Equipment

Rory switches to Nike Vapor irons at Dunhill Links Championship

Published

10 years ago

Oct 2, 2014

A week after putting Nike’s new Vapor Pro driver in play at the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy looks to be going all in with the new Nike line he helped launch in New York City during the FedEx Cup playoffs.

That’s right, the world No. 1 was spotted with a bag full of Nike Vapor Pro irons during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

See our full breakdown of the Nike 2015 equipment line here.

It’s no surprise Rory decided to go with the Vapor Pro driver in competition, given statements like these:

“The first thing I noticed when I hit this driver was how hot it was. Then, I found that I could really control the flight and work it both ways on the golf course. I saw added ball speed on the monitor and am getting 10-15 yards more distance on the golf course this week.”

And perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that McIlroy has gone so quickly to the Vapor Pro irons. After all, he won’t really have an off-season to speak of given his international schedule over the next few months, as he’s reported to have been practicing with clubs for months.

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Titleist 915 Drivers, Fairway Woods and Hybrids

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First Hit: Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 and Double Black Diamond Drivers

Ben Alberstadt

GolfWRX Editor-in-Chief

34 Comments

Teaj

Oct 13, 2014 at 9:48 am

the black on the back is that an insert or black paint?

Reply Report comment
christian

Oct 4, 2014 at 8:31 pm

So I fully expect that Rory’s driving statistics for this season will show a 15 yards increase then..Or?

Reply Report comment
- JOEL GOODMAN
  
  Oct 8, 2014 at 8:10 pm
  
  does anyone really care? he could play with my wilson Staff irons from 1960 and still be world # 1/ Nike makes crap and always will, that’s why they have to pay these guys millions to play their junk.
  
  Reply Report comment
moses

Oct 4, 2014 at 10:30 am

Looks like it too 1 round to get used to them. 😀
He is lighting it up. Sat round -8 after 13 holes.

Reply Report comment
Mike

Oct 4, 2014 at 9:48 am

This isn’t rocket science folks. Rory switched because he and Tiger came out and publicly endorsed the new sticks…he’s kind of obligated to play it…my question to this board is how soon will TW switch? Never mind, it just hit me that his new bag matches the color scheme of the new Vapors. When he tees it up at his World Challenge in Dec the new sticks will be in the bag.

Reply Report comment
max

Oct 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm

No better marketing machine than paying the #1 player big dough to toot the horns of your product.

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 7:31 am
  
  Money is in fact the bottom line, but do you think the #1 would take the deal if the equipment weren’t worth it? Is the #1 SOOO much better than the rest that he could beat them with a piece of junk?
  
  Taylormade floods the market, Titleist sells to the Holier than thou crowd, Nike pays athletes.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - JH
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 2:10 pm
    
    Titleist does what? You sound really dumb saying that.
    
    TaylorMade pays more guys to play their stuff than any other company.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Baka
      
      Oct 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm
      
      No, JH, he’s exactly right. All of the Titleist people are like apple customers. Entitleist typically a year late on tech and often borrow ideas from companies that are will to put themselves out there. (TMag, Nike, and Callaway)
      
      Reply Report comment
    - mgm
      
      Oct 6, 2014 at 3:16 pm
      
      Titleist pays the most players to use their stuff: don’t forget they are primarily a ball manufacturer, the clubs are an afterthought. Easiest contract to sign is the titleist/footjoy deal. Why do you think its the “number one ball one tour.”
      
      Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm
    
    20 million, yeah I think he would have taken the deal even if the equipment was crap. That is if know one else was offering him anything close. However of course the equipment is good, every manufactures equipment is.
    
    Reply Report comment
littledreamer

Oct 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm

Am I the only one that finds these UGLY?
Used to play 690.MB’s.
Tried all year to like Pro Combos.
Back to 690.mb’s.

Nike has lost me. UGLY!

Reply Report comment
Ethan

Oct 2, 2014 at 6:15 pm

I also noticed that rory switched shafts in his driver. He is playing the new Diamana.

Reply Report comment
- Jeff
  
  Oct 4, 2014 at 1:33 am
  
  Yeah no kiddin maybe that’s where the 8 yards came from
  
  Reply Report comment
  - christian
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 8:27 pm
    
    15 yards
    
    Reply Report comment
JR

Oct 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm

He’s gonna use the John Riley’s? Awesome!

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=1&_nkw=john+riley+golf+clubs&LH_PrefLoc=2

Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 3:02 pm
  
  Wow been playing for 20 years never heard of or seen those but there is definitely some similarity. What’s old is new again!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Finchley
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 11:12 am
    
    Not some, but definite rip off.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Wedgie
    
    Oct 4, 2014 at 8:58 pm
    
    MHendon,
    Wait till you see the new Nike wedges. They look identical to the Rileys.
    
