Golfbaka

Any feedback on the Vizard UT950?

I asked my friend who owns a golf shop in Japan and he told me that there product life cycles over the past few years have become too fast for their target market, their clothing line as also looked very stale and dated and basically their sales have tanked. I think within the male Japanese tour pros they lack a star name, or a golfer that's easily marketable. They've not really had a distinct offering either for a few years - for me the V Series and the X Series worked well but then they cut back on the V-Series, except for the driver and ball, then they had the GR in between the X and the V - then they expanded the GR series, whilst at the same time diluting the core X-Series products. IMO their last couple of driver lines have really lacked that wow factor that I used to associate with TourStage - I think they've started following rather than leading. I don't know how well they'll do with Bridgestone golf in Japan as they've always had a Bridgestone line (amongst others) set at a much lower price point... Hey ho that's why I stick with the 'Ji-Kurabu' small manufacturers...

100% agree with that.

not counting the white versions that is

Two different companies - used to just be Kamui but split into Kamui Pro and Kamui Works. If you say 'Kamui' in Japan most people of the Kamui Pro imo. KP-X is by Kamui Pro, Kamui Works does the Ray range. Kamui (Pro) was the driver that really started the 'small company' ('ji-driver') boom back in the 90s. For me there drivers are generally very anti-left - espcially the KP-X. Kamui Pro is very popular in central Japan - and very popular with 'competitive' amateur golfers in that area...

I love Kamui Pro drivers - still gaming the KP-X. Supo67 does you clubfitter have access to the Kamui Aero's with the hand ground faces? I hit the shop owners personal one shafted with the waccine 77 in SX. That thing was flat out ridiculous!

Thanks Gocchin - I've read your review a couple of times Was looking for a longer term playing test...

How are these in terms of forgiveness?

Same price bracket as most other high end driver heads. Just a lot harder to get hold of... I recently demoed the PG313, unfortunately the shaft was a terrible match for me - so I can't comment on performance. Its a thing of beauty though...

They've had quite a bit of exposure from the popular QP Golf blog. There's been a recent review on http://shidanikki.bl...-entry-771.html if anybody's interested.

My Japanese friend has just sold his Epon to get one... I think that says it all... Looking forward to hitting it later in the year. The head cover on their previous model the PG106 was pretty cheap looking.

http://www.s-yard.co...forPress_LJ.pdf only a little more expensive than the forged Vokey. man I want one of these things

I've seen a few Vokeys in Japan custom drilled and weighted like this but they all end up looking like middle school metal shop project. However this thing....

I wish ONOFF would remove that cheesy and massive 'golf matters' tag line off their carry bag. (Still my first choice for a new carry bag for 2013...)

No probs

The contradictory stuff is because the first half of the review are his impressions before hitting the club and the latter half of the review are his impressions after hitting the club.

I always read this guys blog but he is L-O-N-G winded.. I'll pick out a couple of things - he loves the refined look. from looking at it feels it more of a hitter's club. After hitting it feels it is well balanced without being too forgiving or too punishing. However, feels like it would be too easy a club to hook. Likes the club but not enough to buy it and is looking forward to J-Beam's new fairway wood....

There's an actor/celebrity called Tokoro George. he does quite a lot of TV golf matches and has a column in Japan's Golf Digest. And markets and sells those monsters. I remember seeing them for sale in the Japan Airlines in flight magazine...

No offset JDM irons... let me think what come to mind... how about Tokoro George's Hammer Irons?!?!?!?!??!?!?

They seem to quite regularly make it into the bags of competive amateurs in Japan. I chuckled when I first heard the name. Translates as vaccine in English from the German Vakzin. The cure to my hooklitis!! I'm not sure how they turn WA-KU-CHI-N in Waccine though.

I'd pick silver for the bling. But if I was going bling I'd go DWD or WinwIn. On second thoughts I'll stick with my ONOFF bag.

I find it difficult to think of BALDO as anything other than a 'long drive' brand - I guess this may be changing? I've not seen a BALDO driver in person but they don't seem to have that premium look that you get with EPON or J-BEAM. Gocchin have you got and photos to share with us yet?

These would look great in a set of Yoro mizzys... Rather than bringing out the Modus 3 in another colour, I just hope NS bring out the System 3s...

I really respect Honma. I mean they grew/grow their own persimmon!! I've always fancied buying a Honma driver but somehow have never been able to pull the trigger. I had no idea there was so much work by hand involved in making a shaft

Pretty cool video from inside Honma's factory (in Japanese obviously...) http://news.golfdige...nel/111004.html