Randy

Mine are supposed to have shafts installed this coming week, so hopefully by the end of next I will be able to do a review. Aloha Randy

Check out the new topic I started that has some pictures and a little more updated info on my impression of these irons. Aloha Randy

I provided the below info in another post asking about the OnOff 2009 + irons, but thought I would start a new post with updated info and some pictures - Just time for a quick report after my round today as I am headed out for dinner pretty quick. Overall these are excellent irons with a great combination of feel and forgiveness. Not the best in either department, but probably the best set of irons I have played combining the two. Looks - I had a set of the 08 + irons and I like the looks of these better. Especially the satin type finish compared to the chrome of the 08 model. I have posted in other reviews that I don't like a lot of off set and huge top line and soles. Although they are not blade like looks, which I really prefer, they don't have anything that I can't look at. Feel - Of course is subjective, but my favorite feeling irons have been Miuras, OnOff CB 247 and MP-14s. I know it is a mental thing, but I can't not stand a click sound when the ball hits the face of an iron. These irons don't have my favorite feeling, but they are pretty solid and don't have a click sound when striking a ball. It is probably all in my head, but I think they feel more solid than the 08 + irons. Performance - Here is where these irons really shine for me. I got mine in NS Pro 950 stiff. I have played these shafts in other irons so I have something for comparison. I was hitting these irons with a nice hight trajectory and they were going 8 to 10 yards further than any other iron set I have had with same lofts. I flew a couple of greens and quickly realized I needed to take one club less. It hit them consistently longer all day. Forgiveness was also exceptional especially in the long irons where I need it most. They are not super GI forgiving, but for me they are more forgiving than the AP2 or I5 irons, and pretty close to AP1s forgivness wise. I am not a great shaper of the ball, but I was able to hit some draws and fades with these irons. These are firmly in the bag, but I do have a set of the new Callaway Legecy irons coming in a week or so and will see how they compare. -Update: I have played two more rounds with these irons and I am not even tempted to trade them for something, which is very rare for me. I am still hitting them as long as I described above. On one hole I was 175 yard out into some wind and planned on hitting the 4 iron. I stuck the ball 10 feet right but pin high. When I went to put the iron cover back on I saw it was a 5. Could not believe I hit a five iron that far. Sorry for the poor quality pictures and will try to take some better ones. My Bag: Sole view of all irons: Top view of PW and iron: Aloha Randy

Weather has cleared up and I will try to get pics tomorrow. Aloha Randy

Still raining, but as soon as it clears up, I will take the pictures you asked for.

Just time for a quick report after my round today as I am headed out for dinner pretty quick. Overall these are excellent irons with a great combination of feel and forgiveness. Not the best in either department, but probably the best set of irons I have played combining the two. Looks - I had a set of the 08 + irons and I like the looks of these better. Especially the satin type finish compared to the chrome of the 08 model. I have posted in other reviews that I don't like a lot of off set and huge top line and soles. Although they are not blade like looks, which I really prefer, they don't have anything that I can't look at. Feel - Of course is subjective, but my favorite feeling irons have been Miuras, OnOff CB 247 and MP-14s. I know it is a mental thing, but I can't not stand a click sound when the ball hits the face of an iron. These irons don't have my favorite feeling, but they are pretty solid and don't have a click sound when striking a ball. Performance - Here is where these irons really shine for me. I got mine in NS Pro 950 stiff. I have played these shafts in other irons so I have something for comparison. I was hitting these irons with a nice hight trajectory and they were going 8 to 10 yards further than any other iron set I have had with same lofts. I flew a couple of greens and quickly realized I needed to take one club less. It hit them consistently longer all day. Forgiveness was also exceptional especially in the long irons where I need it most. They are not super GI forgiving, but for me they are more forgiving than the AP2 or I5 irons, and pretty close to AP1s forgivness wise. I am not a great shaper of the ball, but I was able to hit some draws and fades with these irons. These are firmly in the bag, but I do have a set of the new Callaway Legecy irons coming in a week or so and will see how they compare. It is raining here in Oahu, so not a good time to take pictures, but will try to take some tomorrow if the sun is out. Aloha Randy

I just picked a new set of the OnOff + 2009 model irons today and have only had a brief time with them off of mats at the range. I will be playing a round with them tomorrow and will report on how they did. Aloha Randy

Love this kind of info. Thanks for the post! Randy

Aesthetics used to matter a lot to me, but now I can get past looks as long as the club performs. For the most part, most all the "garish" stuff is in the cavity and can't see when swinging the club. Aloha Randy

Mele Kalikimaka to all! Aloha Randy

How big is the opening? Thanks Randy

What an beautiful iron!!

