Golf Ball Review: Nike One Platinum, Nike One Black
by Jeffrey Reed

There’s no questioning the impact graphite, titanium and nanotechnology have all made on the game of golf, but let’s not forget the power of the modern golf ball. It’s long and soft, made to let the big dog eat and to let the wedge sing around the greens. Without a doubt, today’s golf balls have transformed the game just as much as high-tech clubs, perhaps even more so when you consider distance.

Nike, a leader in the golf manufacturing industry, has improved its premium golf balls for 2006. Both the Nike One Platinum (Tiger’s ball) and Nike One Black promise even more bang for your buck this season.

The Platinum ball has a new, more steeply sloped Progressive Density Core that’s softer in the centre but gets progressively firmer towards the edge. The result: maximum distance without sacrificing feel. This modified design further reduces excess spin off the tee for explosive distance and outstanding control.

Nike One Black now has a thinner cover, expanded core size and re-engineered 408-dimple pattern for improved surface coverage, minimized drag and the same explosive distance you expect from Nike. 

Rock Ishii, Nike Golf’s director of product development says, “For the One Platinum, we wanted to find a way to add more distance to a ball that is known for its incredible spin control and feel around the greens. Conversely, with the One Black, we wanted to take a ball that is already known for its distance and add more spin control and feel to it.”

The new Nike balls are also packaged in a new cube-shaped box. They retail for $59.

With so many great golf balls on the market, I’m always tempted to try the latest and greatest. But I do have a soft spot for the Nike ball, since my only ace came with a Nike golf ball. It didn’t make a television commercial like Tiger’s wedge shot at the Masters Tournament, but the ball did end up attached to a commemorative trophy in my office.

Nike doesn’t promise you a hole-in-one, but it does promise you distance and feel. For more information on the Nike One Platinum and Nike One Black, visit www.nikegolf.com.