Stopped by the local EW for a shaft extension and grip change and started chatting with 1 of the guys there. Found out he happened to be one of the Nike R & D Department staff based in Oregon who was actually stopping by to say hello to his old friends in Florida.
Got to chatting with him and asking him about Nike's equipment for 2010. He explained to me what Nike had in store. It was a pretty good eye-opener on all the tech stuff behind all their new gear.
He then went to his car and grabbed a few of his prototypes.
Had a 1st hand view of the 2010 conforming V-Rev wedges.
Was told I wasn't allowed to take pictures as they are going to be launched in June. They were black satin much like the new Mizzy wedges and sat nicely. Design-wise, pretty good. Saw the 52, 56 and 60.
They all had grinds similar to Vokey's M or V grind. Guess they are the next company to offer these options after Mizuno and Callaway followed suit from Titleist.
He also handed me their prototype Nike Method M4 putter and asked me to roll a few. This time, I was allowed photos as the retail model
(which will be launched in Feb 2010) will be slightly different from these prototypes. This one was similar to the one Paul Casey and Charles Schwartzel use.
The noticeable thing about them was how flat the face of the putter was. He explained that the Method was unlike any putter that has been manufactured.
- It was actually cut from the bottom of the sole much like a sound slot but cleared out behind the putter face.
- The insert was injected and poured into the hole.
- It was then later milled off. the insert now sat underneath the metal, not like odyssey which has it protruding.
- After that, mini grooves were cut in all the bottom of the horizontal lines. This groove is now the one that acts to 'lift' the ball during the putt.
- Because of this face technology, they can now design their putter lofts to be 2* instead of the traditional 4* on most.
Here are the pics. Forgive me as I only had my iPhone with me:
The feel was very interesting. There wasn't a feeling of an insert at all. It sounded and felt clicky like metal, very much like my Scotty Cameron. What's interesting was despite how flat the putter face was without loft, the putts did not veer off-line. They rolled very true and distance control was superb. I tried out a few 10-15 footers and they were holed nicely or speed was easy to judge.
He told me that their MSRP will be USD$250. There will be 4 models. I was more interested in their M1 which was a plumber's neck but the joint at the neck was similar to their Tiempo.
He told me that the new soon-to-be-released VR drivers are going to be released in March. They are geared for the avg to low handicapper. If u google, you will see their pictures online.
Very exciting year for Nike in 2010 I must say. I might try out the VR Driver just for fun but these putters are very tempting and nice to begin with.
Subject: Exclusive 1st Look at the Nike METHOD M4 Putter Prototype. 
Sat 3 Oct - 6:57:24
nice to know we've got our own golfspy out there. haha oh but their new machspeed driver looks hideous though..
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