Nike Golf has unveiled its new Vapor Fly series, designed to provide an overall higher launch angle for increased distance.
The new range, consisting of three new drivers, a fairway wood, hybrid, and two sets of irons, is a culmination of years of work undertaken at Nike's facility in Forth Worth, Texas, called the Oven.
“As we’ve learned more and more about golf athletes while researching advanced materials and evolving manufacturing technologies, we’ve verified that if we can launch the ball higher while managing spin, it will ultimately fly farther,” said Nate Radcliffe, Nike Golf director of engineering.
“We’ve found ways to accomplish that in our entire 2016 line, from the drivers to the long irons. We are using innovative designs that consider mass distribution, tuned compliance and stiffness to help the ball consistently fly high and long.”
Nike staffer Rory McIlroy was influential in the development of the FlyPro driver, and led the field in driving distance with the new big stick en route to winning the Race to Dubai.
Available: 12 February, UK. (4 March, Flex 440 driver)
Reviews:
- Nike Vapor Fly driver
- Nike Vapor Fly irons
Nike Vapor Fly Driver
Three key technologies collate to provide faster ball speeds, high trajectory, and less spin: Flightweight crown, HyperFlight Face, Compression Channel.
Review: Nike Vapor Fly driver
- Flightweight Crown features a 30 percent reduction in crown weight compared to last year’s model resulting in a lower centre of gravity and higher MOI for higher launch, less spin and more forgiveness.
- New HyperFlight face is thinned out around the perimeter to produce extreme ball speed across the entire face for better performance on off-centre hits.
- Re-engineered Compression Channel enables a springboard effect to amplify performance on miss hits.
- FlyBeam Reinforced Covert Cavity Back stiffens the chassis while redistributing weight to the heel and toe for maximum impact efficiency, tuned acoustics and forgiveness.
- FlexLoft 2.0 technology gives the golf athlete the functionality of five lofts at three face angles for a total of 15 different settings and optimal flight, more distance as well as enhanced workability.
Price: £249.99
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Shaft: MRC Tensei CK Blue 50 (X, S, R, A, W)
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Nike Vapor Fly Pro Driver
Utilises a 460cc pear-shape head, designed to promote a strong trajectory with low spin. Engineered to allow better players, such as Rory Mcllroy, to perform at their best.
Boasts the same key features as the Nike Vapor Fly driver.
“I think every golfer looks for forgiveness to make their bad shots better,” said Rory McIlroy.
“It’s phenomenal to know that when you have a very forgiving driver like this, even if you don’t quite catch it off the middle of the face or put a good swing on it, that it still has a chance to go the same distance and be in the fairway as if you hit a good shot. To have that much confidence in a driver standing over a tee shot is great.”
Price: £299.99
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Shaft: MRC Diamana S+ Blue Board 60 (X, S, R); and MRC Diamana D+ White Board 60 (X, S)
Nike Vapor Flex 440 Driver
A "breakthrough in head construction", says Nike. More than 60 percent built out of carbon fiber reinforced RZN, a proprietary material that Nike uses in both clubs and golf balls.
RZN is a light yet strong material and allows for more weight to be repositioned forward and down for adjustability and forgiveness.
- New RZN body construction making up over 60 percent of the driver to allow for adjustability with increased stability.
- New HyperFlight face is thinned out around the perimeter to produce extreme ball speed across the entire face for better performance on off-centre hits.
- Re-engineered Compression Channel enables springboard effect to amplify performance on miss hits.
- FlyBeam Reinforced Covert Cavity Back stiffens the chassis while redistributing weight to the heel and toe for maximum impact efficiency, tuned acoustics and forgiveness.
- FlexFlight technology features a RZN tube with a high-density weight on one end - flipping the tube allows golfers to further optimize launch conditions by impacting launch angle, spin rate, forgiveness and workability.
- FlexLoft 2.0 gives the golf athlete the functionality of five lofts at three face angles for a total of 15 different settings and optimal ball flight, more distance as well as enhanced workability.
Price: £379.99
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Shaft: MRC Diamana S+ Limited 60 (X, S, R)
Nike Vapor Fly Fairway Wood
Utilises Nike’s tour-authentic chassis with upgraded technology to drive performance. Employs same technology found in the drivers, the fairway wood features a thin and light Flightweight Crown to move weight lower for a higher launch angle with less spin.
