Rory McIlroy debuts the new Nike Engage wedges

Nike athlete Rory McIlroy gave the golfing world a sneak peak at the latest piece of handywork from Nike’s master craftsman Mike Taylor. The World No.1 used a new 59-degree Nike Engage wedge this week at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. 

Rory ended up second behind winner Gary Stal, after beginning the day eight behind the leader Kaymer. But the two-time najor winner collapsed, and ended up third on 75 behind Rory, on 66, and winner Stal, on 65. This was after Rory’s first-ever professional hole in one on day two. 

Available in three sole grinds, Toe Dual Sole, Square Sole and Toe Sweep, the new Engage wedges are the newest solution to help golfers both score and escape adverse conditions on the course. The name Engage comes from three important interactions between the golf club and the turf, the club face and the golf ball and the connection between the athlete and his or her equipment. 

“To me, they perform really well from the rough around the greens,” McIlroy said. “The ball seems to consistently get up easier and land softer.” 

To better engage the club, ball and athlete, Nike engineers followed a similar design that is utilized in the Nike Vapor family of clubs, Modern Muscle. Modern Muscle shifts the centre of gravity to promote stability and consistent turf interaction in even the worst of playing conditions. 

“Our aim in offering three sole grinds allows athletes to be more purposeful when selecting their wedges,” said Matt Plumb, Product Line Manager for Woods and Short Game. “Each of these three sole grinds, which are driven by our experience working with our athletes around the world, provide a distinct advantage in the types of shots you can play with them. We work with athletes to maximize their performance by selecting a combination of lofts and grinds that suits the needs of their golf DNA.”

The Square Sole was designed to be played with a squared-up club face while the Dual Sole offers two distinctive surfaces for a wide range of shots. The Dual Sole is inspired by grinds used by Tiger Woods and McIlroy. 

The second-generation Toe Sweep grind maintains its superior performance as the best wedge from the worst lie on the course while improving versatility on tight lies. The wide toe and narrow heel width allow the club to be laid open at address and stay open through impact in even the deepest of grass. 

The Nike Engage wedges are precision milled with X3X grooves to deliver maximum spin on full shots. The grooves have more volume and sharper edges to deliver a more consistent shot in any condition as well as a more consistent ball flight. The precision milling process that makes the X3X grooves is offered for the first time with the Engage Wedges. 

Based on athlete feedback and testing, the Engage wedges will all utilize an athlete-authentic raw finish instead of chrome plating. The finish will reduce glare as well as increase surface roughness to improve spin and control. 

Details: Available at retail in April in lofts 50°-60° in two-degree increments. RRP £99.99. True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 shaft as standard.