Equipment
Rory switches to Nike Vapor irons at Dunhill Links Championship
A week after putting Nike’s new Vapor Pro driver in play at the Ryder Cup, Rory McIlroy looks to be going all in with the new Nike line he helped launch in New York City during the FedEx Cup playoffs.
That’s right, the world No. 1 was spotted with a bag full of Nike Vapor Pro irons during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
See our full breakdown of the Nike 2015 equipment line here.
It’s no surprise Rory decided to go with the Vapor Pro driver in competition, given statements like these:
“The first thing I noticed when I hit this driver was how hot it was. Then, I found that I could really control the flight and work it both ways on the golf course. I saw added ball speed on the monitor and am getting 10-15 yards more distance on the golf course this week.”
And perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that McIlroy has gone so quickly to the Vapor Pro irons. After all, he won’t really have an off-season to speak of given his international schedule over the next few months, as he’s reported to have been practicing with clubs for months.
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.
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”
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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Teaj
Oct 13, 2014 at 9:48 am
the black on the back is that an insert or black paint?
christian
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:31 pm
So I fully expect that Rory’s driving statistics for this season will show a 15 yards increase then..Or?
JOEL GOODMAN
Oct 8, 2014 at 8:10 pm
does anyone really care? he could play with my wilson Staff irons from 1960 and still be world # 1/ Nike makes crap and always will, that’s why they have to pay these guys millions to play their junk.
moses
Oct 4, 2014 at 10:30 am
Looks like it too 1 round to get used to them. 😀
He is lighting it up. Sat round -8 after 13 holes.
Mike
Oct 4, 2014 at 9:48 am
This isn’t rocket science folks. Rory switched because he and Tiger came out and publicly endorsed the new sticks…he’s kind of obligated to play it…my question to this board is how soon will TW switch? Never mind, it just hit me that his new bag matches the color scheme of the new Vapors. When he tees it up at his World Challenge in Dec the new sticks will be in the bag.
max
Oct 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm
No better marketing machine than paying the #1 player big dough to toot the horns of your product.
bradford
Oct 3, 2014 at 7:31 am
Money is in fact the bottom line, but do you think the #1 would take the deal if the equipment weren’t worth it? Is the #1 SOOO much better than the rest that he could beat them with a piece of junk?
Taylormade floods the market, Titleist sells to the Holier than thou crowd, Nike pays athletes.
JH
Oct 3, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Titleist does what? You sound really dumb saying that.
TaylorMade pays more guys to play their stuff than any other company.
Baka
Oct 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm
No, JH, he’s exactly right. All of the Titleist people are like apple customers. Entitleist typically a year late on tech and often borrow ideas from companies that are will to put themselves out there. (TMag, Nike, and Callaway)
mgm
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:16 pm
Titleist pays the most players to use their stuff: don’t forget they are primarily a ball manufacturer, the clubs are an afterthought. Easiest contract to sign is the titleist/footjoy deal. Why do you think its the “number one ball one tour.”
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm
20 million, yeah I think he would have taken the deal even if the equipment was crap. That is if know one else was offering him anything close. However of course the equipment is good, every manufactures equipment is.
littledreamer
Oct 2, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Am I the only one that finds these UGLY?
Used to play 690.MB’s.
Tried all year to like Pro Combos.
Back to 690.mb’s.
Nike has lost me. UGLY!
Ethan
Oct 2, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I also noticed that rory switched shafts in his driver. He is playing the new Diamana.
Jeff
Oct 4, 2014 at 1:33 am
Yeah no kiddin maybe that’s where the 8 yards came from
christian
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:27 pm
15 yards
JR
Oct 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm
He’s gonna use the John Riley’s? Awesome!
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=1&_nkw=john+riley+golf+clubs&LH_PrefLoc=2
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Wow been playing for 20 years never heard of or seen those but there is definitely some similarity. What’s old is new again!
Finchley
Oct 4, 2014 at 11:12 am
Not some, but definite rip off.
Wedgie
Oct 4, 2014 at 8:58 pm
MHendon,
Wait till you see the new Nike wedges. They look identical to the Rileys.
Chace
Oct 2, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Does anyone feel the same way, all the Victory Red clubs represent Tiger, and his old dominant era in Nike. Now Rory seems took over that THRONE last year, and Vapor came in just in time. No wonder why he switch so fast to this line, and we may see a lot of fluorescence yellow in his apparels next year too.
Nick
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:30 pm
The “Volt” will be used as a universal colour story across all Nike’s brands. First time ever. You will be seeing that yellow a lot.
Martin de Porres
Oct 5, 2014 at 2:35 am
My old Sasquatch Tour was yellow, as was most Nike’s line.
Zak
Oct 3, 2014 at 12:05 am
Tiger designed the new Vapor Pro irons (they were designed for him from his input and tweeks). They are keeping the cavity back technology in the drivers, but added the compression channel, for Tiger (he loved his old VR Tour driver).
The changes are all for Tiger, not Rory. Tiger is Nike golf. Rory is great right now, but Tiger is still “IT”. Either way, Nike a Golf is in a great situation. I’m loving the Vapor Pro driver. It will be tested ASAP. Same with the Pro irons.
Scooter McGavin
Oct 2, 2014 at 12:42 pm
I don’t see why this would be surprising or unexpected. I hit the Vapor Pro Combo irons and they feel great, so I can only imagine these are great too. That, and if I was getting paid $20 million a year, I’d play with whatever I was told.
moses
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:46 am
2015 another year of adjustments due to new equipment.
2016 another breakout year after getting used to new equipment.
One thing about Tiger is that he rarely switched equipment.
Joel
Oct 2, 2014 at 12:22 pm
So by this logic you don’t think Rory will change what’s in his bag for the 2016 season?
MHendon
Oct 2, 2014 at 4:47 pm
I suspect getting use to the ball was the bigger adjustment for Rory not the equipment and I think he’s sticking with the same ball.
cody
Oct 3, 2014 at 10:12 am
I dont know where this idea that tiger “RARELY” changes equipment comes from. He has switch equipment as much as anyone else out there. I would go through and list all the changes but a simple google interweb search will show you everything you need.
Chris
Oct 3, 2014 at 12:29 pm
I’m going to respectfully disagree. While yes, he may change the actual equipment, the style/shape/design seems to remain the same so the change isn’t that drastic. Hell he was still hitting a 975D with a TT x100 shaft even in 2006
Josh
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:35 am
I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a huge year for Nike Golf.
TW
Oct 2, 2014 at 10:55 am
agreed, ive been a callaway guy for a while but im done with them. On deck…….Titleist/Nike
adolfo
Oct 2, 2014 at 1:03 pm
I agree too. It wouldn’t surprise me in Nike picks up a few more players going into the new year. It wont shock me if TW plays the new irons next yr.
Personally, Im looking forward to trying out that Vapor Driver. Im definitely curious to see what it can do
MHendon
Oct 3, 2014 at 3:07 pm
They’ll pick up a few more players if they pay a few more players. Same as every other manufacturer.
adolfo
Oct 2, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Josh – may want to try out some Mizunos too.