Randy

I had a set of the TC-770 cast and they felt as good as almost any forged iron I've tried, which has been quite a few. Sometimes wish I had kept them. aloha Randy

I found the Passing Point irons to be good, but not good enough to keep them in the bag. To me they are more forgiving than they look, but didn't find them to be ultra soft. Since feel is subjective, they may feel great to some, but I like a little softer feel like the Gauge FCBs. Randy

I have owned both and both are great wedges, but the Chikara's are in the bag as I seem to hit a variety of shots just a little better with them.

Thanks for the info and Merry Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

A freiend of mine picked me up a Gauge Design GA00B 1st RUN Putter from Japan. I tried to seach here for some information on this putter, but couldn't find anything. I will get my camera back after Christmas and try and take some pictures, but until then I will provide some detail and see if anyone would be able to provide me some information on this putter. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Looking at the sole - Calipers on the left. Gauge Design in the center. Has a center cut all the way through the sole and GA00B 1ST. Run on the right. Looking at the face - SUS303 on the left. Calipers on the right and two round looking weights with one on the left and one on the right. Left bumper - looks like 331 G handstamped. Back - Calipers in the middle and a stamped G in upper left corner. Top - Black site dot. Hosel - 004 stamped in. Again, any information on this putter would be greatly appreciated. Happy Holidays Randy

At one of the golf shops I frequent, I came across an almost new set of Gauge irons. Wasn't even sure sure what model they were. After doing some research here, I believe they are the FCBs. The irons that I had in the bag, Tourstage 2008 X-CB, were just a little to demanding for me, so I decided to give the Gauge irons a try, as I didn't see anything else that interested me. I am glad that I did. I played my first round with them today, after having to wait two weeks while I visited family in Nebraska. No golf being played there this time of year. I will post a more detailed review after I have a few more rounds with them. My inital impressions after todays round: Looks - these irons have a nice clean look and set up nicely behind the ball. Not the thinest of toplines, but not real thick either and not a huge amount of off-set. Forgiveness - looking at irons you would think they wouldn't have much forgiveness as they don't have much of a cavity back. To me they are more forgiving than the Tourstage 2008 CBs and IMHO are comparable forgivenees wise to the Ping I5s. Workability - I could do anything with these irons that my some what limited capabilites allow ( high cuts, low draws, knockdowns). Feel - Here is where the irons stand above all others I have tried. I know that feel is subjective and personal, but these irons have the best feel to me of any I have ever tried tried and that includes custom M stamp MP33s, MP67s and a bunch of others. As a 13/14 handicap, I should probably be playing some GI irons, but have gone that route and, although I did have a good round or two, they never worked out for me. Couldn't get used to the large amount of off-set, couldn't work the ball very well, and just didn't like the feel of any of them and eventually didn't have any confidence with them. I have also tried the pure blade route and I love the looks and feel of blades, but just not enough forgiveness for me. So I have been looking for a set of irons somewhere in between that has wonderful feel to me, allows me to work the ball some and has at least some forgiveness. At least after one round, the Gauge FCBs fits what I am looking for and shot my best round in a year with them. Aloha Randy

Thanks for the information. Randy

I did a search, and may have missed it, but what loft is the G-Field GFT-UW #3? Thanks Randy

For me it is the Crews Golf SpinMax. Loads of spin and a really great feel for being a cast club. Rnady

I really like the shaft in stiff (10.5 loft head), but do I have a pretty quick transition and am more a hitter than a swinger. This driver is firmly in my bag, at least until I have a chance to try the EMB. Randy

Web on the crown is not distracting at all to me, even in direct sunlight. In fact, I think it is pretty cool. Not near as noticable as in some pictures I have seen. Aloha Randy

Quick update after just getting back from playing a round. X-Drive 445 - In my humble opinion, run, don't walk to get this driver. Had the best driving round ever today. I hit 12 of 14 fairways and the distance was really good. My normal playing partners couldn't belive how well I was hitting this driver. One of the long ball hitters in the group I normally play with is usually 30 yards past me on the drive, but today it was only about 15 to 20 yards. I should also add that I think the forgiveness of this driver is almost, if not as good as most 460 drivers. 2008 X-blade CBs - Verdict is out on these for me. As much as I hate to admit it, as I really like the looks and feel, they may be a little to much for me. I had only 6 GIRs, which isn't very good considering how many fairways I hit. Direction was good, but always seemed to come up 7 to 10 yards short. We wil see how they perfrom tomorrow. X-UT - Nothing has changed since my initial impression. A really good iron like hybrid. Aloha Randy

