First Look: Nike Vapor Pro Combo Irons

New Modern Muscle design delivers ultimate blend of precision and power in a multi-material construction

Charlie Lemay's picture
Tue, 19 Aug 2014
First Look: Nike Vapor Pro Combo Irons

NIKE GOLF has revealed its new Vapor Pro Combo irons today at an event in New York City with the help of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

Developed at The Oven with Nike Golf athlete insights, Nike’s Vapor Pro Combo irons deliver the unique combination of more distance and control through innovative Modern Muscle design. 

First Look: Nike Vapor Iron family

Modern Muscle is defined by balanced weighting for perfected precision and power.  As a collaborator throughout the development of these irons, Nike athlete Rory McIlroy used a prototype of the Vapor Pro Combo (MMPROTO 2i) to win the 2014 Open Championship. 

The new Modern Muscle geometry provides a shifted centre of gravity, previously located closer to the heel, now moved toward the centre of the face. 

The long irons (2i-7i) feature a forged chassis with a thin, high strength machined face and a lightweight RZN insert to promote faster ball speeds, higher trajectory, and increased stability with pure feel.  The short irons (8i-AW) feature a forged construction with a shallow cavity that promotes a strong, penetrating trajectory for enhanced shotmaking.

“I tested a prototype version of the Vapor Pro Combo 2-iron for a few months and worked with Nike to make it better for me,” said Rory McIlroy after winning the Open Championship. 

“They brought me this 2-iron to try out at the Nike Performance Fitting Centre at Archerfield last month and I loved it. It was an instant hit and I immediately put it in the bag at The Scottish Open.”

For the first time, Nike Golf club engineers incorporated proprietary, lightweight RZN material – a modified version of the material found in the high energy core of Nike Golf’s line of RZN golf balls – in the cavity of the Vapor Pro Combo long irons, 2i through 7i.

Video: Nike Vapor Irons review

RZN technology displaces 45g of material to the perimeter of the club head while tuning impact feel.  The result is enhanced speed, trajectory and forgiveness while maintaining workability and pure feel. 

“The Vapor Pro Combo is one of our most innovative iron constructions to date,” said Nate Radcliffe, Nike Golf’s Director of Engineering. 

“Our precision application of multiple materials throughout this Modern Muscle design has fueled the breakthrough performance characteristics that our athletes such as Rory are reporting back to us.  This iron has the clean lines and workability of a blade with the forgiveness of a game improvement iron.” 

The Vapor Pro Combo is constructed with progressive technology and geometry throughout the set, a concept first brought to market by Tom Stites with the original Nike Pro Combo in 2002. 

“We recognized that athletes had different requirements throughout their set of irons,” said Tom Stites, Nike Golf’s Chief Imagineer. 

“The original Pro Combo was an industry first in the mixed set category and this Vapor Pro Combo represents our most refined version to date.”

Precision-machined X3X grooves deliver spin control and shot-to-shot consistency, while progressive blade lengths and sole widths featuring a beveled leading edge allow for forgiveness and enhanced versatility.

Slightly longer, lower profile long irons and classically-shaped short irons give the Vapor Pro Combo irons a modernized, updated look.

The Vapor Pro Combo irons will be available from January 31, 2015. Confirmed prices and specs will follow in due course.