Equipment
Tech Talk: Nike’s New VR_S Covert Irons
Golfers love long and forgiving drivers. But when it comes irons, many golfers prefer an aesthetically pleasing model over one that packs the most performance.
Nike’s new VR_S Covert irons are a replacement of the company’s VR_S iron from last year. Like the VR_S, they are a cast iron aimed at double-digit handicapers. But thanks to a design initiative called “Covert,” the company was able to add distance and playability to the irons without the bulkier chassis of last year’s model.
Tony Dabbs, product line manager for Nike Golf, said the biggest problem with the VR_S irons was that they had thick toplines and thick soles. This made them less appealing for single-digit handicap players than Nike’s VR_S Forged Irons, which were used to win on the PGA Tour by Tiger Woods (3 iron) and Carl Pettersson (4 iron).
The Covert irons actually have higher a Movement of Inertia (MOI) than the VR_S irons from 2012 thanks to extreme perimeter weighting. Like Nike’s Covert Drivers, the Covert Irons move a substantial amount of weight away from the center of the club face and to the heel and toe sections of the club where it adds forgiveness.
Moving weight away from the center of the club face can result in a harsher feel and clickier sound, which is why Nike engineers added a polyurethane badge behind the impact area that softens the feel and quiets the sound.
“It’s a decoration, but it also has a purpose,” Dabbs said. “Without the badging, it really rings.”
The Covert irons also use Nike’s NexCore faces that debuted in the VR_S and VR_S Forged irons, but the faces are even thinner that last year’s models, which according to Dabbs provides more flexibility and thus more distance, especially on mishits.
The Convert long irons and middle irons are constructed from 450 Carpenter steel, while the short irons are made from 1704 stainless steel for a slightly softer feel.
The irons will come stock with True Temper Dynalite 90 steel shafts (S and R-Flex, RH and LH), and will be available for $699 on Feb. 1. The stock graphite option will retail for $799 with Nike KuroKage Black 70 shafts in S, R and A-flex (RH and LH).
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour/Pre-release equipment” forum.
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- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align 
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
Rory McIlroy WITB 2024 (April)
Rory McIlroy what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)
Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
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John
Jun 27, 2014 at 4:30 pm
Hi, Could somepone please tell me how good are the standard Dynalite 90 shafts in these clubs as I have ordered a set. I am trying out the Regular shafts from my current KBS tour stiff which are in my Mizuno MP53’s. I am looking to swing a little easier and hopefully gain more distance and straighter. Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
colin liddle
Jan 4, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I bought a set yesterday. I am high handicaper and I am so impressed by the feel of these clubs. Dont give a toss what they look like.
joe dagostino
Aug 14, 2013 at 8:51 pm
I too like several of you who posted was not even considering Nike. LOL it was actually not even a club I was considering to hit. However after spending a few hours at Edwin Watts and trying more than a 1/2 dozen irons, the representaive after looking at my numbers suggested I give these a try. After the first few hits with the 7 I knew it felt the best and the numbers showed it. I now own the set and love them and don’t regret it at all. I can’t wait until the newer model comes out just to give them a shot. I’m a 4 handicap. Joe, Palm City Fl
Andy H
Jun 9, 2013 at 11:07 am
To all of those commenting on the looks of clubs – are you insane? Personally it’s what they do rather than the look that’s important to me. I think you all need a slap.
If you are hanging these on your wall at home however, please ignore me!!
Louis P.
Jul 26, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Well said!
You can have the most beautiful clubs in the universe but if you can’t hit them, they are not worthy!
After 2 hours trying several clubs from many brands, the last and the more effective were these Coverts. How impressive they perform, they were the chosen one.
afogie
May 5, 2013 at 3:41 pm
I just bought the irons and couldn’t be happier. They have a funny sound but fly true and long. I don’t like thick topline clubs and I can say without question the irons are not ugly at address. I tested them against my Titleist AP1’s and the Coverts were a club longer. I am a 9 looking to get lower and I know these irons will help.
Shark
Apr 16, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Looks are not great from behind. I know you don’t see at address but we all like to look at clubs sticking out if our bag with at least a moderation of looks.
But at address they were great. I likes the compact for game improvement size. Waggling it felt great.
