Product Reviews


Nike Ignite
Nike Ignite driver 460cc model, 10.5° loft, 45.25" length, with Nike Ignite graphite shaft from Fujikura in regular flex and Nike Ignite grip.

Manufacturer's Description
The Ignite driver from Nike Golf features a new material referred to as NexTi. The titanium-based alloy is a layered yet tightly compressed metal that is thinner, lighter, and stronger than Beta Titanium. Additionally, the NexTi material can be bent shaped, and formed unlike previous forms of titanium. Nike Golf has used this property to create a head design element referred to as Around the Crown construction. Here the face actually wraps over the top line of the club head. This allows an even larger effective hitting area (i.e., more forgiving) than traditional titanium heads. The Nike Ignite is available in two models: 410cc (8.5, 9.5, 10.5 degrees in men’s right hand) and 460cc (8.5, 9.5, 10.5, and Lucky 13 degrees in men’s right hand; 9.5, 10.5 in men’s left hand; 10.5 and Lucky 13 in women’s right hand). The driver comes standard with the Nike Ignite graphite shaft by Fujikura and Nike Ignite grip. Additional standard offerings include the Graphite Design YS-6, Aldila NV-65, and Graffaloy Blue graphite shafts. Suggested retail price for the Nike Ignite is $469 each.

Information:
Test Location: Course, Driving Range
Reviewer 1 Info: 5'10" 155 lbs, Age 38, Handicap 1
Comparison Driver/Ball Used: Titleist Titanium 983K / Precept U-Tri Tour
Reviewer 2 Info: 5'8" 155 lbs, Age 40, Handicap 8
Comparison Driver/Ball Used: Titleist 975 LFE / Nike TA2|LNG
Reviewer 3 Info: 5’9" 245 lbs, Age 33, Handicap 8
Comparison Driver/Ball Used: Nakashima NP-1 / Callaway HX Tour


Nike Ignite Driver Review:

Accuracy

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We found the Ignite driver to be extremely accurate. Nice easy swings produced results that found the fairway more often than not. The face is closed a few degrees as are most large-sized drivers these days.
Distance

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The Nike Ignite driver produced drives on par with our comparison drivers. Occasionally, the Ignite produced drives as long as any that we have reviewed. The ball off the face of this driver seemed to hang in the air longer than most drivers producing increased carry with minimal roll.
Trajectory

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The trajectory of the Ignite was higher than our comparison drivers. The driver produced a high launch but one that was controllable without experiencing any ballooning issues.
Feel

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The feel at impact with the Ignite driver is best described as explosive. The high pitched sound was loud and provides confidence that the ball is jumping off the face. Because of the solid feel, we found it difficult at times to tell where on the club face we hit the ball. The finish on the face of the club leaves a ball impression mark that indicates exactly where the ball impacted the face. The driver felt very light but was well-balanced.
Forgiveness

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The 460 cc Nike Ignite was found to be very forgiving. Even with less than perfect swings, the ball and ended up with very good and minimal directional issues. With the hotter face, the ball just seemed to go straight. The large head provided excellent forgiveness. The down side is that it was harder to work the ball left to right or right to left.
Looks
The Nike Ignite has a very deep face and maximum sized (at 460cc) head in a fairly traditional shape. The gray head features the Ignite logo as an alignment aid. The Ignite has a standard lie angle of 61 degrees. This is more upright than most drivers we have reviewed. The combination of 45+ inch shaft and upright lie angle made the toe of the club appear in the air more than most at address. This did not affect performance at all but it was noticeable. Nike Golf maintains the modern industrial look on the sole of the driver with wrap around face and “fake rivets”. The finish on the face of the driver allowed us to tell instantly where the ball had been hit. This serves as useful as impact tape. We would best describe the overall look as contemporary classic, a nice mix of new technology with traditional roots.


Summary:
The Nike Ignite driver from Nike Golf receives high marks for forgiveness and accuracy. We also found that the driver produces above average distance. The Ignite marks a big improvement over Nike‚s first entry into the driver category. The driver should appeal to golfers of all levels looking for the latest in driver technology and one that is long straight, and forgiving. Lower handicap golfers may want to try the smaller 410cc model. The stock Ignite shafts by Fujikura provide excellent performance and response. The Ignite line also features a higher lofted version with the "Lucky 13" that should appeal to middle and high handicap golfers that have trouble finding the fairway. Additional information on the complete lineup from Nike Golf can be found on their web page at www.nikegolf.com.

 

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