49 replies to this topic

[DoubleCup]

Just picked up a new 2005 set of Nike Pro Combo Tours off Ebay at a great price.  I couldn't resist as they have DGS-300s in them and I'm looking to get out of my Rifles.

Anyone hit or play these that can give me a review?  Thanks.

[easyyy]

I am a fan of the Nike pro combos. Like them a lot. The new ones look better than the older ones with the madalian IMO. I have the older set and think very well of them. Solf and a very traditional design.

[dlefty]

I myself played MP-30's for 2 years before switching over to the Pro Combo Tour irons.  They are the perfect set of irons.  Looks wise they set up very well, look good to the eye, have good lines, and are not bulky.  The short irons are also very compact and set up well, my biggest gripe with Mizuno's is that the short irons and PW get big and bulky.
Performance wise, they are exactly what I was looking for when switching from MP-30's.  The long and mid irons are much more forgiving, very user friendly and do not punish you as much.  They also have a better trajectory for me, and that was X100 to X100, before I put in the Tour Concept's.  The short "muscleback" irons are dead on, feel great, and still forgive less than ideal contact.  
The Pro Combo Tour has a better sole design than the previous Pro Combo model, which is proving to be close to perfect for me, so that is another plus.
Fantastic set of irons, no Nike bias here, but there are so many "Nike haters" out there, that I'd bet, no...I know, if these irons had a different logo on them, they'd probably be one of the best selling irons......period.

[DoubleCup]

rcd12, on Sep 13 2005, 01:50 PM, said:

No, but I was bidding on the exact same clubs that you were. I believe you payed 566 for them. Good Luck.

Actually, that was another set I was watching.  I won the ones that ended before those.  Paid $425!!!!!!!

I hope they're real....

BTW, There's another set out there.  Hope you win 'em.

[DoubleCup]

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 02:27 PM, said:

I am a fan of the Nike pro combos. Like them a lot. The new ones look better than the older ones with the madalian IMO. I have the older set and think very well of them. Solf and a very traditional design.

I was told that the new "Tours" are the same head as the old PCs without the medalian and with DG shafts instaed of SpeedSteps...

[DoubleCup]

dlefty, on Sep 13 2005, 06:49 PM, said:

I myself played MP-30's for 2 years before switching over to the Pro Combo Tour irons.  They are the perfect set of irons.  Looks wise they set up very well, look good to the eye, have good lines, and are not bulky.  The short irons are also very compact and set up well, my biggest gripe with Mizuno's is that the short irons and PW get big and bulky.
Performance wise, they are exactly what I was looking for when switching from MP-30's.  The long and mid irons are much more forgiving, very user friendly and do not punish you as much.  They also have a better trajectory for me, and that was X100 to X100, before I put in the Tour Concept's.  The short "muscleback" irons are dead on, feel great, and still forgive less than ideal contact. 
The Pro Combo Tour has a better sole design than the previous Pro Combo model, which is proving to be close to perfect for me, so that is another plus.
Fantastic set of irons, no Nike bias here, but there are so many "Nike haters" out there, that I'd bet, no...I know, if these irons had a different logo on them, they'd probably be one of the best selling irons......period.

Thanks for the good info...I'm getting more excited to get these.
BTW, what are tour concepts?

[easyyy]

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 08:10 PM, said:

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 02:27 PM, said:

I am a fan of the Nike pro combos. Like them a lot. The new ones look better than the older ones with the madalian IMO. I have the older set and think very well of them. Solf and a very traditional design.

I was told that the new "Tours" are the same head as the old PCs without the medalian and with DG shafts instaed of SpeedSteps...

Looks like Dlefty said that the soles are different. I know that visually the medalians arnt there.

dlefty!!! What is different with the soles?

[dlefty]

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 07:14 PM, said:

dlefty, on Sep 13 2005, 06:49 PM, said:

I myself played MP-30's for 2 years before switching over to the Pro Combo Tour irons.  They are the perfect set of irons.  Looks wise they set up very well, look good to the eye, have good lines, and are not bulky.  The short irons are also very compact and set up well, my biggest gripe with Mizuno's is that the short irons and PW get big and bulky.
Performance wise, they are exactly what I was looking for when switching from MP-30's.  The long and mid irons are much more forgiving, very user friendly and do not punish you as much.  They also have a better trajectory for me, and that was X100 to X100, before I put in the Tour Concept's.  The short "muscleback" irons are dead on, feel great, and still forgive less than ideal contact. 
The Pro Combo Tour has a better sole design than the previous Pro Combo model, which is proving to be close to perfect for me, so that is another plus.
Fantastic set of irons, no Nike bias here, but there are so many "Nike haters" out there, that I'd bet, no...I know, if these irons had a different logo on them, they'd probably be one of the best selling irons......period.

Thanks for the good info...I'm getting more excited to get these.
BTW, what are tour concepts?

