Nike extends VR Pro franchise

• By Global Golf Post
• Aug 9, 2011 9:18 AM ET

To the engineers at Nike Golf, that meant they had to pay as much attention to the clubs they brought out in those categories under the VR Pro franchise earlier this year as they did to the driver that bears the same appellation. And they had to look and perform as well, too.

The VR Pro fairway woods, which come in five loft options ranging from strong 3 (13 degrees) to 7, boast a traditional, pear-shaped clubhead as well as a flat profile and low leading edges. It’s the sort of appearance better players prefer, but the club is also designed to get the ball into the air more easily.

The company employs the same STR8-FIT Tour technology with these sticks as it does with its VR Pro drivers, so golfers have 32 ways to customize the clubface angle and position the head precisely where they want it. In addition, the VR Pro fairways feature a Variable Compression Channel, which is intended to increase speed at impact at more places on the clubface, for greater distance and forgiveness.

As for the VR Pro hybrids, which are available in four lofts (15, 18, 21 and 24 degrees), they utilize a Full Compression Channel with variable face thickness to bolster ball speed off the clubface. According to Nike Golf technicians, that makes the VR Pro 21 percent hotter than the previous VR hybrid model – and longer as a result.

Also, the company created a variable sole camber with this offering. Flatter on longer clubs for tighter lies and deeper on higher lofts for more shot options, it is designed to allow the club to glide more easily through impact.