Stay Hidden, Be Seen with Nike Golf

Nike Golf is turning 30 this year, and to celebrate they've released their new "Stay Hidden, Be Seen" apparel line that can be worn on or off the golf course.

A photo posted by Adam (@golfunfiltered) on May 6, 2016 at 2:48pm PDT

Taking inspiration from the past in order to launch golf style into the future, it infuses performance-led garments — a polka dot packable hooded jacket, a Nike AW77 Crew, Nike Legacy cap, washed polo and short, and t-shirts with various designs — with a healthy dose of attitude.

How's that for some awesome PR-speak, eh? As you can tell from the photo above, the apparel line features camouflage patterns that are probably not in your golf wardrobe. Now's the time to take a step outside your comfort zone and expand your clothing horizons.

The camouflage dot print features reflective details while the incorporation and cropping of the brand’s iconic 26-degree hazard stripe pays homage to the company's humble beginnings in 1986. Lifestyle silhouettes and patterns are designed to keep the wearer hidden or exposed as needed.

The Nike Golf Club Collection’s "Stay Hidden. Be Seen" became available May 7 on nike.com and at select retailers.

PREVIEW: Nike RZN Tour Golf Ball

Nike Golf, on the heels of announcing their newest tour staff players yesterday, has unveiled their new Nike RZN Tour golf ball line for 2016. The new RZN balls come in two models -- the Nike RZN Tour Black and Nike RZN Tour Platinum. Each ball features four key components in their design: RZN 4.0, Speedlock X Core, Speedlock Mantle and something Nike is calling a "Flight Suit Cover." Apparently these combine to offer the player a soft-feeling golf ball with an upgrade in distance.

What the heck is a "Flight Suit Cover?"

From Nike Golf:

The ball’s Flight Suit cover features visible technology: 344 dimples and 13,558 micro dimples. To achieve longer ball flight, engineers utilized advanced aerodynamics by adding the micro dimples, strategically spread across the cover of the ball, which help facilitate improved lift and drag properties, especially at the end of the ball flight.

So, basically, it's a cover with double the dimples to keep your golf ball in the air longer. Hence, "flight suit."

PREVIEW: Nike Golf Vapor Fly Clubs

Earlier today Nike Golf sent out a press release announcing all the bells and whistles that go along with their new Vapor Fly golf club line. After reading through the release, however, I can't help but feel like we've heard this stuff before. The full release, written in a nifty and truly unique "review-type" blog format, can be found here: http://news.nike.com/news/vapor-fly-clubs

If you clicked on the above link and read all the way through, you probably noticed a few things about the new Nike Golf Vapor Fly series:

1. The clubs are all sorts of crazy colored
2. There're promises of more distance yielded from special tech
3. Adjustability is still tantamount throughout the clubhead
4. Did I mention they're all sorts of weird colors?

Let's be honest with each other. Any new club release comes packaged with promises of more distance, lower centers of gravity, higher moments of inertia (you know, important factors average golfers really care about) and stupid amounts of adjustable doohickies that you shouldn't tinker too much with in the first place.

So what is there to be excited about with the new Nike Golf Vapor Fly clubs? You know, besides the colors?

At first blush (because that's all the info we have right now), each new driver in the Vapor Fly series sounds like they'll be super-lightweight. Sprinkled among words and copyrighted terms like "FlexLoft 2.0", "HyperFlight Face", "compression" and others you'll find mention of heightened swing speeds, dropped spin rates and -- of course -- more distance. There's even a mention of "energy transfer," which is just in time for the new Star Wars movie.

What does all of this mean to the average player? Probably not much.

Look, I get it; golf equipment companies need to appeal to the largest market demographic who read sites like this one: 18-35 year old males. I'm guessing that's where the color options and fancy tech come into play. A good number of older readers, those over 50, are also interested because they have the deepest wallets and (presumably) more free time to play golf. That's where the lightweight-distance-compression stuff comes in.

