Equipment
Nike Covert 2.0 Driver Spotted
Check out the photos of the Nike Covert 2.0 driver we spotted at the Frys.com Open.
While Covert 2.0 has the same glossy red crown and white swoosh as the original version, Nike has made some serious tweaks to the bottom of the driver. Like the Covert Tour 2.0 we spotted at the Tour Championship, the cavity appears substantially larger than the previous model. And the company’s decision to paint the cavity all black (instead of red) gives the driver a much stealthier look, which is furthered by Nike’s decision to give the sole a matte finish instead of the original Covert’s high-polished chrome look.
The Covert 2.0 appears to have the same “Flex Loft” adjustability as its predecessor, adjustable from 8.5 to 12.5 degrees in 1-degree increments with the ability to choose a right, left or neutral face angle setting for each loft. But at address, the Covert 2.0 has a slightly deeper face, as well a more traditional pear-shaped crown that looks similar to the tour-only versions of the driver played by Tiger Woods, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy late in the 2013 season.
There are currently two versions of the Covert 2.0 on the USGA’s Conforming List, which are pictured below. Our guess is that Version 1, which appears slightly larger than Version 2, will be the retail version of the driver for 2014.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Covert 2.0 driver in the forums.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Covert 2.0 driver in the forums.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Pingback: Nike Covert 2.0 Driver spotted in the wild | ForeScore.com
markb
Oct 10, 2013 at 3:33 am
Let’s hope the build quality and finish are better this time than with the version 1.0. My Tour was flaking off red metallic paint within a month. I started to fear even cleaning it.
Chris Downing
Oct 10, 2013 at 3:11 am
Golf is becoming like Formula One – every year the manufacturers bring out a new driver or set of wedges that conform, but somehow give you more. Trouble is the dope on the other end of the clubhead is reading 22,000 golf books (titles in Amazon for golf) watching 1100 DVDs on golf (titles in Amazon) instead of taking meaningful lessons so he plays better. If only players approached golf like they would playing the piano or cello – all this new eqipement talk is like a lod of guys taking about the new Steinway piano but when they sit down they can only play chop-sticks!
TL
Oct 9, 2013 at 9:11 pm
This is almost identical to the last driver. Put VRS above covert–paint the swoosh red instead of black, then paint the cavity black and boom…you have a new 2014 club.
TL
Oct 9, 2013 at 9:13 pm
Not to be a downer
Maximilian Hausmann
Oct 9, 2013 at 7:29 pm
ohh I cant wait till it comes out.
Does anyone know the release date?
Billy
Oct 10, 2013 at 1:02 am
February 2014.
CJ
Oct 9, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Does it go POOOOWWWW!!!!…like last years did?
Dcorun
Oct 9, 2013 at 2:32 pm
I tried the Covert 2013, Cobra Amp Cell and the Adams Super S and ended up with the Cleveland Classic Custom XL. They were all very good drivers but, my best numbers were with the Cleveland. I think Cleveland is a very underrated club and company. My fitting was done at the local PGA Superstore and it was well done. I do like the look of the new Covert 2.0 though!!
Ron
Oct 9, 2013 at 1:00 pm
This looks fantastic. If it performs better than my VRS no doubt it’s going in the bag.
Robert
Oct 9, 2013 at 12:46 pm
I played all Nike last year and decided to make a change. I played well and beat a few guys with the Nike clubs, but my new Ping G25 Driver is more consistent for me and my new Mizuno MP54/MP4 are slightly more forgiving with better feel. I also changed to the Callaway X Hot 3 wood that is far better than the Nike’s. No doubt it’s a better bag than before. Still have Nike clothes though and a Sun Mountain Golf Bag. Never changed my Scotty putter or Titleist wedges.
Matt
Oct 9, 2013 at 12:22 pm
If it can fix Tiger’s pull draw, Nike will sell a lot more clubs.
The Infidel
Oct 9, 2013 at 7:23 am
A brand new tool of torment for Rory and Tiger, if we swapped out “inferior equipment” for a 910 D2 and a 975D, they’d have won more majors between them……discuss.
Billy
Oct 9, 2013 at 12:34 am
Will buy!
OP
Oct 8, 2013 at 10:37 pm
What is that hole near the hosel? For hot melting? So that hole has to be covered up to be legal play, right? So with what is it going to be plugged?
NikeFan
Oct 9, 2013 at 1:56 am
Look closely (assuming I’m looking where you are) that’s actually a screw, not a hole.
Headonastick
Oct 15, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Many drivers have those ports. They are normally plugged with a rubber or plastic plug. Pretty typical.
paul
Oct 8, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Way sharper looking then the last one. if it goes farther then my 913 d3 it will be tempting.
Oliver Jones
Oct 9, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Not saying that this new stuff isnt great but I am still playing my calloway diablo tour what really made a difference is the pro angle tour training aid. Yesterday had a drive of 350 on 535 par 339 on 347 par and 340 on another on my g15 pings I used 7i 185 to the pin reach it had 240 no kidding against the wind quartering fm the right left it pin high on the fringe. This gadget works and I no salesmen for it this puts u in the pro slot and makes you feel what its really like to hit it like the pros try it 30 day free trial $49.99 instead of 500.00 for new paont
Oliver Jones
Oct 9, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Opps the 240 was a hybrid 3 iron
derek
Oct 9, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Diablo octane or edge?
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