xxio

Since it looks like I'm not going to get enough "golf equipment money" by the time these are all sold out. I'll just have to tungstenize my BB16H. I pulled the head. It came out to 358, but since it's only 33.5" it only comes in at D2. Plan to add 20 grams of tungsten to get to D6.

Can anyone compare the 405 and the 390 pro spec? I have the 390 ps. It's a back up that gets in the bag quite a bit. I found a 405 (not HR) with the TXD 65 for US$400 9/10. Is it that much more forgiving/longer at 15cc more?

Here in Asia, they are still available in some (not most stores). Not so much lately though with the launch of the Diamanas. I used to play a couple a long time ago. During the TM R300 series days. Even then I liked the Mitsu Strixx versus the Fuji equivalent which my guess would be the Vista Pro Line. Better dispersion at that price point.

Jack, Ok. I understand what you mean. I feel however it is not so much the product isn't good but that there are more Japanese brands out there now. Honma with their limited marketing nowadays doesn't get there stuff out there as much. Might have to do with what seems to be a limited market approach. Chris, Really. ARMRQ shafts by themselves.....I picked up an ARMRQ 5 star "proto" pull-out from a JPGA Pro for a buddy. He had the TW400 and the 460. I didn't have a Honma head so he ended up with the shaft. All for the amount of $170. He owed me big for that. He more than made it up by selling me my current putter for the same price. Hopefully buying a TW400 with an ARMRQ next week pending the condition when I see it. I give up on US drivers. The feel and balance just seem better on the Japanese drivers straight from the factory. No need to reshaft.

Jack, Which of the latest stuff have you tried? What did you not like? I've tried a few of the latest offerings of the past 2 years or so (TW 400 and 460, 904, P, 925 irons, except the Beres). I find them quite impressive. They aren't that much more expensive when you compare them to the other Japan stuff. BTW the irons are not $2,500. Closer to $1,500 IIRC. I believe the ARMRQ is the best shaft tech out there. Unfortunately it can only be bought in a Honma head. Anyway, I don't have anything of Honma in the Bag because even at $800 a driver they are still too $$$ for me.

They used to be graded according to "stars" on the shafts. The more number of stars meant a better clubbuilder and better raw materials were used on that particular club. They have since gone away from that concept. I guess it was harder to train replacements for the older clubbuilders also from what I have heard they are now trying to limit the product range. IMHO that would be a great move since their market is limited as well. People seem to forget the high quality standard we see in most Japanese clubs comes from the bar set by Honma in the 70's. Everyone clubmaker and every manufacturer wanted to reach that level. Sad that bad investments made by the company eventually led to it's downfall from #1.

Google Honma Beres. Also their ARMRQ shafts are absolutely the best shafts techwise. There is a reason why Michelle Wie has it in her Nike 3 wood. They are still on the higher end of the price range. You have to be a real connosiuer to appreciate the quality and craftsmanship. It just that that sort of quality and craftmanship in not usually neede and appreciated in golf clubs. Strange though their putters quality don't seem to match their woods and irons. Scotty has shown people are willing to spend major $$$ on putters.

Never tried the FW and the hybrid. The Diamana is the real deal in terms of dispersion. If you are a hitter with decent SS the R7TP/Diamana is the perfect stick. I'm just trying to move away from TM products, so I'm looking to pick up another driver with a Diamana as well soon.

Anyone know which GD Tour AD is in the SQ Tour Japan Version? Also is it "watered down" or the real thing? Specs? Torn between this or a J33R460 with a Diamana.

Stock shaft offerings are different. Japan R7TP has Speeder 661, Mitsubishi Diamana 73 (this is what I have), and IIRC Graphite Design Tour AD. US R7TP has Speeder 757, Fuji Six, and I'm not sure if it is stock or custom order the Diamana 83. Also my Japan R7TP came in at 44.75" (which it says on the TM Japan site). I think the stock length on the US model is 45".

A member here is offering me a set. I'll ask if he will ship overseas from here in SE Asia. The shafts are Exsar graphite, but he also has NS Pro 95s pulled from his MP32s.

Anyone know where Nike Japan gets their stuff done? My friend had a set of Slingshot Tours from Nike Japan reshafted. Everything was spot on before the reshaft...because there was lead everywhere in the shafts and the heads.

