Nike Slingshot Irons Review – Still Good And Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Nike Slingshot Irons Review – Still Good And Forgiving for High Handicappers?

“The Nike Slingshot irons debuted in 2006 and have since been discontinued.”

But give them a search on YouTube and you will find videos dedicated to fans begging the company to bring them back.

I had never played the Nike Slingshot irons before I got them in for testing. I didn’t know much about them except that they had something of a cult following. And that’s what really intrigued me about these irons. I wanted to see why people loved them so much.

The Nike Slingshot irons are no doubt game improvement irons. But they are also 17 years-old. Do they show their age or are they still a viable option for high handicappers in 2023? Find out in the following review.

Are Nike Slingshot Irons Still Good?

“The Nike Slingshot irons have one of the most unique features I have ever seen.”

Most game improvement irons have progressive perimeter weighting or even a progressive cavity size. But the Nike Slingshot irons have a progressive “Powerbow.” The powerbow is essentially a stabilizing bar that stretches across the cavity from heel to toe.

The first job of this bar is to provide a bit more weight in the toe and heel to cover up mis-hits. The second task is to provide a progressive, shifting center of gravity throughout the set. So while all irons use the bar to provide perimeter weighting, the long irons have the bar set low to provide a low CG.

The mid irons have the bar set closer to the sweet spot and the short irons see the bar shifted just above the sweet spot. The idea is to make the long irons more forgiving and to yield more control in the short irons.

The Nike Slingshot irons also feature progressive offset which is a feature I think all GI irons should have. The offset in the long irons is pretty wide – even for me. I found it to be a bit too much because I usually hit a fade anyway. But for players who usually leave the ball right, the offset should be a welcome sight.

The Nike Slingshot irons are absolutely still viable in 2023. They are still good for a certain kind of player. They are everything a game improvement iron should be: long, forgiving and dynamically-lofted.

Are the Nike Slingshot Irons Forgiving for High Handicappers?

“One of the best features these irons have for beginners is the wide sole.”

The soles are wide throughout the set so no matter what kind of distance you need from a tough line, the Nike Slingshot irons can help. There is good weight in the soles too so I found it very easy to mow down the cabbage and find the ball.

The Nike Slingshot irons have weak lofts (the 9-iron is 42°). So couple the lofts with the wide, hefty soles and you have irons that launch into the stratosphere. Great news for high handicappers who struggle to put air under the ball.

But what I noticed, and what I think will be really helpful for high handicappers is that the Nike Slingshot irons have shifting bias. In the long irons, I feel like there is a bit more weight in the heel which creates a draw. In the short irons, there seems to be more weight in the toe which will help you close up the face and hit the ball straight.

There is acute distance and launch control in the short irons. This will make it easier for high handicappers to not only learn, but hone the short game. The draw bias in the long irons simply didn’t work for me but that’s only because I already hit a natural draw so my ball was ending up too far to the left. Again though, this will not be a problem for most high handicappers.

Overall, I think this is a great set for high handicappers. They played about 2 yards longer than my gamer irons despite the draw bias and the short irons play straight and accurate.

Nike Slingshot Vs Nike NDS Irons

“The Nike NDS irons are cast from 431 stainless steel.”

One of the only gripes I had about the Nike Slingshot irons is that they lack feel. I didn’t have the same complaint with the Nike NDS irons. The NDS irons feel softer, more responsive and provide better feedback. But both irons are equally forgiving.