One thing is certain,
Although Nike is eventually halting its golf equipment production to focus on golf apparel and footwear (source), you agree with me that some of their clubs were nothing less of legends on the green.
Some of their series clubs like the Nike Vapor speed 3- and 5-wood and Nike VR Pro Limited Fairway Wood have been the sensation of prominent pro golfers like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy (source).
In this review and guide, we uncover Nike golf clubs and the best performers in each category.
But first,
Let's have a look at
Nike's Golf Equipment Business Closure
According to CNN Sport, Nike announced that it would eventually hang its boots in the golf equipment production back in 2016. The company intends to expand its apparel and footwear portfolio after a poor financial performance in the golf equipment industry. Rival industry player, Adidas, has taken a similar move and announced the sale of her ‘TaylorMade Golf Equipment’ brand (source). The move has been attributed to the ‘go-slow’ being experienced by the industry over the years (source).
Many golf nuts (like myself), will miss Nike clubs & equipment, but there’s a silver lining on this dark cloud.
Why?
This is definitely the best time to purchase premium quality Nike golf equipment at a low price. Nike is on the verge of disposing of the remaining golf equipment to focus on its apparel and footwear business. It prompts them to lower the prices of various golf equipment, which is an advantage to Nike fanatics and anyone who has always wanted to own a Nike Golf Club.
You are probably wondering
What Does This Mean in the Long-term?
Nike had a relatively small market share in the golf equipment industry amounting to 2% of her annual revenue; her departure will have an insignificant effect on the equipment industry and on the average golfer (source).
With industry giants like Callaway still in operation, the golf equipment industry is bound to remain unshaken. If you own Nike golf equipment like clubs, balls, and bags, this is the ideal time to purchase parts you might require in case your gear breaks down because they also come with reduced prices.
Here's our review of the best Nike Golf Clubs this year.
The Best Nike Golf Clubs 2021
Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons (Best Overall/Editor’s Pick)
This is, by far, one of the best Nike Clubs we have reviewed and tested. The Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons provide the best performance on the course while remaining incredibly comfortable in your hands (source).
You of the aspects you’ll love about these clubs include the playability, power, and forgiveness it offers. The irons come with True Temper XP 95 Steel Construction to offer stability, balance, and durability.
Although originally designed for high handicap golfers, the Vapor Fly Irons have been the favorite of many mid handicappers and a section of low handicappers (source).
The club’s face is made using the NexCor variable face thickness found in earlier versions like the 2012 version of the Nike VR_S woods. A modern muscle below the club is swoosh to move the CG a millimetre from the center and provide maximum benefit.
The mid-sized housel allows for more confidence and forgiveness when you hit the ball. Hollow cavity filters (on the 2 to 5-iron) produce a tingy sound during impact to offer you a comfortable feel.
The 6 to 8-iron come with a pocket cavity filled with RZN for a more firm and powerful impact. If you are a mid/high handicapper looking for Nike irons that offer high levels of versatility and comfort on the fairway, the Vapor Fly Pro Irons are an ideal set. They offer you decent levels of performance, comfort, speed, distance, and looks.
Pros
All-rounded golf clubs for mid and high handicappers
Excellent performance and comfort on the greens
Large faces designed to achieve impact, increase speed and distance
Produces a decent sound after every strike
Offers maximum forgiveness and boosts your accuracy
Cons
Not ideal for low handicappers
Stiff cubs that require player’s power for the best performance
Nike VR Pro Combo Iron Set 8-PW Uniflex Steel RH (Best Investment Value)
If price or investment value is a priority for you when buying Nike Clubs, the Nike VR Pro Combo Iron Set might be worth considering. This set is designed to offer you comfort when you play and comes with high-quality features at a relatively low-price range.
They are available in three distinct head styles: short blade (8-PW irons), long pocket cavity (3 to 5-irons), and split cavity (6-7 mid-irons) to guarantee maximum playability.
Each club features high frequency x3x groove pattern to provide repeatable flight between shots and boost distance. They also come with a Uniflex steel-iron construction for strength, comfort, and overall durability.