Thought I saw a #2 and #3 X-Blade UT in the shop I bought the #4 at. Checked the PRO SHOP and it looks like the #2 is 18, the #3 is 20.5. Might be I am not seeing something quite right though. Randy

Decided to got back to the golf brand that I first really loved, which was Tourstage. Yesterday I picked up the new X-Drive 445 (10.5) with the B07-05 stiff shaft, X-blade UT #4, 2008 X-blade CB (5-PW) and X-wedge 51, which I bent to 50. Only had a chance to play 9 holes yesterday afternoon and 9 holes today after the turkey meal. So these are just initial impressions: X-Drive 445: This club was the one that I was most hesitant to buy. My current gammer was a Ping G10 with a ROMBAX shaft and it is a very forgivng and a pretty long driver, but I wasn't all the consistent with it. After 18 total holes, this new Tourstage driver is firmly in the bag. Sets up great, feels wonderful and I was hitting it as long, if not longer than my G10, but much straighter. I think it is an inch shorter in total length than the G10 and probably why I hit it straighter and I would give up a few more yards to be straighter. Now I have a driver that is as long, straighter and better feel. At one time I had an EPON 460 and I think this driver, although not quite as good, comes close in feel. 2008 X-Blade CB (5-PW): Tried to find some reviews on these irons, but couldn't, so took chance on getting them. I have been rotating iron sets between Ping i10, Miura Passing Point and G-Field CCB. Although they are all good irons, there was a little something about each one that kept them from being permanently in my bag. At least as permanent as an iron set can be with a Golf Ho. The G-Fields has a lot more forgiveness and more off-set to my eye than the other irons. I know they are cast, but was hoping I could get used to the feel, but I couldn't and know that is a mental thing. The Ping i10s and Miura Passing Point irons have, at least to my eye, less off-set and better feel. Getting closer to what I was looking for, but still not there. For sure the Miura's had a decent forged feel and felt better to me that the Pings, but of course feel is subjective. I was really tempted to keep the Miura's in the bag; but decided, after reading the description of the new Tourstage irons, to give them a try. After playing them for 18 holes I am glad I did. Very little off-set to my eyes, which I like when looking down at a club, and what a superb feel. In the feel category, to me they are just behind the Mizuno MP-67s or M- stamped satin MP- 33s I had. I am a 13 handicap and knowing that they probably didn't have a lot of forgiveness, I went with 5-PW with DG-S200 shafts. After 18 holes, forgiveness wise, I found them not to be as punishing as I though they might be. Probably not quite as forgiving as the Ping i10 or Miura Passing Point irons, but close. I had no trouble with 6-PW, but didn't strike the 5 iron cleanly every time. I am not a big worker of the ball, but was able to hit some draws, fades, high and low shots with these irons. X-Blade UT #4: Wanted something more forgiving in the long irons to go with the X-Blade CB irons that I reviewed above. The X-Blade UT seems to be a perfect match. It is definitely an iron like hybrib, which I like, and has an exceptional feel. I decided to use it teed up just off the deck on the first t-box and proceeded to hit it 210 yard right down the middle of the fairway with a nice high, but not balloning, trajectory. Off the deck, I got a medium-high trajectory. Maybe not as forgiving as some of the other hybrids out there, but not bad and I have a hard time looking down at some of the bigger looking wood type hybrids. Another plus to me was that I was able to hit some low, hot running draw shots with it. With other hybrids I have tried, it was a lot harder to hit that shot and a lot of times the ball would elevate higher than I wanted. Yes, as a 13 handicap, I do have to hit out of or around trees at times. Hopefully less with the X-Drive 445. I am for sure going to get the X-drive UT #3 and maybe the #5 if they make one. X-Wedge 51 degree (black): There have been some reviews on this wedge, so I won't say much other than it is a great wedge with superb feel and contol, will at least as much control that I can produce with a wedge . I really like my Crew's SpinMax, 52 bent to 54 and 57 bent to 58 wedges, and debating whether to get the X-wedges to replace them. The x-wedge definitely feels better, but know I probably won't get as much spin. I am trying to get the best of both worlds, feel/looks and clubs that will help me score decently, with my current setup. I am not, nor will I ever be a pro, so even though I do want to shoot better scores, I want to be able to enjoy the looks and feel of the clubs that I have. By going with 5-PW and maybe 6-PW if they make a #5 X-blade UT in the X-Blade CBs, I can have my cake and it eat to. I am playing 18 tomorrow and on Saturday, so we shall see. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Randy