True Temper Tour Concept iron shafts, you can check them out at www.tttourconcept.com  Basically they are a "flighted" version of Dynamic Gold style shafts, still in the getting used to/adjustment period, but these are so far shaping up to be the best iron shafts that I have ever played.
I am naturally a lower ball hitter, which wasn't ever a real problem in the shorter irons, but I am now finding myself more accurate in the short irons, and finding myself capable of hitting long irons into pins like never before.

[dlefty]

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 08:44 PM, said:

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 08:10 PM, said:

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 02:27 PM, said:

I am a fan of the Nike pro combos. Like them a lot. The new ones look better than the older ones with the madalian IMO. I have the older set and think very well of them. Solf and a very traditional design.

I was told that the new "Tours" are the same head as the old PCs without the medalian and with DG shafts instaed of SpeedSteps...

Looks like Dlefty said that the soles are different. I know that visually the medalians arnt there.

dlefty!!! What is different with the soles?

Differences of the "old" Pro Combo's to the new Pro Combo Tour's.......
new have-
*milled flat faces
*u/v groove morph
*no medallion in back cavity
*SpeedStep shafts are gone, now have Dynamic Gold standard (SpeedStep is still the shaft in the Pro Combo OS irons)
*different "more efficient" sole grind for better players

The new sole grind is basically a couple things, one many "better" players were finding the old sole grind too "bouncy"/forgiving, causing an awkward result and sensation during impact into ground.
Second, the new sole grind is more efficient at getting through the turf which is more perferred, not fully on the total "digger" side, but gets through turf better and more efficient without the added bounce of the old design.

[dlefty]

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 07:14 PM, said:

Thanks for the good info...I'm getting more excited to get these.
BTW, what are tour concepts?

I've had problems in the past getting images to always show on this web site for some reason, but I'll try again, showing you what the Tour Concept shafts from True Temper look like............

[DoubleCup]

dlefty, on Sep 13 2005, 11:08 PM, said:

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 07:14 PM, said:

Thanks for the good info...I'm getting more excited to get these.
BTW, what are tour concepts?

I've had problems in the past getting images to always show on this web site for some reason, but I'll try again, showing you what the Tour Concept shafts from True Temper look like............

Interesting.  Thanks.  I'm getting out of my Flighted Rifles though so I'll stick to the DGs...

Thanks for the info on the clubs!

[Ben D]

dlefty, on Sep 13 2005, 08:04 PM, said:

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 08:44 PM, said:

MP30Something, on Sep 13 2005, 08:10 PM, said:

easyyy, on Sep 13 2005, 02:27 PM, said:

I am a fan of the Nike pro combos. Like them a lot. The new ones look better than the older ones with the madalian IMO. I have the older set and think very well of them. Solf and a very traditional design.

I was told that the new "Tours" are the same head as the old PCs without the medalian and with DG shafts instaed of SpeedSteps...

Looks like Dlefty said that the soles are different. I know that visually the medalians arnt there.

dlefty!!! What is different with the soles?

Differences of the "old" Pro Combo's to the new Pro Combo Tour's.......
new have-
*milled flat faces
*u/v groove morph
*no medallion in back cavity
*SpeedStep shafts are gone, now have Dynamic Gold standard (SpeedStep is still the shaft in the Pro Combo OS irons)
*different "more efficient" sole grind for better players

The new sole grind is basically a couple things, one many "better" players were finding the old sole grind too "bouncy"/forgiving, causing an awkward result and sensation during impact into ground.
Second, the new sole grind is more efficient at getting through the turf which is more perferred, not fully on the total "digger" side, but gets through turf better and more efficient without the added bounce of the old design.

The change in the sole must be very subtle. I put my 2004 versions that I bought in May side-by-side with the PC Tours at the same store, and I really cannot see it. Ditto for the grooves as they look the same. I'll try this later with a linen tester. I have the U/V grooves on my two Nike wedges so it should not be hard to compare.

The backs of the heads of the longer irons do look better now without the somewhat gaudy plate

[DoubleCup]

Anyone know the swing weight on the Tours?  The Nike website doesn't list...

[nunee]

dlefty, on Sep 13 2005, 08:08 PM, said:

I've had problems in the past getting images to always show on this web site for some reason, but I'll try again, showing you what the Tour Concept shafts from True Temper look like............

Looks like you are still having problems.  Those irons are BACKWARDS!!!!  

    

[DoubleCup]

Got my Pro Combo Tours today!!  Although I haven't hit them yet, they look impressive.  I've been chipping and swinging clubs around the house and they feel and look great!!  Set up well, nice and soft...Definitely a quality iron.

Can't wait to hit some balls...

For some reason these can be had cheap on Ebay, but I can't figure out why.  The MSRP is $799.  Got mine for $425 and saw another auction that ended at $395!!!  BRAND NEW!!

