Pros advice

Rory McIlroy experimenting with prototype Nike driver at Ryder Cup


The new Nike Golf Vapor Pro Irons have been the talk of the fairways recently, despite the fact it hasn’t officially been released to the golfing world yet. But that hasn’t stopped Rory McIlroy, who is on the verge of making a driver change at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

On a chilly Monday morning in Scotland, McIlroy was spotted using what is reported to have looked very much like a prototype Nike Vapor driver. We may not know if these claims are accurate until he tees of this weekend, however it wouldn’t be too far removed to believe he has in fact opted to use the brand new club.

McIlroy has been true to the driver in his bag throughout this season, utilising a Nike VR_S Covert 2.0 Tour Driver, of which he has averaged 310.5 yards off the tee, finishing third in the PGA Tour distance category behind Bubba Watson (314.3) and Dustin Johnson (311). McIlroy also used the Covert 2.0 Tour Driver to win both the Open Championship and PGA Championship, so a change of club now might not be in the world No.1’s best interests.

Four new Nike drivers appeared on the USGA’s Conforming Golf Club list on Monday, one labelled Vapor Pro, and the other three labelled Vapor Speed.

The description offered by the USGA says the golf clubs have an adjustable hosel system that allows its players to change loft and lie orientations. The clubs also appear to have a channel running from the toe to the heel area, behind the leading edge.

The design is nothing radically new from previous Nike clubs, with several having similar channels, including the VR Pro, STR8-Fit and VR Limited.

It has been suggested that Nike is combining its covert perimeter weighting system with the channel in the Vapor Pro and Vapor Speed drivers, so we’ll have to wait and see what develops over the course of the year.