Equipment

Spotted: Nike Vapor Fly Flex 440 driver

Published

8 years ago

Nov 18, 2015

After images leaked of what appeared to be Nike’s new Vapor Fly line, we spotted Kevin Chappell testing what we presume to be called “Nike Vapor Fly Flex 440” driver at the 2015 RSM Classic.

Based on the photos, the driver has the same battery-style weight in the sole as its predecessor, the Vapor Flex, which was previously used to adjust center of gravity (CG). Also, the driver most likely measures 440 cubic centimeters judging from the “440” printed on the club.

No further information is currently available about the driver, but you can check out our in-hand photos below, and see what GolfWRX members are saying here.

See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Nike Flex driver in the forums.

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21 Comments

Curt

Nov 20, 2015 at 5:42 pm

In my opinion, Nike drivers and fairways sit waaaay too upright!! Major move forward for them is to allow flat lie angles!! It’s the main reason I can’t get beyond even sitting a Nike driver on the ground in front of me……lie angle is very fundamental and has a great impact on how one comes into the through the ball!! Nike should know better.

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Daddy no

Nov 19, 2015 at 8:39 pm

The fit and finish looks dreadful, like some dude stuck the pieces together in the trunk of his car right before he went to play

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Christestrogen

Nov 19, 2015 at 6:44 pm

Say what you will about Nike but the vapor flex is by far the best sounding driver on the planet…
Rick Shiels was even taken aback by how dead it sounds…
It was because of his surprise by the dead sound that I bought the driver….
Not the longest driver I’ve ever hit but the best sounding driver since the 460 era began…
http://youtu.be/Af_yvdoF65g

-Christosterone

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- Daddy no
  
  Nov 19, 2015 at 8:37 pm
  
  SLDR is the best sounding driver ever
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Christestrogen
    
    Nov 19, 2015 at 10:20 pm
    
    I have a tour vault sldr…nice but not nearly as dead sounding as Nike…not even on the same planet..
    And dead, soft sound is what I’m going for…
    Sldr cool if that’s your bag but it ain’t for me….great driver though IMHO…even love the tp velox st x…
    
    -Christosterone
    
    Reply Report comment
Tim

Nov 19, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Its actually a RZN Crown, not composite, feels like plastic.

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Sam

Nov 19, 2015 at 9:29 am

Black and blue top looks solid, absolutely love the blue swoosh, that random “volt” stripe on the bottom + PUKE!

I could get used the to weird weight shape, but that stripe.

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- Lsf_21
  
  Nov 19, 2015 at 1:52 pm
  
  Do you swing while looking at the bottom of the club?
  
  Reply Report comment
Mikie

Nov 19, 2015 at 4:18 am

Tested this driver yesterday! Performed extremely well on trackman compared to last years version , a lot more ball speed & more sound. Looks much better in hand , photos don’t do it justice! It’s certinaly performs as good as what’s out there.

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Steve

Nov 18, 2015 at 7:51 pm

It does seem to have a lot going on. I like the look of the Vapor Fly much better. Then again I guess thats not surprising as I don’t care for the current version of the Flex either

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Brandon

Nov 18, 2015 at 3:56 pm

The blue looks good(my favorite color), but if you are going in that direction then get rid of the electric green. that doesn’t go together. In fact, Nike should just do a custom paint program. If they are going to take this route then let the consumer determine their own color.

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Mark

Nov 18, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Dear oh dear that looks cheap. Who exactly is designing Nike woods? An art student or a Golfer?

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- Seth
  
  Nov 20, 2015 at 11:17 am
  
  I think Mattel designed it.
  
  Reply Report comment
Golfandpuff

Nov 18, 2015 at 3:33 pm

LOL @ Dan, looks nothing like M1! I would have to see it in person…and again…if it is $450 retail…not worth it unless I am fit by Nike and beats current driver outside. IMO, still not worth it…great scoop golfwrx again…cool pics.

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- Ian
  
  Nov 19, 2015 at 7:48 am
  
  May want to get your eyes checked…
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom

Nov 18, 2015 at 3:14 pm

Wow. This makes me wanna pull up my pants and polish my shoes.

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John Triscott

Nov 18, 2015 at 2:34 pm

Glad to see a 440cc. Looks better than vapor fly blue imo

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Chuck D

Nov 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm

Oh, and the James Bond style rear port for smoke, oil slick, throwing stars for counter measure defenses!! Go NIKE!!!

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- Tom
  
  Nov 19, 2015 at 8:59 am
  
  Close, it’s a miniature NOS canister.
  
  I’ve played the Vapor Pro since it came out and am still gaming it. Nike makes some great drivers, and they don’t look as weird as some of the cobras at least..
  
  Reply Report comment
Dan

Nov 18, 2015 at 1:57 pm

M1 crown with a splash of blue?

Clever Nike…clever

Reply Report comment
blake

Nov 18, 2015 at 1:06 pm

this is silly

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

9 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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