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Nike signs Japan Golf Tour star Shunsuke Sonoda

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Nike Golf announced earlier this week the signing of another young gun to join the likes of Rory Mcilroy, Seung-Yul Noh and Thorbjorn Olesen. The newest pro to don the Nike swoosh is 24-year-old Japanese pro Shunsuke Sonoda. The winner of two Japan PGA titles, Sonoda will make his Nike debut at the Japan Golf Fair in Tokyo on Feb. 17.

Sonoda turned pro in 2009 at the age of 19 and has since collected two titles on the Japanese tour, as well as eight other top-five finishes. Nike’s global director of sports marketing Mark Thaxton described Sonoda as, “an incredibly talented athlete who has a very promising career ahead of him.” Sonoda is currently ranked No. 209 in the Official World Golf Rankings and will look to better this ranking with his new gear.

“I grew up with the Swoosh and I have always known Nike as the brand that leads in innovation,” Sonoda said. “Competing in tournaments this year with Nike Golf gear in my bag will allow me to take my career to the next level.”

Sonoda’s bag will consist of Nike equipment from top to bottom with:

  • Nike VRS Covert 2.0 Tour Driver
  • Nike VRS Covert 2.0 3 wood
  • Nike VRS Covert 2.0 5 wood
  • Nike VR Pro Blades (3-PW)
  • Nike VR Forged Wedges 52 and 60 degree
  • Nike Method 001 Putter
  • Ball: Nike RZN Platinum

Away from equipment, Sonoda will don Nike clothing with pieces from the Tour Performance Collection as well as Nike TW 14 shoes.

Nick Boyd is an 18-year-old journalism student at Carleton University in Ottawa, with hopes of one day becoming a sports reporter.

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. AME

    Feb 18, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    He is two year older at the same high school as Ryo Ishikawa.

  2. Mike

    Feb 18, 2014 at 11:16 am

    Congrats to Sonoda. Not sure if he is in The Masters field, but would like to see how he does on golf’s biggest stage. As for Nike, 13 of 14 sticks in my bag are Nike. Since switching from TM I’ve lowered my handicap to single digits. Tired of ignorant fools saying they won’t play Nike. March 14 Golf Digest Results: Covert 2.0 Driver-Silver, Covert Hybrid-Gold, VRS Covert Forged Iron-Gold, VR X3X Wedge-Silver, Mallet and blade Method MOD putters-Gold. Out of five categories three Gold two Silver. Someone can say Titleist has all gold, whatever. Buy it then because at the end of the day it’s not the clubs, it’s the swing that matters. Another reason I play Nike is because Nike continues to be a leader with promoting diversity in sport. Compare the stable of athletes to say Titleist et cetera look no further than Sonoda to emphasize this point. Keep up the good work Nike!

  3. Martin V.

    Feb 18, 2014 at 2:31 am

    And where is Anthony Kim? Is he back from the medical recovery?

    • Nick Boyd

      Feb 18, 2014 at 1:53 pm

      He is expected to come back later this season!

  4. paul

    Feb 17, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    Definitely own some of their clothes, covert tour was almost enough to convince me. If they had a few different shaft options I might have reconsidered.

    • Billy

      Feb 17, 2014 at 4:02 pm

      They have tons of shaft options. They can (Nike) can get any shaft you want. Just ask them.

  5. Peter Fenton

    Feb 17, 2014 at 10:42 am

    nike taking over the golf world one player at a time

    • Gurj

      Feb 17, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      I still wont buy their golf clubs… Shoes and clothing on the other hand.

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Equipment

Tour Edge unveils all-new Exotics mini driver

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Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game. 

The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag. 

At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.

The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.

“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley

In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.

To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.

“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod

An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.

Pricing & Availability

The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026. 

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Equipment

Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss

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In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:

“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly. 

My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

  • manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
  • MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
  • dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”

Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”

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Equipment

From the GolfWRX Classifieds: 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.

From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo.  4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades.  5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft.   Standard Length, Lie and Lofts.  These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me.  Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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