But based on what Nike sent out in their latest press release, I'm not seeing anything that hasn't been done in different packages from other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Regardless, I'm willing to give Nike the benefit of the doubt at least until I have a chance to test the new Vapor Fly clubs out. Whether or not they'll have qualities that set them apart from other brands in an ever-narrowing quality gap remains to be seen.

Nike Golf Unveils New Nike Lunar Control 4 Golf Shoes

Rory McIlroy's golf swing is a thing of violent beauty. With swing speeds reaching over 120 MPH, Rors must establish a solid foundation in his lower body to handle the force he exerts on his golf club. Nike Golf built the new Nike Lunar Control 4 golf shoes for this purpose, which Rory will be wearing at his upcoming tournament in Dubai.

Early sketches of the Nike Lunar Control 4 look like something out of a NASA rocket build:

What resulted from all that chicken-scratch was a golf shoe engineered to support the fastest golf swings in the world.

Like other Nike Golf designs, the Nike Lunar Control 4 leverages Nike innovations, developed across a variety of sport platforms, to meet McIlroy’s needs – and those of golf athletes at every level of the game. Dynamic Nike Flywire technology provides lateral support in the midfoot, while a new, robust external heel counter helps lock the foot in place through McIlroy’s swing.

The upper is reengineered of a lightweight microfiber that provides a soft, unrestricted feel. The tongue has been redesigned to wrap ergonomically around the ankle and provide a natural break when walking. The athletic design of the Nike Lunar Control 4 is highlighted by a Swoosh logo design on the vamp, an iconic aesthetic most familiar in the Nike Mercurial football boot.

The shoes also look pretty sweet... even if they feature a bit of "Popsicle-like" coloring.

“I have been looking forward to wearing this shoe for quite some time. It’s a design I’ve been involved with ever since my first year with Nike,” says McIlroy. “It gives me the confidence needed to maximize power in my swing with reliable control on the ground, especially off the tee.”

Available in three colorways for men (black/white, white/wolf grey, white/bright crimson) and for women (black/white, white/wolf grey, pure platinum/bright crimson), the Nike Lunar Control 4 will launch November 27 on nike.com and on December 1 at select retailers.

REVIEW: Nike Golf Club Collection for Summer 2015

Golf fashion has come a long way since the days of snobby pleated slacks and starched-out polos. What is worn on the course can very easily be worn off it as well, and nobody does it better than our friends at Nike Golf. We got a hands-on look at the new Nike Golf Club Collection for this Summer and immediately realized that this is not something from your grandaddy's country club pro shop. Which is a good thing.

Inspired by the Game. Tailored for life on Tour. Distinctive style on and off the course.

The product tagline says it all: this is a lifestyle clothing series that looks as great off the course as it will during your next round. Highlighted by minimalist patterns and distinctive logos, the Nike Golf Club Collection screams "modern" or "contemporary" without losing respect for the game's traditional undertones.

This should not surprise you. Nike has always been an industry leader in adding a unique twist to classic favorites to produce fashion options that rise above the competition. The Nike Golf Club Collection is another fine example of that talent.

Shop Nike Golf Apparel on Amazon

Nike also has a knack for blurring the lines between what is worn in the gym and on the playing field. Before now, those lines were rigid and cemented for anything related to golf. The Nike Golf Club Collection has finally introduced a gray area that we've been yearning for, especially golfers of my generation. Any of the items in the collection would serve well in either arena.

For example, Dri-Fit technology can be found in most of the items. This keeps players cool and dry to help them perform at their best even when the heat is on. Comfort is not compromised for function or fashion.

This is a style for a specific type of player. Players who may leave the course, but the course never leaves them. Who practice their backswing in the bathroom mirror when no one is looking. Who fold their hands into an overlapping golf grip during team meetings. Who may have a few marks on their ceiling from grooving their swing in the living room.

No, this is not your grandaddy's golf wardrobe. This is entirely your own.

