FrankThong

I believe I have a bottle; the Nikkas are not so hard to get. There are a couple of Karuizawas I let slip that is upsetting. :(

Hi, thanks for elaborating. I thought that 'a cut above the rest' connoted beyond China, no? Nonetheless, I do see what you are getting at and I do not completely disagree with you. The quality of most things made in Japan is arguably superior. That is not to say that it is something unique to Japan or that JDMs are always, without exception, better. The fine work ethics, attention to detail and focus exists in other countries as well, including China. High end silk, tea and furniture, especially those made with zitan and huali, are extremely intricate and recognized as 'without peers'. Correspondingly, mass production, in all probability a Japanese invention, exists in Japan too. Uniqlo, all the automakers (with the exception of the rare marques) and all the consumer electronics are really nothing more than mass-produced commodities. I recently read something somewhere about Venezuelan chocolates being sold at a fraction the price of Belgian chocolates simply because the latter represented the creme of the chocolate universe and nobody was willing to pay a premium for Venezuelan chocolates. Thing is, Venezuela produces some of the best chocolates in the world and some Belgian chocolates are, in fact, made with the same Venezuelan chocolates that are sold for much much less! What I am trying to say is that, sometimes, customers confuse 'quality' with 'perceive image' and that happens not just with Venezuela, but China too. I won't take this further off-tangent from Henry's original point with the watches and cars sub-topic. Perhaps if we should cross path one day, we could have a friendly debate over a drink... Japanese single malt, no doubt. :)

Hi there, isn't it a bit over-generalizing to say that 'made in Japan' is a 'cut above the rest'? Would you say that Nikon is better than Leica? Seiko over Patek Philippe? Toyota or Ferrari? What gives Leica, Patek Philippe, Ferrari, along with many excellent Japanese companies, its 'superior' edge is the artisans behind the brand who puts craftsmanship ahead of production efficiency, quality over profit margins, customers before shareholders, and not the country of manufacture. Not so long ago, Japanese automakers struggled to convince the world that their cars were as good as their American and European counterparts, next came the Koreans pitching their white and brown goods uphill at international markets; now, it's the Chinese and Indians turn at the wheel. I'm sorry, even though my gear is almost completely JDM, I cannot categorically agree with you.

Why is 'Made in China' a problem? Many high end, high quality goods, from electronics to fashion and just about everything in between, are made in China for a while now. And if you equate 'best' with 'made in USA', then yes Henry, you are missing something.

I have been using a Crazy LY01 on a Kamui for a few months now and despite having used both less and more expensive shafts in the past, I couldn't be happier. It took me a couple of rounds to get used to its quirks and demands, but after that, I've been really cracking a few long ones. Does that mean the quality, ie using higher grade material like 80t carbon, equates, all by itself, to better shafts, thus making them better value for money? I don't think so. For one, we've now heard of golfers favoring one high grade shaft, ie 50t/80t such as Quadras and Crazys, over another. It would seem quality is not the only variable in the equation of how 'good' a golf shaft is. How much does shaft technology factor in the scheme of things? Shaft makers like Matrix, who makes the ultra-expensive TP7 shafts, banks heavily on their proprietary 16-sided HD and Interply Hybrid technologies. Typically, R&D costs a company more than merely investing in higher grade raw materials. Finally, workmanship is yet another contributing factor. Production methods, QC standards, selection criteria and consistency all play critical roles. Depending on the 'who', 'where', 'what', labor and QC costs could add up significantly to the price of the shaft, though not as much as marketing and channel sales costs. IMHO, I'd say raw materials, technology and workmanship all are equally important in making a good shaft, and finding the right balance of the three makes the whole more than the sum of its parts regardless of the price tag.

Haha, that is so true, I'm too drunk in love with the Kamui at the moment to give it up. Good thing golf clubs have less rights than women; I've put in an order for a Ryoma and would be looking forward to some menage et trois action! ;)

I also use a Kamui driver and have been following the Ryoma story since Tario introduced it. Let me first say that I am very happy with my Kamui driver and have hit some monsters (by my modest standards) with it. I appreciate the 'forgiveness' of the Ryoma and the benefits that a bigger sweet spot brings, but all things being equal, ie equally good shots on the identical shafts, etc, would the Ryoma be longer than the Kamui?