Nike Golf has debuted its new T-40 Fairway Woods, company officials have announced. The introduction comes on the heels of the T-40's arrival on the European and PGA Tours in growing numbers as the 2003 season rolls on.
Nike Golf Tour Staff players wielding the Tour version of the T-40 include: John Cook (13-degree, 15-degree, 17-degree); Pat Perez (13-degree); Stewart Cink (13-degree); Notah Begay (15-degree, 21-degree); Spike McRoy (19-degree); Jason Gore (13-degree); Michael Campbell (15-degree, 19-degree); and Trevor Immelman (17-degree).
The key element of the T-40 series woods, which come in both Tour and Oversize models, is the 40-gram tungsten plug sole insert, officials explained. The plug places two-thirds of the club's weight below the equator of the golf ball, which contributes to optimal lift and shot trajectory.
Needing less space to provide the same weight as steel, officials said, the tungsten insert frees up room for more weight around the club's perimeter. Combined with a larger face, the result is a more forgiving club that provides greater distance and accuracy.
Nike's unique camber sole design was created for improved trajectory, officials said, so golfers can hit the ball long out of the rough or a divot, but won't experience the pop-up effect of other fairway woods.
The Oversize T-40 head is blue to match Nike Golf's forged driver series and is slightly larger and more forgiving than its Tour counterpart. The Oversize T-40 comes in 3-, 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-woods, with lofts ranging from 15 to 23 degrees. The Tour T-40 series, with smaller heads that many professional players prefer and a distinctive gray color, feature a strong 3-wood (13-degrees) and regular 3-wood (15-degrees), a 4-wood (17-degrees) and a 5-wood (19-degrees).
Both the Oversize and the Tour are available with the Nike Graphite Shaft or the Nike Speed Step Steel Shaft. The graphite shafts are lightweight with torsional resistance, while the Speed Step shaft is 30 percent lighter and 14 percent stronger than standard steel.
The clubs carry a suggested retail price of $279 per club with graphite shaft and $229 per club with steel shaft. The Oversize model will be available with a women's graphite shaft in March, and in left-handed models in May.
