We are just about a month away from a bit of a dubious anniversary. Nike Golf closed their doors as the apparel company did away with equipment and golf balls from their lineup. Instead focusing on apparel and footwear.
Looking back at their lineup of equipment over their bold and quick tenure, what was your favorite?
Their oven stuff and the method putters. Vapor pro combo iron set
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 9990600, member: 3″]
I can’t think of too many companies that wouldn’t like to add a billion in revenue during a down time, which Nike has had plenty of recently. They just weren’t good enough to get there my opinion. Otherwise there was no reason to cut it, as they are still paying those athletes obscene amount of monies to rock 3rd place in footwear.
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I think if Nike was doing Callaway business they would still be in the golf equipment business. They were doing way less than that though.
I’ve played and owned two Nike clubs and have thought both were really good (and good looking):
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I played a VR pro 5 wood with a lot of lead tape and a 40” Blueboard 83 shaft for a very long time. Still like the club, just didn’t have the forgiveness of my current gamers.
I still have my Nike driver from probably 20 years ago and it could still be in my bag as it was that good to me.
[QUOTE=”wazzubrew, post: 9990722, member: 60811″]
I’ve played and owned two Nike clubs and have thought both were really good (and good looking):
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The Covert 2.0 Tour woods and hybrids looked sooooo good!
Trippy it has been that long. They had some great stuff and some not so great. I never got along with their balls. Always liked the looks of the vr pro irons. Never got to hit much and was always curious on the vapor drivers.
[QUOTE=”RealPretendPsychic, post: 9990056, member: 57192″]
I had a slingshot and a CPR hybrid that were so easy to launch.
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I had 3 CPR hybrids in my bag at one point and they were by far my favourite clubs. To this day I’m not sure why I ever got rid of them…
With a little luck maybe they will shut down everything.
I liked my slingshot irons and the VR driver. Kinda wished I’d kept them as a spare set
I still game my Nike Covert 5 wood. I’ve always wanted to replace it but I’ve never hit another club better.
[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]I really liked the Vapor line of drivers and woods. [/COLOR]
Was never a fan …
I loved the Vapor Fly clubs when they came out. Still have a driver and wish I had never sold the hybrid i had. Also enjoyed the Method Converge putter – it just put a really solid roll on the ball.
At the beginning of the solid core ball revolution the Nike ball was very good. I think it was the Tour Advantage but I could be totally wrong. I am pretty sure it was made by Bridgestone based on Nike’s specifications.
I bet they moved on and never looked back. Easier to make shoes and apparel and synchs with the rest of their business.
I bought one or two sets of wedges – the TW and DD – Woods and Duval. They were good. And played the original Pro Combo.
Bought irons for my oldest son when a junior – Slingshots and Hybrid
I played the Original SQ Driver for a year. It sounded better than the second version, which was a real trash can…
I have a set of VR TW irons and break them out from time to time. They are a great set of irons but man are they not forgiving at all.
Poor Tommy Fleetwood.
The only Nike club I remember is that square driver and I sure don’t miss that thing. Never owned one, just heard it.
Nike bags are decent but they still make those so I guess I’m not missing anything haha.
Has it really been that long? Time flies..
[QUOTE=”PKorf, post: 9990060, member: 38677″]
This driver was a MONSTER when it came out……
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Firt “real” driver I ever bought.
[QUOTE=”baylrballa, post: 9990064, member: 52381″]
Thought these were the coolest irons in my schooling days.
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Still have my set of those. I need to break them out for sh!ts and giggles.
[QUOTE=”NVGOLFER80, post: 9990067, member: 53139″]
The VR pro irons were as good as anything in the players category at that time.. That Is what i was going to post. I also liked the Nike ONE platinum ball.
I also still creep for one of these. If I find one at a decent price I will buy it.
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the nike ball was just Bridgestone though
[QUOTE=”tbf_Andretti, post: 9992175, member: 59729″]
the nike ball was just Bridgestone though
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I don’t know if was “just” a Bridgestone. But it was made by Bridgestone.
[QUOTE=”NVGOLFER80, post: 9992176, member: 53139″]
I don’t know if was “just” a Bridgestone. But it was made by Bridgestone.
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Ok, it was a Bstone with a Nike logo
[QUOTE=”tbf_Andretti, post: 9992180, member: 59729″]
Ok, it was a Bstone with a Nike logo
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maybe.. I don’t know..
Never played a Nike club but I liked a couple of their balls. Don’t remember which, though. [emoji6]
[QUOTE=”annsguy, post: 9991915, member: 19928″]
I bet they moved on and never looked back. Easier to make shoes and apparel and synchs with the rest of their business.
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Yeah Jordan Brand sold more than Callaway, Acushnet, and TaylorMade combined last year. That includes all the other stuff those companies make like FootJoy, Travis Matthew, KJUS, etc. That was a record year for golf. Jordan Brand is about 10% of Nike’s total business.
I actually just dusted off my set of Vapor Fly Pro’s the other day just to get a look at them. I either need to play them or sell them as its such a waste just sitting here. Really enjoyed those clubs.
I also have a Method Concept and a Mc04w that I love to play around with in my basement putting green. Always enjoyed that insert in those putters.
[QUOTE=”ritojr, post: 9992705, member: 57052″]
I actually just dusted off my set of Vapor Fly Pro’s the other day just to get a look at them. I either need to play them or sell them as its such a waste just sitting here. Really enjoyed those clubs.
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I wish more than anything they made those in LH. I would purchase them from you in a heartbeat lol
Nike had no intent keeping the hardgoods for a long time anyways. But look at the field now, the majority of them are in Nike apparel. It’s not long ago when the final round at The Masters looked like Nike Invitational.
RZN golf ball technologies are still alive. RZN Golf has a full line of golf balls, from 2 pc balls to 4 pc balls. Their RZN Pro is claimed to go farther than RZN Platinum.
I never owned Nike clubs, but have always preferred their apparel. Today though, I bought a Nike bag. Looking forward to using it.
I’m wasn’t surprised Nike exited the golf hardware market when they did. The had the best stable of tour players, equipment that body was buying, and the profit margins on golf equipment are not very good. Clothing on the other typically has excellent profit margins. The bean counters eventually got fed up and pulled the plug on the golf devision to protect their ROI and please their shareholders.
Very rarely did I see Nike clubs in the bags of people I was paired with… the golfing public simply wasn’t buying into their marketing hype and the hideous driver and fairway colour schemes.
Surprisingly, even today I still see a lot Nike balls still being played or found in the bushes. That shows you the amount of golf ball inventory they had when they shut things down back then.
I will never forget the Buzz when they rolled this baby out. The Golf Shop went FULL TILT!
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CPR hybrids were the best clubs in the bag for me for a long time. Really the only consistent club in there at all in the past.