In Pursuit Of a Better Roll
Over a decade of research and insight from some of the world’s greatest golfers, including Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, prompted Nike engineers to embark on a new putter design that minimizes distractions.
As David Franklin, Nike Golf Master Modelmaker explains, “When we design a putter, our entire goal is to make the putter an extension of the athlete. We want them to step onto the green without even considering the putter in their hands, but rather just be thinking about getting the ball in the hole.”
That mission led engineers at The Oven to craft a classic-looking blade putter filled with performance-boosting innovations, including integrated RZN. RZN is a family of responsive materials also used in the Nike RZN golf balls. In the case of the new putter, they employed a unique construction comprising three pieces: the face, a secondary mass on the back and a RZN layer compressed in-between. Together, these pieces form the premium Nike Method Origin putter that has already recorded four global wins in the hands of McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel, who is currently averaging 1.3 fewer putts per round this season (28.9) compared to 2015 (30.2) on the European Tour. The compliant RZN layer is activated on off-center hits, returning energy to the golf ball within the contact time.
“The response is incremental across the face. A hit on the center of the face elicits a dampening effect,” Franklin says. “The more off-center the hit, the more the RZN compresses and the more energy is returned to the ball. The response is similar to our Compression Channel and improves consistency across the face.”
Insights from Woods and McIlroy, who put the putter into play at the 2015 Tour Championship, then pushed Franklin and team to make the putter roll more efficiently. So they completely reengineered the polymetal groove technology to offer full-length grooves that are linear from heel to toe. This orientation is designed to provide a more consistent, efficient and faster forward roll.
“When I first tested it in Dubai in January 2015, I realized the long putts kept rolling just a little bit more. It just kept rolling and rolling, which was awesome,” McIlroy recalled. “Then I tested again at Sage Valley in April 2015 and loved it. From that point I kept asking, ‘When can I get this in the bag?’ I added it in September 2015 and it has been in the bag ever since.”
The newly designed face features twice the number of polymetal grooves of previous Method putters. More grooves means increased coefficient of friction and traction on the golf ball, creating earlier forward roll and a smoother, softer feel at impact.
“I love the new grooves,” McIlroy said. “The roll was perfect and I felt like the contact was so much softer than my previous putter; it got the ball rolling so much quicker.”
Available in two models, the B1-01 and B2-01, the Method Origin putter is in the bag of McIlroy (B2-01), Schwartzel (B1-01), Russell Henley (B2-01), Scott Pinckney (B1-01), Ryan Ruffels (B1-01), Nick Watney (B2-01), Lucas Bjerregard (B1-01) and Ross Fisher (B2-01).
The Nike Method Origin putter ($349) will be available beginning April 22 at nike.com and select retailers.
New Leupold® GX®-2i2 Golf Rangefinder Now Available
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold’s® new GX®-2i2 comes packed with advanced technology that enables golfers to easily customize the rangefinder to their individual needs and use it as a handy tool to improve scores and speed up pace of play. GX®-2i2 is now widely available from Leupold GX dealers and online retailers.
According to a recent United States Golf Association decision, tournament use of GX-2i2 is permitted under the Rules of Golf when a Local Rule is in effect (see USGA Decision 14-3/0.5) and the device is not used in True Golf Range™ (TGR®) mode. TGR allows golfers to compensate for uphill shots that play long and downhill shots that play short.
“Our new GX-2i2 laser rangefinder offers all the features and benefits of our most sophisticated technology,” said Rob Morrison, vice president, global marketing for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “GX-2i2 provides the ultimate in customization for golfers of all skill levels who want to shave strokes off their game and get around the course faster. It’s like having a personal caddie at your fingertips that can take the measure of a course and really knows your game.”
A recent update to Leupold’s high-performance DNA® (Digitally eNhanced Accuracy) engine and an advanced infrared laser empower the GX-2i2 to deliver faster measurements with accuracy displayed to the nearest half yard.
With Leupold’s TGR and Club Selector™ features, GX-2i2 takes customization to an elite level by providing accurate ranging information matched to the slope of the shot, atmospheric conditions and a golfer’s personal hitting strength. TGR displays the adjusted “plays like” range, calculated from the laser-measured line-of-sight distance, incline or decline, trajectory of the ball, current temperature, and specific altitude. Club Selector factors in the golfer’s specific hitting strength and TGR to the target, automatically recommending the proper club for each shot. Users simply input their personal striking distance for three specific clubs and the GX-2i2 does the rest, even indicating when the distance falls between clubs.
Other key features include PinHunter® 2 Laser Technology, which effectively filters out large background objects and zeroes in on the flag or pin for extremely precise and fast target acquisition. In addition, heightened sensitivity of the rangefinder’s Prism Lock Technology™ allows golfers to get their distances easily, quickly and with extreme accuracy when a course is outfitted with reflective prisms. Maximum ranging distance on prisms is 800 yards.
GX-2i2 also offers fog mode to cut through mist and provide fast, accurate distance measurements. The rangefinder has 6X magnification and a one-touch scan mode that allows users to sweep the landscape while continuously measuring distance. Golfers can select from seven aiming reticles, choosing the one which works best for the intended target and usage. Distance can be displayed in yards or meters.
Built to Leupold’s exacting standards for ruggedness, GX-2i2 is compact, weighing just 6.8 ounces, and measuring only 4.2 inches long, 3.0 inches high and 1.6 inches wide. Additional features include multi-coated lenses for a crystal-clear image, a new high-definition LCD display and fold-down rubber eyecups. Each rangefinder is waterproof and comes with a Cordura® case, battery, lanyard and complete instructions.
SwingClick PLUS now available on Amazon.com
New and improved training device teaches proper transition in the golf swing
SOUTH AFRICA – SwingClick, the #1 best-selling golf swing aid on Amazon.com in 2015, launched the new SwingClick PLUS, a sleeker, one-size-fits-all model at the 2016 PGA Show Demo Day and Merchandise Show, January 26-29 in Orlando, Fla. The Swingclick PLUS is now available to golfers worldwide on Amazon.com.
The SwingClick PLUS is one of the only training devices that pinpoints the fundamental key of a great golf swing – TRANSITION. The trainer easily straps around the forearm and provides three distinct clicks: at the top of the backswing, at impact, and on the follow-through. The SwingClick PLUS creates the muscle memory for golfers to finish their backswing consistently. It engrains the feeling of good rhythm and a smooth transition at the top that results in better golf shots.
The new SwingClick PLUS has a sleeker design that complements the natural flow of the swing, the strap is an expandable band allowing for one size fits all and is available in four colors – blue, red, orange and purple. Golfers can practice with the device indoors or outside, with or without clubs, and it stores easily in an accessory pocket.
“The SwingClick is potentially the best swing aid that’s ever been made,” said Gary Gilchrist, Golf Digest Top 50 and Golf Magazine Top 100 golf instructor. “It provides the best practical feedback I’ve seen from a training device and more importantly, its one of the few devices that allows players to train using their own clubs.”
The new SwingClick PLUS is $39.99 and is available on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and swingclickgolf.com. The original SwingClick is $29.99. For more information and video tips, visit www.swingclickgolf.com.
- Titleist T350 Irons Review - November 23, 2023
- Sacks Parente Series 91 “The Duke” Putter Review - November 13, 2023
- TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter Review - October 23, 2023
