Does Your Golf Ball Need a Flight Suit?

Nike launched it’s first RZN core golf ball in 2011 (remember the Rubber Was, RZN Is commercial? Probably not). Here we are in 2016, and despite Nike’s best efforts, rubber still very much is, and arguably RZN still hasn’t ever been.

Given its so far dubious history, it’s more than fair to ask if there’s actually any proof that RZN is in any way superior to rubber.

Nike will tell you that RZN allows for higher MOI (more stable, better performance through wind). I’d personally swear that’s true. The RZN Black is the best wind ball I’ve ever played. Nike will also tell you that the manufacturing processes used to produce RZN balls yield tighter tolerances and a more consistent product.

That’s the Nike perspective.

Golfers will tell you that the first couple of generations of RZN balls just weren’t that good, and that generation 3, particularly the Platinum felt wonky.

We can split hairs over what’s real and what’s perception, but ultimately, the consumer decides. Nobody understands that better than Nike.

Room for improvement, there is.

Nike, however, is anything but deterred. Whether or not RZN Is right now doesn’t much matter. I can promise you this much, RZN ISn’t going away anytime soon.

So with all of that in mind, let’s dig in and consider whether or not Nike’s RZN 4.0 material, and the balls it spawned, could make RZN a reality for more of you reading this.

2016 Nike RZN Golf Balls

Fans of stable nomenclature will appreciate that Nike’s 2016 balls retain their 2014 designations of Black, Platinum, Red, and White.

Before we dig into the specifics of each ball, let’s take a moment to look at the the most significant design enhancement common to all four balls.

RZN 4.0 Speedlock X Core – All four balls feature a core made from Nike’s 4th generation RZN material. That core is 10% larger than the previous model (for those without your calipers handy, the final measurement is 31mm), and features even deeper Speedlock X grooves, which increase core surface area by 26% (again, compared to the previous version). According to Nike this leads to improved energy transfer between layers, which ultimately yields faster ball speeds and more distance.

While it probably doesn’t remotely qualify as a design enhancement, the cohesiveness of Nike’s branding efforts are omnipresent, even inside the golf ball. As Nike Golf completes its colorful transition from Victory Red to 2016’s signature Blue and Volt, even the guts of the golf ball are Speedlock-in-step with the updated branding.

Subtle, guys.

Will the putters be next?

Now that we’ve got those details out of the way, let’s breakdown the individual balls in a bit more detail.

RZN Tour Platinum & RZN Tour Black

Both of the balls in Nike’s Tour RZN series feature 4-piece construction and urethane covers. In addition to the Speedlock Core, Nike’s 2016 Tour balls include an additional Speedlock mantle layer. Constructed with injection molded RZN, the new mantle provides a better connection with the cover material, and helps to generate additional greenside spin.

The Tour Series also features what Nike calls a Flight Suit Cover. That’s Nike-speak for its updated dimple pattern. The new design features 344 standard dimples and another 13,558 micro dimples. Drawing reasonable comparisons with Bridgestone’s dimple-on-dimple design, the micro dimples help to keep the ball in the air as it nears the end of its trajectory. Since that additional air time doesn’t come from excessive spin, this too helps yield additional carry distance, and better wind performance on driver and iron shots.

Both Tour balls are said to offer a distance bump throughout the set. Nike sources claim Rory McIlroy is hitting his irons about a half-club farther, while other staffers are seeing as much as one full-club’s worth of distance increases.

Worth noting is that Nike has followed the trends and softened up the the Tour series a bit. The new models are 5% softer than the 2014 models. While feel continues to be a major complaint with Nike golf balls, I wouldn’t expect the improved feel to mean that Nike’s RZN Tour balls will be nearly indistinguishable from a Pro V1 or a Chrome Soft. RZN is an entirely different material. We should probably reset our expectations accordingly as Nike believes there are significant advantages to RZN and isn’t about to waste any effort trying to make it feel like something it isn’t.

Black vs. Platinum

As for the the requisite which ball is right for you question…with the previous generation, the majority of Nike staffers, including Rory McIlroy, played the Tour Black. With the 2016 lineup, the majority, perhaps upwards of 75%, of Nike’s Tour staff  – again, including McIlroy – will put the Platinum in play.

Nike is describing the Platinum as a mid-spin control ball that offers outstanding feel, while the firmer Black is a lower-spinning distance ball. For those looking for direct comparisons, Nike is hesitant to try and equate its golf balls to other manufacturer’s products, but Nike’s Nick Yontz believes that golfers who typically play X variants in other lineups can comfortably play the Platinum.

Based on where it’s positioned and who’ll be playing it, I expect the Platinum will outsell Black this season, but if you’re looking to squeeze a bit more distance out of your driver, the Black is almost certainly where it’s at.

Nike’s 2016 RZN Tour Series will retail for $47.99/dozen.

RZN Speed Red & RZN Speed White

The Speed series features the same RZN 4.0 core as the Tour series. Eliminate the RZN mantle layer, strip off the Flight Suit and replace Urethane with Surlyn and you should have a fairly solid handle on the differences in construction between the Tour and Speed series.

The most significant difference between the two Speed balls boils down to feel. The 52 compression RZN Speed White is the softest ball in the Nike RZN lineup, while the 64 compression Red is Nike’s truest RZN distance ball.

While suryln covered balls won’t offer the same level of greenside spin as their urethane counterparts, it’s worth mentioning that they can be excellent alternatives in softer conditions, and can be ideal for golfers looking to cut down on side spin.

Nike’s 2016 RZN Speed Series will retail for $29.99/dozen.

Both the RZN Tour and RZN Speed golf balls will be available on January 22 at nike.com and January 29 at select retailers.