[easyyy]

Thes are great heads. I love them. I have to compare them to most Players forged heads. I cant say enough about teh set up of the 8-pw. WOWOW. I love hitting those heads. Feel so darn good. Look great to. Very little offset. Compact face and a great sole grind. Rips through the rough.

Love the pro combos!!! I have set of some exotic Satin Taylor Made 300 forged in the basement and the pro combos are in play. Just a great head.

[DoubleCup]

rcd12, on Sep 22 2005, 11:02 PM, said:

MP30Something,

I recently bought a set of PCT off ebay as well. I got mine brand new still in original plastic for 399. I haven't got them in yet, so I just wanted to see if you have played with them yet and if so what your opinion of them is. Also, did you buy the 2 iron seperately, I was going to but I bought a slingshot 2 iron instead. Any info you have will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Played one round with them...So far, I really like them; They feel great on solid shots and the trajectory is definitely lower than my MP30s with 5.5 TFRs...
I was mainly looking for a good, forged club with DG shafts because I wasn't loving the Rifles...

I just picked up a new matching 2! on Ebay, so my set is now complete.

I think I'll have to change my screenname...

[easyyy]

Lets hear it...

Nike pro combo reviews...

Attached Images

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[abc123tyler]

Wow... I just payed $800 for these about 2 months ago.

But hey, they work great and I love them!

This is my second set of irons, first set being x-16s... and how do these compare in forgiveness with blades in mid irons???

[sergizmo]

Review is for first generation Pro Combos.

These get a 5.

Reasons? Set up is beautiful, nice heavy head, great blunted leading edge and sole design (I'm a digger), the long irons get up but the short irons don't baloon, super solid feel, great feedback without being punishing etc............

Most people hate the Speed Steps but I'm a low ball hitter so they work perfect for me. I was trying to make a set of Eye 2 +'s work for me but these have much better balance (heavy) and I just swing them better.

If anyone is looking for a set of players cavities, the first generation is super cheap right now. You can't see the medallions at address, just a nice compact blade.

Man I love these clubs, IMO the perfect set of irons.

[golfernut78]

i've got the 2004 model with rifle 6.0 shafts.  i think these are one of the best iron designs out there.  i think they are extremely underated.  i agree with others that there are a lot of nike haters out there, and if these clubs had a different name on them they would be one of the most popular irons out there.  they are a great setup with the blades, muscle backs and cavities.  i am considering a reshaft because i am hitting the 7 - pw extremely high, maybe some rifle flighted irons.

[BCULAW]

I have not hit any of the tour issued models, but have owned both the original pc and the newer pc "tour." I have nothing but good things to say about them. Here is a review I did of the original pro combos. I'll post my review of the pro combo tours below.

REVIEW - ORIGINAL NIKE PRO COMBO:

I picked up a set of these on the cheap recently, with rifle 6.0. I previously owned a set with stock speed steps. What a difference a shaft change makes. I also own a set of Tour RAC CB 2mms, which I believe to be fantastic clubs, so I will use them as a comparison. Here's what I found:

Looks:

I don't much care for the cosmetics of these clubs. I could do without the 2-tone finish, the fake rivets, and the cavity medallion. That said, the look at address is very nice. Mid size clubs with a rounder profile. Definitely look more like a player's club than a shovel. Thicker top line than the RAC CB, but not distracting to me. Also a lot more rounded than the squarish RAC CBs. The sole of the 3 iron is visible at address, but it gives me a bit of confidence, as though it is more of a hybrid than a long iron. Due to this transition, these do not look like the surgically precise instruments that the RAC CBs appear to be, but they inspire more confidence when the chips are down. Remove the cavities, and refinish in satin, and these would look great in the bag and on the ground, IMO.

FEEL:

The RAC CBs are the industry standard, IMO. They were made to be the finest quality CBs for tour players, and they feel like it. The pro combos do not have the "miura" feel, like the CBs, but for an average ball striker like me, they feel much more stable on contact. As a result, most shots feel very good, and only the sweetest of center contact is noticeably sweeter off of the RACs. From what I have heard, the nikes are endo forged, so the quality is there.

Playability:

Overrated for a hack like me. All I know is that I maintained a slight fade with these, and did not have any issue with the hooks I have struggled with in the past. Flight with the rifles was nice a high for me, which i prefer to the lower flight of the dgs300's I have played in the past, and the feel of the rifles far exceed the speed steps, IMO.  The soles didn't dig, which is what I love about the RAC Cbs.

Forgiveness:

This is where the nikes shine in comparison to the RACs. I have gotten to play less than five times in the past four months, and I took these to the course without a hitch. In comparison to the RACs, the soles are nice and wide, and provide ample forgiveness for getting the ball airborne. The long irons have a very deep cavity, and a little wider sole. Nike did a great job in transitioning this set from precision in the short irons to forgiveness in the long irons without sacrificing the look of the transition.

