MCsub

You and me both... I have the 435/PT6 and it is the best driver I have ever hit. I have emailed Chris about the same combo in the 460 though... just gotta try it. I would go for the "P" version, but w/ Tourstage lofts being so true I have to have a 10.5. I'm going to get a new one, but probably won't hit it until next spring. Talk about driving myself crazy... that baby will sit in my TS staff bag in my office and I am sure I will pull it out a few hundred times before I actually hit it! LOL...

I can't speak to the J33 CB, but as far as the Bridgestone Forged Cavity Back, I would put it up against anything. I have been meaning to do a simple post about what is the best club of any type or brand you have ever hit. Driver, iron, wedge, putter - whatever. For me the answer is easily the Bridgestone FCB. I have also played or tried Z101s, Gauge FCBs, G-Field NC1s and Miura CB201s. Those are also some good sets, and none of them is in the league of the Bridgestones for what I like. Mine are shafted by Joe on Tour Concepts, and the shafts suit me perfectly, so that also helps. They are so good I will absolutely buy a spare set if they are to be discontinued, so I will have them for the future. As Chris or someone else said, it comes down to feel and what you like. I read all of the hype about the Epon Technity driver so I tried one. I'll be real honest - it was easy to hit and long, but felt nothing like my X-Drive 435 or my Japanese R7. Very "spongy" at impact. I need a "solid" feel w/ my driver. So there is an example of what apparently appeals to the masses does not to me. So perhaps it is similar w/ the irons. I am sure the Epon irons are great, but not "better" than the Bridgestones. As far as fit, finish, etc, I am very pleased w/ the Bridgestones, but obviously could not speak to the Epons. I suspect the Epons have the edge there, but that has nothing to do w/ the overall performance IMO.

Sign me up!

I don't want to threadjack you here, but I will add some comments on comparing the Epon460 to the Tourstage X-Drive 435. I agree with your assessment about the Epon at address - I did love it and prefer it to the Tourstage. The grip is also very comfortable for a cord - awesome. I also agree that the feel at impact is unlike anything else I have hit. However, I can best describe that feel as "spongy" or "springy" or "mushy". The Tourstage has a much more "solid" feel when struck. Personally, I prefer that "precise-ness". For my tastes the XD435 is still the best driver I have it in terms of being solid withoput being too hot (some clubs seem the opposite of the Epon, where the ball shoots off of the face too fast). Nonetheless, out of the 10 balls I hit with the Epon, they were all very straight and as long as the XD. Distance seemed to be a straight draw between the two (tough to tell with inconsistent range balls). I would say the Epon is more forgiving, and overall easier to hit. Toggling between the two I did manage to hook the XD a few times but not the Epon. I would say the Epon is a superb club, even if not for me. I'll add that the "stock" Drev Tour shaft felt great, and was easily the strongest performing stock shaft I have ever tried. If I kept the Epon I would not have messed around with re-shafting it.

Won't be mine my friend! Maybe you're coming around to my way of thinking! LOL...

Thanks +... I am hoping to try it later this afternoon... I'll keep you posted! I did remove the plastic feadcover and did some putting on the carpet. I can already notice a difference in the feel of the face. Definitely more muted and not "hot". The first ball I tapped reminded me of the Maru US Spec... man, should have kept that one.

Oh man, is that thing menacing. The black may just be for the proto, but the face shot will be mean in any paint. Have not even hit the Epon, but I see that TS in my future.

If it hits as good as it looks, maybe you guys are right. I am 100% pleased w/ my Tourstage XD435, but had to see what all of the fuss is about first hand. Besides, I have not bought a new club in a while :) Still in the plastic at the moment. Got the tour Drev in stiff and it may be too soft... should I sell it and get an X or hit it at first chance? Ah screw it, if I don't get to the range tomorrow I will Saturday :tsg_smiley_yes: BTW, for anyone wondering, I ordered it last week and it already arrived. Straight from the factory to my exact specs. What could be easier or faster? Thanks Chris - I'm very pleased as usual.

