Nike VRS Covert vs Nike VRS Covert Tour

[ainley87simon]

I am selling my regular KuroKage shafted Covert driver due to needing a heavier stiffer shaft. I have played around with the Stiff Shaft from the Tour Version of the driver, and like the launch and spin I get with it. My question is what is the difference between the Tour and the non Tour heads? Is one suited to a higher handicap player?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

....Tour and the non Tour heads?

Is one suited to a higher handicap player?

Doesn't the word TOUR give you a clue?

PS - you play off 28, the driver you currently have will do you fine, the shaft isn't the issue!

 

[ainley87simon]

Wow! Do you want to try a bit harder to make that post more patronising?

The word Tour does give me a clue yes, but then again I have various bits if kit with word tour in them, and see no real difference in performance.

Yes I am currently off 28 (though it is unofficial). The driver I have is fine, but swing of 108mph (averaged out) means that I'm swinging to fast a regular flex shaft. I would have thought a 5 handicapper would agree with that. Swinging faster with a regular shaft for me means, that I get left to right on my shot shape from the tee and a very hight ball flight.

The stiffer shaft brings my ball flight down, and my dispersion in.

If the shaft is an issue - then why is your R11 fitted with a stiff shaft and not regular?

As 28 handicapper (unofficially still, who is capable of playing to 16). What should I be concentrating on? Is the lessons I am having weekly? Playing as much as I can? Or all above coupled with kit that is right for me?

I asked for advice on the difference between to clubs not to made like I should ask an honest question because I am a high handicapper.

Maybe 28 handicappers should just keep their mouth shut, and only ask questions when in single figures?

 

[TheDashingBlade]

Without wishing to sound patronising, calm down, dear...

Personally, keep working at your game and take it from there... I would think you're going to improve and as you improve what may fit you now may not fit your new swing in the future.

The usual theory is Tour versions are usually lower spinning and less forgiving. I found marginal difference between spin rates between the Titleist 913 D2 and D3 so went for the more forgiving option when things weren't going well, and from reading reviews on the net of the Nike Covert this seems to hold true here.

I'd try and be patient and see how thing develop. If you're hell bent on getting a new shiney (nowt wrong with that) get out there and try a load - Nike or not!

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Alright, you don't have an official handicap but you are targeting 22 (per your sig), in which case I still stand by the statement that the shaft is not the issue, the swing is!

As for the difference between tour or standard club, you will find that Tour is normally aimed at better players as the head is often be slightly open making it easier to shape your shots.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

woah - a little fiery for a Tuesday afternoon.

My experience is that the 'Tour' word generally means an open club face and a more penetrating (lower spin) launch off the face. I'm no expert on the shafts in the Nike but heavier will generally keep it down, but needs a quicker speed to get the most out of it distance-wise. Which it sounds like you have. There's also likely less forgiveness in the Tour version, although I'm sure it's still easy enough to hit.

Without meaning to be patronising there's a chance that you won't be hitting it consistently enough to really notice a great deal of difference in flight / spin etc - other than where the ball is ending up. I'd go for which ever driver limits the damage of your bad shot (ie, goes less far offline). In my experience a heavier stiffer shaft has helped with this, but at the expense of a little bit of distance.

Good luck either way.

 

[Ethan]

The standard Covert has a 460cc head, the Tour a 430cc.

The shaft in the Tour is heavier (although still not heavy!) and designed for a mid rather than high launch. The two shafts are based on different members of the Kuro Kage family of shafts which have slightly different launch and spin characteristics.

The word 'Tour' is something of a misnomer though. The actual Tour players are using equipment which is modified and tailored in ways unavailable to you and I. The Nike Covert Tour is suitable for a better player who prefers a heavier shaft and stronger flight. probably because they have a bit more clubhead speed, and/or prefers a slightly smaller looking head.

The same is true of 'Tour' models in Taylor Made, who now have three levels of club, standard, Tour and TP.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

Maybe 28 handicappers should just keep their mouth shut, and only ask questions when in single figures?

Get used to it mate, us high handicappers quite often get talked down to by the "proper" golfers - they mean no harm, they just have a holier than thou complex and obviously know it all.

Don't bite next time, it aint worth it.

In terms of the heads....mainly a size issue, us lesser players need a bigger sweet spot. Main difference in the clubs is the shaft....if you can, try a tour shaft on a "normal" head.

 

[Region3]

Makes no difference to the way they play, but the tour version also has a black face rather than the silver of the standard.

I was tempted to get one of these a couple of months ago, and during my reading up on them I found out that you can order the standard head with the tour shaft if you wanted the heavier version.

 

[Ethan]

Get used to it mate, us high handicappers quite often get talked down to by the "proper" golfers - they mean no harm, they just have a holier than thou complex and obviously know it all.

Don't bite next time, it aint worth it.

In terms of the heads....mainly a size issue, us lesser players need a bigger sweet spot. Main difference in the clubs is the shaft....if you can, try a tour shaft on a "normal" head.

