[Sakman]

Nicklaus Golf - Dualpoint ML4 Driver

Pros: A no nonsense driver that packs A LOT of punch! Traditionalists rejoice!

Cons: This club will likely be overshadowed by the big boys; don't let the name fool you though. This is one company to keep your eyes on in the upcoming years.

Bottom Line: Nicklaus Golf has definitely stepped things up and targeted a new audience with their Advanced line. The products are well worth looking into and I guarantee quite a few people will be pleasantly surprised.


Look:

I'll get straight to the point with this one. The Nicklaus ML4 driver is as clean as it gets. No fancy graphics, no radical head shapes and no non-sense. This is what traditional is all about.




The ML4 driver has a pear shaped design which is one that has always suited my eye. At address it frames the ball perfectly. The face angle is square to ever so slightly open which, in my book, is key if you're targeting the better player.



The sole has an aerodynamic shape that is incorporated into the design so well that everything just flows. Again, nothing 'pops' out. This driver is all about performance.


Performance/playability:

Before I dial in on performance, I should preface by saying this driver was built to my specs by Jack Nicklaus' personal club builder Rick Gomes. Rick was a pleasure to work with and obviously knows what he's doing. He set me up with a 9 degree head shafted with a Mitsubishi Diamana Kai'li 70g Stiff Flex that plays 45" in length and has a total overall swingweight of D4. With that said...

I was ABSOLUTELY FLOORED the first time I swung the ML4. I literally had to take a step back to make sure I grabbed the right club from my bag. Swing after swing, I could not miss with this driver.

Average numbers on the FlightScope validated what I was seeing all day. 2600 backspin and launch angle just under 12 degrees. What really impressed me though was how tight the dispersion was with this driver. Point and shoot...one ball after another.

Another thing to note was distance lost on toe/heel shots were not too extreme. There were a few shots I missed out on the toe and was pleasantly surprised to be on average of 13-18 yards behind those hit on the screws. I'm not a tour player nor can afford to quit my day job so this is huge in my book!


Feel:

The ML4 definitely feels as good as it looks. Even with the Multilayer Face Construction, I was still able to feel the ball on the club face. With all the main focus on speed/distance these days, feel tends to be overlooked. Nicklaus Golf however nailed it, resulting in the best of both worlds.



Sound:

Finding a driver you like the looks of is one thing, finding one that you like the sound of is another. At impact the ML4 sounds so incredibly solid. There's no "tinny" sounds here folks. Just complete explosive 'thwacks' at impact!


Overall bottom line:

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much out of the 2011 Nicklaus ML4 Driver, but what a slap in the face that turned out to be. From performance all the way down to feel, this driver is as great as the name behind it.







More information can be found here:
http://www.nicklausgolf.com/

[dduval08]

I have played some NIckalus equipment in the past and it was always top notch. And yes the name always seems to be overshadowed. I would love to know how you get in contact with someone like Rick Gomes, as I am an apsiring tour player

[tbomb]

Their drivers are some of the longest out there. Everyone was right on the limit of .830 and I'm positive some were past that limit.

High launch, low spin. goes far. This also shows that anyone can benefit from the right head shaft combo...just too bad there are only 564,000's shaft and head combinations...lol

Thanks Sakman for the review. New gamer?

[pitbull808]

Great review Sak...especially because it's a brand I'd have not thought of before. I know I did venture to the Nicklaus web page after watching Jack play in the recent Skins Game. I thought some of the equipment in the "Advanced Line" was nice..but having had zero experience with anything from the company, I figured it was just more of the stuff I'd see in the future on sale at Costco. Good to hear he's producing equipment comparable to the name on the bottom of the clubs!

[jones137]

That thing looks awesome.....wish it came stock with the Kai'li or something higher end.

Love the look at address.

[Sakman]

jones137, on 04 April 2011 - 12:49 PM, said:

That thing looks awesome.....wish it came stock with the Kai'li or something higher end.
Love the look at address.

I completely agree...even the option to customize/upgrade would be ideal.

[soflahack]

I have a 10.5 head sitting on my desk as we speak. If this head is anywhere as good as their ML440 head from a few years ago, it will be my gamer over my d3

[WVP]

Interesting stuff, would be pretty cool to see Jack grab some high end market share in the upcoming years.

[neutral]

I love how clean it looks.

[soflahack]

I spoke with their head of sales and here is his comment to the lack of shafts available on the website. I believe this should eliminate any concerns:

......we just announced a Fuji Tip Stiff low torque (69g)....but
also sell heads only for those who are discriminating.....
Being a small company it is challenging to have many many shafts but we
can do most any if requested.....
We build it your way!
Thanks!!!!!

[Sakman]

soflahack, on 04 April 2011 - 04:13 PM, said:

I spoke with their head of sales and here is his comment to the lack of shafts available on the website. I believe this should eliminate any concerns:

......we just announced a Fuji Tip Stiff low torque (69g)....but
also sell heads only for those who are discriminating.....
Being a small company it is challenging to have many many shafts but we
can do most any if requested.....
We build it your way!
Thanks!!!!!

Nice work, and kudos for Nicklaus for taking this approach. Appreciate the follow-up.

[Snapperlicious]

soflahack, on 04 April 2011 - 01:07 PM, said:

I have a 10.5 head sitting on my desk as we speak. If this head is anywhere as good as their ML440 head from a few years ago, it will be my gamer over my d3

I 2nd that. The ML440 was very underrated, and I hit it better than anything else I tried that year. I played it for a few years, and still hit it every once in a while. The top-down view of this new club reminds me a lot of that one. Simple and classic looking.

[oldpalmbum]

i had a new nicklaus driver built for me two weeks ago. it was awesome. a friend of mine from chicago came down to florida to play golf. he brought 3 drivers a new superfast 2.0 his old superfast and a adams 9064ls. he played with all 3 drivers and was 10 to 20yrds behind everyone,then i handed him my nicklaus driver. the next hole he was either same length or past us on his drives. i never got my driver back. its on its way back to chicago and he wants me to get him another head. the driver is very very good, simple looking and looks great at address. i highly recomend this club for anyone who is sick of all the gimicks out there

[Metalhead]

Wow.. That is sleek! No-nonsense looking love it!!
Sak- excellent review.. Makes me want to locate one and try it out!

[TheMoneyShot]

tbomb, on 04 April 2011 - 12:39 PM, said:

Their drivers are some of the longest out there. Everyone was right on the limit of .830 and I'm positive some were past that limit.

High launch, low spin. goes far. This also shows that anyone can benefit from the right head shaft combo...just too bad there are only 564,000's shaft and head combinations...lol

Thanks Sakman for the review. New gamer?

Is this going to knock it your R11 though? Thats the real question??
Thanks for the pics and review.

[alexthegrrr8]

This is real ironic. I was just looking at Nicklaus Golf today. This driver has my curiosity piqued and the review just added to that for sure. That head looks great, almost like a big 983K... and that truly is a wonderful thing. The first ever iron I hit was a Nicklaus Golden Bear 7 iron... I'll never forget it. I was about 15 years old.

Also of note... the Nicklaus NPS-2 irons look real eye pleasing especially the top line. Any news on them?

Alex

[AUTIGER07]

My first driver was the original Air Bear and that was a wonderful club. This new ML4 is an entirely different animal...looks great. May have to find a retailer/demo day in the near future.

[Sakman]

TheMoneyShot, on 04 April 2011 - 06:07 PM, said:

tbomb, on 04 April 2011 - 12:39 PM, said:

Their drivers are some of the longest out there. Everyone was right on the limit of .830 and I'm positive some were past that limit.

High launch, low spin. goes far. This also shows that anyone can benefit from the right head shaft combo...just too bad there are only 564,000's shaft and head combinations...lol

Thanks Sakman for the review. New gamer?

Is this going to knock it your R11 though? Thats the real question?? Thanks for the pics and review.

I'll tell you what it has done is sparked my interest in the NPS-2 Irons that's for sure...

...and just for the record, my TMaG MC's will be here this week as well!

"Once a ho..."

[alexthegrrr8]

Sakman, on 04 April 2011 - 06:59 PM, said:

TheMoneyShot, on 04 April 2011 - 06:07 PM, said:

tbomb, on 04 April 2011 - 12:39 PM, said:

Their drivers are some of the longest out there. Everyone was right on the limit of .830 and I'm positive some were past that limit.

High launch, low spin. goes far. This also shows that anyone can benefit from the right head shaft combo...just too bad there are only 564,000's shaft and head combinations...lol

Thanks Sakman for the review. New gamer?

Is this going to knock it your R11 though? Thats the real question?? Thanks for the pics and review.

