Rock Ishii, Nike Global Product Director for golf balls had flown in especially from Orlando, USA, to speak with us about the Nike 20XI golf balls, Nike’s flagship product Europe for 2012. The company have spent $100m on research and development for this golf ball.
The 20XI will be available in two different versions. The 20XI s and the 20XI x. I’ll mention a little more on these later.
The inner resin core is the key to the golf ball. The golf ball construction process is far more simplified this way, which means far more consistent compression and weight distribution. This results in more carry. Due to the lighter core the perimeter weighting can be heavier. Because there is less weight in the centre, and more in the outer part of the golf ball, it doesn’t roll up the golf clubface. This gives you maximum golf ball speed at impact, and therefore greater distance.
Whichever version of the Nike 20XI golf ball you use, you will benefit from a steeper spin slope. This means that you will have less spin with your longer golf clubs, and more with your shorter golf irons. As I am sure you will agree the extra control this gives you is very beneficial.
The increase in durability the golf ball provides means less golf wedge scuff marks. This goes for the 20XI s and the 20XI x golf balls. Its honesty time again folks. Until Rock Ishii explained this in his presentation, I did not know what these were. I cleaned my differently branded golf balls before I left for the Fairmont, venue of the Nike presentations. I could not remove these pieces of ‘dirt’ from my golf balls, no matter how hard I scrubbed. Now I know why!
The 20XI-x is optimised to reduce excess golf driver spin to maximise distance. The 20XI-S incorporates a softer cover for enhanced greenside spin and control.
Juan Pablo Martin and James Morrison have both stated that when they are testing new balls they start with the harder ball. If they like it, they’ll stick with it. Both players use the Nike 20XI x ball. If it’s good enough for these two European Tour pros, it’s good enough for me.
The balls will not be cheap. The recommended retail price will be £40 a dozen. However, as I am sure you will agree having read all these benefits, your golf game’s worth it.
By Fraser Paterson, who attended the launch of the above Nike Golf Ball at The Fairmont St Andrews, for the Golfblogger Network
