As those of you who followed our coverage of Nike’s Innovation Unleashed Summit know, I (and 60-something of my closest friends) spent the better part of the last week with the Nike Golf team learning about, and ultimately experiencing much of their 2014 lineup. Nike’s media events are as informative as anybody’s, and actually having the opportunity to try the product so closely following the information sessions, proved to be immensely beneficial.
Now is probably the time to toss up the disclaimer: This is not a review.
Nothing here has been tested on a launch monitor yet (we’ll get there). These grades reflect my own perceptions of performance, with consideration for how I think our readers and the larger consumer market will respond to the new products. I suppose the idea isn’t to dissimilar to grading the NFL draft before any of the players step on the field. It’s almost ludicrous, but at the same time, it sure is fun to speculate on how the season will unfold.
For those expecting another state of Nike Golf article along the lines of last year’s #1 Company in Golf…I’ve got some ideas, and some stories that I think should be told. Check back…it’s coming.
Until then, here are the Pre-Season grades for Nike Golf’s 2014 Lineup.
Metalwoods
Across the board, drivers, fairways, and hybrids, Nike has made relatively subtle refinements to the metalwood product line. As you’d expect, the talking points include things like increased ball speed, higher launch, lower spin, and increased forgiveness.
The Tour driver is now 460cc, has a refined pear shape (plenty of input for this model came from Rory McIlory), and with the help of Nike’s new Fly-Brace technology, the sound, feel, and overall performance of the Covert driver has been improved.
Particularly noteworthy; MOI in the Tour version now surpasses that of last season’s Performance version.
Those who have invested anything in FlexLoft-tipped shafts will be happy to know that the connectors are unchanged from the 2013 model.
Stock shaft offerings are the updated version of Mitusbishi’s Kuro Kage Series (Silver TiNi in Tour, Black HBP in the standard model).
Having hit the new lineup, I can attest to improved sound/feel, and for one day, anyway, dispersion patterns also appear to be a bit tighter. Without the benefit of a launch monitor it’s tough to say exactly how well the Covert 2.0 series actually performs, but I definitely liked what I saw.
In many respects, Covert 2.0 could have just as easily been called Covert S. In my estimation it’s very much in the same vein of a mid-cycle Apple iPhone release. Legitimate feature upgrades abound, but overall Covert 2.0 isn’t so far removed from the original that current Covert owners will feel compelled to run out to buy the new one.
It’s better, but since much of the basics remain unchanged, many may not notice (or care).
From the consumer perspective, I think it’s exactly what an evolutionary release should be (great if you don’t have one already, but won’t make you miserable if you do), but I’m not sure how effective it will be in getting golfers to convert to the Covert.
If Nike athletes win (and do it often) with the new woods, the landscape could change quickly, but without a more compelling story the visual impact of red, the cavity back, and swoosh on the crown won’t be what it was last time around.
2014 Metalwoods Grade: B
Irons
Nike announced the VRS Pro Combo irons a month or so ago, so we’re going to go ahead and leave those out of the discussion.
On the game improvement/distance side, Nike as updated the Covert line with the Covert 2 and Covert 2 Forged irons.
From a pure technology standpoint, Nike is telling a good story.
To offset the bulk of the hosel, Nike Engineers shifted weight out to the toe which places the center of gravity…the so-called sweet spot directly in the center of the face (The one-piece cast version offers additional toe weighting above and beyond that of the 2-piece forged version). Toss in a faster NexCOR face, and Nike has a recipe that should make for a competitive distance iron.
The problem, as I see it anyway, is that Nike’s new irons are too bulky, and when it comes to the forged model anyway, too expensive.
Both models are over-sized (by current standards), and the transition from the topline to the face in both cases is harsh. The topline is sharp, almost square, and I suspect isn’t going to appeal to golfers visually. To an extent Covert 2.0 are throwbacks to the GI irons of a few years ago. The design is in almost complete defiance of the trend towards playability without bulk.
As forum members will no doubt point out; they are shovels – even by game improvement standards.
And as long as I’m piling it on; there’s absolutely nothing exceptional about the feel of the forged model (pound for pound I think I prefer the cast), and Nike didn’t do much to reduce the comparative footprint either. It too is overly-bulky.
At $1099, I expect it’s the VRS Covert 2.0 Forged is going to be an exceptionally tough sell. I’d be shocked if guys looking to spend that kind of money on this kind of iron don’t buy Callaway’s APEX (or APEX Pro) in significantly greater numbers.
