pabsquid

Chris, what kind of QC issues have they had?

My vote is for the Sky Jump DP2010's. I just got my 58 and 54 bent to 53 in from Goodsie, shafted up with nickel black KBS Tour X-Stiffs and they are amazing. The fairly compact head size plus very effective bounce without having a big round leading edge is a really nice change from my V4 Fourteens. Was not at all a fan of the fourteens. Anyway, can't say enough good things about the 2010's for cutting through the rough, great feel, smooth bounce thru the sand....

Chris, how would you compare the superdeep to the Yamaha V201 tourmodel and the new deep faced epon driver in terms of performance characteristics?

Chris, how would you compare the superdeep to the Yamaha V201 tourmodel and the new deep faced epon driver in terms of performance characteristics?

Are the low torque iomics just going to basically be a higher durometer version or did they do something interesting?

I'm leaning that way for sure. I've been trying to sort thru the numerous photos that Tario and crew have been putting up and haven't come across much in the way of new soft goods from the manufacturers.

Tario- What's the shipping costs end up being over here to China on a big staff bag? -d

Guys- Looking for some suggestions for stuff I potentially haven't yet seen. Basically I'm looking switching up from a stand bag to a caddie/staff type bag in order to better protect my clubs (my club at mission hills shuttles our stuff back and forth from a remote parking lot and stacks bags in a van) and to also be able to keep training aids, and most other things in a single location (shoes, balls, gloves, rain gear). I don't like cart style bags very much either so staff bag it is. While not wanting to go huge like some 10" or 10"+ bags out there, I'd call the range I'm looking for still fairly full size while being able to carry it around a course when need be. Almost all the bags I've seen out there are pretty hideous, but there's got to be some good options. Tario or Chris, maybe you guys saw some cool stuff at the show this past weekend to recommend?!? Bonus design features are, clean sleek design, well integrated/smart pocket placement and good use of space and brand appeal is always a plus. To give you an idea of what I like on the site so far: 1) ADIDAS JAPAN 2010 SP PERFORMANCE CADDY BAG JM069 in White or Black +sleek and simple +pocket layout - nothing truly unique about the bag 2) NIKE JAPAN 2010 TOUR CART BAG III JV BG0227 in Black +sleek and simple +pocket layout +size is pretty much ideal - brand is almost a deal breaker 3) LE COQ SPORTIF 2010 TOUR CADDY BAG QQ1109 in White/Red +good looking quality and construction +nice integration of style lines and pockets -expensive -could potentially be too big? 4) YAMAHA 2009 INPRES X TOUR CADDY BAG +I play all Inpres woods +side paneling is structured and clean -front pockets are small and seem to be poorly laid out -expensive -foot design looks cheap

I've got a somewhat special set of MP-29's (3-PW) w/ KBS Tour X-Stiff shafts in them. They're special in that they were a tour order, about 5g heavier than standard. Shafts are spined and the clubs are a roughly just under D4 across the set. I just purchased a set of Gold's Factory Blades so I'd potentially sell this set if the price were fairly convincing - please PM me. They're not mint condition by any means, but they're in good condition considering the release year. I took a 7 year hiatus from golf so they probably have about 2+ full years of use. PM if it sounds interesting. (The 7 Iron has a nick in the sole and I'll send you some photos if you can name a decent price :) )

Yeah, I believe typically deeper face designs lower the trajectory and reduce spin at the same time. I would think that if the depth is anything nearing TM superdeep specs, the proportionally tall face plate between the rigid top crown and sole plate would give you a nice low trajectory and keep you in what you're looking for while staying with a fairly neutral bend profile shaft. Maybe 8.5 would do it.

Yeah, I'm definitely interested to see what the Masda Slicks have to offer as well. The design leaves a bit to be desired but am really curious about the feel and the "traction".

The time is drawing near! The heads have been cleaned and prepped, the KBS Tour Nickel Black Shafts have been given the Pureing and FLO'ing treatment by Goodsie in Austin, and the White Iomic M62s are awaiting installation as well. Looks like the set will be sent out Tuesday for a late week arrival in China. After seeing the parts in person, I'm extremely pleased about how well the Sky Dream Jump DP-2010 wedges and the MP-29 2-Iron should integrate as a set. On that note, I'm also curious to see how the revisions to this round of protos is turning out. Any word from the GF team?

Playing conditions and requirements for how much torque you can deal with would help. How hard do you swing and do you have any problems with friction, etc. or are you looking for comfort / shock absorption? For straight comfort, TPE grips are pretty good, but wear fairly quickly. (iomics and nowons).

Almost all Winn grips are a Proprietary blend of self skinning Polyurethane as far as I know. Typically they're sort of foamy on the inside and skinned on the outside which I think is decent for cold weather and non humid regular temps. For hot and humid weather i like my Golf Pride New Decades but am moving to Iomic M62's to fit my hand size better. After years of playing standard grips, I've found I can relax a bit more with a smaller grip size. Nowon grips to me (using TPE I believe) are too soft and "twisty" for my liking. I'd strongly recommend, once you have your sizing down, to just try a few different options like Iomic Cord, Sticky and compare those to your winns. I've yet to find a really good solution as well as the weather here in China can be really humid and certainly scorching at the same time. If you're satisfied with the Winn's why change?

