chuck4golf

OK.. graphite in a landslide. There's something very appealing to me about the 1025 heads. Salt of the earth kind of heads. Useable. Solid. Then matched with very nice shafts - like paying respect - feels very cool.

For all of us who want your job "stuck testing Honma" sounds like a great way to spend the day.

Chris, have you had the chance to explore the DS any more?

How was it diff feel from steelfibers?

I am thinking about them for some Macgregor blades....

Every time I come to India, where I keep an old set of Macgregor 1025 mb, I fall in love with them again. So I have a new set of heads at home lying around that I am going to shaft up and play. Being an old buzzard, I usually put graphite in irons. But with a classic set of blades, it might be right to use steel. What do you think? Steel? Graphite? What feels best to you when you hit it pure?

Craig, your point about the 435.... that's the question. The t.388 is another candidate. Some have said Epons with their soft face are shorter. Just makes me wonder - is there a real tradeoff between forgiveness and distance for a ball hit in the sweet spot (and if so, does it only figure in at higher swing speeds?). Of course, I could just admit that in the end I buy the club that is the sexiest and then just manufacture the rationale later.

I would agree with you from all I have learned, but then I have also recently read a few posts here from people who know their stuff that made me wonder if, on a ball struck in the sweet spot, things like materials and size also play a real role in ball speed (with everything else being equal). Even if this would be true, I think the right fit would be the more influential factor. Eg, what role does face hardness and size play (again, on a ball hit on the sweet spot.)?

I read various posts here that imply hard or softer materials contribute to ball speed. I was generally under the impression that the rebound (used to be measured as 'COR' but there is a new metric that I forget) was pretty much maxed out on all companies' heads and that any distance gain was fundamentally about fit of the club to the swing - head design, loft, shaft, etc. But this group of posters here, who are very experienced equipment ho's, lead me to think there may be differences beyond fit .. that materials, design and so on can matter, and that there may be a trade off between forgiveness and distance when balls are struck in the sweet spot. What do you think? Are distance differences all about fit, or are there real tradeoffs among heads?

Shank, I have the same ss profile. 90 is pretty std, when I get it going, maybe 93. Several years ago I had a Nakashima at 13* and it too went forever. That was one I should have never sold, except its sound was awful. Chris, great. I will eagerly devour your next reviews on the rest of the Honma line. The 455S is definitely worth paying attention to your review on, btw. PS: I want your job. You get to play with all the toys.

Anyone have any ideas about how these two would compare? Both look tempting. I am guessing only Chris has hit them both. I like plenty of forgiveness but prefer a more penetrating flight than most heads marketed at guys with my modest swing speed.

Just a question. You play a low lofted driver. Which conventional wisdom says is more apt to generate side spin. Since you're looking for straighter, have you considered more loft?

I like it all - the gear, tweaking the gear, lessons, practicing, playing. After buying and selling a lot of gear, I have done my homework on what I like and I think my buying will lessen now quite a bit. I may still acquire one more very elegant driver but irons, wedges, putter are pretty stalwart. I also love swing theory and the mental parts of the game. Playing well is a challenge and I am really happy to have improved a lot over the past 3 years - and still improving. I guess the integration of all the components - gear, swing, mindset - I want all these to reflect this incredibly deep love I have for this game. I have been playing 50 years (wow wow wow - how can that be?) and to be playing at my best ever is such a pleasure. So I want everything about my game to reflect this incredible love affair. I guess the bottom line is, at 62, I am still improving and can play the best golf of my life (which maybe says a lot about how bad I once was!). I guess the goal is this elusive feeling on harmony on the course, where all aspects are aligned to optimal performance as well as aesthetics. If I don't love and respect my clubs, this isn't going to happen. If I don't understand how to make the shots, it won't happen. If I can't flow with some clarity and confidence, it won't happen.

Hey Romaro, Thanks for the food for thought. I have a little spreadsheet where I keep the lofts of all the clubs I was looking at. The Yamaha are a little weaker than the 503s in the short irons. The Miuras were weaker than these. To tell you the truth, I am swinging with the most speed I have ever known and hitting the ball so well that I don't want to do anything. Well, not today, anyway! This increase in ss is just settling in and frankly I don't know how far it hit the ball with each club right now. After years of lessons, in the last 3-6 months, everything has come together and keeps coming together. It's a very exciting time for me, at age 62.

I only have played Epon 503 which some say are not as soft as 302s but I don't know from personal experience. The Miuras when perfectly struck maybe feel better (but that sweetspot is pretty demanding) but the Yamahas on a decent strike are just the feel I like. Of course, the ball is a huge factor in the equation. I just tried the new Callaway Chrome Soft but it feels way too soft for my taste. But I would not describe these anywhere near as had as you describe yours. I hit a lot of shots that frankly thrill me with feel and ball flight. Of course it helps that I am playing very well for me these days. I guess I'd say these clubs really reward my work on my game.

Now I have had ample time to evaluate the Miura CB2007 vs Yamaha RMX Tour CB. I put GD DI 75R in the Yamahas and Recoil 95R in the Miura. I loved the look of the Miura. First time I played them I thought this was golf nirvana. But over time, especially the longer irons (5 and 6) were very demanding. And the look of the shorter irons was pretty boxy. But damn were they beautiful in the bag. First few times out with the Yamahas was so-so. Nothing to get excited about. I was about to sell them when I gave them one more try. And wow, am I glad. First of all, their shape and look at address is great. These look the way an iron is supposed to look to me. Then they are much more forgiving and the feel maybe even better than the Miuras. Understated excellence. Great great irons. So... I am keeping the Yamahas and selling the Miuras. Oh, while I am at it. Earlier I had asked for driver recommendations. Richard has recommended Touale Raytis S. Which I then bought from TSG and put in my Wishon 919. This is such a great rig now. The point I wanted to make is Richard made two suggestions to me and both worked out very, very well. And I say this after a few months with these in play.

Yow. This is pure elegance.

I keep thinking I need 10.5 but man it's getting harder to pass this up.

This is the shaft that I keep wanting to try because you guys make such a strong case for it, but I think for my modest ss (low 90's driver) and at age 62 this is just not sensible. Anyone in my neighborhood play any of the Modus shafts and think its right for them?

This site, and especially this set of clubs, is pure golf porn. Can't keep my eyes off it. glws.

Beautiful kid, fun to see.

Good guy to do business with ... if you have the club he needs.

I just received 2014 rmx cb's in the mail. Alas I am in India 2 more weeks before I can get home to see them.

Oh my god, I have re-checked ebay for these heads. I am guessing I am the only soul watching a t.388 head with an India IP address. Seriously, this kind of rig is the stuff of dreams. Against all rational thought I am laying odds I give this setup a go next year. The head and the shaft. I mean the quest is for an expression of passion. Golf isn't only just a game, it is a practice of joy and eloquent equipment is a part of this. My thought is this is a an elegant tool, a light saber of a club. I am really glad that you wrote your report and enjoy it so much. That's just great stuff. Inspiring, imo.

"I took the thing home with me and my wife rolled her eyes as I placed it in the corner of the bedroom to sleep with it that night (and yes I had some good dreams ...)" Oh lordy lordy lordy, the things that are true about us. Damn you, Richard. My golf equipment budget for this year is totally done in. Now I will toss and turn in Kolkata thinking, 'ok, I have already assessed both the t.388 and 7 dreamers and said 'no' but wow it sounds like a woman with great legs in a short skirt and a rich smile. How can you not at least start a conversation?' So, does it kick the old rig out of the bag? Sounds like it would/should.