Equipment

Nike to release limited-run MM Proto Irons

Published

10 years ago

Jul 31, 2014

Nike’s MM Proto Irons, which have had blade-lovers drooling since being spotted at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this week, will be released to the public on August 4th as part of a limited run, Nike Golf announced on Wednesday through Twitter. Only 40 sets, at $1,500 each, will be available.

Nike’s MM Proto forged blade irons have been tested by Seung Yul Noh and Russell Henley, and according to an Instagram post from Thorbjorn Oleson, he put them straight in the bag for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, along with engineers at The Oven and Nike’s R&D team collaborated over the past few years to develop these prototypes, according to the company. Although they were designed specifically for tour use, Nike is allowing 40 golfers to put them in their bag.

Orders for a set (3-PW), which are available in right-handed only, can be placed on Nike.com starting on August 4th (10 a.m. EDT/7 a.m. PST) and the offer will end on August 6th at 4 p.m. (PST). Each of the sets will be laser-engraved with individual numbering and The Oven logo on the hosel.

To make each set even more unique, a plethora of custom options, including personalized stampings, will be offered. By placing an order, the reservation also includes a one-on-one concierge service with a Nike club expert to ensure the club is made to the buyers’ preferences. Pictured below is the spec sheet of options.

Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying about in-hand photos of the MM Proto Irons.

Your Reaction?

LIKE2
LEGIT1
WOW3
LOL1
IDHT0
FLOP0
OB0
SHANK0

Related Topics:irons Nike

Up Next

Back9Network Founder and CEO Jamie Bosworth Abruptly Resigns

Don't Miss

Golf World is now a digital weekly. Will anyone care?

Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

42 Comments

JillianKnox

Aug 9, 2014 at 3:58 pm

They do this for money. It’s nike. They’re probably going g to do it for rory mcilroy putter the method 003. The putter doesn’t sell they may run it at 500 and say there’s limited amounts and really there’s a lot of them. But it while you can.

Reply Report comment
brian

Aug 4, 2014 at 10:16 am

It’s up… https://callme.nike.com/golf/

Reply Report comment
Jeff Trigger

Aug 4, 2014 at 10:12 am

Normally speaking, I’d be here to tell you how much Nike sucks. I have to admit, these are good looking irons. It also speaks volumes for technology, because they look pretty forgiving for blades, while the sole grind looks to allow for closed and open faces allowing for shotmaking. Would I spend $1,500 for clubs that will probably be available for 600 less in the spring, I don’t know.

Reply Report comment
brian

Aug 4, 2014 at 10:04 am

Looks like somebody slept in this morning…they’re late opening up the ordering.

Reply Report comment
- Cold
  
  Aug 4, 2014 at 10:14 am
  
  I know, whats up! Lets get this going!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Cold
  
  Aug 4, 2014 at 10:16 am
  
  open!
  
  Reply Report comment
Teekman

Aug 1, 2014 at 6:03 pm

Honestly if you get the custom options, you really are only paying a $200 premium which in my opinion is worth it, because since they are being made at The Oven you are sure to get the exact specs you wanted.

Reply Report comment
Pingback: Limited run Nike MM Proto Irons to be released | Spacetimeandi.com
Stuart

Aug 1, 2014 at 7:36 am

Can’t wait for nike to take Australia seriously and offer fitting but until they do mizuno it is

Reply Report comment
Neil

Jul 31, 2014 at 6:20 pm

All nike iron suck.i would not spend 1500 crap like these

Reply Report comment
- Brick
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 10:22 pm
  
  If you’re going to make these kind of comments, please do so with an appropriate grammatical approach to the English language so that the engineers at The Oven can make sense of it all….
  
  Mae be yuh dezine betta ilon?!
  
  Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Aug 1, 2014 at 9:40 am
  
  I’m guessing you don’t have it to spend anyway, just a guess.
  
  Reply Report comment
Nathan

Jul 31, 2014 at 5:21 pm

Are you kidding, 40 sets!!
How many of those are going to make it to australia??
Good on ya NIKE. Try 40,000 sets.
Disappointing . Everything else you make will be second rate compared to these irons, and that is definately not for me!!!!!!!!!!!
Now time to look elsewhere

Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Aug 3, 2014 at 5:09 am
  
  These are made at the oven, Probably less than 20 people make clubs there.
  
  Stop crying, Australia guy. These will come out in the Fall. Probably get to Australia sometime in 2017.
  
  Reply Report comment
gogo

Jul 31, 2014 at 2:58 pm

1500 is a steal assuming I could sell them to some rich hack for double that on BST. These are too special to put into play.