For a full look of the entire Nike Golf Club Collection, click here: http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/golf/nike-golf-club-collection

The DUFFIES: Best Golf Equipment and Apparel of 2014

Every year we at ChicagoDuffer.com have the privilege of testing the season's newest golf equipment and fashion from companies all over the world. While it is true that we have a soft spot for independent golf companies, it would be foolish to not appreciate the amazing products the "big brands" release every year. In an attempt to highlight which products were our favorite from this season, I am proud to unveil the inaugural DUFFIES -- a completely made-up trophy that will be awarded to the best of the best.

So without further adieu, here are our votes for the best golf equipment and products from 2014:

Best Driver -- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha

We tested more than two dozen drivers this season, but we kept coming back to this magnificent boomstick time and time again. While it was not the longest driver we tested, the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha was far and away the most consistent and well-rounded of the bunch. It is still my driver of choice every time I step on the golf course, and it is going to take a small miracle for another club to replace it in my bag.

Best Irons -- PING i25

Nobody produced a better mid-handicap set of irons than the folks at PING. Their incredible PING i25 iron set not only catered to those of us who aren't cool enough to play blades but still wanted shot-shaping ability, but they also look and feel amazing. They might be a step away from the "traditional" PING iron look, but we could not find a set of sticks that fit our game better.

Best Wedges -- Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0

Don't let the annoying numbers in their name fool you: hitting the Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 wedges are easy as pie and require little to no math. Unless, of course, you need help adding up all the money you'll take from your friends with these in your bag. Their look, feel, and performance stood above the rest in the wedge market, and that is no small task.

Best Putter -- Nike Golf Method MOD 90

Ok, this putter was released toward the end of 2013, but we have to include it here. Nike Golf is making some incredible golf clubs as of late, and that is exemplified in their impressive Method MOD 90 putter. I'm usually a fan of mallet putters, but this ultra-thin blade design felt too good and performed too well to not keep it in my bag.

Best Golf Ball -- 3UP Golf 2S14

Everyone loves the Titleist Pro V golf balls, but you can keep them for all I care. No matter which category I can think of -- distance, feel, spin, durability -- the 3Up Golf 2S14 golf ball rose handedly above the rest. Don't let the fact that 3UP is an indie golf brand scare you; these guys make a damn fine product.

Best Overall Apparel Company -- Bunker Mentality and Dunning Golf (tie)

This was a difficult choice for me since I love both companies so much. So, instead of choosing one over the other, let's all play nice and share! The UK-based Bunker Mentality specializes in providing highly-personable golf apparel that scream individuality. Conversely, the US-based Dunning Golf exudes traditional charm and high performance. While these two juggernauts may reside on opposite ends of the fashion spectrum, they both make up most of my golf wardrobe.

Nike Golf Introduces New Cold Gear

Cold weather has arrived for most of the country, meaning our golf days are numbered as the year comes to a close. Nike Golf has you covered this autumn with a new line of cold weather apparel and gear for golfers of all skill level.

Nike Aeroloft Jackets and Vest ($200 - $220)

Nike designers teamed with the Nike Explore Team Research Lab to create an insulated jacket that retains body heat while regulating body temperature to keep athletes comfortable. The result is Nike’s new Aeroloft jackets and vests for both men and women. Both feature engineered laser-cut holes between the garment’s paneling and goose down insulation to help control body temps when the weather cools.

Nike Hyperadapt Storm-Fit Jacket ($280)

Sometimes golfers have to battle rain and wind in addition to cold weather. Nike’s engineering team has designed the perfect jacket for the worst weather days: the new Nike Hyperadapt Storm-Fit jacket. Combining sweather-like stretch materials with an impenetrable outer layer basically provides the golfer a protective and comfortable shell from the elements.

In addition to the above items, Nike is also offering their new Weatherized Pants and Lunar Bandon golf shoes. Both are designed specifically for protecting the player from the elements, no matter the weather.

