Review: Nike Engage Wedges

Engaging more CG
In the past 2 years I’ve learned a lot about wedges and my short game.  I used to believe that the only real difference in wedges were their lofts.  Oh, how wrong I was!  Loft I’ve found is actually one of the least important aspects of a wedge for getting the best results on the course.  Grind, shape, bounce and CG are now more of what I look for in a wedge than just loft.  Sure you need to get them in ideal lofts, but every wedge company makes a variety of lofts in their various grinds.  Nike’s new Engage wedge has a whole bunch of options but one of the real stories of this club is the re-positioned CG with the new head design, they are now engaging  more CG.
 

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The story behind the Nike Engage wedges is really the new cavity shape paired with 3 different grinds.  The new raw cast head is really about moving the CG toward the center by moving mass from that area toward the toe.  A more centered CG creates better feel, more consistent results and a more square face at impact.  Everything that the Engage wedge was designed to do, it delivers on those promises.

Picking the right combo can be a little intimidating with all the choices, but knowing that I need a “gap” wedge that I can hit mostly full shots from the rough or fairway with only minimal touch shots, I went with the square grind in a 54* wedge.  The other wedge I need for my game must do everything else, flop, punch, sand,chip, pitch, etc.  So I went with the most versatile wedge, a dual sole 58* wedge.  The soles really make a difference in turf interaction.  These 2 different grinds work great for my needs.  The “dual-sole” offers much clean contact, especially when opening the face.

These wedges arrive with a thick wax coating so that you get to rust them on your schedule.  It is kind of cool as the red, blue or clear wedges arrive.  Nike makes it really clear that it must be removed for play.  Once removed, I took mine to the course to see what they could do.  For a cast wedge I was really impressed how good they feel, again CG is a big factor in that.  As I hit various shots with them, I was really impressed by the consistency with each shot.  So at the end of my first round with them in my bag, I’m on hole 18, my match is tied and I’m sitting just right of the green on my approach.  I grab my 58* dual sole, line it up and hit this high pitch that rolls right in the hole for birdie and the win.  Since that first round I’ve had more and more of those shots that I eyed up and executed just as planned.

What sets these apart from other wedges is their consistent launch and spin.  With just a slight tweak to the CG, these offer repeated results shot after shot.  The grooves do a nice job of grabbing the ball out of any lie and imparting good, consistent spin.  The rougher face of the X3X grooves really offers solid spin, even out of the rough on less than full shots.

Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor

Nike Engage Dual Sole 58* Wedge

  • Spin: 9112 rpms
  • Launch Angle: 51.3*
  • Dispersion: 2.9 yds
  • Club Head Speed: 76.2 mph
  • Ball Speed: 77.8 mph
  • Total Distance:  82.1 yds
  • Carry Distance:  78.0 yds

Nike continues to break the mold by trying new designs.  The new Engage wedges look like their other designs looking down at address, but the technology in the cavity moves the GC for better results.  I’m impressed by the consistent results I had with these wedges.  A side bonus the is the cool rusty look they achieve over time, although same might not like that look.  If you want to hit a more solid consistent wedge, check out the Nike Engage wedges and pick the grinds right for you.

For more information: www.nikegolf.com

Quick Hits:
+Better CG
+Solid feel
+Great shape
+Multiple and useful grinds
+Consistent results

–Some golfer don’t like the rusty raw finish