Ball tested: Nike One Vapor Speed
Category: Premium
Specs: Construction – Three-piece; Cover – Ionomer; Core – Resin; Dimples / Pattern – 336 dimples in seamless design
Compression: Mid
Price as tested (new): $25 per dozen
Ball notes: Nike has never shied away from spending wads of cash on big-name endorsers, and the company’s R&D department is equally well-funded. That’s resulted in a steady stream of new golf ball offerings, including the One Vapor Speed.
This version is engineered for players who swing the driver in the 80 – 95 mph range and need (or crave) distance gains over greenside spin, but prize a softer feel than traditional “distance” balls provide. Nike accomplishes this with a resilient, low-compression core and “Power Transfer” mantle layer, plus a seamless, 336-dimple cover designed to maximize air time.
Sound and feel: Given its low compression, it’s no surprise the Vapor Speed sends a soft sensation up the shaft. Full swings, half shots, chips and putts – feel and sound are consistently muted throughout the bag.
Off the tee: Many golfers who play “tour” balls (Titleist ProV1, Bridgestone B-330) lack the swing speed needed to fully compress them against the clubface. Therefore, a player with a swing speed below 105 mph or so may actually lose distance by playing a tour ball. The slower your swing speed, the more you have to gain by using a lower compression ball – the Nike One Vapor Speed, for example.
In our test, clubhead speeds in the 90 – 95 mph range produced some lovely, high tee shots that stayed airborne longer than the tester was accustomed to. The Vapor Speed delivered impressive accuracy results as well.
From the fairway / rough: The Nike ball behaved well once again. Distance, height and stopping power were all good from mid-irons through wedges. Getting fairway woods and hybrids off the deck with sufficient carry was no problem, either.
Around the green: Surprisingly controllable, the Vapor Speed is a definite notch below a tour-level ball but more than adequate for most golfers’ skill sets. We saw some bounce and roll on chips and mid-range pitches, but the ball fared reasonably well when called upon for a spinning shot from a bunker. The soft feel enhances confidence.
Bottom line: Another very good option in the “premium” category, along with such models as the Titleist NXT Tour and NXT Tour S and Bridgestone e5 and e6. Nike’s investment in innovation is definitely paying off.
Golf Ball Videos:
– Compression Video
– Spin Video
– Dimples Video
– Golf Ball Brands Video
– Titleist Video
– Understanding Spin Video
Categories Explained:
Value/Recreational/Distance – Designed for mid- to high-handicap golfers with swing speeds below 90 mph; typically feature two-piece construction and firm covers; promote greater distance over high spin rates. Examples: Pinnacle Gold, Slazenger RAW Distance
Premium – Designed for low- to mid-handicap golfers with swing speeds of 90-99 mph; typically feature multi-layer construction and medium-soft covers; happy medium between Value/Recreational and Tour categories for distance and spin qualities. Examples: Titleist NXT Tour, Callaway HEX Diablo
Tour/Advanced/Performance – Designed for low-handicap and professional golfers with swing speeds in excess of 100 mph; typically feature multi-layer construction and soft covers; promote greater spin rates and enhanced feel over distance. Examples: Titleist ProV1, Bridgestone Tour B330
