New Nike golf gear for 2010

Staff writer Paul O'Hagan visits 'The Oven' in Dallas-Fort Worth where he gets a look at some of Nike's new gear for 2010 at the Nike Golf test facility, including the VR woods, SQ MachSpeed woods and Method range putters.

Nike 'The Oven'

While a trip to Dallas-Fort Worth promises the excitement of real life cowboys and a traditional Texan welcome, it is also home to one of the most impressive research a development facilities in the world of sport - 'The Oven'.

I made this special trip to the Nike Golf test facility in order to test the company's brand new golf gear that will be released in 2010. It offered a chance to meet up with the team that design and create the world's greatest golfers clubs.

New Nike golf clubs Nike has developed two great looking and very different ranges for 2010. The VR woods look fantastic and are clearly designed for the confident ball striker. The SQ MachSpeed woods produce a noticeably higher launch and will appeal to a wide range of abilities. All of Nike's new products will feature in up and coming issues of Golf Monthly including the new Method range of putters that have already caused a stir on the PGA Tour.

The immense test facility is called 'The Oven' because great ideas are cooked up there combined with the humidity you are greeted with in the Deep South. While Nike has been previously known for trainers and athletic garments they have been committed to producing high quality golf equipment since the early 90's. A look round "The Oven" highlights how seriously the company takes the sport and the dedication to making great golf clubs.

This is where the best golfers come to offer their feedback on the latest Nike designs created by engineers and designers who have been in the industry for decades. The man who now creates all of Tiger Woods' clubs has also worked on the clubs of Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan over the years. Tiger visits here to try out the latest equipment and provides valuable feedback on the latest designs.  

The testing and development labs offer a real insight into the precision and accuracy behind building golf clubs. Each new design is tested for performance, durability and even the sound the club makes is tuned to suit the golfers ear. Robotic hitting machines are used to test the forgiveness and distance that prototype clubs provide.

Paul joined Golf Monthly in 2006 in a junior role and has since worked as senior staff writer and now as technical editor. He writes equipment and instruction content and tests the vast majority of golf clubs that are introduced every year.