Should've waited....should've waited... Chris one question about the sole grind. Can they do something similar to the skid sole on the Cobra Forged SS? I love that sole grind.

Love the honest reviews as usual Chris.

IIRC Fuji has always been making the Vista pro outside of Japan. Mexico seems right. Taiwan-Miura seems ok to me if he can keep quality. Same with Mizuno. For me it has never been about where but about how. It just so happens that growing up playing Honma for the longest time the quality of Honma just reflected the perfectionist aspect of the the Japanese culture. It doesn't matter where they make the club as long as that principle stays.

The retails are forged in China?

Is it the pic shadows or do these look to have a slight "skid sole" design?

Tourstage tech has a history of "filtering down" to Precept/Bridgestone. The TS balls of 4 years ago the <UX>, <USs> sereis eventually became the UTri series. Hopefully the X01s will filter down as well. I feel that the X01H is very similar to the B330Tour. The X01 has been long overdue to "filter down". I actually thought the B330 would be it but the dimple count was different from the X01 and X01S. The X01H which was released a year or so after the X01 and X01S (I don't play it, too hard feel for me) I think has a 330 dimple count though. If the X01 and X01s ever get rebadged for the US market you will all be surprised about the performance of these balls considering they would be having "ancient 3 year old technology" in them. If the V10 does have the playability of the X01 and the distance of the Super Newing then courses under 7,000 yards will truly become obselete.

I only demoed the XR R7 for 18 holes and it had the stock "SR" stiff-regular shaft. The R7 I have is a TP with the stock TP graphics Diamana 73Stiff. The XR is definitely easier to hit longer and straighter than my R7TP. I was losing it a little right which is my miss when a shaft is soft for me. The stock SR was a surprisingly good shaft. Played towards the regular flex side but the guy I was playing with around 92-95SS (his claim, which I think is accurate) was hitting it straight and definitely longer than his R5 N. Comparing to a Non TP R7 max that I owned for about 2 weeks. The XRR7 also spun less and had a flatter trajectory than the R7 (nonTP) that I tried with a 2-10-10-2 setting. The XRR7 also feels better but sounds almost as loud. Surprisingly the XR R7 that I tried was not as Game Improvement (closed face, soft shaft, etc.) as I expected. Very similar to the XR03 which preferred the mid handicapper versus the XR05 which seemed to gearted towards the higher handicap. Why don't I play it? Because it will be non-conforming in 10months. Granted I don't keep a driver that long I don't want to get used to it like I did my R300 Tour/757 which still has been the best driver I have used in the past 4 years. If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask. I have played a ton of TM drivers in the past 5 years Tour and retail. Even though I don't like their marketing philosophy. Their drivers just seem to suit my eye the best.

It's a very very good driver. Unfortunately non-conforming. That means even if you are outside the USGA territory you only have 10 more months before it becomes non-conforming to you as well. Prices are going down now on these. Slightly used ones go for about $350 now here in Asia. BTW only two moveable weights and the one I used for a round yesterday was dead square as well.

MGB/Mike congratulations you SOB. Now you can replace those 10 year old T Zoids of yours. Make sure to let me try them out when we get together. Go send a free copy of the mag you write for to Chris and Jacque with a review of the GD MB2s.

Also interested about the dimple within the dimple. I first noticed those on the last XXIO ball that came out 6 months or so ago.

I won the Iomic the last time. I really want a RJB signed cover!!! I will keep signing up til I get one.

No pics. I will try to get them later this week. I played with a Japanese member of our club. Great bag. X18 driver with Tour AD M65, Miz Utilities (no FWs), Srixon I404s, Tri Hot(???) but what got to me were his wedges. They looked like Zodias from afar. On the last hole I asked if I could hit them a few times. Spun like Zodias but with better balance. I always found Zodias to be head heavy. I looked at the branding Cyber something. I thought Yonex, but on the hosel it said Forged Teardrop. Apparently Teardrop is making a come back in Japan and it has a little $$$ to back them up.

What happened to the mill marks? Were there any to begin with? I love the look of the Balde, almost as much as the Forged L. Will this be an option on the new Forged L?