Equipment
Nike Covert FAQ’s with Sara Brown
Nike Golf’s new line of VR_S Covert drivers and fairway woods have been the most talked about new offering from the company in its history. But for many golfers, the differences between the company’s “Performance” and “Tour” models have been confusing.
Why is Rory McIlroy playing a Covert Tour driver, when Kyle Stanley and Nick Watney are playing the Performance model? And why do McIlroy and Tiger Woods play Performance models in their fairway woods?
GolfWRX On-Course Reporter Sara Brown talked to Rob Burbick, who fits Nike Golf athletes every week on the PGA Tour for new equipment, about some of our viewers most frequently asked questions.
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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
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Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
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Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
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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...
Swooshmeup
Jun 13, 2013 at 12:58 am
Nike is so good…
Dick
May 12, 2013 at 9:09 am
I looked at the video, and went to the Nike site to check specs (shaft SW etc). NO specs on this particular driver.
Two weeks ago I was in oregegon and walked into a Nike Outlet first, then the “Nike Store” in Portland looking for a golf hat, maybe a shirt. Both times I was told “no golf stuff in the store”.
What the heck is Nike doing about marketing golf besides spending many millions on ads and sponsorships???
MG
May 15, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Yeah. You’re right. I live in the PDX area. And no Nike golf stuff in their store. Only at golf shops and online. Or, if you can score a pass to the employee store. Although, there are a ton of serious golfers in this area, Nike really caters to the runner. (Typical PacNW folks). Us golfer in the NW could care less about running.
JL
May 12, 2013 at 1:27 am
That’s gotta be the least amount of bs I heard about new clubs. No 10 yards here, 17 yards there. Just play what fits them better. All about finding the best shaft head combo.
jeff pohlman
May 10, 2013 at 10:07 pm
That explanation by the Nike rep. was the biggest bunch of B.S. I have ever heard about equipment. That is not the reason that any of their tour players play one head over another.
Dan Francis
May 11, 2013 at 3:01 am
Oh, well thank you for that. I was about to swallow his evil lies hook, line and sinker. Phew!
Please enlighten us. What is the REAL reason Tour players use one head over another?
moses
May 11, 2013 at 8:40 am
Oh please tell us what you know wise Swami.
Big Daddy
Jun 14, 2013 at 12:19 am
its not bs at all, you obviously arent that knowledgeable about equipment. I’m a 5 hcap and when I don’t play many oem clubs because they don’t give me the option of hand picking specs while many other componente vendors do. Average joe goes to a golf store and buys a driver that is stamped with whatever loft they need and thats it. Reality is head stamped 9.5 may be 9.5 or it may be 12.5. the face may sit closed or it may sit open. Experienced players know what they like visually as well as what works technically and get heads hand picked accordingly