I could be wrong…and I’m certain Nike hopes I am, but I think the irons will prove to be a miss.
2014 Iron Grade: C-
(B- with VRS Pro Combo)
Toe Sweep Wedge
One of the more compelling products in Nike’s 2014 Lineup is the new Toe Sweep wedge (right). It features a broad sole that retains versatility through the most aggressive heel grind I’ve seen from a major manufacturer.
What you get is a wedge that’s easy to hit (and hit high) out of the bunker…the wide sole benefit, but is still versatile enough to be played from any lie, from any face position around the green.
I spent the largest percentage of my rainy outdoor time at Nike’s Innovation Unleashed event playing with the Toe Sweep wedge (unusual for a guy who loves to pound drivers), and I came away a believer.
From even the tightest of lies it’s painfully easy to hit flops shots (even when it’s totally unnecessary to do so). It cuts through wet rough as well as anything. Low skidders, full shots, whatever you want to hit…the Toe Sweep wedge is simply brilliant.
The one potential issue is that Nike is riding a bit of a fine line with Toe Sweep. There’s almost certainly going to be a percentage of golfers who see Toe Sweep for the first time and immediately think infomercial gimmick (Just $19.99, but wait there’s more). I’ll admit, I thought it too.
Less than 5 minutes with the wedge in my hand, however; and I’ve come to believe that Nike has created something special in the wedge category.
Toe Sweep Wedge Grade: B+
2014 RZN Golf Balls with Speedlock Core Technology
It’s hard to know exactly where to start with Nike’s new lineup of RZN Core Golf Balls. From my vantage point, the story coming from Nike this year isn’t too much different than what I heard last time around.
A year ago Nike talked about the sound (and feel) issues with the original RZN ball, and maybe the distance wasn’t always there, but hey…first generation technology and we fixed it with this 2.0 ball.
And no doubt, RZN 2.0 was better. It sounded better (better isn’t the same as good), but was still firm and clicky. Some days it performed admirably, but a little bit of wind, and well, all bets were off. And, oh boy, if by chance you wanted spin around the green, well, you probably didn’t want to play a 20XI.
So you’ll have to forgive me for being skeptical of Nike’s Mike Pai and Rock Ishii as they talked about Speedlock cores, and Spin Optimized Coating, and of course better sound and feel. Quite frankly, much of what Nike’s ball guys said didn’t sound too much different than what they said last year.
Sure…this time Paul Casey was there, but ultimately the story was much the same.
blah blah blah RZN.
RZN is? Nah…RZN never really was.
When Nike people asked me what I thought of the ball presentation I was brutally honest. “It all sounds good, but it sounded good last year, but the ball really wasn’t. So we’ll see.”
And then I did.
At the rainy demo portion of the Innovation Unleashed I got to check out the new balls on the range (full swing, woods, and irons), on the putting green, and with the new wedges.
In ever scenario not only does the new ball appear to outperform (dramatically) the old one, there’s some preliminary evidence to suggest Nike’s new RZN balls (with Speedlock core) will prove to be among the best on the market in 2014. Yeah…I really just said that.
Softer feel off the putter. Check.
Green side spin. Check
Spin on full shots. Check
Holds its line even in a crosswind. BIG MOTHER F’N CHECK.
The ball is insanely good (and I’m not the only one who thinks so). As guys returned from the golf course, the new ball very quickly became the most talked about innovation of the entire event.
In just over an hour I went from thinking that Nike’s ball guys were probably full of shit to being mostly convinced that Nike had finally figured “the ball thing” out.
Other than simply saying “rubber was, RZN is”, Nike has never had anything they can point to; nothing that even remotely qualifies as a golf ball story. With Speedlock they’ve got something they can show people when they talk about waffle patterns, maximum energy retention, and more stable flight. Spin Optmized coating is tactile, it’s something that every golfer can feel – and that’s going to make a difference.
It’s not going to outsell the ProV1, but the 2014 RZN lineup is going to surprise a lot of people.
As unlikely as it may sound given the reality of RZNs brief history, the new golf ball (4 models Black, Platinum, Red, and White…very similar to how Bridgestone categorizes it’s B-series), will absolutely be the biggest equipment story for Nike Golf in 2014.
The performance is undeniable. RZN is…finally.
