The Nike One Platinum is a ball that doesn’t need any introductions. After all, it does its own television promos.

Nike says that the ball:

features a Progressive Density Core with a soft center and a progressively harder outer shell. This provides lower spin off the tee even with its soft outer cover.

The Nike One Platinum is comprised of three layers or covers beyond the core. Each cover of the One Platinum has its own job to do:

  * the inner cover, closest to the core, is designed to reduce spin off the driver
  * the middle cover provides superior mid-iron control
  * the outer cover, softer than the Nike One Gold, promotes incredible feel around the green.

The outer cover also features Nike Golf’s proprietary 408 dimple pattern, the same one used on the Nike One Black. This particular dimple pattern promotes a higher trajectory and more penetrating ball flight through the apex of the ball’s trajectory - it descends at a less steep angle promoting more distance and roll.

The One Platinum is not designed exclusively for drivers over 400cc; its distance off the tee, wind-boring control from the fairway, and responsiveness around the green will match any combination of clubs. However, golfers who have made the move to a larger driver will experience the greatest potential of the One Platinum.

You can get it at Golfsmith:

The Nike One Black apparently is causing quite a stir after four Nike sponsored golfers used it on the famous 16th Hole at the FBR Open.

Nike had apparently hoped for a hole in one, but that didn’t happen. But still, people are interested.

USA Today reports that Nike is considering offering the black on black as a two pack with the purchase of a box of Nike One Blacks.

Nike says that the Nike One Black has:

Longer distance. Penetrating flight. Like the TA2-LNG but with a larger high-velocity core and thinner urethane cover, yet with the same thick top coating as the Nike One Gold for an added touch. 3-Piece urethane distance ball built for distance off more aggressive swing speeds.

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I got this email from a reader the other day.

I just discovered your golfblogger site after googling for "cold weather golf apparel". I live in Maryland and the weather is starting to get chilly. I plan on taking your advice on the pants, socks, hat and gloves. But there is still a big piece of the puzzle left before I start playing in the 40's (or maybe 30's): the upper body. What would you recommend for a shirt, a sweater and/or a jacket for the colder temperatures? Obviously there needs to be warmth but not too much restriction of movement. Thanks for your site (and, hopefully, your response).  I'm 45 years old and just getting back into golf after a 5 year layoff.

OK. Here's what I do in the chilly climes of Michigan:

I wear a pair of flannel lined pants from LL Bean. For the top, I wear a Nike ClimaFit Mock Turtle. Over that, a heavy golf shirt. Then, a fleece vest. On the head, a Tilley Winter hat. On the feet, a pair of SmartWool socks.

Generally, that's good for me, even when the temperatures go down to the 40s. If the wind gets up, I might also wear a pair of earmuffs.

Nike Tour Air Golf Stand Bag

Grade: A

As I've said in previous posts, I think that walking is the only way to play golf.  Although I usually use a pull cart when playing 18 during the summer, I carry when playing a nine, or in colder weather (lugging the bag keeps me warm).

The Nike Air Tour is the third stand bag that I've owned. The others were a Ping and an Izzo. Of the three, I like the Nike the best.

First of all, the Nike has what I think is the best strap system out there -- the Izzo. And, keeping with the Nike tradition, the straps have been enhanced with a Nike "Air" system -- several air filled pads to make the shoulder straps softer. There's also a big air filled pad that rests against the small of the back.

The top of the bag is nicely padded and divided. All of my shafts are graphite, and I experienced no scratching on the paint this summer. The putter well at the top that fits my oversized Snake Eyes putter nicely.

The bag has a good variety of pockets and D rings for hooking things to. On the sides are two pockets for bottles, with mesh bottoms to let the condensation drip out.

Finally, I like the stand system. Unlike the Ping, whose legs extend whenever you set the bag down, the Nike system has a little "foot" that sticks out and doesn't activate the legs until the bag leans forward. This makes it much easier to strap it into a hand cart, or onto the back of a power cart (heresy!).

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