    Reply Report comment
Chace

Oct 2, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Does anyone feel the same way, all the Victory Red clubs represent Tiger, and his old dominant era in Nike. Now Rory seems took over that THRONE last year, and Vapor came in just in time. No wonder why he switch so fast to this line, and we may see a lot of fluorescence yellow in his apparels next year too.

Reply Report comment
- Nick
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 10:30 pm
  
  The “Volt” will be used as a universal colour story across all Nike’s brands. First time ever. You will be seeing that yellow a lot.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Martin de Porres
    
    Oct 5, 2014 at 2:35 am
    
    My old Sasquatch Tour was yellow, as was most Nike’s line.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Zak
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 12:05 am
  
  Tiger designed the new Vapor Pro irons (they were designed for him from his input and tweeks). They are keeping the cavity back technology in the drivers, but added the compression channel, for Tiger (he loved his old VR Tour driver).
  
  The changes are all for Tiger, not Rory. Tiger is Nike golf. Rory is great right now, but Tiger is still “IT”. Either way, Nike a Golf is in a great situation. I’m loving the Vapor Pro driver. It will be tested ASAP. Same with the Pro irons.
  
  Reply Report comment
Scooter McGavin

Oct 2, 2014 at 12:42 pm

I don’t see why this would be surprising or unexpected. I hit the Vapor Pro Combo irons and they feel great, so I can only imagine these are great too. That, and if I was getting paid $20 million a year, I’d play with whatever I was told.

Reply Report comment
moses

Oct 2, 2014 at 10:46 am

2015 another year of adjustments due to new equipment.
2016 another breakout year after getting used to new equipment.

One thing about Tiger is that he rarely switched equipment.

Reply Report comment
- Joel
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 12:22 pm
  
  So by this logic you don’t think Rory will change what’s in his bag for the 2016 season?
  
  Reply Report comment
- MHendon
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 4:47 pm
  
  I suspect getting use to the ball was the bigger adjustment for Rory not the equipment and I think he’s sticking with the same ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
- cody
  
  Oct 3, 2014 at 10:12 am
  
  I dont know where this idea that tiger “RARELY” changes equipment comes from. He has switch equipment as much as anyone else out there. I would go through and list all the changes but a simple google interweb search will show you everything you need.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Chris
    
    Oct 3, 2014 at 12:29 pm
    
    I’m going to respectfully disagree. While yes, he may change the actual equipment, the style/shape/design seems to remain the same so the change isn’t that drastic. Hell he was still hitting a 975D with a TT x100 shaft even in 2006
    
    Reply Report comment
Josh

Oct 2, 2014 at 10:35 am

I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a huge year for Nike Golf.

Reply Report comment
- TW
  
  Oct 2, 2014 at 10:55 am
  
  agreed, ive been a callaway guy for a while but im done with them. On deck…….Titleist/Nike
  
  Reply Report comment
  - adolfo
    
    Oct 2, 2014 at 1:03 pm
    
    I agree too. It wouldn’t surprise me in Nike picks up a few more players going into the new year. It wont shock me if TW plays the new irons next yr.
    
    Personally, Im looking forward to trying out that Vapor Driver. Im definitely curious to see what it can do
    
    Reply Report comment
    - MHendon
      
      Oct 3, 2014 at 3:07 pm
      
      They’ll pick up a few more players if they pay a few more players. Same as every other manufacturer.
      
      Reply Report comment
  - adolfo
    
    Oct 2, 2014 at 1:21 pm
    
    Josh – may want to try out some Mizunos too.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Danny Willett’s winning WITB, 2016 Masters

Published

23 hours ago

Apr 12, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X
Length: 45.5 inches

3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 70X

5-wood: Callaway XR 16 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 80X

Irons: Callaway Apex UT (2, 4), Callaway Apex Pro (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite

Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47-11 S-Grind) Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54-11, 58-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite

Putter: Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW)
Lie angle: 71 degrees

Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR-3

Check out more photos of Willett’s equipment from 2016 here.

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Equipment

Project X Denali Blue, Black shaft Review – Club Junkie Review

Published

1 day ago

Apr 12, 2024

Brian Knudson

Originally, Project X was known for low-spin steel iron shafts. However, the company might now be known for wood shafts. Denali is the newest line of graphite shafts from Project X. With the Denali line, the company focuses on feel as well as performance.

There are two profiles in the Denali line, Blue and Black, to fit different launch windows. Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin profile for players who are looking for a little added launch and Denali Black is designed for low-launch and low-spin. Both models are going to offer you a smooth feel and accuracy.

For a full in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube.