The unique head designs offer increased forgiveness, enhanced feel, and maneuverability in order to achieve the desired launch. The longer irons are designed to provide high trajectory, while the mid and short irons amplify the club’s workability and overall feel. Because of the forgiveness levels and usability, the set is an ideal choice for beginners and amateurs (source).
Despite the low investment value, the VR Pro Combo Iron Set is some of the best performance club sets from Nike and an ideal choice for first-time golf payers.
Pros
A premium Nike Golf Club Set at a low investment value
Quality performance on the green for all the three available head designs
Idea set for beginners and amateurs
Offers comfort, forgiveness and maneuverability
Offers high flight and maximum accuracy
Cons
· Many high handicappers and pro golfers prefer other versions
Nike Vapor Speed Irons (Best for Distance, Speed and Accuracy)
If speed and distance is what you are looking for in a set of Nike clubs, look no further than the Nike Vapor Speed Irons. Engineers at ‘The Oven’ in conjunction with Nike golf athletes designed this particular set with two things in mind: power and speed.
The club’s modern muscle design, enhances power & speed through weight distribution and movement of the CG towards the center to offer faster ball speed and distance.
The club’s shaft is hollow with metal wood construction that features Nike’s Fly Beam technology to offer you a comfortable swing (source). The 2 to 7-irons feature a hollow construction to achieve incredible distances and the Fly Beam Technology provides optimum forgiveness and accuracy. Moreover, the clubs outlook is unmatched and screams beauty and performance.
Pros
· Powerful clubs that provide maximum speed and distance
· Designed to offer comfort and accuracy on top of the speed
· Good-looking clubs with a modern design
· Light and ideal for low and mid handicappers
· Guarantees performance across various shots
Cons
Maybe uncomfortable for short hits
Coupled with mishits for beginner and amateur players
Nike Golf VR_S Ladies Game Improvement Irons (Best Nike Club for Ladies)
For the ladies looking for Nike Golf irons specifically designed to meet their needs, the Nike Golf VR_S Ladies Game-Improvement Irons are a sure bet. Unlike other ladies clubs available on the market, these clubs are lighter and more comfortable, making it an ideal choice for ladies on the green (source).
Nike designed it using their Linear Transition Design with relatively smaller heads to enable you to get maximum impact and a comfortable feeling whenever you hit the ball.
The clubs come with a Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage HBP shaft that is mid-sized and light to offer comfort and help you achieve distance and accuracy. Despite the lightweight, the club’s stiffness has been enhanced to provide stability when you take long shots.
The clubs are also incredibly easy to use, which explains their popularity amongst female golfers across the board.
Pros
Ultra-lightweight construction for usability and distance achievement
Comes with a powerful metal and graphite construction for performance and durability
Linear Transition Design for maximum ball impact on the green
Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage HBP shaft for workability and performance
Ideal for female players of all levels
Cons
Might be too light for high handicap female players
Nike Junior Individual Kids Golf Clubs (Best Nike Club for Kids)
For the younger generation, Nike came up with a series of ideal golf clubs and the Nike Junior Individual Kids Golf Club is an outstanding collection. The company designed the clubs with the younger player in mind.
The clubs come primarily with a graphite shaft and overall construction for weight distribution and usability. With a relatively larger head than most of the other competitors, the cub provides maximum ball impact, which increases speed and distance. They also come with an enhanced rubber grip to enable your child to hold the club comfortably.
Pros
Lightweight and easy to handle
Graphite construction for workability and durability
Large clubhead to maximize on impact
Appealing design and overall outlook
Cons
Maybe a little heavy and uncomfortable for kid players in the younger bracket
With that in mind,
Here's a comprehensive buyers guide for Nike golf clubs
What Should I Consider When Purchasing Nike Golf Clubs?
Since the inception of ‘The Oven’ over two decades ago, Nike has always manufactured a specific club for a specific role. Due to this, clubs vary in shape, design, feel, and construction to suit their intended purpose. Understanding the features of clubs in each category will enable you to choose the ideal according to your preferences. You should consider factors like:
Your Handicap or Level as a Golf Player
The components of your Nike Club.
