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L97 Nike VR Mid Iron Shot Walkabout?

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 9:38 AM

   as to Level 97 Nike irons....I have played Cally 33's, Max and Nike 81's and find Max toooo slow and like Cally's u miss the spin at times. Since such a small cost difference on Nikes at different levels (and factoring in durability, Max balls are reeely expensive). I am satisfied using Nike 81's consistently- dings are pure-mishits a tad punitive as to distance and even more as to wind- but- and big but- when u hit em right they just stop and they map true- like on BPB 4, 5, 9 for instance. And- u can do things with wedges u simply cannot with other balls- including esp. low level Nike balls but fuggedabout Cally/Max.

  The edge you need in this game-at this level- has nothing to do with when you are having a bad day- it has more to do with when you are spot on. Always get the very best equipment - balls included- and on those days you can do anything. I can see the argument for lesser Nike balls- but for almost nothing more in cost- why? Unless you are looking for rock bottom cost on balls- in which case that is your priority and good on ya m8.

• slillico 393 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 10:55 AM

  skccvb:

   as to Level 97 Nike irons....I have played Cally 33's, Max and Nike 81's and find Max toooo ..................................

  You might be missing the point a little, we all can play the 81 ball just fine, it's getting the most consistency distance and line, cost was/is not a factor.

  It's teeing the ball up, doing your math, dinging the shot and watching it go on line and on distance that's important.

  Some are not experiencing any issues with the 81 ball, but lot's are, what causes the inconsistency or whether it exists can be debated, but at least for those that are experiencing some inconsistency there seems to be a happy work around.

  Myself, I would love to go back to the 81 ball, but I love winning more.

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 11:17 AM

  I hear ya, Sli...Yes, there is more variance the more spin in the total equation, I understand. Also true the average shot with these irons has enuf spin with a low level ball- even the Lethal. Hell, I can stop the free ball with these clubs. 

  I am talking competition here- the best clubs/balls matchup is a slight edge that can sometimes matter. there are enough holes on enough courses where it does come into play- that the better ball simply gets the job done more consistently and more easily. I am making shots with that combo that R11's could not- with the same level 81 ball. Just sayin m8....

  When I am bangin' out ranked rounds solo, any ball will do fine from Cally 33 on up---tourneys and team/match play- I want my Nike 81 ball!! lol

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 12:51 PM

  skccvb:

  I am talking competition here- the best clubs/balls matchup is a slight edge that can sometimes matter.

  Respectfully you are still missing the point. We are all talking that. We also played the L81 to a reasonable standard with the R11 set, no complaints or ever an issue. 

  skccvb:

  I am making shots with that combo that R11's could not- with the same level 81 ball. Just sayin m8....

  Love to know what you are doing different to us, if you are, or is it just that this only affects some?

  Not all the players I have spoken to have come to this thread, but they are very good players and were / are seeing their high level ball and Nike L97 VR iron combination play crap. They would not be able to enjoy a RR with the combination let alone dream of entering a competition.  They have tried everything from FBS to no spin to this that and the other, and nothing is working.

  These same players did well with the R11 irons with their preferred ball. 

  I am glad you are enjoying your game, but If you were seeing what we were seeing you would not be saying that.  

  This is not just one or two claiming VEM this is a HL ball (few types) / L97 iron issue, and it's several v good players can't play a round without saying the club / ball combo is crap.

  One is a very good Legend and the other a TL 10 foot to the pin and who has won RGs  - good players can't put three half OK holes together with the L97 irons and the HL ball.

  Some players in this thread have found that the L33 cally is playing very well with the New irons.  They have only been forced to consider that route in the first place because they had terrible results with their usual ball.  It's what they are seeing and all very sensible, coherent people, that can hit play WGT quite well, all doing better than they thought possible with a sleeve costin $3 less than what they started of trying to use.

  Very different points to the one you are making I think you will agree.

• slillico 393 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 1:07 PM

  skccvb:

  When I am bangin' out ranked rounds solo, any ball will do fine from Cally 33 on up---tourneys and team/match play- I want my Nike 81 ball!! lol

  Give a couple rg's a go.

• slillico 393 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 1:17 PM

  lonnieskinner:

  The TM seem to not have as much deviation from vem. The distance is exact and the spin is excellent. As several have already said, I believe the more spin a ball has the more the deviation on the shot. I also use the cally ball alot. I score about the same with both balls.I like the TM ball better on the green. I seem to make more putts with them. Thanks for asking. The speed reads the same on both ball but I have changed back and forth several times and the TM ball seems to be a little slower or maybe the meter is just a little more predictable.

  Gave it a go, not for me thx.

  Meter speed was same to me as the Cally 33, line was fine and as good as Cally 33, but the ball suffered from a lack of spin, trajectory and inconsistent distance. You would get similar performance from the wgt GIS ball. Estimated precision 10 -15 feet.