To learn more about the new Nike cold weather offerings, visit www.nikegolf.com.

Nike Golf Unveils "Play in the Now" Spot for Lunar Control Shoes

Nike Golf has been absolutely killing it lately with the marketing of their various new apparel and equipment options for 2014. For example, their new "Play in the Now" television spot -- marketing the new Lunar Control golf shoes -- will make even the most traditional golfer smile. For the rest of us idiots, it will make us cackle like we've just been released from military prison.

The old guy's sweater and hair combo slays me. Absolutely kills me.

The Lunar Control shoes are also out of this world. Get it? "Out of this world?" That's a golf shoe marketing pun.

Nike Golf Introduces New VRS Covert 2.0 Irons

PRESS RELEASE -- BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 28, 2014) – “If it’s good enough, then we must make it better.” - Cindy Davis, President of Nike Golf.

That approach is rooted in every product crafted at The Oven, Nike Golf’s research and design facility, and the new VRS Covert 2.0 irons, available January 31, 2014, are no exception. Golf club engineers and designers built upon the performance benefits of the first generation of Covert irons and improved specific design elements in the 2014 model to make it easier for golfers to hit the ball farther and higher with superior stability and feel.

“What’s impressive about the VRS Covert 2.0 set is that golfers can be aggressive and confident with these irons,” says Chris Savage, Nike Golf Irons Innovation Engineer.  “This set utilizes our largest cavity and thinnest perimeter to deliver higher ball speed and greater distance.  We have also refined our leading edge bevel to make it easier for these irons to go through the turf. Throughout development, these irons have proven to be the best distance irons we have created to date.”

The Nike Golf club team shifted the center of gravity behind the center of the face, which provides a more solid impact where golfers hit the ball most, resulting in more distance with great feel. Nike’s club engineers also lowered the center of gravity by modifying the mass in the back of the club head and shifting that weight lower and more towards the toe for a higher and more stable ball flight. 

A larger cavity in the VRS Covert 2.0 irons moves more metal to the perimeter of the club head and allows for a larger face, which amplifies the 'trampoline effect’ and produces more ball speed at impact. Coupled with a larger cavity, Nike’s proprietary NexCOR variable face thickness technology allows for greater ball speed off the face, resulting in more distance.

A new leading-edge bevel provides more sole area to hit through the turf. The design delivers an additional, effective bounce to the golf club, which is a crucial benefit especially in soft conditions. 

The VRS Covert 2.0 irons feature Dynalite 105 steel and Kuro Kage graphite shafts with Golf Pride 2G wrap grips.

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Irons

Availability: January 31, 2014

Specifications: 4-AW, SW, Dynalite 105: S/R (RH/LH); Kuro Kage Graphite: S/R (RH/LH)

Street price: Steel: $700; Graphite: $800

Nike Golf Introduces New VRS Covert 2.0 Hybrids

PRESS RELEASE --  BEAVERTON, Ore. (January 23, 2014) – To kick-start the creation of Nike Golf’s new line of hybrids, Nike Golf engineers re-examined the range of metal woods that golfers have in their bags. From drivers to fairway woods, the club heads decrease in size – and they followed that same strategy with the new range of VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids, available at retail on January 31, 2014.

Tapping into what the engineers at The Oven call “Linear Transition Design”, the club team crafted the VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids with progressively smaller head sizes as loft increases, while increasing the face height on each model. The #2 and #3 hybrids, with larger heads, perform more like fairway woods to advance the ball, while the #4 and #5 hybrids are utilized for approach shots toward the green.

Both the VRS Covert 2.0 Tour and VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids feature a Fly-Brace reinforced High-Speed Cavity back design for longer and straighter shots. The cavity back design improves the moment of inertia and also helps to stiffen the back of the golf club and improve the energy transfer across the club face.

