FEATURE HEADER

Product Review:
Be A Tiger With Nike

By David R. Holland, TravelGolf.com Senior Writer

Nike says the wound ball is dead. Can't argue with the success of its premier title cover boy, Tiger Woods, that's for sure.

But most likely, if you don't swing the club at 125 mph, the Nike Tour Accuracy TW is not the ball for you. You probably want to try the Nike Precision Tour Accuracy.

Nike says: "The wound ball's grip on golf will unravel in 2001, and Nike Golf will be pulling the string."

Last year, the Nike Precision Tour Accuracy players racked up 32 worldwide wins and surging consumer demand led to a significant increase in market share, Nike Golf entered 2001 as the newest major force in the golf ball industry.

"The company's sights are not only focused on sustaining its phenomenal all-around success, but on changing the face of the Tour and the golf ball category itself by proving beyond doubt the overall superiority of its line of non-wound golf balls," Nike's literature says.

More than 30 PGA Tour players are using a Nike ball this year and that includes Paul Azinger, Bill Glasson, Mark Brooks, Billy Ray Brown, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark, Rick Fehr, Harrison Frazar, Brian Gay, Tripp Isenhour, Brandt Jobe, Franklin Langham, Gary Nicklaus, Tom Scherrer and Paul Stankowski.

For me, The Nike Precision Tour Accuracy has a significant softer feel than your standard Wal-Mart TopFlite and admirable distance. You can feel it most off the putter. It's durable, too. And for the average golfer that means it will last you a while providing you keep it out of the ponds and jungle rough.

"The success of our revolutionary non-wound Tour Accuracy on tour last year signaled the end of wound ball domination," said Stan Grissinger, category business director for golf balls. "A lot of people were caught off-guard in 2000 by how the performances of Woods, Azinger and others were elevated once they switched to the ball. This year we'll see the Tour Accuracy reinforce its track record on tour and that will lead to continued success in the marketplace for Tour Accuracy and the rest of our golf ball line."

The Nike Precision Tour Accuracy will cost you $54 retail for 12. It features non-wound blend of feel, spin and shot-making consistency. It's multi-layered, non- wound construction has an injection-molded urethane cover and Nike says the dual cover optimizes spin for greater accuracy and distance.

And yes, you can buy the TW version, too, as many are doing.

Course Air Tour GT Golf Shoes

Tiger wears those black beauties and every once in a while will put on brown ones, but I picked the Course Air Tour GT Golf Shoes, traditional oxfords, white with Texas tan. They retail for $125 and feel comfortable right out of the box.

If you have never owned a pair of golf shoes with real leather these are for you. You will never go back to $30 K-Mart specials.

RELATED LINKS

Past TravelGolf.com Product Reviews

Past articles by David R. Holland

Past Texas course reviews

You will get heel zoom air unit feel, waterproof all-leather comfort, the Nike Moisture Management System with Gore-Tex and Dri-FIT lining, a Q-LOK spike system, 2-year limited waterproof warranty and 90-day limited comfort warranty.

You can imagine many will be picking the Tiger Woods Course Air Tour models.

"We emphasize design excellence that translates into improved performance and comfort. That's why we have the Gore-Tex Nike Moisture Management System and the Nike Air cushioning," said Erick Stanton, footwear product line manager. "The Q-LOK quick-change cleats are also a plus."

Nike Rainsuit

It's the last day of the season at The Dragon at Gold Mountain, high in the Sierra Nevadas, and last night it snowed. Today it's chilly and drizzling.

That's a perfect time for the Nike Rainsuit. It will keep you dry and warm.

The easy to slip-on pants have an elastic waist pant with liner, snap-adjusted leg openings, 20" side zippers, inverted box pleats, side-zip pass through pockets, and inside key pocket. The Swoosh is on the left hip.

The rainsuit top is a water-resistant Gore-Tex full-zip jacket with back stash pocket, hook-and-loop closure at the cuffs and toggles at the left chest.

Nike's top-of-the-line Gore-Tex Full-Zip Storm-Fit Jacket retails for $260. The Gore-Tex Storm-Fit Pant retails for $200.

Check out www.nike.com for all these products and more. Also, find more information at www.nikegolf.com. Nike USA, Inc. is located at One Bowerman Drive, Beaverton, OR 97005-6453. Telephone is 503-671-6453.