Vapor Fly irons review

Like with its new drivers, Nike embarked on a mission to design a set of irons boasting distance and forgiveness, and the Nike Vapor Fly irons excel in both categories.

Aesthetically, these game-improvement irons get full marks. The dark finish contrasts superbly with the volt green swoosh on the back of the club, and it boasts an uncluttered, minimalist feel. The “Vapor Fly” stamped on the neck of the iron is an appealing added detail.

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Overall, it has a modern appearance but we don’t think the traditionalist will be put off as these irons are relatively understated.

We were most impressed by the forgiveness on offer, especially in the longer irons.

In the 4, 5, 6 and 7 irons, Nike has employed a hollow RZN cavity, and the Variable Thickness "Nexcor" face is supported by a stiffened "Flybeam" reinforced chassis on all irons.

We found the longer irons easy to get off the ground, and were impressed by how much help was on offer on off-centre hits, particularly when hit from the toe.

On the shorter irons, Nike utilises proprietary RZN material to redistribute weight, which gave us a more penetrating ball flight and importantly more control over our shots. We found we were controlling our distances with ease.

Taking this theme farther, Nike stuffs its RZN material in the cavity of the gap and sand wedge, for maximum control and workability. We were also very pleased with the amount of spin on offer.

In terms of distance, and as you might expect, these irons generate added firepower against last year’s iteration. The lightweight RZN material moves mass lower in the irons, promoting a high launch, and our shots were traveling a little further in the air. We won't go much further than a solid five-yard gain, however. 

We did feel, however, that yardages were not as consistent as some other game-improvement sticks we've tested this season. 

Modern Muscle technology balances the centre of gravity in the sweet spot, and when hit out of this area, we were getting impressive distances, especially from the longer irons.

There is a soft yet responsive feel provided, which allowed us to feel in control. The feel diminishes considerably when not hit from the middle of the bat, but this is to be expected.

With steel shafts, the Nike Vapor Fly irons cost £499 (4-PW) while with graphite shafts they will be priced at £599. (4-PW)

Verdict

Another exceptional product in the Vapor Fly Series, continuing the range’s theme of providing distance and forgiveness.

The different designs for long, mid and short irons produces an iron tailored to the job in hand. Length from the long irons, with sufficient control from the shorter irons.

A superb set of sticks. 

Shaft: True Temper ZT 85 (S, R), and UST Mamiya Recoil 400 Series (460-F4, 460-F3, 460-F2, 450-F1)
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip