NIKE VICTORY RED IRONS

Player: Ben Hobbs
Handicap: 5

FULL CAVITY:The perimeter weighting and larger profile of the full cavity create enhanced forgiveness.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED:
Nike Victory Red split cavity 3-iron to pitching wedge with stiff True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The immediate thing I noticed was how the irons looked at address. I’m a blade player, but this cavity had a small head size – not chunky at all. It was a pretty good compromise between a traditional blade and a player’s cavity, and the size of the head inspires confidence.

VERDICT:
These clubs were more forgiving than what I’m used to. The long irons were really good, particularly the nice, high fl ight they produced. Twice during the test, I was able to hit a par-5 green in two with a 4-iron approach to set up a pair of eagle chances. I’ve never hit long irons better than I have than during this round – these irons allowed so much more room for error.

SPLIT CAVITY: With a traditional look, this iron is designed for consistent flight and distance control with an element of forgiveness.

The trade-off was a little less workability. To actually get the ball curving left or right, you had to try harder, which would cause mistakes. I tried to hit a deliberate hook on a par-3 which didn’t come off. Producing the trajectory you were after, however, was easy enough.

The distance control was consistent too. Again, the forgiveness of the VR irons stood out here. Even if your strike was a bit off, it would fl y to the correct distance. Mis-hits were rarely short, only off-line.

As a blade player, I would probably look first at the blade offering in the Victory Red. But if I were putting these irons in the bag, I wouldn’t be surprised if I mixed in the 3- to 6-iron of the split cavity with the blades.

WHAT OUR TESTER SAID:
I’ve never hit long irons better than I have during this round – these irons allowed so much more room for error.

FACTS& FIGURES

SUITABILITY: Split cavity is suited for low to mid handicapped players; full cavity for mid to high.

SHAFTS: True Temper Dynamic Gold and HL in steel; full cavity also has the Victory Red Graphite Shaft by UST.

GRIPS: Victory Red Grips by Eaton.

LOFTS: Split cavity 6-iron is 31º; cavity 6- iron is 30º, and also has 50º, 55º and 60º wedges available.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes.

HOW MUCH?: Split cavity is $1,499.95 for a set of eight irons; full cavity is $999 for set of seven.

NIKE SAYS: “Working directly with the development team, Tiger Woods helped created the sweet forged feel of the Victory Red Collection of Tourcalibre irons.

for the full review see the May 2009 issue of Golf Australia – on sale now.