The highly anticipated introduction of Nike Golf’s new METHOD putter yesterday satisfied the curiosity and buzz generated by the Nike Golf Prototype putter that has won two major championship titles and three other Tour victories worldwide.
The much talked about putter also represents the emergence of yet another ground breaking innovation from Nike Golf’s Research and Development center, The OVEN. Following the same game-changing engineering and design trail blazed by the square and adjustable drivers, which also were created and developed at Nike Golf’s Fort Worth Facility.
Why The Method?
The philosophy of the “scientific method,” was the inspiration for the OVEN’s team of designers and engineers that combined steel and polymer in multiple ways before discovering the unique polymetal groove technology. The highly visible and distinctive polymetal groove technology is influential in creating a faster forward roll after impact for the kind of accuracy and consistency that the Tour professionals demand.
The Polymetal Groove Technology
When the golf ball is at rest on the green, it’s sitting in a depression in the grass. The putter’s loft is what helps lift the ball out of the depression, but the problem is that traditional steel faced putters lift the ball too much and impart backspin, that cause the ball to initially bounce slightly higher and go offline. The polymetal groove technology is designed to help lift the ball out of the depression without imparting the backspin, but forward spin to minimize bounce and keep your putts on line.
The Nike METHOD has a flowed-through low-durometer polymetal groove technology that dampens impact vibrations for soft touch, while the interspersed milled steel face maintains audible feedback for proper distance control. A multi-material face starts the ball on a positive spin that is faster than both a milled steel putter as well as putters with a polymer face insert.
For increased Moment of Inertia (MOI) and added stability, a ported polymetal groove technology allows 30 grams of internal weight to be excavated from the face and body and relocated to the perimeter.
Tour Proven
Since switching to the Nike METHOD, U.S. Open champion Glover’s putts-per-round ranking has significantly improved from 116thin 2008 to T39 in 2009.
“This putter has made all of the difference in my game,” said Glover. “I attribute a lot of the success I had at Bethpage to my putting. I give a lot of credit to Nike for coming out with such a great product.”
Paul Casey, who was the first player to win with the Nike METHOD this year – twice on the PGA European Tour and once on the PGA Tour — has improved 43 spots in his putts per round ranking. “I fell in love with this putter the first time I putted with it,” said Casey, who first put it in his bag last fall. “You can really feel the difference in how the ball comes off of the face and you can see the difference in how it rolls. It’s really helped me with my confidence on the greens.”
In addition to Glover, Cink and Casey, Nike athletes Justin Leonard and Stephen Ames also switched to the new Nike METHOD putter.
Look and Feel
The Anser blade style putters have a nice clean look with a matte finish that won’t distract you when standing over the ball. Each of the four blade models has different characteristics, like shaft bend and alignment lines. For instance the METHOD 004 has a three alignment lines in the cavity, while the other versions METHOD 001, 002, and 003 have slightly different necks and alignment lines.
At the media event I was able to try all five models of the METHOD putters and I was really impressed with how fast the ball would roll off the face of the polymetal grooves. It didn’t seem to take much effort to get the ball rolling on the putting greens and it gives you just the right amount of feedback on impact.
I naturally gravitated toward the METHOD 005 the mallet version of the putter, with its half moon shape and really liked how it rolled the ball with such ease. The blade versions of the METHOD putters are equally impressive with the proper amount of heel-toe weighting and control. I really like the blade versions of the METHOD so much, that I’m going to switch back to using a blade putter.
Overall, I think that Nike Golf has another hit on their hands with the Tour proven METHOD line of putters.
All five of the METHOD putters come with a standard 2 degrees of loft and will be available in 33″, 34″, and 35″ lengths.
The new Nike METHOD will officially be available in the market on February 1, 2010, with limited, special edition quantities becoming available starting on November 1, 2009. MSRP $249.99
For more information visit http://www.nike.com/nikegolf
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Great write up! Question is… will the true top Nike athletes, such as Tiger Woods, switch to it? These players above will say whatever Nike wants them to say as along as they get paid. Tiger doesn’t have that problem. Let’s not forget that Nike is the greatest marketing company.
I don’t think you can dismiss Stewart Cink as not being a top Nike Golf Athlete orPaul Casey or Lucas Glover for that matter. Stewart did just win the British Open and Lucas won the U.S. Open using the Nike Prototype putter. I understand your skepticism, but Nike Golf Athletes are not schilling product because they are sponsored by Nike. Why would you jeopardize your earning potential by using equipment you don’t think is any good? I used all five models yesterday and these putters are really impressive. From what I understand, Tiger Woods has used the Prototype putter and is considering using it as a backup putter in his bag. Will he switch to the METHOD and leave the Cameron? Probably not, because he has such an emotional connection with his putter. But you never know.
Thanks
Rob
Great post Rob!! When I was reading your post I was remembering what Rife putters have being telling about how the balls rolls when you hit the ball with a Rife Putters… Isn´t Nike telling the same story now?
