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PGA Tour rookie Jhonattan Vegas is known for his ability to overpower golf courses, Vegas averaged 309-yard drives with his Nike VR Pro driver at the 2011 Bob Hope Classic.  Equally impressive is the fact that he had two rounds at the Bob Hope Classic in which he averaged 100% in driving accuracy.

Watch this video of Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf talk about the features of the new VR Pro driver from the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show.

www.nikegolf.com

Nike VR Pro Fairway Wood

Nike Golf is adding more distance to its VR Pro line with the addition of the new VR Pro Fairway woods.

The VR Pro fairway woods are loaded with ground-breaking technology, specifically the combination of the Variable Compression Channel and the STR8-FIT face angle technology. The new Variable Full Compression Channel on the VR Pro fairway woods increases speed at impact in more spots on the club face, delivering greater distance on draws, stingers, high cuts, fades or straight shots.

As with the Nike VR Pro driver, the VR Pro fairway woods feature a Tour-inspired design with a traditional pear-shaped club head. Working directly with Nike Golf Tour athletes, the VR Tour Pro has a flatter sole and lower profile, which promotes confidence and greater control. The flatter and lower profile makes it easier to get the ball up in the air.

“The work with our tour staff lead us to a fairway wood which is hotter over a larger area of the face and has a flatter sole for ease off of tight lies,” according to Nike Golf’s Director of Production Creation Tom Stites. “The STR8-FIT Tour adapter allows us to position the head precisely where the player wants it which maximizes visual confidence and performance.”

The workability of the VR Pro fairway wood is perfected with the STR8-FIT Tour technology providing 32 options to customize the club face angle. The power to adjust the club to the perfect position makes for more shots in your golf bag.

Availability: February 3, 2011
Men’s: Loft Options: 3/13 degree (RH); 3/15 degree (RH/LH); 4 (RH); 5 (RH/LH); 7 (RH); All available in: A,R,S,X
MSRP: $275.99

www.nikegolf.com

Nike VR Pro Driver

The new Nike VR Pro driver is the latest addition to the premium VR line, which began with the introduction of the successful Nike VR irons in November, 2008.

Starting on February 3, 2011, the new Nike VR Pro driver will be available at retail. Already, Nike athletes Anthony Kim and Francesco Molinari have put the new Nike VR Pro driver in play at the HSBC Champions and Dubai World Championship, respectively. This driver has a pear shaped Tour-driven head designed with direct input from Nike athletes. The pear shape allows for more weight at the optimal center of gravity (CG) locations and delivers a hotter launch with optimal spin for the game’s best players.

Variable Compression Channel
The VR Pro driver features a new Variable Compression Channel, which increases speed at impact in more spots on the clubface. This Compression Channel extends the entire length of the face and delivers greater distance on draws, stingers, high cuts, fades or straight shots. With the extended length of the Compression Channel and with the variation in the thickness in specific locations, it allows players to garner more ball speed which translates to greater distance.

“The Compression Channel was designed to give tour players increased ball speeds for their ‘go to’ shots; these shots are not always in the center of the face,” according to Tom Stites, Director of Product Creation, Nike Golf. “The channel action delivers a similar ball speed as the center of the face.”

Adjustable Face Angle Technology
This premium driver provides golfers all the benefits, adjustability, looks and performance that the Nike athletes receive week in and week out on Tour. The VR Pro driver expands upon Nike’s award-winning STR8-FIT Face Angle Technology, giving players both the ability to select their shot shape as well as the flexibility to dial in the look of their driver like never before. The VR Pro driver offers multiple face angle positions for the ultimate in workability and confidence at address.

The Nike VR Pro drivers are designed for golfers who are refining and optimizing distance in their game, desire a more traditional pear-shape look and demand tailored performance with pinpoint accuracy. The Nike VR Pro driver is sold with the Project X shaft which helps this driver have the optimal launch and carry. This shaft utilizes zoned optimization for three unique technologies in one tour-ready shaft.

MSRP:$479.99

Availability: February, 3, 2011

Loft Options: 8.5 (RH); 9.5 (RH/LH); 10.5 (RH/LH); 11.5 (RH/LH); All available in: R,S,X

www.nikegolf.com

Nike Golf VR STR8-FIT Tour Fairway Wood

Nike Golf has been closely working with its stable of Tour athletes to optimize shape, adjustability and face thickness to deliver the ultimate performance fairway metal – the new VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods. This introduction follows in the footsteps of Nike Golf’s recently announced new premium drivers, the VR STR8-FIT Tour and the VR Tour.

The VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods, available on January 28, 2010, are designed for golfers who are refining their game and demand Tour quality performance. Nike Golf athlete and 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover used the VR STR8-FIT Tour 15 degree 3-wood at the SBS Championship where he led the field for three rounds.

The premium VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods include the award-winning STR8-FIT face-angle technology that has 32 face options to shape any shot and tame any course. As with the VR STR8-FIT Tour drivers, the VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods feature Nike’s distinctive red Compression Channel on the sole. The split compression channel optimizes a 455 ultra thin steel face that delivers a hotter response and longer shots.

“Our athletes prefer a smooth sole design for optimized playability on tight fairway lies,” said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. “In order to achieve that, we split the compression channel on the sole to provide improved performance from every lie.”

The VR STR8-Fit Tour fairway woods include a thin Nike Powerbow design that places the center of gravity low and forward for faster swing speeds. With a Tour-inspired round shape head, the VR STR8-Fit Tour fairway woods feature a mid shallow head design. The VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods come with an Aldila Voodoo shaft that delivers score technology that strengthens the shaft and creates a more consistent performance.

I look forward to testing out the VR STR8-FIT Tour fairway woods at the PGA Merchandise Show in a couple of weeks.

Availability: January 28, 2010 at golf shops and specialty stores nationwide.

Men’s: Loft Options: 3+ (RH) 3; (RH/LH); 4 (RH); 5 (RH/LH); All available in: A,R,S,X

Nike VR STR8-FIT Tour Fairway Woods MSRP: $299.99

Nike Golf, a leader in introducing ground-breaking golf products through the power of advanced technology, is unleashing new and exciting innovation in the premium driver category, and it already has gained global acclaim by collecting its first win by Nike athlete Francesco Molinari at the World Cup. The new Nike Victory Red (VR) drivers are the latest addition to the premium VR line, which began with the introduction of the successful Nike VR irons in November, 2008.

Nike Victory Red STR8-FIT Tour Driver

Starting on February 1, 2010, two versions of Victory Red drivers, The Nike VR STR8-FIT Tour and the VR Tour will be available. Each possesses a new shape and look, born from collaboration with the Nike Golf athletes who have accumulated more driver wins on the PGA Tour for the last three years than any other brand. The new VR drivers were designed for avid golfers who are refining and optimizing distance in their game, desire a more traditional look and demand tailored performance with pin point accuracy. This premium line provides golfers all the benefits, adjustability, looks and performance that the Nike Athletes receive week in and week out on Tour.

Nike VR Tour Driver

Victory Red STR8-FIT Tour and Victory Red Tour
The VR STR8-FIT Tour driver expands upon Nike’s award-winning STR8-FIT Face Angle Technology, giving players both the ability to select their shot shape as well as the flexibility to dial in the look of their driver like never before. The VR STR8-FIT Tour Drivers offer 32 face angle positions for the ultimate in workability and confidence at address. For the golfers who prefer a more traditional look, Nike has developed the VR Tour driver that is distinguished by a smaller “pear-shaped” head size and no adjustability trait.

The clubhead of both versions of the VR drivers conveys beauty, refinement and premium sophistication designed to appeal to the avid golfer who is seeking lower spin rates and a more penetrating ball flight. Each driver features the distinctive red Compression Channel that is located on the sole and is lined from the toe to the heel paralleling the face. The Nike Compression Channel increases the overall compression of the body, which produces increased, uniform ball speeds across the entire face.

“The Compression Channel technology takes the rigidity out of the sole and provides more flex in the heel,” said Tom Stites, Director of Club Creation for Nike Golf. “By adding this technology, we have made the VR drivers more forgiving for the better players when they miss it in the lower zone of the heel.”

In the VR STR8-FIT Tour, the combination of Nike’s Compression Channel and the Face Angle Technology deliver longer distance and more shot-shaping control. Differentiating from the VR STR8-FIT Tour, the VR Tour driver has a smaller, more traditional head design for more workability. The VR Tour also has a longer hosel than that of the VR STR8-FIT Tour and has one glued head position without adjustability.