Am excited to gear your feedback on that club when it comes in. I decided to go V201 Tourmodel with a p9003x over the fire express due to the heavier weight and low spin. Did you end up with the 75 SX or the X? The yamaha looks like it is a slightly shallower face with more forward center of gravity and the new epon is deeper face, lower/deeper COG. Would be interested as well to see what differing kind of results the two design choices make - I noticed the stock shafts are the same....

Wow, that thing looks sick. I don't even have my new shaft in the Yamaha V201 tourmodel I picked up, and think this thing looks appealing. Would love to see more photos!

Haha. I live in China and EVERYTHING is fake here from fake Johnny Walker Black Label, fake brand name shoes, watches, etc. and even milk and pharmaceuticals. It is truly amazing.

Thanks again for the ever helpful info as usual. I'm in a very similar swing speed and trajectory as TMfreak it sounds like and am interested to see what you recommend for him. I'm leaning towards the X as I do need more control but can't resist going after it on the tee. CPM's and CPM measuring method with the 7" clamp sounds like the Axiv technique so I'm thinking that the X is probably the right choice considering I like the play of my 7080.

T- During my shaft search process you mentioned going with the X flex option for everything (Kai'li 80, Kai'li 70, 9003X, etc.) but mentioned going with the SX instead if I chose the Quadra Fire Express. In general, do you think the Quadra comes stiffer than industry trends or is it just because they offer this SX "gap-shaft" and I'm on the lower end of X with a driver SS of 115? With 80T dispersion with good length, it's hard to not be intrigued with this shaft!

In setting up a new set of blades I've been thinking about whether or not to play my current lofts or go a degree weak, back to mizuno specs of say 8 years ago. With a driver SS of 115, getting the ball up/distance isn't a problem and usually get my ball to stop very close (within 4 - 5 feet) to it's ball mark on even rather hard greens up to a 7 iron. If distance isn't an issue, what kind of lofts do you guys prefer? Please list your driver swing speed and 7 iron distance for reference as well as shaft setup. My PW is 48 degrees (140 yds), 7 Iron is 36 (178 yds), 5 Iron is 28 (204 yds) and 2 Iron is 18 (240-ish yds). Can anyone discuss optimal lofts for a a netural setup, and by that I mean medium trajectory and set up for a balance of control and distance?

A playing partner gave me a brand new Mizuno 322 to try here at the Mission Hills Golf Course in China. And decided to put it into play for roughly 7 holes before it got lost in the particularly long rough at the Greg Norman course there (It's a pretty cool place with 12 courses in 1 location that spans two towns, just across the border from Hong Kong). Back to the ball.... I'd say that I didn't seem to feel much "super ball" type feedback as the ball felt harder than my Pro V1x's and around the green definitely not as confidence inspiring for low spinning type shots. Ball trajectory and flight were fairly similar, but with less spin, especially with the mid to long irons. Perhaps a better comparison to a Pro V1x would be the 4 piece 801 model, but 6 bucks a ball is a significant upgrade from $3.75. Durability seemed far better than the Pro V1x however, which is a definite plus - one strike puts noticeable groove marks on my pro V1x's. Would love to hear feedback on balls that top the Pro V1x in terms of distance while retaining feel and short game playability. Certainly the premium Japanese stuff doesn't hold back on the quality of the base materials so would be interested to see what stacks up to other four piece balls. (or the Penta, which I haven't tried yet either....)

MP-29 2-Iron. It's been in my bag since 1999 but has been upgraded from S400 to a KBS 6.5 last year when I started playing again. It's not the most forgiving thing in the world off the fairway, but off the tee it's always confidence inspiring. Bent about a degree strong from the old standards, to me it nicely at the limit of comfortable length and still swings like the rest of my irons. If it's mis**t, it's usually in the same shot shape and direction, just short.

Mine would probably have to be Epon. It's kinda odd as I don't own any Epon product. I've liked other product just slightly better in each of the specific categories, but if I had to pick a single maker, I think epon would be a fine source. I've hit a number of their clubs including the tour driver and irons and have been impressed. The putter isn't quite my style but am probably most willing to compromise on putter design over anything else.

I am the lucky owner of a new set of Gold's Factory blades! The heads arrived at my apartment here in Dongguan, China yesterday and am waiting on some components to arrive for some new woods & wedges before it all gets shipped off to Goodsie in Austin, TX to get pured/flo'd and bent 1* flat for the lie and 1* weak on the lofts. (Yamaha V201 Tour Model 9* + GD Tour AD 9003X) (Yamaha V-fw 3 & 5 Wood + TBD, but considering Diamana Blue Board S83) (Sky Jump Dream DP-2010 53*(52*) & 58* + KBS Tour 6.5) I'm planning on sticking with the KBS Tour 6.5's I've got in my Mizuno MP-29's and am really excited to get this set into play. Will definitely be posting pics of the completed bag when it's all done. For the grips, does anyone have any good suggestions for playing in humid/hot conditions? I have played No.1 (nowon) grips which I hated, and am currently using New Decade Multi-compounds which I find to be fair. I'm a fairly hard swinger and so like all the grip security I can get. Has anyone that fights moisture/slick grips used Iomic M60 or M62 sized sticky's or X-Fusion Cords in hot and or humid weather? Have also been considering changing grip size - not sure if smaller or larger would be the right call.... -David

Based on the photos the new Gold's factory blades are just about perfect. Can you email me with any remaining suggestions and how the process goes for ordering these up? Thanks again!