Nike release RZN premium ball range in four new models
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Nike believe their new Speedlock RZN core balls deliver more distance, better feel and a more consistent, stable ball flight than ever before.
Similar to how snow tires utilise aggressive treads to bond with the road surface, the Speedlock core’s interlocking geometry helps eliminate the slipping that normally occurs between a traditional, smooth-surface core and the outer layer. When a core slides or slips on impact, the ball loses energy and as a result, speed and distance. Speedlock Technology helps to harness more energy between layers for faster ball speed, longer distance and more stability into the wind.
There are four balls in the new line – Platinum, Black, Red and White. The first two are four-piece balls and effectively replace the 20Xi models.
The Platinum offers tour-performance control and moderate spin while the Black promises tour performance distance and less spin.
The three-piece Red and White balls offer longer carry and softer feel respectively and are aimed at those with slightly slower swing speeds of 95-100 mph.
“We knew we hadn’t pulled 100-percent of the energy that we could out of the existing RZN core,” says Rock Ishiii, Nike’s senior director of golf product development. “Working in partnership with DuPont we were able to develop a softer and faster RZN material and created the interlocking core design to reduce energy loss at impact. That means more distance, especially with fairway woods, irons and wedges, and softer feel and sound around the greens.”
“The lightweight RZN material allows us to add weight to the perimeter of the golf ball which gives the new RZN family an extremely high Moment of Inertia (MOI) in a golf ball,” Ishii adds. “This provides incredible ball flight stability in all wind conditions.”
“I want a ball that sounds fast off the club and soft around the green and this ball does that” Paul Casey
Several Nike players, including Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey, have put the new ball into play already.
“I want something that sounds fast off the club head, and something that sounds soft around the green,” Casey says. “This new ball with Speedlock Technology does that.”
“I’m finding that especially around the greens there is a big difference,” adds McIlroy. “The ball feels and sounds a lot softer. And even from inside 50 yards, it felt like the ball was getting a little more grip, a little more spin. My iron shots were great, and wedge shots were great, too.”
A new spin-optimized coating on the outer surface of the ball helps grip the grooves for better control on wedge and iron shots. The coating, in addition to a softer cover and softer compression in the core, also helps provide improved sound and feel, especially on off-centre shots.
Key facts
RZN Black/Platinum
SRP: £40 per dozen
RZN Red/White
SRP: £30 per dozen
Available: March 1
Nike RZN balls
