The highly anticipated introduction of Nike Golf’s new METHOD putter today satisfied the curiosity generated by the Nike Golf prototype putter that is already responsible for two major championship titles and three other Tour victories worldwide. It’s proven on the PGA Tour. It’s proven technology.
The much talked about putter also represents the emergence of yet another ground breaking innovation from Nike Golf’s Research and Development center, The OVEN. The Nike METHOD follows on the same, game-changing trail blazed by square drivers and adjustable drivers, which were also created and developed at Nike Golf’s Fort Worth based facility.
Inspired by the philosophy of the “scientific method,” the OVEN’s team of designers and engineers combined steel and polymer in multiple ways before discovering the unique polymetal groove technology. The revolutionary and visibly distinctive polymetal groove technology is influential in creating a faster forward roll after impact for the kind of accuracy and consistency that is craved by Tour professionals. While most traditional steel faced putters start the ball with backspin causing the ball to initially bounce a little higher, the Nike polymetal groove technology starts the ball with more forward spin to minimise bounce and keep the putts on line.
Used as a prototype putter by Nike athletes Lucas Glover and Stewart Cink when they won the 2009 U.S. Open and The Open Championship, respectively, the new Nike METHOD will officially be available in the market on 1 February 2010.
Since switching to the Nike METHOD, U.S. Open champion Glover’s putts-per-round ranking has significantly improved from 116th in 2008 to T45th in 2009.
“This putter has made all of the difference in my game,” said Glover. “I attribute a lot of the success I had at Bethpage to my putting. I give a lot of credit to Nike for coming out with such a great product.”
Paul Casey, who was the first player to win with the Nike METHOD this year – twice on the PGA European Tour and once on the PGA Tour – has improved 43 spots in his putts per round ranking.
“I fell in love with this putter the first time I putted with it,” said Casey, who first put it in his bag last fall. “You can really feel the difference in how the ball comes off of the face and you can see the difference in how it rolls. It’s really helped me with my confidence on the greens.”
The Nike METHOD has a flowed-through low-durometer polymetal groove technology that dampens impact vibrations for soft touch, while the interspersed milled steel face maintains audible feedback for proper distance control. A multi-material face starts the ball on a positive spin that is faster than both a milled steel putter as well as putters with a polymer face insert.
“It’s quite rewarding to see our athletes succeed with our products,” said Tom Stites, director of club creation for Nike Golf. “We knew we had something good when we watched how our athletes reacted to how their ball rolled after impact.”
For increased Moment of Inertia (MOI) and added stability, a ported polymetal groove technology allows 30 grams of internal weight to be excavated from the face and body and relocated to the perimeter.
In addition to Glover, Cink and Casey, Nike athletes Justin Leonard and Stephen Ames also switched to the new Nike METHOD putter.
The new Nike METHOD putter (£160, €210, SEK 1995) will be available in five models, four of which are traditional blade designs, and one is a mallet.
Nike Golf www.nikegolfeurope.com