Nike stopped making golf clubs, balls and bags in 2016. On August 3, 2016, the company announced it was leaving the golf equipment business to focus only on golf footwear and apparel. That ended a run of about 14 years of Nike clubs, a run that included Tiger Woods at his peak and, later, Rory McIlroy. Nike still sells golf shoes and clothing, but it has not made a club since.
How did Nike get into golf clubs?
Nike sold golf shoes and apparel before it ever made a club. The turning point was Tiger Woods. When Woods turned pro in August 1996, he signed with Nike in a deal widely reported at $40 million over five years, and Nike introduced him with its "Hello World" campaign.
Woods did not switch to Nike equipment all at once. According to Golf Monthly's history of his gear:
- 2000: Woods put a Nike ball in play in May, then won the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship that summer.
- 2002: his first Nike driver.
- 2003: Nike Forged irons, which he used to win the WGC-American Express Championship that September.
- 2004: a Nike Ignite driver, moving to a 460cc Nike driver late that year.
What were Nike's best-known golf clubs?
SasQuatch (2006 to 2010). Nike's yellow-and-black SasQuatch drivers and fairway woods were built around forgiveness. Woods used a SasQuatch driver in 2006 and SasQuatch fairway woods until mid-2010.
SasQuatch SUMO2 (2007). The square-headed driver. Nike and Callaway both announced square drivers in October 2006, and both reached shops in early 2007, so neither company can really claim the shape alone. Square drivers sold for a few seasons, then faded.
Victory Red, or VR (2008 to 2013). Nike's players line. Woods used VR blade irons from 2009, and the VR family grew to include drivers, hybrids, wedges and the VR Pro Combo and VR Pro Cavity irons.
VRS Covert (2013). A driver with a cavity cut into the back of the head, in bright red. Woods put the VRS Covert driver and fairway woods in his bag in 2013.
Vapor (2014 to 2016). Nike's last major family of clubs. Woods used a prototype Vapor Speed driver in 2014.
Why did Nike leave the golf equipment business?
Money. In the fiscal year that ended May 31, 2016, Nike's golf sales fell 8% to $706 million, after falling 2% the year before. Golf was Nike's smallest business and the only one that lost sales that year on a constant-currency basis. Those numbers include golf shoes and apparel, which Nike kept.
Big contracts did not fix the equipment side. Nike announced Rory McIlroy as a staff player in January 2013, in a deal reported at around $200 million, and still could not build a large share of the club market. When it announced the exit, Nike Brand president Trevor Edwards said the company was "committed to being the undisputed leader in golf footwear and apparel."
The lesson most of the industry took away: winning on tour does not guarantee that weekend golfers will buy your clubs.
Are used Nike golf clubs worth buying?
For the right golfer, yes. Nike clubs have been off the market for years, so used prices are low compared with brands still in production. A few things to know:
- Irons hold up well. Forged and cavity back Nike irons, like the VR and VR-S lines, can still play fine if the grooves and shafts are in good shape. Check the condition grade and the photos of the face.
- Older drivers are behind the times. Drivers have changed more than any other club since 2016. A Nike driver can still work for a beginner on a budget, but a newer used driver will usually give you more forgiveness and adjustability. See the history of the golf driver for how much has changed.
- No factory support. Nike no longer sells replacement parts, adapters or shafts for its adjustable clubs, so make sure a used Nike driver or fairway wood comes with the parts you need.
- Single irons are easy to find. If you lost one iron from a Nike set, a used single iron is often the cheapest way to fill the gap.
At GolfRoots we had about 136 Nike clubs in stock when we wrote this, each listed on its own with real photos, exact specs and a 1 to 10 condition grade. Browse used Nike VR-S irons or used Nike Forged Pro Combo irons, or see all used drivers.
Have a Nike set you no longer use? Find out what your golf clubs are worth or get an instant quote with our trade-in value calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nike still make golf clubs?
No. Nike stopped making golf clubs, balls and bags after announcing its exit on August 3, 2016. It still sells golf shoes and apparel.
When did Nike start making golf clubs?
Nike clubs reached tour players in the early 2000s. Tiger Woods used his first Nike driver in 2002 and Nike Forged irons in 2003.
Did Tiger Woods win majors with Nike clubs?
Woods played a Nike ball from 2000 and moved to Nike woods and irons over the next few years, so many of his wins in that era came with Nike equipment in the bag. The exact clubs changed from event to event.
Can I still get my Nike driver adjusted?
A club builder can usually reshaft or regrip a Nike club, but factory adapters and parts are no longer made. Our shop can take a look. See our repair and regripping page.
Part of the GolfRoots content series on golf history. Also read the Callaway ERC II story and the Ping Eye2 lawsuit.