“With the new VRS Covert 2.0 hybrids, the longer the shot, the more forgiving the club,” says Tony Dabbs, Nike Golf Global Product Director, Golf Clubs. “When we looked at it, we realized it makes more sense, especially with a #2 and #3 hybrid, to produce ball flight that is more similar to a fairway wood. As the line progresses, the heads get smaller, and the #4 and #5 hybrids are designed to hit the green with a little higher trajectory and more shot-making precision.”

In addition to the VRS Covert 2.0, the VRS Covert 2.0 Tour hybrids feature Nike’s patented FlexLoft technology, a simple pull, turn, push-and-tighten adjustment system that allows golfers to choose their loft and face angle independently of each other, providing more range and versatility in the bag. NexCOR face technology, which incorporates variable face thickness for a faster, hotter face, results in more speed at impact.

The second generation of Mitsubishi Rayon’s Kuro Kage graphite shafts are the standard graphite shaft option for both models.  In the VRS Covert 2.0 Tour, the Kuro Kage Silver 80 graphite shaft creates more stability and lower spin.  The VRS Covert 2.0 utilizes the Kuro Kage Black HBP Graphite 70 shaft, featuring a higher balance point to allow for higher swing speeds without adding shaft length.

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour Hybrids

Availability: January 31, 2014

Specifications: 3H: 17°-21° (RH/LH), 5H: 21°-25° (RH/LH)

Kuro Kage Silver 80 Shaft: R, S

Street Price: $229

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Hybrids

Availability: January 31, 2014

Specifications: 2H: 17° (RH), 3H: 20° (RH/LH), 4H: 23° (RH/LH), 5H: 26° (RH)

Kuro Kage Black HBP 70 Shaft: A, R, S, X, W

Street Price: $179

Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Driver Review

Nike Golf recently unveiled the sequel to their popular Covert driver series late this year -- the VRS Covert 2.0. Currently in the bag for both Rory McIlory and Tiger Woods (which is surprising for the latter, since El Tigre almost never changes drivers), I had the opportunity to test out the 2014 series this week. First, a little background on the new Nike VRS Covert 2.0 driver. The obvious headliner in Nike's new metalwood series, the VRS Covert 2.0 driver features a redesigned cavity back design with Fly-Brace technology; an upgrade the company promises will increase distance and club stability in comparison to last year's model.

Nate Racliffe, Nike Golf's Director of Engineering, explained a little more about the new driver in a press release.

“The new VRS Covert 2.0 driver features a redesigned cavity with Fly-Brace technology that ties the sole to the crown,” Radcliffe said. “By stiffening the rear portion of the club, more energy is transferred to the face at impact. The end result is even greater ball speed and up to six yards of distance gain over last year’s model.

“It’s similar to an automotive frame design. Fly-Brace technology reinforces the rearward portion of the clubhead to focus impact stress, flexing and subsequent energy transfer to the point of impact.”

From a feel standpoint, I was pleased at how "soft" the driver felt at impact, especially in comparison to last year's model. The 2013 driver seemed a bit too "tinny" and loud, which -- for me -- gives off the impression that a club is cheaply made.

The new 2014 Covert driver, however, did not give that "cheap" feedback. Instead, every ball I hit responded quite solidly at impact as the club seemed to "absorb" the golf ball. I prefer this feel in all of my clubs, so this was a huge plus for me.

In terms of distance, I felt the Nike VRS Covert 2.0 driver performed similarly to my TaylorMade R1. I didn't have a Trackman launch monitor at my disposal for this range session, but a rough eye estimate showed that both drivers performed about the same. Like the R1, the Nike driver is fully adjustable and should give me more loft options and face angle pairings to toy around with throughout the year.

Overall, I was very pleased with how the Nike VRS Covert 2.0 driver performed. It is a very solid club, looks great at address, and should definitely be on your short list of driver upgrade options for the 2014 season.

Nike Method MOD 90 Putter Review

When Nike Golf announced they were releasing a "modern-classic" line of putters for the 2014 season, I was a bit confused. How can something be both modern and classic? After testing the new Nike Method MOD 90 putter, all of my questions were answered... and then some.