Can't say enough about by XD435 w/ PT6, but I haven't bought a driver since last year... guess I miss seeing the postman come into the office w/ that long driver box. May just go w/ the PT again; never tried an Axiv. Any thoughts?

I think you could mount a PT6 in a brick and have a damn good driver. The shaft is that good. Would probably have to be a X-stiff though, and your C.O.R. wouldn't be too hot... Seriously though, I have one in my X-Drive 435, and it is unreal. Long and straight. Any future driver I try (Epon 460 perhaps) will have the PT6. Big GD fan here...

I have been playing the 435 on a PT6 shaft this year. Due to time constraints, I have only played 5 rounds . Last Saturday I posted my best score ever at 81, in large part due to a great day off of the box. I am typically mid to high eighties, and know if I played more it would be a lot better. The XD gives my swing everything. Distance, control, workability. I am 5'7" and swing maybe 105 w/ the driver, and I average about 275 with this club. For me that is huge. The GD shafts work very well for me too. The club is so fun to hit. I'm sure I will be tempted by the 460cc model, but couldn't be happier with the 435 :tsg_smiley_yes:

I'll stay tuned. I have played three rounds this year, all with my X-Drive 435/PT6, and it is the best driver I have ever hit. The longest, the best feeling, workable, forgiving. Much friendlier than previous Tourstage drivers I have tried. Simply a great product.

How would you compare the PT7 to the stock TXF55 on my XST 3 wood? Love the club but may spice it up a bit...

I tend to be a low ball hitter and have the 10.5 and it is perfect, so I can see how a more normal swing may produce some ballooning w/ the 9.5. I played a round last weekend where the wind was gusting maybe 30-40mph, and I dropped the tee height a good half inch and that really helped going into it. At my back I just tried to get her floating in the jetstream. Gotta say though, it is the first driver that works better for me than my R7TP/I65. Really love the GD shafts.

Sharp... I like the rounded sole.

Well, I had the 390 pro spec and the 340 X-Drive. The X's all feel similar - hot yet solid, although the 435 is the best IMO. For whatever it is worth, the 390 has much more of the Tourstage "thwack" sound than the X-Drives. In fact, I would argue the Xs don't have that at all, especially in comparision to the pro specs and the ultimate thwacker, the Maru 23 US spec. I would keep the 390 unless you were jumping up to the 435. Very solid and just as long.

Master Joe told me they take a little getting used to, but once you do you never go back. Time will tell...

Well, now I have hit the 6-PW. Definitely a different feel than what I am used to. The Tour Concept shafts are very rewarding. I swear I was hitting the 8 iron almost as far as my Tourstage 6 iron, which makes no sense to me. But I definitely prefer the Zs at address. Wish the toplines were thinner on the NC1s.

Well, after a second session w/ this driver, I do like it. No questions it is longer than my R7TP. I have never believed when people post that because all these new drivers are .83. Perhaps the PT6 is better for me than the I65. The club face is very stable at impact, and thus the club has been hitting dead straight for me. Sound and feel at impact are superb. Still a lower trajectory than my R7, but a piercing ball flight. Looking forward to giving this one a shot this year.

Stiff flex. Thanks... I am not a hard swinger, and prefer a smooth tempo, still swinging down on the ball. Driver ss is 100-105 with a normal swing. The Z101s are built to a D2, and the NC1s are a 2.5 and 3.5 on the PW.

