RLL33

Woodland Hills CC. A hidden gem in LA.

Yup, not much different for me, just shorter. Still couldn't work the ball without big effort.

I’ve long fantasized about some day trying a completely different setup bag that would use a 2-wood in place of a driver and a 5-wd instead of a 3. Never could find anything that didn’t mean giving up all the usual (ego based...) distance suspects though. Until now. I mentioned here earlier this year how much I’ve been enjoying the new Ryoma F-5 fairway wood, but now I’ve played a few weeks with the new F-2 also. And bingo, this is the combo I’ve fantasized about! Both are incredibly long and yet easy to work due to a fairly shallow face and really appealing look at address. And both have that amazing “gunshot” sound off the face that really pops. (Not kidding -- it surprises anyone in near by range…) I guess it’s the titanium factor in whatever mix Ryoma has come up with for these babes. The (more than) pleasant surprise is that with the 2-wd I’m getting exactly what I was looking for without giving up much distance to my driver – namely hitting more fairways off the tee than I ever have. This comes into play on my home course which is tight and a shotmaking course designed by Billy Bell. Yes, there’s an absence of the ego factor in hitting that one 300-yarder (if I’m on) in a round. But I kid no one, this 2-wd has me within 10 yards of most of my drives distance wise, but the difference is I’m in the fairway. The result has been more GIR and better scoring – more than enough to make up for the few seconds of joy felt while that one perfect drive is in the air. And I can tell by the gasp factor coming from mates that I’m not the only one who is amazed and NOT missing my driver. No more of those long pushes right for me which was my most common miss with with the big stick... Just like the 5-wd, the most repeatable shot shape with the F-2 is a gorgeous high draw on full swings. I find I can dial it back and hit a nice straight stinger though when I want to. But in general the high draws are what I lust after most of the time anyway, and these things seem to spit them out with no effort. I’m sure the shaft has much to do with that. I went with the Beyond Power shaft, and as I’ve told Chris, something about this shaft is unusually suited to my swing, I guess. I haven’t enjoyed a shaft this much since my first swings with the 7D’s. And that’s saying a lot for me! In short, I can’t recommend these babies enough for anyone who has given thought to shaking up their driver/woods game. It’s kind of an added smile for me that since I also love Ryoma’s P3 putter as the most unusual feeling putter I’ve ever come across, now the longest and shortest parts of my game have Ryoma stamped on them when, like most, my introduction to Ryoma was that old stand by quest for the Holy Grail of more distance off the tee… Feels like the best of both worlds for me on this combo. Looks to be a good summer shaping up.

Gotta say, these sound and look VERY attractive. So you've hit them, too, Mikey?

I can see the attraction to this one, Chris. Look forward to seeing the finished product.

I don't know how you guys can live with only. few months of golf a year... Seriously, I couldn't do it. Makes me want to offer out a spare room or something to TSG'ers. ?

Great review, nob. Thanks for details and shaft comparisons. It's funny, I've just gone from MCI's and OTi's to Modus 3's in Mizzy's and had an identical reaction. Just a great feel. Those Sevens are gorgeous. Congrats! Enjoy!

Nice (and interesting) bag! Good playin' to ya!

They are beauties, Chris -- all of them.

I love 'em. Pretty sure I reviewed them a long time ago if you want to do a search. They're great player's hybrids with wonderful feel (and looks).

Hope you'll also post here or in the blog as always, Chris. Really look forward to your coverage every year.

A-Grind CMB Hybrid powered by Crazy STP. Straight, straighter, straightest. Long penetrating flight. Easy to get airborne. Point and shoot.

Nope.

Thanks, Vic. And next time you head out west, let me know if you're in the LA area for a round on me.

I finally got to play the new Ryoma Fwy a few times this week, and it ended up wowing me. I had tried Ryoma fwy's before and like some have mentioned over the years, I didn't quite care for them. The sound was too metallic or something and the club didn't deliver the soft thwack I prefer. But this new model is, as Chris said, a whole new gamer. I decided to try the F5 to see if it really would give me my 3-wd distance with a little higher ball flight. Check. Hit it 3-wd length off the tee and the deck. The difference is just what I wanted -- a higher ball flight, but still with no ballooning and plenty of roll out. The face feels unusual. It's soft and explosive. In fact, when I hit this thing on that round button on the face, all of us in my group agreed that the sound can honestly be compared to a gunshot. A very different kind of pop, even on off-center hits, than any fwy I've hit before. I went with the Beyond Power shaft as I've been curious about it, and it did take some getting used to for me. I felt that it worked better with a nice smooth tempo than if I really went after a shot. Distance was actually longer with a slow wide arc swing than the kind I sometimes seem to make off the tee with a 3-wd. And whether it's the head or the head/shaft combo, literally everything I hit is a nice high draw, my preferred shot shape. In short, after yesterday's round, I decided to try something unusual. I'm going to get the 13-degree also and see if it can replace my driver at times when I want/need more of a fairway seeker. I tend to use higher lofted drivers anyway, and as the F5 easily goes as far as my XV and DST 3-wds, I'm anxious to see what I'll do with something of a 2-wood. Will post about that, too, when I get out with it.

I wouldn't change a word in my review. Great shaft.

LONG overdue. Should go into effect tomorrow, not two years from now.

Me, too. It's in Customs, so I hope to hit it next week.

I have the Ryoma Fwy on the way to me now. Will post something after I've played it. There's a Spoon available from a good guy in the BST. Hoping to see something on the new small-head Roddio drivers soon, too.

Mmmmmm-mmmmmm!

Is this available now?

MP55's are great feeling, long, and forgiving. What shaft are you planning on playing? BTW, totally agree about mixing in blades and then switching to CB's. Been doing it lately myself, and it almost feels like cheating when I play the CB's.

Beautiful photography, as always, Chris. And as always, the food pics make my mouth water.

Fine looking design. Even finer looking finish.

I second (or third) the welcome. Always nice to see new people join in.