Availability: February, 1, 2010 at golf shops and specialty stores nationwide

VR STR8-FIT Tour Driver MSRP: $479.99
Loft Options: 8.5 (RH); 9.5 (RH/LH); 10.5 (RH/LH); 11.5 (RH/LH); All available in: R,S,X

VR Tour Driver MSRP: $479.99
Loft Options: 8.5 (RH); 9.5 (RH); 10.5 (RH); All available in R,S,X

For more information visit http://www.nike.com/nikegolf

At the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show I had the opportunity to try out the new Nike SQ Dymo STR8-FIT (pronounced “straight fit”) driver, which is Nike Golf’s first adjustable driver, that allows you to change the golf club face, loft, and lie angle. Over the past few months I’ve been playing the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-FIT driver and like the results I’ve been seeing on the golf course.

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Look and Feel
At first glance the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit has a nice round shape that features a shiny black finish, which has that stealth bomber look. The 460cc clubhead setups up quite nicely when you sole the club and very easy to align to the target line with alignment stripe. When you flip the club over you’ll notice the new rounded folded geometry repositions square mass into a round format.

The wide face and STR8-FIT adapter logo on the face of club, will give you all the confidence when you tee up. The stock shaft is a nice yellow Nike Golf UST Proforce AXIV Core (45.75″), which features a strengthening core material that provides an extremely stable environment at impact, making it easier to swing the club faster and remain in complete control of the club head at all times. Custom shafts are also available. The SQ 360 design grip is designed to look the same no matter what position the club head is in, just like the shaft. The butt end of the grip also features a visual reference to the clubhead position, like what is found in the head cover.

The head cover is worth mentioning because it has two well thought out features: one is the storage pouch for the torque wrench, and the other is the  head positioning reference wheel. Why is this important? It’s important, because you’ll always have easy access to the torque wrench and you also have a visual reference to what position the clubhead is in without having to look down at the hosel. I appreciate the thought process and attention to detail by Nike Golf, to make everything easily accessible.

How Does The STR8-FIT Work?
The creation of STR8-FIT technology was inspired by how Nike Golf Tour athletes set up their equipment to suit each tournament’s course. On the PGA Tour, Nike Golf athletes have the luxury of utilizing the Nike Tour Van, where a staff of Nike club experts can adjust each Nike athlete’s driver to the face and lie angle that they want to perform their best on any given week. This same concept is now being made available to consumers through the STR8-FIT’s wide range of choices in shot shaping with one shaft, one club head, one club.

Simple changes can be made before your round to dramatically correct your ball flight or subtly perfect it through the selection of eight unique head positions from open to close with one club, eliminating the use of multiple shafts and movable weights. For example, if a golfer is pushing, fading or slicing the ball too much and they wish to draw the ball or hit more to the left for a particular course set up, they can change the position of their clubface to a more closed position. If a golfer is hooking, pulling or drawing the ball more than they wish, they can manually change the clubface to a more open position. Club face angles range from a neutral position of zero degrees to both one and two degrees closed or open.

The technology in the NIke SQ Dymo STR8-FIT is quite simple. To adapt the head positions, the player will use a torque wrench (70 in/lbs), which is located in the headcover that comes with each SQ DYMO STR8-FIT driver. Select the desired head position, based on desired ball flight, trajectory, or course conditions. When the head position is “locked in,” a sound indicator (produces a loud beep) and light on the wrench goes off to ensure that the club is ready to be hit. It’s that easy!

During my tests, I found it incredibly easy and comfortable to use the 70 in/lbs torque wrench to unlock, adjust, and lock the clubhead into place. Another nice detail on the torque wrench, is that it tells you what side should be facing the clubhead and which way to tighten and loosen the clubhead. I also really liked the audible and visual feedback of the wrench, so I new when the clubhead was securely attached.

Performance
All SQ DYMO and SQ DYMO² STR8-FIT drivers are engineered from the ground up with the express purpose of optimizing the launch and spin by loft. Distance is maximized in every loft by varying multiple specifications from lie angle, to MOI and CG placement, to overall head size and face.

The first thing you’ll notice when you hit the STR8-FIT is the pleasing sound that the driver makes when you hit the ball off the tee. The ball comes flying off the face of the club producing the optimal medium-high trajectory on my drives, that produce a lot of extra carry.

The STR8-FIT is also a forgiving driver on mis-hits, thanks to the low center of gravity and MOI in the square mass that is repositioned in the rear of the the driver. Off center hits seemed to go nearly as far as those hit in the sweetspot of the driver. As you adjust the clubs position, you start to see the impact the different lie and loft angles can make on your drives as well. According to Nike Golf’s comprehensive tests you can see a 45 yard difference between maximum left and maximum right positions.

