Equipment

Nike’s new Engage wedges

Published

9 years ago

Jan 15, 2015

Nike’s new line of Engage wedges, which were in Rory McIlroy’s bag at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Thursday, include three different sole grinds that suit three different types of play.

Left to right: Nike’s Engage Toe Sweep, Square Sole and Dual Sole wedges.

Master Craftsman Mike Taylor worked with Nike athletes to develop the three sole grinds — Dual Sole, Toe Sweep and Square Sole — each with Nike’s Modern Muscle technology that optimizes the center of gravity.

Related: Nike’s Vapor iron series

The Dual Sole grind offers two surfaces — one that is utilized when playing square-faced shots and another that comes into play when the clubface is open. The sole design was inspired by grinds that McIlroy and Tiger Woods have used and give golfers more versatility around the greens.

The Engage Toe Sweep is Nike’s second-generation Toe Sweep wedge, which has a sole with wide toe section and narrow heel area. The grind, which was used by McIlroy to win the 2014 BMW PGA Championship, is a help from poor lies, as the narrow heel prevents snagging on shots from the deep rough.

Nike’s Square Sole is designed to work best on full shots, as well as for golfers who mostly play square-faced shots around the green.

Each of the wedges have a raw finish and Nike’s X3X milled grooves, which have more volume and sharper edges than their predecessors.

They come stock with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shafts and Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips, and will be available on April 17 for cost $119.99 each.

Lofts and Bounces

Square Sole: (RH) 50-11, 52-11, 54-9, 56-9, 58-9, 60-9, (LH) 52-11 and 56-9

Toe Sweep: (RH) 54-9, 56-9, 58-9, 60-9

Dual Sole: (RH) 58-13 and 60-13, (LH) 60-13

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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.

24 Comments

Divoteer

Apr 7, 2016 at 8:22 am

If you’re wedge game is lacking, then I highly suggest you take a slice of humble pie and grab a set of these. I am Ping guy but couldn’t swing their wedges and get what I needed. Picked up a set of these used and my wedge game improved instantly. Feel is also extremely good for a Nike wedge. They might look ugly, but I’ll take a superior wedge game over looks any day of the week.

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Travis

Aug 9, 2015 at 10:18 pm

I had a set of vokeys 52 and 60s and my clubs were stolen. I loved them and felt like I could shape my shot easy and thoroughly brought my pitching game to another level. I bought a slightly used 56 Nike Engage wedge and I would say I like it more. I’ve only had it for 36 holes and Ive sank the ball in more than the vokeys combined (2years). Every hit feels amazing. I am so impressed with this wedge.

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Tom D.

Feb 3, 2015 at 5:17 am

Maybe these are the reason Tiger can’t hit a decent wedge shot any more!!?!

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Dave

Jan 17, 2015 at 5:58 pm

LIES! Rory is using the VR Pro blades & wedges in Abu Dhabi ! Can clearly see on the TV.

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- Matt
  
  Jan 22, 2015 at 9:34 am
  
  Actually if you go back and watch a clip of his bunker shot on 18 on Sunday that looks like the new wedge. I agree that he still has VR Pro vs vapor for irons.
  
  Reply Report comment
Steve

Jan 17, 2015 at 9:28 am

Ugggggggly

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kess

Jan 16, 2015 at 5:50 pm

Barring the toe sweep, do they look like an angular eye2 wedge to anyone else?

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Sam

Jan 16, 2015 at 11:23 am

April release date? That seems pretty far out, as a lot of other companies have already started to release their products for 2015.

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I H8

Jan 16, 2015 at 10:49 am

The toe sweep grind is amazing. I have the current gen toe sweep and it almost feels like cheating it’s THAT easy to hit.

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8thehardway

Jan 16, 2015 at 9:01 am

That’s the clearest explanation for a particular grind I’ve come across and the Toe Sweep grind looks dramatic enough to actually help people.

Do they come with club covers?

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Bruce

Jan 16, 2015 at 3:53 am

Looks like somebody was playing with a 3D printer……fail..

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adam

Jan 15, 2015 at 11:53 pm

I like ’em. I wonder how they compare to the forged wedges with X3X

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Jon

Jan 15, 2015 at 9:33 pm

Too over the top and trying to be different. I’ll stick with my Miura’s.

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- Dave S
  
  May 24, 2015 at 11:20 pm
  
  Don’t lie, you don’t have Miuras.
  
  Reply Report comment
Gogio

Jan 15, 2015 at 7:22 pm

They would have looked so much cleaner without the engage and loft stamped were it is. The Nike icon alone would have looked really nice and not like something I would find at Dunhams for $19.98. No I’m not a hater and i own plenty of Nike golf items.

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- other paul
  
  Jan 15, 2015 at 8:50 pm
  
  Clean is over rated. If you can’t see it address, why care?
  
  Reply Report comment
Kurren

Jan 15, 2015 at 7:09 pm

Are they forged or cast?

Reply Report comment
- Billy
  
  Jan 15, 2015 at 8:55 pm
  
  Kurren, they are cast.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - bradford
    
    Jan 16, 2015 at 8:24 am
    
    you sure about that? Can you let us know how you know that?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Cwolf
      
      Jan 18, 2015 at 8:10 am
      
      I am also interested in finding out if they are forged. Thanks
      
      Reply Report comment
austin

Jan 15, 2015 at 6:45 pm

I will stick with vokeys

Reply Report comment
Matt

Jan 15, 2015 at 6:43 pm

Meh

Reply Report comment
Don

Jan 15, 2015 at 6:22 pm

I have to admit, these look pretty sweet. But with the options for lefties so limited I feel cheated somehow.

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Equipment

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

Published

17 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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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