2014 Nike RZN Ball Grade: A+
Apparel
It’s Nike, so it’s no real surprise their apparel continues to be among the best (they’d say the very best) in the game. It’s difficult to get too excited over a shirt (lots of styles to choose from), but when you hear about the research and level of detail that goes into every seam and stitch, it should give you a new found appreciation for your that shirt.
Perhaps the biggest star of the 2014 apparel lineup is the Innovation Woven Cover-Up. The new hybrid garment blends Nike’s wind and water resistant Dri-FIT stretch fabric with 3D knit sleeves (the sweater). It’s insanely comfortable (and as it should) and it effortlessly moves with you during the golf swing. It’s the ultimate sweater jacket that you never knew you needed.
Toss in other featured products like the Hyperadapt Wind Jacket (Hyperadapt technology in a lighter shell), and you’ll can rest easy knowing that Nike hasn’t abandoned its core strengths in pursuit of a greater share of the equipment market.
Which reminds me, “apparel is equipment now”, is the story coming out of Nike.
2014 Apparel Grade: A (It’s still Nike)
Footwear
Like Nike’s apparel, a shoe is no longer a shoe…it’s equipment.
Truthfully I didn’t really see anything groundbreaking in the footwear lineup. There’s no earth shattering technology breakthrough. There’s still nothing that competes directly with the adidas adizero in the traditionally-spiked, ultra-lightweight, close ground contact category either. What we’ve got is a steady, predictable improvement to the flagship Lunar Control, and the new Lunar Clayton which is already turning heads at an impressive rate.
Here’s what Nike says about the Lunar Clayton:
Early response from readers has been overwhelmingly positive. I love it. Most of you love it too. Shoe guys will eat it up by the box.
Ask Titleist; when you’ve already got a great product, steady is more than good enough.
2014 Footwear Grade: A
Putter
Yes…I saw the putters. I like the putters, but since GolfSpy Dave has already reported on the new Method Mod series, I’ll defer to him.
Have Your Say
Once again, these are only preliminary grades. I’ve only had a brief chance to play with the new equipment, so time (and consumer response) will eventually dictate the final grade for Nike’s 2014 equipment season.
While I’ll admit to wanting more from the metalwoods, last year’s Covert was a visually stunning departure from anything Nike had done previously, and that type of impact is difficult to make two years in a row. The real story here is the ball. If consumers are willing to try it (and it’s an off year for the Pro V1), Nike might finally gain the footing it needs to build for something bigger in the future.
What do you think of the 2014 lineup? How will Nike Golf fair in 2014?
Eric
10 years ago
You obviously haven’t read the rave reviews on the Covert Forged 2.0 or seen the cult following of their predecessor, the VR_S Forged. Fantastic irons, and if they’re shovels, so are AP1’s and G-25’s
Tony Covey
10 years ago
Eric – I’m a realist, and so what I would say to that is that you obviously haven’t seen the reality that is the Golf Datatech Market Share reports. Rave reviews are great (and you can’t find those for every product in golf), but the indisputable reality is that Nike’s irons don’t sell on any competitive level. Sure…the G25s are shovelish, and so are the AP1s, the difference is that they do sell. In very simple terms, when it comes to the market as a whole, Nike’s irons are just north of nowhere, and mostly stagnant right now.
Cult followings are awesome…if you’re Scratch or Miura or even Tom Wishon, but when the goal is to compete with the leaders in the industry (TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, and PING), cult following is just a euphemism for “not getting it done”.
Think about that phrase in terms of where Nike is in other sports. Does Nike have a cult following in basketball, soccer, and running? No…they have a massive following in all of the above. I would hope that for Nike, a cult following, even in golf, is unacceptable.
Nobody is suggesting the irons don’t perform. They absolutely do, but the aesthetic, and probably to an extent the Nike name (there is still an uninformed anti-Nike bias) is working against them. And the thing is, everyone else’s irons perform too.
The upside is that Nike has tremendous potential for growth in the iron space, but with the exception of the VR Pro Combo, the Covert 2 series is uninspired. For most potential game-improvement customers, Nike’s offerings aren’t part of the conversation, and any golf company will tell you that you’ll never get anywhere until you’re part of the same conversation as TaylorMade, Callaway, and the rest.
My hunch is that 2015 is going to be a special year for Nike Golf products, and I think that means significant changes to the 2014 iron lineup.