I couldn’t be more pleased with the results of my drives after using the STR8-FIT, I was blown away by how much better my driving accuracy became after fine tuning the club position that suited my swing. I have a tendency to push the ball or what I like to call a power fade, and by closing the driver face 2 degrees, it helped with promoting more of draw to my drives.

How Does The STR8-FIT Compare to the TaylorMade R9 Driver?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to test both drivers simultaneously over the same period of time and the results are quite interesting.

Before I go into my results, I want to point out the obvious difference between both clubs and that is the R9 features movable weights in addition eight adjustable club positions (TaylorMade recently released the R9 460 (no MWT) that I did not test), and the STR8-Fit does not use movable weights. The other big difference is clubhead size, with the R9 being a 422cc  and the STR8-FIT is a 460cc.

One of the first things I noticed when hitting both the STR8-FIT and the R9, is how much more forgiving I found the STR8-FIT to be on mis-hits. My off center hits with the STR8-FIT went a lot straighter and 3-5 yards longer than with the R9.

In terms of ball flight and distance, I found the STR8-FIT outperformed the R9. The ball flight and trajectory was much more desirable with the STR8-Fit, resulting in drives that were 7-10 yards longer on average. The R9 would produce a low-medium trajectory ball flight, that didn’t carry as nearly as far.

I also found that STR8-FIT, much easier to adjust the clubhead positions using the torque wrench, that fits comfortably into your hands. As mentioned before, the audio and visual feedback are great for determining exactly when the clubhead is locked into position. What I also liked was the head positioning reference wheel found inside the torque wrench pouch and on the butt end of the grip. With the R9 you have to look at the hosel every time to determine the head position.

Overall the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-FIT is a phenomenal driver, that provides maximum distance and forgiveness, unprecendented amount of control to shape your shots, and eight ways to attack any golf course.

Men’s: Loft Options 8.5 (RH), 9.5 (RH/LH), 10.5 (tested)(RH/LH), 11.5 (RH/LH), HL (RH)
Women’s : Loft Options 11.5 (RH/LH), HL (RH)

Nike SQ Dymo STR8-FIT Driver MSRP: $540.00

Nike SQ Dymo and Dymo2 STR8-Fit drivers unique is the fact you can adjust the head of the club in eight different positions, which result in eight different shot shapes-all in a single driver. Watch the video to see James Thomas from Nike Golf R&D talk to me about the features of the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit Driver.

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The most innovative golf club I hit at the outdoor demo day at the 2009 PGA Merchandise was the Nike SQ Dymo an Dymo2 STR8-Fit drivers from Nike. The soon to be released drivers are hands down my top pick for best driver at the PGA Merchandise Show. What makes the Nike SQ Dymo and Dymo2 STR8-Fit drivers unique is the fact you can adjust the head of the club in eight different positions, which result in eight different shot shapes-all in a single driver. 

To adjust the head position, just attach the supplied torque wrench to the STR8-Fit shaft to the driver head and easily loosen the club head to adjust it to the position you desire. Then all you do is simply tighten the hosel with the torque wrench and a red LED light and sound indicator on the wrench will signal when the club head is locked and ready for use. The both models of the Nike SQ Dymo and Dymo2 STR8-Fit drivers feature, Dynamic Moment of Inertia (Dymo) which gives you optimized launch and spin. The SQ Dymo STR8-Fit has the new folded round geometry which repositions the square mass in a round format for workability and distance control. While the SQ Dymo2 has a larger square shaped geometry for straight and long drives, with optimal launch and great looks. UST PRoforce AXIV Core Shafts make the STR8-Fit drivers extremely stable and easy to swing very fast.

I initially tried the HT version of the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit and hit my first drive perfectly straight with the face set at neutral. I then adjusted the clubface 2 degrees closed to try and produce a draw. The result, I hit a nice draw. For a second I thought I was channeling Trevor Immelman at Augusta.  Even when I switched to the SQ Dymo2 STR8-Fit I continued to hit the ball straight and easily shape my shots by adjusting the face. I couldn’t believe the results I was seeing. 

I’m so impressed by the Nike SQ Dymo STR8-Fit that I cannot wait to test them again soon. That’s why it’s my pick for best driver at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show. 

Available April 1, 2009 MSRP $545

For more information visit http://www.nike.com/nikegolf/dymo/