First and foremost, the Nike Method MOD 90 might be the nicest putter I have ever laid my eyes on. The look of this club is not only mindblowing, but it is reminiscent of the thin, heavy blade putters my dad and grandfather used to play. This is when the whole modern-classic element became perfectly clear to me: Nike has installed modern putter technology into the look and feel of classic putters from yesteryear.

When it comes to feel, the Nike Method MOD 90 had a somewhat transitional element to the feedback you receive in your hands depending on length of putt. For shorter (sub-10 feet) putts, the MOD 90 provided a soft feel. However, for longer lag putts, the putter felt "harder" or more "stiff". That's not necessarily a bad thing.

Putters can be a bit confusing at times, especially when you are trying to gauge the right distance. Thanks to technologies like heel-toe weighting, a face that promotes an immediate, true roll and an overall weighing that exudes confidence, the Nike Method MOD 90 proved to be a highly versatile club from any putt length.

For me, the thin clubhead took a bit getting used to at first as I am a person more accustomed to mallet or hybrid-style putter heads. However, this is an extremely mild criticism of what is otherwise one of the best made putters I have ever tried.

Nike VR Forged Pro Combo Irons Review

This week I had the opportunity to try out the new Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons and am pleased to say they will be the sticks I'll play throughout 2014. Here's why.

Nike Golf has been creating combination irons for quite some time now, quickly becoming a worldwide leader in the technology. Simply put, combo iron sets feature muscle-back or cavity-back technology in the long irons and a one-piece blade-like clubhead in the shorter irons. This combination helps players get the ball up into the air with a high trajectory in the long irons while maintaining unparalleled control and consistency in the short clubs.

The new Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons feature all of that great technology and so much more. There is a certain feel and sound that goes in to playing a forged iron, and these clubs are right on the mark in that sense. In fact, Nike Golf cast the Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons in the same materials as their famous Method putters. Doing so gave these irons a unique, solid sound at impact that you will truly appreciate.

Designed for mid- to low-handicap players, what you will like most about the Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons is the playability in the long irons. I've always struggled with playing a 3- or 4-iron off the fairway (or rough, for that matter) because I am routinely unable to get the ball to a trajectory that will land soft on the green. Not once did I have that issue with these irons. Not only did the ball get way up into the air without compromising shot distance, but the patented X3X grooves on the clubface provided just enough spin to have my golf ball land softly on the green. That's a winning combination.

The Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons feature a smaller clubface and hitting area, so players with a handicap higher than 12 will probably struggle with hitting these clubs consistently. Nike offers a wide range of other irons for that player ability, so be sure to check out the company website for more information.

The Nike VR Forged Pro Combo irons hit retail stores on November 1st and will retail for $999.99.

Gear Review: Nike Golf TW '14 Golf Shoes

Nike has always been the standard by which all other athletic shoes are measured. Whether it is basketball, football, baseball or soccer, Nike footwear never seems to disappoint. With their new TW '14 golf shoes, Nike has raised the bar once again. Yes, the TW '14 shoes are what Tiger Woods wears every time he steps on the golf course. Nike has a knack for getting their top athletes to help design the footwear that bears their name, and the TW '14's are no exception. As I wrote for the Back9Network, Tiger provided tons of feedback on the design of these new shoes. After playing 18 holes in these puppies, I can safely say that I was impressed by their performance and comfort.

What I liked most about the TW '14's were how well they fit my feet, even in hot conditions when your feet are likely to expand a bit. These shoes fit more like basketball shoes than golf spikes, which is a testament to the hours of research that undoubtedly went into their design. A unique extra spike design on the toe of each shoe helps provide increased traction as you slide through the impact zone in your golf swing. This feature is incredibly helpful in maintaining control throughout your swing.

The new Nike Golf TW '14 golf shoes retail for $179 and can be found in a major golf retailer near you.