At the same time I am agree with both of you, no doubt that if Tiger would move from his Scotty to this Nike putter would give a lot of credit to this putter, but at the same time, some of the player that have being playing with it, are big, big players!!
Thanks for the write up. Is there a chance you will be releasing a more detailed video?
Great post Rob!
Love the photos, video and first-hand account of the event. I currently use the Nike Ignite 1 which has a full-face insert (also have an Ignite 3 and a Nike Unitized Retro Blade). Ovidiov – I have a Rife putter (mallet style) and the grooved face does promote a softer feel and truer roll (similar to Yes putters also). I have not seen the new METHOD putters in person yet, but from what I understand is they incorporate both polymer insert (behind the face and in the face grooves) AND grooved metal face technology – that technology combination I haven’t seen yet in another putter. I can’t wait to get my hands on one of the new METHOD putters (the #1 model is the one for me!) to try it in person.
I also agree that Cink, Casey and Glover are truly world-class players. And if Tiger were to switch to this putter model (maybe METHOD #1?) from his Scotty Cameron Newport, it would speak volumes abut the technology in this putter. It’s not likely, but there’s always the possibility…
I’m not discounting the talent of Cink, Casey, or Glover… but Nike makes horrible golf products for non-PGA folks, like us amateurs. Who’s making their golf products these days for their PGA players? Titleist? Mizuno?
Who’s making their golf products for us common folk? Nike?
I reiterate, Nike is all marketing. Pay me a $1million and I guess I’ll promote whatever too. I’m not a pessimist, I’m an experienced Nike user across all sports. Nike is lucky they are affording Tiger, and the the other players on the PGA Tour. Without them, they would have nothing.
By the way, I’m looking forward to testing this Method putter. But, folks, don’t sell-out to the Nike hype. If it’s good, I have no problem promoting it. I’m just tired of people promoting something because it has the swoosh on it.
Reality check folks, like other golf brands, the PGA tour plays with equipment very different than what is available to us consumers. PGA products made by golf companies like Titleist, Mizuno – consumer products made by Nike.
Dear Anonymous,
You clearly have a problem with Nike Golf for some reason or another. Your argument that Nike Golf is all about marketing is pretty weak, considering you can apply the same argument to every equipment manufacturer out there. If you go to any PGA event, how many TaylorMade and Titleist players are out there? Tons. You also see way more ads for TaylorMade and Titleist on the Golf Channel, in the print publications, etc. All golf companies are about marketing.
Your claim that Nike Tour players use equipment that is different than the consumer version is incorrect. In my upcoming post you’ll get to see inside the Nike Golf PGA Tour Van and see that the equipment is exactly the same versions that consumers buy in the store. The only difference is that a consumer doesn’t have a tech van staff to support them.
Why be anonymous? Let us know who you are.
Thanks for your comments and point of view.
R
Does anyone know why the Unitize putters didn’t do that well on sales and why they were turned down by the pros. It seemed to me it is a great product giving you a lot of feedback off the face. It should be good to combine the Unitize technology with the Polymer groove technology, call it the Unitized Method if you want.
Thx.
Juan.
Have you reviewed the Adams Speedline 9032LS driver yet?
Thanks,
Brad
Hi Brad,
I haven’t had a chance to review the 9032LS driver yet. I’ll see if I can get one to review.
Thanks
Rob
I was curious what the difference if any between the limited release version that will be released on 11-02-09 and the retail version that will be released in 2-2010?
Looks like the weight will be the same, and the 2* loft.
The grip might be different, and the box and certification, but what real, tangable differnce if any with the limited release version, other than the price and release date.
Thanks
Hi Dewayne,
There are actually a couple of differences about the Limited Release version of the METHOD putter vs. the retail launch. The Limited Edition METHOD is for only the 001 model and you can have your initials or favorite number put on the putter. The other difference you mentioned are the certification/letter, being assembled at the “OVEN” in Fort Worth, TX, and the Nike Concierge experience.
The full retail launch in February 2010 will not be assembled in the OVEN, or have the custom lie/loft, and initials. You will be able to buy all 5 models on 2/2010 (001,002,003,004, 005).
It really depends on how badly you want a METHOD and how important those custom features are to you.
Good Luck!
Rob
hey,
just wondering will the 33 and 34 inch models of nike method incorporate different head weights? or will all inches be same weight? and also if i bought the method, would i be able to change the loft of the club to 3 degrees from a golf retailer and still get good results? or will it affect the performance of the club. please reply soon. thankyou
oh and one more thing, do the heads have interchangeable weights?
Jai,
There are no interchangeable weights on the Nike Method putters.
Thanks
Rob
Hi Jai,
I’m not aware of different head weights between the 33 and 34 inch models of the Method putters. About the loft, I’m not sure if changing the loft of the Method would change the performance of the putter. In theory no, because loft is what helps lift the ball and the polymetal grooves are design to get the ball rolling smoothly. Typical loft on most putters in 2 – 3 degrees, so this may not be an issue for you. Best bet, get a putter fitting when buying this putter.
Good Luck!
R