The Investment Value of Nike Clubs
As seen earlier, the price of most Nike Clubs has been falling over time as the company offsets its stock as business ends. This is the ideal time to own Premium Nike Golf Clubs at slashed prices. Moreover, most of Nike’s Clubs and other golf equipment have sentimental value, having been used by golf legends like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Owning a Nike Club now may fetch you more money in the future after they are phased out of the market.
Essential Nike Club Care Tips
Soon Nike Golf Parts will not be available on the market. This means that you cannot afford to have your Nike Golf Club breakdown or wear-out. How you store and maintain your club determines the period it will last and serve you (source). Consider the following Nike Club Care Tips:
Always carry and use a towel to clean the club after use
Wipe and Clean the clubs after every hit
Store the clubs in the right conditions and always wipe off any water before storage
Always use head covers when storing your clubs especially drivers and woods
Always inspect the clubs for any form of wear
Having put that into consideration, you are better placed to identify the various Nike Golf Clubs that suit your needs.
However, you may be wondering:
Which Types of Nike Golf Clubs are Still Available on the Market
Some of the company’s pioneer clubs like the Nike Forged Blades are available in limited edition, having been released two decades ago. Most of the company’s clubs are still available on the market although in limited numbers. In fact, some of their legend clubs like the Nike VR Pro Forged wedges are still being used by the likes of Patrick Reed, Tiger Woods, and Tommy Fleetwood in 2018.
Below is a list of the various types of Nike clubs including Irons, Hybrids, Putters, Fairway Woods and Drivers and the best in each category, which is still available on the market.
Irons. Nike had a variety of Irons on its collection, each designed for a particular purpose, mainly performance and power. Some of the most notable Irons that are still available on the market include the Nike Golf Vapor Pro Combo Irons, Nike Vapor Fly Irons, Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons, Nike Golf Vapor Speed Irons, Nike Golf VR Pro Irons and Nike Golf VR Pro Cavity Irons amongst others.
Hybrids. Nike designed hybrids for most of their series collection clubs, to perform better than the initial irons. ‘The Oven’ created hybrids to outperform the initial irons. Notable Nike Hybrids that are still legends on the green include Nike Golf Vapor Speed Hybrid and Nike Vapor Fly Hybrids.
Putters. Nike introduced some of the best putters in the game. They are available in three series, the Method, Ignite and Everclear putters both in the Mallet and Blade category. The putters are designed to offer maximum comfort and accuracy. Some of the available Nike Putters include the Method Core Drone Putter, Everclear E22 Putter, and the Ignite 001 Putter.
Fairway Woods. Nike’s series of fairway woods are designed to offer better comfort and thrust for players who are challenged by drivers. Fairway woods optimize aerodynamics during the swing to deliver more club speeds and achieve increased distance. Some of the best Nike Fairway Woods include the Machspeed 3 Fairway Wood, Sasquatch 2 five wood 19 for women, and the Vapor Flex Fairway Wood.
Drivers. The company manufactured some of the best drivers on the green. The drivers are designed to provide a powerful thrust during long shots. They come with the largest clubhead sizes and longest shaft in the bag. Some notable drivers by Nike include Nike Vapor Fly Driver, Nike Vapor Fly Pro Driver, and Nike Forged Titanium 350cc Driver.
Women’s and Junior's Clubs. The Nike Golf VR_S Ladies Game Improvement Irons and Junior Individual Kids Golf Clubs are some of the best clubs for the women and kids respectively
Our Verdict
It is sad that Nike is finally hanging their boots in the production of Golf Equipment like clubs, bags and balls. However, most of their merchandise is still available on the shelves. The above review and complete buyers guide will enable you to choose wisely when buying Nike Golf Clubs in the coming seasons.
When reviewing the company’s clubs, we put into consideration all the factors that you would be looking for when purchasing one. Al the above clubs made it to our Top 5 List of 2020 for obvious reasons including performance, usability, comfort, forgiveness, and power on the green. However, the Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons stood out from the rest for being a versatile collection with all the features and aspects of an ideal golf club. It is easy to use, performs exceptionally well, which translates to improved play and confidence on the green.