Equipment
Nike Golf signs Dave Stockton
Nike Golf has signed short-game guru Dave Stockton to assist with its product development and design, particularly with the company’s putters.
Stockton has worked with several of golf’s best players on their putting in recent years, including Phil Mickelson and Nike’s own Rory McIlroy and Suzann Pettersen.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of what I believe is one of the most innovative brands in sports,” said Stockton. “I look forward to sharing my putter insights with Nike engineers so they can continue to create amazing product that help golfers putt better.”
Stockton currently runs Stockton Golf — a golf instruction program — with his two sons, Ron and Dave, Jr. Stockton. He was previously associated with TaylorMade, where he also assisted with product development and design.
Stockton was known as one of the best putters on the PGA Tour during his professional golf career, which started in 1964. He won 11 Tour events, including two PGA Championships (1970 and 1976).
In 1991, he joined the Champions Tour, where he won 14 events including three majors. Stockton was also a part of three winning U.S. Ryder Cup teams — in 1971, 1977 and in 1991 as a captain.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
chris
Aug 22, 2013 at 12:42 am
dave stockton is an amazing putter and coach. he will do great things for nike’s putters and would not have signed with nike if they had not assured him a decent level of control/influence over their putter development.
dude knows what he is talking about. i was fortunate enough to have a couple hour session with him, his son and laurie hammer this summer and it has helped my putting immensely. if you ever have the chance to chat with him or get a lesson, jump on it.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:30 am
how much did it cost?
chris
Aug 28, 2013 at 11:16 pm
nothing.
Deacon Blues
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Lucas Glover won the 2009 US Open with a Method just a few weeks before Cink won at Turnberry.
I think Suzann Pettersen also uses a Method, though I don’t think they had come out yet when she won her only major (the 2007 LPGA Championship).
Zak Kozuchowski
Aug 21, 2013 at 5:35 pm
Stewart Cink also won a major with a Method — 2009 British Open
– Zak
Todd
Aug 21, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Tiger seems to be the only guy on staff that can use that Method Putter. I bet they bail on that and start making a Stockton brand of milled putters similar to Scotty Cameron. Seems like the other guys who play these Methods either don’t like it (Rory switching) or can’t hit the broad side of a barn (Stanley, Watney, Noh)
Blaise
Aug 21, 2013 at 3:03 pm
I like the idea of the stockton brand from nike, but they seem like to stubborn of a company. they thought they hit it big with this method, problem is it isn’t working for anyone. has anyone won a major with it? maybe Schwartzel did but he isn’t known for his putting either. I know when majors roll around tiger putts like he’s fresh out of that scandal.
GGG
Aug 21, 2013 at 4:15 pm
Cink won the British with the Method and Shwartzel won the masters, correct. I think the method line is phenomenal to be honest, its nike though and has a hard time selling. But you are right, If tiger or rory put a few of them together, they might sell..maybe too late.
Mark
Aug 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
It’s not the putter Todd, The biggest difference that these players have experienced since switching to Nike is definitely the golf ball. Tiger still uses the Tour D and these guys are all using the 20XI. ProV1 to 20XI is a radical change. I think the Method line of putters is one of the best putters on the market today, but the same cannot be said about their golf balls (or wedges for that matter).
Kyle
Aug 22, 2013 at 8:32 pm
Their wedges are unreal. Way better than vokeys. My opinion of course but don’t say Nike’s wedges aren’t good because they are one of the best, no doubt.
cj
Aug 25, 2013 at 10:27 am
I’ve tried their wedges on a demo day once at my local course and i have to say their great for attacking pins from afar but are terrible when used around the green but other than that i’m a pure nike head and also i love my method core it always has a good forward roll and a nice soft feel to it. i chose the core over the milled one because of feel the core just felt better to me.