Five models with an innovative new FlexLoft Fairway hosel allow for lofts from 12° to 22° at a standard or upright lie angle for a tour-level fit.
- Flightweight Crown features a 30 percent reduction in crown weight compared to last year’s model resulting in a lower centre of gravity and higher MOI for higher launch, less spin, and more forgiveness.
- New HyperFlight face is thinned out around the perimeter to produce extreme ball speed across the entire face for better performance on off-center hits
- Re-engineered Compression Channel enables springboard effect to amplify performance on miss hits.
- FlyBeam Reinforced Covert Cavity Back dramatically stiffens the chassis while redistributing weight to the heel and toe for maximum impact efficiency, tuned acoustics and forgiveness.
- FlexLoft Fairway hosel offers the unique ability to adjust loft and lie angle independently, offering six individual settings in each of 5 models to achieve optimal flight, more distance and enhanced workability.
- Athlete authentic Tour shape for forgiveness and workability.
Price: £179 to £199
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Shaft: MRC Tensei CK Blue 65F (X, S, R, A, W), and MRC Diamana S+ Blue Board 70 (X, S, R)
Nike Vapor Fly Hybrid
Redesigned for 2016. Working with Nike athletes such as Francesco Molinari, Nike Golf engineers created a hybrid with a refined, tour-driven profile to maximize versatility and shot making.
- Flightweight Crown features a 30 percent reduction in crown weight v last year’s model resulting in a lower center of gravity and higher MOI for higher launch, less spin and more forgiveness.
- New HyperFlight face is thinned out around the perimeter to produce extreme ball speed across the entire face for better performance on off-centre hits.
- Re-engineered Compression Channel enables springboard effect to amplify performance on miss hits.
- FlyBeam Reinforced Covert Cavity Back stiffens the chassis while redistributing weight to the heel and toe for maximum impact efficiency, tuned acoustics and forgiveness.
- Athlete authentic Tour shape for forgiveness and workability for a true iron replacement.
Price: £249.99
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Shaft: MRC Tensei CK Blue 50 (X, S, R, A, W)
Nike Vapor Fly Pro Irons
Engineers from the Oven set out to create a set of irons that launch the ball higher and farther, offering forgiveness with more workability than a traditional game-improvement iron.
- Modern Muscle technology balances the centre of gravity in the centre of the face to optimise stability, energy transfer and feel for consistent performance and shotmaking.
- Lightweight RZN material enables more mass to be distributed lower and deeper for higher ball flight.
- The combination of a variable thickness, flexible, Nexcor face supported by a stiffened, FlyBeam reinforced chassis delivers increased ball speed with less penalizing mishits for longer, more consistent shots across the entire face.
- Hollow RZN cavity long irons (2, 3, 4, 5) feature a metalwood-style construction with FlyBeam reinforcement for superior distance and forgiveness.
- RZN pocket mid irons (6, 7, 8) utilises Nike’s proprietary RZN material to redistribute weight to combine stability with refined feel.
- RZN cavity short irons (9, P, A) also features RZN material in the cavity of the irons to enable shot making creativity.
Price: £599 (5-PW)
Shaft: True Temper XP 95 (S300, R300)
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Nike Vapor Fly Irons
Features three unique RZN-enhanced game-improvement constructions pushing weight lower and toward the perimeter for consistent, high and long approach shots with great feel.
Review: Nike Vapor Fly irons
- Modern Muscle technology balances the centre of gravity in the centre of the face to optimise stability, energy transfer and feel for consistent performance and shotmaking.
- Lightweight RZN material enables more mass to be distributed lower and deeper for higher ball flight.
- The combination of a variable thickness, flexible, Nexcor face supported by a stiffened, Flybeam reinforced chassis deliver increased ball speed with less penalising mishits for longer, more consistent shots across the entire face.
- Hollow RZN cavity long irons (4, 5, 6, 7) feature a metalwood-style construction with FlyBeam reinforcement for superior distance and forgiveness.
- RZN pocket mid irons (8, 9, P) utilises Nike’s proprietary RZN material to redistribute weight to combine stability with refined feel.
- RZN cavity short irons (A, S) also features RZN material in the cavity of the irons to enable shot making creativity.
Price: £499.99 (4-PW - steel) £599.99 (4-PW - graphite)
Shaft: True Temper ZT 85 (S, R), and UST Mamiya Recoil 400 Series (460-F4, 460-F3, 460-F2, 450-F1)
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