Well, this was the surprise of the day for me. Mine is a 10.5 on a stiff flex. I have tried several other Tourstage drivers, the best being the Maru MR23 370cc club. Man, that one I should have kept. But alas, it was too demanding for me. Tried the 365/TXD shaft and the 340/M65, but neither combo was right for me. This version has the same solid Tourstage feel, but perhaps is not quite as "hot" as the 340 I had. And nowhere near as "thwacky" as the 365 and MR23. Perfect feel. Most importantly, it gets up. Obviously, the big deal is the shaft. I think the PT6 in the 340 would have been great. Combined here w/ the 10.5 and 435cc head it is a winner. Finally, a driver to challenge my R7TP/I65. I don't get caught up a lot in distance, and the range I was at is tough to tell as it is very downhill, but w/ the 435 I was clearing a hill I could only land on w/ the R7. Most likely a few better range balls, but it is no doubt as long as the R7. Very excited about this driver.

Phenomonal. I have an old set of Scratch wedges that are very worn, and these looked like a great replacement to what I have. Both are super solid. I loved the 60 out of the sand, but I was a bit rusty. After some nice abuse the black finish started to wear off of the bottom, and it is starting to look like a wedge. Gotta get them beat up a bit more first. But the big story is the spin. I was dropping range balls w/ the 60 like glue, getting a few to turn back, and I have never been a spinner. Not sure what the availability is, but these wedges are outstanding, and I think they will get even better one more of the fancy finish is worn off

Well, the seventies are here in Colorado, yet my local range still has the freakin mats / concrete thing going. So, for my 32nd birthday today, I took the day off to go hit my first bucket of the year... off grass too... what a novel way to play golf. Anyways, I have had numerous new toys to break in, and usually I wait until I have had a few range sessions to get comfortable. This year, I have been teaching my daughter to play, and in the process I have had a cast 9 iron in my hand and have been swinging here and there. Everything has felt like a go, and I was hoping for no rust. Well, after an extended session today - and my first in 5+ months - I feel great. Almost no mis**ts of any kind. My hands hurt, and I had no feel on chipping, but otherwise I am ready to roll. So, without further ado... Bought the G-Field heads from Chris and sent them straight to Joe Kwok for proper blueprinting. I decided the give the Tour Concepts a go, and luckily the satin chrome finish had just been released. I have had them back for weeks. Took only the PW, 8, and 6 to the range, and hit them all against my Z101 / Nippon 1050s (also Kwoked, so a legit comparo). At address, I prefer the Z's thinner topline. The NC1 is slightly longer though from heel to toe, and is thus easier to align. At impact, the Z is softer yet still crisp, and the NC1 feels more muted. I would say the face of the NC1 is definitely more resiliant though; after numerous balls w/ each iron (wiping away crud when necessary), you can't yet see wear of any kind on the finish or grooves. The Tour Concepts offer an altogether unique feel that is hard to describe. Whatever it is, I love it. I was bombing the 6 iron so long and straight and swinging easy. To get the same result w/ the Z I seem to want to swing harder, and when I do I draw the ball. Nonetheless, I love the new irons, and am looking forward to running through them all over the next few weeks. I think the Tour Concept shaft is perfectly suited to the NC1 head. Against the Zs, the NC1s are more forgiving and I think will be easier to hit on the tough days. For what it is worth though, The Z101 remains as good of an iron as I have ever hit. Anyone w/ a consistent enough swing looking for a great club for not a lot of money should pick up a set. More to follow on the NC1s after I have hit them all.

Thank you my friend! Best wishes to you too

Since last season, I have acquired the following clubs: - Gauge Japan SQBT 53* and 60 wedges* - Tourstage X-Drive 435 10.5 PT6 stiff - G-Field NC1 heads, blueprinted by Master Joe on satin chrome Tour Concepts Aside from chipping w/ the PW in the back yard, nothing has been hit! I refuse to hit off of mats over concrete, which is what they use here in Colorado untils Spring really hits. I'm hoping to find some grass Sunday and get rolling. In the meantime, I did teach my 13 year old daughter how to hit off of the dreaded mats. We had about 7 range sessions over several weeks, and she tried out for and made her 7th/8th grade school girl's team. I am very excited, and as hard as it has been to not get myself going yet, it has been a true reward to see my daughter develop a very fundamentally sound setup and swing. Cheers everyone on a great upcoming season :)