Reply Report comment
- cliff
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 3:22 pm
  
  I don’t understand, what is so special about them?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Progolfer
    
    Aug 1, 2014 at 8:05 pm
    
    Haha totally agree cliff!!
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Christosterone
    
    Aug 4, 2014 at 4:30 pm
    
    Its all about the process.
    These are made in the tour department(oven) as well as having tour shafts with tour specs…
    The tolerances on anything that is actual tour equipment are exacting.
    And the build quality is exceptional.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - cliff
      
      Aug 5, 2014 at 10:26 am
      
      I don’t buy it! You can keep them.
      
      Reply Report comment
Andrew

Jul 31, 2014 at 2:22 pm

Something tells me that more than 90% of the people who buy these clubs probably aren’t good enough to use them.

Reply Report comment
- Pazinboise
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 2:40 pm
  
  That could be said about a lot of clubs…
  
  Reply Report comment
Toddash

Jul 31, 2014 at 2:06 pm

That really sucks. I have $1,500 ready to drop on these bad boys if they offered a lefty set.

Reply Report comment
Andy B

Jul 31, 2014 at 1:54 pm

These will definitely be the next blade like release from Nike. Their current VR pro blades are now only $599 on Nike.com for 3-PW. This is just a chance to get a limited edition run of clubs actually made and designed in The Oven. They will release the exact same clubs or with minor graphics changes this fall or early winter. The only think I am interested in is seeing if Rory switches to whole set, AND IF Tiger will switch. I have a hard time thinking tiger uses anything different from his current style iron for the rest of his career, but you never know.

Reply Report comment
- Chaff
  
  Aug 3, 2014 at 1:18 pm
  
  Yeah but it would be really cool to have a hand made set from the same guys who craft Tiger’s and Rory’s clubs.
  
  Reply Report comment
ng

Jul 31, 2014 at 1:23 pm

golf is definitely getting cheaper.

Reply Report comment
cliff

Jul 31, 2014 at 11:46 am

Not a fan of the design. Think they are kind of ugly.

Reply Report comment
L

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:45 am

Everybody’s learning from the Japanese market, how it always only has a couple thousand units of the specials and thus the high price. Not bad for $1500 for a limited run. And only 40 of them! Great idea, Nike. I commend you on it.

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Aug 1, 2014 at 9:44 am
  
  This is just vintage Nike “Limited Edition” frenzy marketing. These exact clubs will be on sale to the public later this year for $999, just without the unique ID numbering. I don’t have a problem with it…people collect stuff–good for them. I’ll wait and try them out a few times and buy them at retail.
  
  Reply Report comment
Teekman

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:19 am

Guess it’s time for me to get on the class fields and get selling!

Reply Report comment
Kyle

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:16 am

No thanks nike. We want the putter, not some irons you’ll release in 2 months anyways

Reply Report comment
- Clemson Sucks
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 11:00 am
  
  This!
  
  Reply Report comment
steve

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:02 am

I bet this makes their retail lineup, just a way to make some hype and bring the price up

Reply Report comment
paul

Jul 31, 2014 at 10:02 am

Pretty cool looking clubs. $1500 for something that hangs on a wall is a bit much…

Reply Report comment
- steve
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 10:04 am
  
  If you get them for $1500 they go in ebay for $3000 right away.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - brian
    
    Jul 31, 2014 at 11:27 am
    
    This may fetch $4k by the end of the auction. $500 per club is INSANE, but someone will pay it.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Jul 31, 2014 at 5:24 pm
    
    Yeah wish I had about 6 grand to blow, I’d buy four sets and make a killing on ebay.
    
    Reply Report comment
Nigel

Jul 31, 2014 at 9:38 am

Dangerous game you’re playing here Nike…a limited run of beautiful irons. Look so nice that it may be tough to game them!! Sorry if I missed it, but any word on price?

Reply Report comment
- Paul
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 10:28 am
  
  It’s in the last line of the first paragraph…
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Nigel
    
    Jul 31, 2014 at 11:16 am
    
    Well don’t I feel dumb. Thanks.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - jedidiah
      
      Jul 31, 2014 at 1:19 pm
      
      you should feel dumb babe
      
      Reply Report comment
      - bradford
        
        Aug 1, 2014 at 12:42 pm
        
        Get a room.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - jedidiah
        
        Aug 1, 2014 at 2:27 pm
        
        join us bradford 😉
        
        Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

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

Published

5 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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

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!

Your Reaction?