Overall:

I had forgotten what a nice set this is, and with the prices these days, it is a tough set to beat. I can't say that they have found a place in my #1 bag because the TMs are just SOOOO sexy. But, these give me a little added confidence that might come in handy if my game is in the crapper. I think Nike will sell a ton of these now that they have toned down the graphics on the new "tour" model. Nike gets a lot of flack in the golf industry, being the new kid and all, but they have a quality product with these.

REVIEW - 2005 NIKE PRO COMBO "TOUR"

I am going to chime in here again with a quick review of the Nike Pro Combo Tour irons w/ dgs300- the updated version of the original Pro Combos.

LOOKS:
First, let me just say that the look of the new version is much improved, given the fact that Nike has done away with the cavity medallions and gone with a more conventional "forged" look sans medallions. Big thumbs up for that in my book. I still have a bit of a problem with the two-tone frosting, but I can overlook it since it is not visible from address. I would love Nike to take a page from Bridgestone and offer these in flat satin. IMO they would be absolutely awesome in satin. From address, the clubs look solid. Thinnish top line, slight goose neck in the heel, and a roundish toe. Not quite as round as the RAC 2005 TPs, which is a good thing, IMO, but not as square as say the Nike blades. I do not play the 3 iron, so the flange on the back of the cavity does not bother me. Overall, nice looking set in the bag, and a very good looking set on the ground.

FEEL:
These clubs feel great to me - especially the short and mid irons. If there was a drop in the forging quality between the originals and the Tours, then it is not apparent in the feel to me. Very nice "thud" at impact. Sound is good, feel is substantial without harshness. The first PW I hit of these was pure magic - great feeling shot. It is not mushy like a mizuno, and not as clicky as a titleist - a little deeper sound and more substantial feel, IMO.  I should also add that dgs300 have always felt harsh to me, so I used pro soft inserts in all of the shafts.  They work brilliantly, and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for some shock dampening devices for stock shafts.

FORGIVENESS:
More than what is offered by my blade 690mbs, but still a players' cavity back club. These won't make shots for you, but they will not hinder a good ball striker either. Better players will not find these difficult to hit at all, but mid and high handicappers may want or need a little more help than these provide.  I should add that the forgiveness is dramatically more noticeable as the set progresses into the long irons.  This is a true combo set that provides actual benefits to playing the combos as opposed to blades.  

PLAYABILITY:
This is the biggest difference from the originals, IMO. First, the dgs300 is a HUGE improvement over the Nike Speed Steps from a feel and consistency standpoint. Being a long-time Rifle man, I have never thought very highly of the dynamic golds. I always found them harsh. However, they do not feel harsh at all in these heads, especially with the pro soft inserts, and they flat out perform. The ball flight is easy to manipulate in the short irons, mid irons offer a nice high, but boring, trajectory, and the design of the long irons helps get the ball in the air despite the dynamic gold shafts. The result in the long irons is a midtrajectory, boring flight that produces excellent distance. In fact, I recently hit the four iron shot of my life with this set - a 200+ yard shot over water that stopped on a dime once it hit the green.  I could not have hit that shot with any other set of irons I have owned in the past - especially those fitted with dgs300, but these heads work with these shafts beautifully.  Another nice improvement in these clubs is the sole design, which seems a bit less bouncy and a little sharper through the turf. Here in central FLA, the fairways tend to get firm in the spring and summer and the original Pro Combos tended to skid or bounce on me - especially in the long irons. No sign of this problem with the new version, and the divots seem nice a clean. The thin soles of the short irons are a great aid in shot making, IMO. I would probably prefer a little thinner sole in the mid and long irons personally. These would be perfect if the mid irons retained the thin sole of the short irons and the long irons had the mid width sole of the mid irons. Most people will find the soles perfect though.

OVERALL:
Nice design tweaks in the Tours which were definite improvements. The stock grips also leave a little to be desired, but I always change the grips anyway. Much preferred these over the titleist 735.cms, and found them as good as the J33 Combos from a playability standpoint. I am going to get these out on the course for some head to head action against the J33 and see which one I prefer.  I actually prefer the looks of these at address over the Bridgestones since they are not quite as square. Not much left to improve unless Nike wants to make them satin.

[elcid93]

First, let me say, I have the OS in a S Flex and love them.

So, I am hearing alot of negative comments on the SpeedStep shafts in the original combos and the new oversized.

Someone explain to me, in simple terms, why this shaft is terrible.  Will I get better performance out of different shafts?  What difference will I notice? If it is so bad why does Nike keep using it?  

I used to be a single digit handicap, but then 9/11 happened.  I am in the military and kind of have been busy the past 4 years.  So I don't get to play much anymore.  

Should I keep these shafts or replace them?