Project X Denali Blue

I typically fit better into mid-launch shafts, as I don’t hit a very high ball so the Denali Blue was the model I was more excited to try. Out of the box, the shaft looks great and from a distance, it is almost hard to tell the dark blue from the Denali Black. With a logo down install of the shaft, you don’t have anything to distract your eyes, just a clean look with the transition from the white and silver handle section to the dark navy mid and tip.

Out on the course, the Blue offers a very smooth feel that gives you a good kick at impact. The shaft loads easily and you can feel the slightly softer handle section compared to the HZRDUS lineup. This gives the shaft a really good feel of it loading on the transition to the downswing, and as your hands get to impact, the Denali Blue keeps going for a nice, strong kick.

Denali Blue is easy to square up at impact and even turn over to hit it straight or just little draws and most of the flex of the shaft feels like it happens right around where the paint changes from silver to blue. The Blue launches easily and produces what I consider a true mid-flight with the driver. While it is listed as mid-spin, I never noticed any type of rise in my drives. Drives that I didn’t hit perfectly were met with good stability and a ball that stayed online well.

Project X Denali Black

When you hold the Denali Black in your hands you can tell it is a more stout shaft compared to its Blue sibling by just trying to bend it. While the handle feels close to the Blue in terms of stiffness, you can tell the tip is much stiffer when you swing it.

Denali Black definitely takes a little more power to load it but the shaft is still smooth and doesn’t give you any harsh vibrations. Where the Blue kicks hard at impact, the Black holds on a little and feels like keeps you in control even on swings that you try and put a little extra effort into. The stiff tip section also makes it a little harder to square up at impact and for some players could take away a little of the draw from their shot.

Launch is lower and more penetrating compared to the Blue and produces a boring, flat trajectory. Shots into the wind don’t rise or spin up, proving that the spin stays down. Like its mid-launch sibling, the Black is very stable and mishits and keeps the ball on a straighter line. Shots low off the face don’t get very high up in the air, but the low spin properties get the ball out there farther than you would expect. For being such a stout shaft, the feel is very good, and the Denali Black does keep harsh vibrations from your hands.

Overall the Project X Denali Blue and Black are great additions to the line of popular wood shafts. If you are looking for good feel and solid performance the Denali line is worth trying out with your swing. Choose Blue for mid-launch and mid-spin or Black for lower launch and low spin.

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Equipment

What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons

Published

1 day ago

Apr 12, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Bryson DeChambeau fired an opening-round 7-under 65 at Augusta National, hitting an impressive 15 of 18 greens in regulation in the process. Golf’s mad scientist’s play grabbed headlines and so too did his equipment. In place of the Ping i230 irons he had in the bag last week for LIV Golf’s Miami event, DeChambeau is gaming a prototype 5-PW set of irons from little-known direct-to-consumer manufacturer Avoda.

What is Avoda Golf?

Founded by Tom Bailey, also a Mike Schy student like Bryson DeChambeau, Avoda Golf is a direct-to-consumer golf equipment company that currently manufactures both single and variable-length irons in one model that are available for pre-order.

What irons is Bryson DeChambeau playing?

Per multiple reports, DeChambeau is playing a custom-designed set of single-length irons that incorporate bulge and roll into the face design. The two-piece 3D-printed irons were reportedly only approved for play by the USGA this week, according to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.

Regarding the irons, DeChambeau told Golf Channel the irons’ performance on mishits was the determining factor in putting them in play this week. “When I mishit on the toe or the heel,” DeChambeau said. “It seems to fly a lot straighter for me and that’s what has allowed me to be more comfortable over the ball.”

What can we tell about the design of the clubs?

These days, it is a little hard to speculate on what is under the hood with so many hollow body irons. DeChambeau’s irons look to be hollow on the lower section as they do flare back a decent amount. That “muscle” on the back also looks to be fairly low on the iron head, but we can assume that is progressive through the set, moving up higher in the short irons.

A screw out on the toe is probably used to seal up the hollow cavity and used as a weight to dial in the swing weight of the club. From pictures, it is hard to tell but the sole looks to have a little curve from heel to toe while also having some sharper angles on them. A more boxy and sharper toe section looks to be the design that suits Bryson’s eye based on the irons he has gravitated toward recently.

What are bulge and roll, again?

Two types of curvature in a club face, traditionally incorporated only in wood design. Bulge is heel-toe curvature. Roll is crown-sole curvature. Both design elements are designed to mitigate gear effect on off-center strikes and produce shots that finish closer to the intended target line. (GolfTec has an excellent overview of bulge and roll with some handy GIFs for the visual learner)

What else is in DeChambeau’s bag?

Accompanying his traditional Sik putter, Bryson builds his set with a Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, a Krank Formula Fire driver and 5-wood, and a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, all with LA Golf graphite shafts.

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