I tried the AD 75 in a set of Callaway x-tours and they seemed really nice, but a little to light for me. I have also tried a couple of Ping and Callaway graphite shafts and wasn't that impressed. The 9E05 is the only graphite shaft that I have tried that might take me away from steel shafts, but may try a heavier AD shaft and see how it works out.

I have the 9E05s in a set of Titleist AP2s. I only have a few rounds in with the set, but my initial impressions are that the shaft is very stable with no more dispersion that a steel shaft such as NS PRO 950 I have had in different iron sets. I haven't tried the AP2s with steel, so I don't can't compare if there is any difference in feel or trajectory, although my gut feel is that they produce a little higher ball flight than steel shafts would, but haven't had any problem with balloning. So far, I am really liking 9E05 shaft and it is the first graphite iron shaft I have really liked. I will report more after the honeymoon period is over. Randy

When I looked at the pictures I though that it looks like the CB 247. Aloha Randy

Great review. Thanks Randy

The GR driver is good, but I still like the 445 a little better. Randy

Thanks for the review.

Picked up a x-drive GR Black driver and saw the x-blade GR black irons. They look pretty nice, but hesitant to buy without knowing a little about the characteristics. Specifically forgivenss and feel. How forgiving are they? How is the feel and is there a click sound/feel? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks Randy

I have been searching for a driver for quite a while since selling my TS 445, which was a huge mistake selling it and had been looking for a used 10.5 about a week after selling it. Tried a lot of drivers and nothing seemed to compare and almost pulled the trigger a couple of times for a new one. Then I saw that the GR Black was coming out and decided to wait until I had a chance to hit it. I am very glad that I did. Looks - you have all probably seen pictures of it, but it looks better in person. I liked the look of the 445 and the red in the top was okay, but really like the all black of the GR Black Feel - Not quite as solid as the 445, but fairly close. Better feel than the latest Callaway, Ping, TM and Titleist drivers I have tried lately , Forgiveness - I think it is quite a bit more forgiving than the 445 and find it just as forgiving, if not more so, than the Ping Rapture, Callaway FT-5 and TM TP Burner. Again, IMHO, it is almost as forgiving as the Callaway FT-i. Trajectory - I have a 9.5 (might be only loft they have) with the Tour AD B08-02 Stiff. I am hitting it higher than the 10.5 445 I had with the stock stiff shaft. No way balloning though. Distance - When hit on the screws, which is not near all the time for me, the 445 is a little longer, but overall, I hit the GR Black better. Still in the Honeymoon period, but my initial thoughts are that this might the best overall driver I have had. If it is in my bag for over 6 weeks, then I will know that it is. Aloha Randy

The main difference I get between JDM and U.S. is feel and quality. Pings to me have felt a little harsh and I don't like the "click" feel/sound. I know it is only a mind thing and doesn't make for a worse shot, but I just don't like it. As far as the AP1's go, I am currently trying them out, but they still don't have the great feel of a good forged JDM. I am on to my next hunt for a set of irons and will be posting soon. I will be looking for a set of forged JDM irons that have the forgiveness of the AP1s with no "click" sound/feel. aloha Randy

It will be very interesting to see what the results are. Randy

Thanks for doing this. Really great!!!

The irons have PX 6.0 in them. I thought they might be a little stiff for me and might have to change the shafts, but so far I am really liking them. Good height and distance and great feel. aloha Randy

Update: Although I had basically given up, the OnOff CB 247s showed up. After a couple of range sessions and a round they are now in the bag. They have everything I am looking for (thinish topline and sole, minimal off-set) and not all that unforgiving. In fact I was amazed at how well I was hitting them. Feel wise, I probably like the Epons just a little better, but the 247s are just plain solid and hit them a little better than the Epons, which are a really great set of irons. I also picked up a set of the Callway x-prototype irons and they are very nice, but I would put the Epons and of course the the 247s in the bag before them. Because I am a mid-capper (13), I also went in the opposite direction and tried a set of the Callaway i-brid irons. I am sure they would be very good for a certain sector of the golfing population, but they were a disaster for me. Extremely forgiving, but couldn't hit the 44 degree PW 120 yards. Today, I was hitting the 247 9-iron (43 degrees/one degree weak) 140 yards. I know there have been some posts about a Miura irons that is close to the 247s. If they play and feel anywhere close to the 247s and quite a bit less $s, they would be a heck of a deal. Aloha and have a great Memorial Day. (As I am sure you will do, please remember our troops.) Randy