Equipment
Tony Finau’s old Nike driving iron sells for ABSURD money on eBay
While on-site at the 2022 Travelers Championship, I took photos of Tony Finau’s full WITB setup. My biggest takeaway was that he plays ridiculously large grips (Lamkin mid-size, with loads of wraps underneath; check them out here).
I also noticed he had two different putters in the bag; both are PLD Anser 2D models. According to Ping putter rep Dylan Goodwin, one of the models has about 5 grams of lead tape on the sole to help Finau with face awareness, and the other is his gamer, which features sharpie lines on the hosel section to help him with alignment and setup.
But those weren’t the most interesting points of note in Finau’s bag, or the reason I’m writing this story.
While going through Finau’s clubs, I noticed he’s still using an old Nike Vapor Fly Pro 3-iron, equipped with a Graphite Design Tour AD-DI 105x Hybrid shaft and loads of lead tape on the back cavity.
The Vapor Fly Pro irons first hit the market in 2016, but PGA Tour players such as Finau and Brooks Koepka continue to use the long irons as a driving iron years later.
Speaking to Finau on Tuesday at the 2022 Travelers Championship, he said that he got 6 years of use out of the original head he put in the bag in 2016 before it finally caved. The driving iron he has in the bag now is a replacement, and he says he has only one backup now.
“I got about 6 years of use out of the first one, and I’m hoping to get about 6-7 years out of this one,” Finau told GolfWRX at the Travelers. “I only have one backup, but I’m hoping I’ll get 6-7 years out of that one, too.”
Obviously, Finau has no plans of using a driving iron that’s not a Nike Vapor Fly Pro anytime in the near future. And if he acquires another backup, he’ll probably be able to play one until he’s 50 years old.
While discussing the old Nike driving iron on our latest Two Guys Talking Golf podcast episode, my co-host Brian Knudson was curious about how much they’re selling for on eBay.
That’s when we realized how ridiculously expensive (and sneaky hard to find) the Nike Vapor Fly Pro long irons are.
Check out how much they’re currently listed for on eBay!
OK, so those are listed prices, but what are they actually selling for? Here’s a look at a few recently sold versions:
Those are new driver type prices! Wow.
I guess when you consider that the iron is still being played on Tour six years after they released, and given the fact that Nike doesn’t make golf clubs anymore, and there’s a limited supply, it does make sense. Still, though, $400+ for a driving iron is a tough pill to swallow.
That being said, I absolutely need to get my hands on one to test and see what the hype is all about. Maybe I’ll start a GoFundMe page so I have some extra cash to make a competitive eBay bid.
(Check out the video version of our latest podcast below!)
Check out Finau’s full WITB from the Travelers here.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Nike Staffer 2012
Jun 25, 2022 at 12:55 pm
95% of the clubs and balls Nike made were garbage. But… the 5% that weren’t were fantastic and the long irons from this set were a part of the 5%. It’s no wonder that Rory struggled so much during his Nike days and it’s pretty well known that Tiger’s stuff was a FAR cry from anything sold retail. The RZN balls might as well have been rebranded top flites.
Nike good
Jun 25, 2022 at 2:31 pm
This is such a bs take.
Ps. Rory has more majors in his 3 years with Nike than his 5 years with Taylormade.
Edward
Jun 25, 2022 at 2:46 pm
I’ve drained many long putts with my Method 001 putter. It feels better than a Scotty Cameron.
Edward
Jun 25, 2022 at 8:19 am
Covert Forged 2.0 irons are also beastly.
Rooney
Jun 25, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Edward speaks the truth