Going to sim test the them based on a great review on YouTube (considering guy said repeatedly…. Irritatingly… Oh my god easiest to hit irons…. I’ve ever tested!) I have to ignore busy ugly back for nice at address look and supposed performance.
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Mar 28, 2013 at 7:19 pm
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Mar 28, 2013 at 7:18 pm
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Cronin1019
Mar 21, 2013 at 11:09 pm
I have never owned a Nike Club. Their first gen stuff left a lot to be desired. My buddies at Edwin Watts had me try the new VRS Covert Irons. We fitted the 7 iron to the same specs of my current clubs. 2 degrees up, standard length. I tested the Mitsubishi Kuro Kage graphite stiff. Looking at the club from the bag you wonder what they were thinking with all of the graphics and design. However, when I set the club down I understood what “covert” meant. The top line and offset are that of a good players club. The 7 iron was a degree in loft stronger than mine but I was hitting it longer and straighter than my current clubs. Making solid center face contact was easier than any club I have ever hit.
Shineman
Mar 3, 2013 at 5:38 pm
I spent a couple hours getting fit for irons, hit Rocketbladez, Cobra AMP, Hot-X, and Nike Covert.
I did not even want to hit the Nike,but guess what – Nike was the club…. Tight dispersion and comparable distance with good feel.. now what
JAS
Sep 28, 2013 at 11:04 am
I has exactly the same experience as yours. So what?
Rally huye difference: Easy, straight and long.
digi168
Feb 7, 2013 at 9:03 pm
I thought these were pretty ugly looking in the photo’s but had a chance to see them up close and personal and they actually aren’t that bad. They do however go a long long way. I demoed the 7 iron and it was carrying 185 which is about 15 yds. longer than my mizunos. I know the lofts are bit stronger, but man are these easy to hit. Long, high, and straight, if you can get over the fact that they are Nike clubs I think they will impress a lot of people.
Greg Uptegraff
Feb 27, 2013 at 9:48 am
I hit all the newest irons looking for a replacement for my R9’s. These felt as good as any, picked up ball speed, consistent group and ball flight, and consistently longer.
acaldwell
Dec 8, 2012 at 7:57 am
wow! thats ugly haha. i have the original vrs irons and they’re so much nicer than this.
Punky
Dec 6, 2012 at 9:18 am
Would like to see the specs on the Nike Covert irons.
Congo Starter
Nov 25, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Aside from the combos and forged irons of the past and present these are pretty ugly. They are, however, an improvement over past VRS. Would be nice if they closed the gap on the back. Looks like a smile with a missing tooth.
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Graphiteti
Nov 10, 2012 at 6:37 am
Rory’s new sticks!
Joe Golfer
Nov 10, 2012 at 2:10 am
If the shorter irons are made of 17-4 steel, that’s hardly considered to be a soft steel, as was mentioned in the article.
It’s actually a harder steel on the MOH’s scale. It’s just that the long and middle irons have that even harder Carpenter steel face (to make the face thinner, and I’m guessing that the hosel and perimeter of the club is also 17-4 steel in those irons.
jay hall
Nov 9, 2012 at 10:21 pm
wow, looks like somebody did a $h!t on a shaft. Typical Nike stuff.
obvioustroll
Nov 9, 2012 at 9:36 am
ye dont like the looks.. too much is going on there.
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Hans
Nov 8, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Looks like mick Jagger’s tongue coming out of the back of the iron.
Gman
Nov 8, 2012 at 2:17 pm
I agree with Hoosier, very ugly. Top line is 6-7 mm thick, how can one get past this at address? i will stick with my MP-9’s , as they came with 1and 2 iron as well.
Hoosier
Nov 8, 2012 at 12:21 pm
not sure i’ve seen an uglier iron. i’ll stick with my mp64’s but if you want forgiveness and a good look the JPX825s are way to go. These are ugly
William Klosek
Nov 8, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Wow that’s one boring and ugly iron….I predict they have a dud on their hands….My Wilson Staff Di-11’s are a MUCH better looking club (and probably hit better too)
theoo
Nov 7, 2012 at 10:19 pm
not bad looking, wish they would put some blades or CBs out this year
paul
Nov 7, 2012 at 10:11 pm
I think TM will sell more rocketbladez then Nike will sell of these.