I'll tell you what it has done is sparked my interest in the NPS-2 Irons that's for sure...

...and just for the record, my TMaG MC's will be here this week as well!

"Once a ho..."

I contacted Nicklaus earlier today about the NPS-2... asked a few questions like material and process used. The toplines are mint.

Alex

[Sakman]

alexthegrrr8, on 04 April 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

I contacted Nicklaus earlier today about the NPS-2... asked a few questions like material and process used. The toplines are mint.

Alex

I'm looking forward to checking them out. Post some pics if you get them in hand. Thx!

[alexthegrrr8]

Sakman, on 04 April 2011 - 07:10 PM, said:

alexthegrrr8, on 04 April 2011 - 07:04 PM, said:

I contacted Nicklaus earlier today about the NPS-2... asked a few questions like material and process used. The toplines are mint.

Alex

I'm looking forward to checking them out. Post some pics if you get them in hand. Thx!

Sakman:

You got it... I'll be quick to post if I manage to them in hand. Hope I can come through.

Alex

[mozgolf]

LOL- sponsorship of WRX just might be a masterstroke for Nicklaus Golf!!!!

I always thought their top end stuff was way underrated. Though it seems to be more popular outside the US.

Funny enough the first time I ever got to a single digit handicap was with a complete set of Golden Bears, returniong to the game after a lengthy hiatus

[dsparob]

Driver looks great, thanks for the review!

I remember when their Cryosteel woods came out, those clubs were awesome. I really thought when that line hit the shelves it would take off a bit, hopefully this can do what they couldn't!

[Goose]

The Nicklaus drivers are great products. I have a teammate who had the DualPoint w/ Whiteboard 73X, then the ML3 w/ Whiteboard 73X BOTH were awesome drivers. Real long, felt great, and could basically do anything you wanted as far as shotshape and ballflight. High bombs and Bullets through the wind were no issue as well as draws and cuts.

[JayLefty]

Overall their drivers have been great products. I even liked the Dual Point. It was a long hitter but I could not get over the name. I know it sounds vain, but it is true.

[e-dog9]

Looks great! I play the DPT 3 wood. When I catch it right it turns heads with the crack it makes. Sounds like a tack hammer, a 230 yard tack hammer!

[bcflyguy1]

Snapperlicious, on 04 April 2011 - 04:26 PM, said:

soflahack, on 04 April 2011 - 01:07 PM, said:

I have a 10.5 head sitting on my desk as we speak. If this head is anywhere as good as their ML440 head from a few years ago, it will be my gamer over my d3

I 2nd that. The ML440 was very underrated, and I hit it better than anything else I tried that year. I played it for a few years, and still hit it every once in a while. The top-down view of this new club reminds me a lot of that one. Simple and classic looking.

Exactly my thoughts; reminds me alot of the 350cc model they had back in 2002. I was working in a golf shop then and could get anything I wanted PUD, and that Nicklaus driver beat all the major company offerings...and it wasn't even close. Had mine built with at Vista Pro 90X in it, and bombed it until the face caved in. Not every customer that came in looking to buy a Callaway or TM or Titleist driver was willing to try the Nicklaus, but every one that did bought it and was shocked at how much better it was. The Nicklaus line of clubs very often has some serious diamonds in the rough. I still have my milled stainless Nicklaus putter I bought that year too.

[alexthegrrr8]

Sakman et al:

Here is a little more information on both the Dualpoint ML4 and NPS-2.

The face depth on the ML4 is 2.05" and the face angle is anywhere from 0.5* closed to square.

I inquired about the NPS-2 heads. Of interest they are constructed from carbon steel. Which of course would make them easy for loft and lie adjustments. Not mentioned on the site is when constructed at "company standard spec" they have as I re-call a D2 swingweight. Like the driver heads they will send out the iron heads in component form if you already have shafts in the event the consumer doesnn't have the shaft option they like.

Alex

[Goldenhawk]

Nicklaus Golf. I loved the Air Max Drivers they had on the market over 6-7 years ago. Those drivers had cryogenic treated faces. Nicklaus ML drivers do exceed .830 at lower swing speeds. Since the USGA says that a driver has to meet .830 at 100 mph, Nicklaus seems to have found a way aour it.

[J-J]

Never even would have considered looking at these clubs...
But as I found out with other brands, the smaller companies usually are on to something good.
Thanks for the review, be sure to follow up on it when you've had a few rounds under the belt with it.
JJ