   

• skccvb 799 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 3:27 PM

  Perhaps some clarification is needed- as to what constitutes 'playing like crap'- inconsistent distances- wind deviations- putting? All of these? I find that - like the R11's- the 8 iron is not consistent with spin- except f/b (145 yards). 6 iron loses most distance on mishits. 

  In my experience, the Nike/Nike ball (81) requires more adjustment for wind (using spin) and if you plan to off-ding- allow more distance than normal. Same is true for 3 dot feel ball with 5 dots distance, 4 dots spin. It deviates more off line on mishits with the wind. Otherwise- dings are way tighter than R11. Distances on all other irons are very consistent- however- full backspin gives a bit less distance than R11's on PW, 5 iron and 3 iron (2-4 yards).

  These irons are just another level of what r11's are- up another notch. The extra club spin means a high spin ball requires adjustment for sure- but not comprehending how they could be so different between and among other players who have mapped their club/ball combo and experimented via many types of rounds. Again I emphasize this combo is a game changer on the tuffest holes- once it is dialed in and you 'own it'.

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 3:37 PM

  skccvb:

  In my experience, the Nike/Nike ball (81) requires more adjustment for wind (using spin) and if you plan to off-ding- allow more distance than normal. Same is true for 3 dot feel ball with 5 dots distance, 4 dots spin. It deviates more off line on mishits with the wind.

  You keep missing the point.  People played the R11s with the L81 ball (or their choice of other v good ball), and very well so all that is more than understood, and is therefore not the point here. The people concerned know how to map distance in different conditions, and have had it work well, not just in a CC comp on V Fast greens.

  Iron play people are seeing inconsistent distance, mainly with the mid irons I think.  They are also seeing shots veer off line way too often, and so no game changer in the right direction for several very unhappy people.

  skccvb:

  Again I emphasize this combo is a game changer on the tuffest holes- once it is dialed in and you 'own it'.

  Not possible for some. Please remember these are good players, not some struggling Legend with 18 foot dist to pin. 

   

   

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 3:51 PM

  Jimbog1964:

  Some players in this thread have found that the L33 cally is playing very well with the New irons.  They have only been forced to consider that route in the first place because they had terrible results with their usual ball

  I fell into it because I use the 33Callaway all the time. I used the 71Nike at Merion for the Open but only there. Reading the early reviews of the Nike irons made it pretty clear that something wasn't quite right. Hence, what you brought up.

  I went the other way today to see what was up. The Legend monthly 9 is at BPB, low wind, good setup to learn the irons, which I did with the Callaway. After reading this discussion I decided to switch to the Nike to see the difference.

  Back to back 28's with each ball. The difference was easy to see because the 28 with the Nike was work. I had to pay attention to the ding and expect more hurt from missing, which I got. The work came from having to make longer putts because most of the deviation was lateral. I'd be hole high a mile away.

  With the Callaway I got the same score but it was decidedly "easier" simply because that have-to-ding pressure wasn't there. You can go back to "missing smart" without fear of a drastic result. The putts were a lot shorter.

  In a nutshell, the point about dinging the HL ball with the Nikes was a good one. The shots that were dinged with the Nike had superior results. Just don't miss. I suspect the players not having issues fall into that category. IMO, missing a few length yards doesn't even factor in with the 33Callaway for me but I can see right where sk's coming from.  :-)

• Jimbog1964 8,378 Posts

  Fri, Jan 10 2014 4:01 PM

  YankeeJim:

  In a nutshell, the point about dinging the HL ball with the Nikes was a good one. The shots that were dinged with the Nike had superior results. Just don't miss. I suspect the players not having issues fall into that category. IMO, missing a few length yards doesn't even factor in with the 33Callaway for me but I can see right where sk's coming from.  :-)

  I don't know what the wind is a the Legend Beth comp.  In low winds I have been round Beth with the same scores to.  Go to higher winds and distance does start to get affected sometimes as well in an inconsistent manner.  I would agree also that some of the time you can go round dinging and all seems fine, but after a while overall you get more way off shots even on dings . The people upset with this are not people new to mapping, and are also not noted as complainers every time they get a poor round.  It does appear it's not the case for everyone ..........Strange.

  EDIT: I am no top player I know, but on my day I am well capable of winning a lower level RG, and placing OK in a $4 one and top 10 in the free TL comps I think often enough for me anyway.

  I can map and the new irons just put more pressure on my putting anyway and are waiting to zonk me more than the R11s ever did ding or no ding.  Like I say no top player (one who says they are also rubbish is way better than me), but my 11 foot distance to the pin, and 1 putt returning to very respectable (I carpet bombed that chasing the R1) says I can use the L81 ball as well as several at at any rate.  Something is wrong when all teh new irons will do is push my dist to pin up with a HL Nike and keep at least equilibrium with a level L33 cally I think.

  Remember though this is not just about me.  I know a very good Legend that can't make a slow meter Cally 34 (? exact that but not the L1+ one - always seems be the slow one's) do crap with these new irons.  A very good TL who uses a Max ball (slow one again if it helps WGT) advised me not to touch these irons, and gear freak me went ahead and got them.