they look however very similar to the mizuno mp- 29 and mp-62.
Do you know any more about the Combo version? Are they going the route of pocketcb in long irons mid irons splitback and lower irons blade like B-Stone’s set? My favorite set Nike every made was the Original Combo’s. They were a great set that I should have never let go. Good job, NIKE!
Cfgolf hit the nail on the head. There is NOTHING new in these heads. Take a look at images of Titleist’s irons going back over 30 years at ……..titleist.com/historicalclubs. The NEW and EXCITING Nike VR Pro Blade appears indistinguishable from the 1984 Titleist Tour Model 841. Except that the 1984 5 iron specs match the 2011 6 iron specs
And this same look has been made by most of the manufacturers at various times over the intervening years.
So if others have made the same looking iron, why are you bashing nike when they make one? In other words your saying that every company that makes a blade is unoriginal. you could say the same thing about the anser style putter, ya its been done a million times, so what? its a great design that people keep making small tweaks to for specific reasons, whether they be for looks or performance. I promise you that if you take the 1984 Titleist tour model 841 or whatever other blade you want, and there will be some slight difference betweent them and the VR Pros. These are great looking clubs so unless you talk crap about every single other company that makes a blade, then you have nothing to base your negativity on.
I too didn’t like the first few years of nike clubs. However, I now play the 2008 Nike CCI forged Irons, 2008 3W and the 2010 Nike VR Tour. All of which are just amazing clubs. I wouldn’t play any Nike Driver before this year because I just felt that they didn’t measure up. Every year that goes by they just keep getting better and better. I am not sure that I am ready to trade in my clubs just yet but if I do I will sure be looking at these great looking clubs for sure especially since Nike seems to keep making better clubs every year.
To matt,
I am not bashing Nike for making another blade. In fact I wish more companies would make blade irons. They are the best clubs for learning this great game. Maybe you mis-understood what I meant.
As a custom clubmaker I see all too often people buying clubs just because they are brain washed to buy x model of that particular company.Most of the time when I check out their clubs 90% of them are too short and too stiff in the shaft. How can golfers expect to improve their games with ill fitting equipment
the old method looked way better than the new one but everything else looks sehr gut
I dont’ have a chance of playing blades but those baby’s sure are sexy!!!
Does anyone know if the blades are going to be available for leftys?
I’m wondering what the face of the irons look like with high frequency grooves and if it’ll affect spin rates when compared to irons with traditional grooves.
The blades to look very traditional though–I’m playing MP-33s right now and they look pretty similar to those.
Danggggg!!!!! They look nice!!! I love the way Nike is bringing in clubs for more advanced players. I am looking to upgrade to blades before the next season, and I’m thinking abt giving these babies a try when they are released. And yes, I do believe Nike has found their id….. They just needed a push from Tiger………..plz, no comments on how he screwwed up…..there old and not needed!!
I was at a Nike Golf Demo day and got to use the new VR Pro driver – first shot I crunched it 320 yards and the second was a little further though just off the fairway!
It felt amazing, I use a Titleist 905T 8 degree (which as great)) and play off 14. The Nike felt amazing, though I did only get 2 goes with it. However I won the longest drive comp and have won this driver – can’t wait!!!!
Had these in work just over a week ago. Got to say, I have never been a fan of Nike golf equipment. Until now that is. The new pro combo irons are a dream to hit. Along with the Callaway tour is ball, it is like putting a knife through butter. The low irons are so forgiving with the split cavity while the 8-PW in blade style give so much control, and again are surprisingly forgiving. I would like to see the KBS Tour shaft in these, but have been advised that it’s a £63 upcharge. Not that that will put me off. A must try set if u are considering a new set. Far superior to my AP2′s. Well done Nike. Keep the “Oven” on fire.
Disappointed with the additional charges for choice of shaft particularly as these clubs are aimed at golfers seeking every small advantage from their equipment. Otherwise the clubs are the same high standard and very similar to the original VR’s.
Victory Red (VR) Blade .To be honest, its not easy clubs to hit,special the long irons 6,5,4,3. I took my clubs to the pro shop to check the loft for me and all my clubs was 2-3deg open.(cant get distance) They bend it 2deg more than the standard deg.The guy in the pro shop said to me he bend it very easy. Im worried if he bend it so easy that the clubs will stay on the same loft(deg) after a couple games.
The PW, 9,8,7 clubs are very nice.
Why cant you buy the combo set in Dubai. I will like to get 6,5,4,3 in Split Cavity.
I’ve played the new Nike VR Pro Blades for 6 rounds now and have some insight. They are NOT easy to hit nor forgiving. But they are extremely “smooth” and have excellent feel and feedback. Hit the sweet spot, and I mean spot and you’re rewarded with surgical precision. Miss hit it and you’ll know it. Loss of distance but not a huge difference in dispersion. Open/close the face a fraction of an inch and watch the fade or the draw, a little more and it’s a slice or a hook.
An extremely enjoyable iron that is sure to test the best players on the planet. Fantastic actually. (btw. I only hit the sweet spot maybe 10 times a round but keep going back for more… These irons definitely make me focus on making better contact)