If you are looking for something that is more of an iron type hybrid, you should give consideration to the new, or fairly new, Tourstage x-blade UT. I got the #4 yesterday and only had a chance to play 18 holes total with it, but I really like it. Wonderful feel, medium-high trajectory and sets up great for me. I am going to get the #3 and see if they have a #5. Distance, same shaft, also seem to work well with the new Tourstage 2008 x-blade irons (5-PW) that I got at the same time. Randy

I know these haven't been out very long and I am thinking about getting a set, but would like to read some reviews before making the plunge. Does anyone even have some initial impressions of these irons? Aloha Randy

I just picked up a used set of Miura Passing Point PP-9001 irons and they came with the SYB K's-6001 T100 shaft. Hadn't heard of these shafts and did some researh and found a little info on the SYB website, but not a lot. Does any one know anything about these shafts? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Randy

Friend called from Japan and asked if I wanted a set of Japan Ping i10 irons and said the finish was different than the U.S. Ping i10s irons. A little darker. Of course, I said sure as I wanted to try the i10 irons any how. I got them today and the finish does look a little darker, but maybe my eyes were decieving me. Does anyone know if the finish is different? If so, what kind of finish does the Japan i10 irons have? Thanks in advance for any feedback. Randy P.S. I would post pictures, but camera is down right now.

I would be very interested in an less off-set, Japan made, set of Ping Rature irons. Is there s web site that I can check out the specs and maybe see pictures? thanks Randy

I did move on to the R7 forged, or back to them as this is my second set of them. Never did try the E500s. Didn't want to spend the money without first seeing them. To me the GRs are quite a bit more forgiving than the R7 forged and feel almost as good IMHO. As I stated in a previous post, I was surprised at how well the GRs felt with the undercut. To me better feel than the EPON Type X and Callway X tour. The only reason, other than being a Golf Ho, that I got rid of the GRs was because of the light stand NIPPON shafts that were in them. I had taken them to my club fitter to have the shafts changed, but he wound up buying them from me. Now this has gotten me to thinking about getting another set and changing out the shafts. Aloha Randy

Probably not a lot of people have hit the Yururi and R7 forged irons, but if you have, would like to know if the Yururi are more forgiving? I currently play the R7 forged, but could use a little more forgiveness and like the looks of the new Yururi Gekku irons, but don't want to pull the trigger unless they are more forgving. Thanks in advance for any info you may have. Randy

Would like a buy a very good used set of Mizuno JPX E500 irons. Heads only works as I have shafts or with shafts, but would prefer something other than NSPro 950. I know this is probably a long shot, but want to try these irons before getting my bag set for a while. If you have a set for sale, I would appreciate it if you would PM or e-mail me with condition, type of shaft and price. Aloha Randy

I will check again in the morning when the sun is out, but under the kitchen light you can just start to see the undercut on the 6 iron. Of course then you can see more in the 3,4 and 5 irons. As far as top lines goes, it appears a little thicker than my Mp 27s, but I would not say it is extremely thick. As far as looks from address, it is the first somewhat game improvement iron that I liked the look of. The heads appear to be a little longer than the MP 27s, but off-set seems to be about the same. Not sure this helps much, but my impressions under the kitchen light. Randy

Just picked up a set of these irons and only had a chance to play a couple of holes with them. I was a little concerned about feel due to the undercut, but I shouldn't have been. They feel as good as a set of custom Mizunos that I am currently playing. Can't compare them to the VIQ irons as I never played them, but they seem pretty forgiving. As forgiving, if not more so, compared to xtours. I will report back more tomorrow after I have played them for a full round. aloha randy