I am not sure I agree that the head size is a problem. Some of us remember when high handicappers used 180cc heads made of wood. Next to that a 430cc head with low centre of gravity is a breeze.

The best thing is to try the clubs out, preferably where you can both see the flight but also get launch monitor data. I don't see why you should assume the Tour head and shaft will not be suitable. The shaft is available in Regular and Stiff, so should cover a wide range of swing speeds, so as long as you choose the correct shaft flex and enough loft (yes, I know it is adjustable, but better to start with the right loft) you should be fine.

 

[Deleted member 18121]

I am not sure I agree that the head size is a problem. Some of us remember when high handicappers used 180cc heads made of wood. Next to that a 430cc head with low centre of gravity is a breeze.

The best thing is to try the clubs out, preferably where you can both see the flight but also get launch monitor data. I don't see why you should assume the Tour head and shaft will not be suitable. The shaft is available in Regular and Stiff, so should cover a wide range of swing speeds, so as long as you choose the correct shaft flex and enough loft (yes, I know it is adjustable, but better to start with the right loft) you should be fine.

Up until about 7 months ago I was using a tiny wooden 4 wood, loved that club...dead straight and accurate, shame I smashed it. In terms of head size I was thinking along the lines of "forgiveness" ie bigger area to hit the ball, so marginally less could go wrong.

100% with everything else you say, cant say how strongly in favour of the technology guiding our club choices....although you never can account for "feel".

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Get used to it mate, us high handicappers quite often get talked down to by the "proper" golfers - they mean no harm, they just have a holier than thou complex and obviously know it all.

Not talking down to you mate, just that most lower handicappers have previously been high handicappers. As a result we've learnt how to get lower, and, most likely, anybody who did it over say 15-20 years ago will have done so without the aid of the huge range of fancy shafts now available.

I got down to a lower handicap using persimmon woods with steel shafts, terrible irons which cost £60 for the set etc, and I'm sure many other golfers on this forum will have done similar.

 

[Stuey01]

The Covert Tour head produces a bit less spin than the standard covert head, on an equivalent shot. If that would help you then it's worth looking at. I bought the tour, as for me it helped me lower my spin rate, I didn't find it any less forgiving really.
I took my old G20 out last week, just for giggles and to compare, and definitely lose distance to ballooning drives and didn't find it any more forgiving and G20 is supposed to be the archetypal forgiving driver.
I find the covert tour has a very hot face, I get great distance even with some pretty poor strikes barely in the same post code as the sweetspot, I went through a couple of weeks of hitting everything out the heel and it's still long. The shanked second shots with short irons and wedges don't even bear thinking about, thankfully over it now!

Honestly, I think you have to try them and see what works for you. Don't buy it based off what someone on the Internet has to say, especially not me as I own it and love it so am biased. I would also recommend the G20 and 910d2 as well, even though they have both been bumped from my bag by the covert tour, they are all great clubs, you hav to find what works for you.

If you're swinging at 108mph then I reckon you should think about changing the shaft from regular, I don't think handicap has anything to do with that necessarily. Yes you aren't going to be super consistent so going to the nth degree with fitting probably not worth it but I think you benefit even at a higher cap by playing something at least appropriate in loft and flex.

You do see kurokage silver (the tour shaft) up on eBay with the adaptor ready to go, so that could be a good way to go and pretty cheap. The shaft plugs straight into the covert performance head. Lots of people like the performance head with the tour shaft, I believe it is a no up charge option from Nike on a custom order.

 

[harpo_72]

Wow! Do you want to try a bit harder to make that post more patronising?

The word Tour does give me a clue yes, but then again I have various bits if kit with word tour in them, and see no real difference in performance.

Yes I am currently off 28 (though it is unofficial). The driver I have is fine, but swing of 108mph (averaged out) means that I'm swinging to fast a regular flex shaft. I would have thought a 5 handicapper would agree with that. Swinging faster with a regular shaft for me means, that I get left to right on my shot shape from the tee and a very hight ball flight.

The stiffer shaft brings my ball flight down, and my dispersion in.

If the shaft is an issue - then why is your R11 fitted with a stiff shaft and not regular?

As 28 handicapper (unofficially still, who is capable of playing to 16). What should I be concentrating on? Is the lessons I am having weekly? Playing as much as I can? Or all above coupled with kit that is right for me?

I asked for advice on the difference between to clubs not to made like I should ask an honest question because I am a high handicapper.

Maybe 28 handicappers should just keep their mouth shut, and only ask questions when in single figures?

can I just point something out, you get a high flight and the ball goes left to right... The face is open on impact and it is highly likely that you have left your hands behind through the body turn. This is related to your swing speed, you body timing sounds off, slow it down a bit and see if you can deliver the head less open before getting carried away with new shafts. For sure you will need a new shaft as a drop of 2-3mph will warrant it still. As for tour and std heads, go with what suits your eye. All this blarney about shaping shots with a driver don't bother with, that's for your 3,4 or 5 wood. The driver is just for smashing it out there or "bombing it", keep it controlled and consistent.