K2_2

I'm with you on the FT-5's feel and sound. I wanted to like this driver but I hit it twice and handed it back. If I went with a US spec Callaway it would be the 460 Tour. Callaway's ERC III CF and ERC Hyper are in a different league though! Amazing sound and feel

Cool stats Gocchin, cheers! Its neat to see what people are picking up over there, and I too was surprised that the Macgregor driver was more popular than the ViQ or XXIO.

I know there was a post about this not too long ago, but I introduced a friend to the site and he really liked the look of the Miura PP-9001 irons. I did a quick search and still didn't find any reviews, so I just wanted to see if anyone had put them into play yet and could give us a quick review. Chris, have you tried these out? Cheers

Hi Tourstage_Bape, No need to apologize, and thanks for taking the time to dig all of that out! Cheers.

T, I just wanted to throw up some exciting news from Japan, I didn't expect anyone to have an article on his equipment... you are second to none! Cheers.

I just caught the news that Ryo Ishikawa became the youngest winner on the Japan PGA at 15!!! Congratulations are in order for this young man. He's also the first amateur to win on the JPGA since... Masahiro Kuramoto back in 1980. Now, can anyone figure out what's in his bag?

Welcome back! Epon is really popular here, and the quality looks great! I haven't taken one on the course. As for Tourstage, they have a new line this year with 430 and 460 cc drivers... low launch and spin, but that same solid Tourstage feel you'd be accustomed to. Also they have a new easier to hit X series driver, the X-Drive GR coming out over the summer (should be between the X-Drive 430/460 and the ViQ drivers).

The finish is fantastic! As for how many new wedges Chris can find... I don't know, but I enjoy looking at them .

Although a few of us would really like to see it on Ebay, I think it would better in an updated WITB pic! Oh, and yes I'm curious about the shaft performance too

DCFAS, Chris is the expert, but for what you're after, I'd just like to echo his three choices. My personal favourites are the TC-770 Forged, but the 900 MD is a very high quality stick, and the PRGR M series shafts are very nice as well; you'd probably enjoy the M46 steel shaft, although a Nippon 1150 in X might work well too. I don't have nearly as much experience with the Type J's, but Chris and few other guys on here have nothing but good things to say about them. Chirs, sorry to hear that G-Field officially went under... hopefully things will go better for Romaro.

Hi scandalls, Thank you for the input, we'll see which way it turns out. Personally, I love the modern look on the ZR and it is a dream to hit. However, since I myself am a little hesitant to buy clubs that I have not been able to demo, I won't push them on someone who has tried and enjoyed the I-404. Cheers

Hi guys, I haven't ever compared these two side by side, but a friend was looking at both and wanted to know what the experts think! I'd normally say go with the newer club, but he was really hooked on the 404, whereas he hasn't hit the ZR-600. I think the ZR-600 is pretty forgiving in the mid and long irons, but I haven't hit an I-404 for quite awhile. I remember them being very solid, but I don't remember the long irons being punishing or super forgiving... any advice?

Dave, You know you want to go Tourstage or Fourteen, right? Just kidding. On the serious side, I don't have a Japanese CLK on hand for comparison but the groove pattern and perimeter weight slot (blue groove along the back of the club) look very close.

... could it be a fitting studio in Japan or Hawaii stuffed with Japanese gear attached to some high end shafts?

Hi Chris, So when does the fitting studio open? Seriously, .

More shallow head and lower CG would probably mean higher launch and spin?

If you gave me the option of A) X dollars to work with the pro of my choice and spend some extra time fine tuning my game to knock off the strokes or B) Getting all new clubs with engravings and my favourite kit to deck out the bag for X dollars... I'd go with A. I like to practice, and I love to improve my game. I will try out alot of things for a little while, but I will only add a new club to the bag for an extended period (ie make it a gamer) when it improves my ability to score.

TS X series drivers do play much more true to loft than most drivers. As for shafts, I haven't hit the 435 with an Axiv, but a low kick Axiv would raise your launch, as would a Diamana Red.

Well, if we're introducing other options, I'd have to mention two more irons then. The Fourteen TC-770 forged (similar in forgivness but softer and imho of a higher quality than the R7 Forged) or the Tourstage ViQ forged (great feel, easy to work, yet very, very forgiving). While they don't fit the all Taylor Made bag, I think that the Fourteen, Tourstage, and Epon irons are all better clubs.

Chris, that has to be the quickest and most direct answer you've given on club selection . If I was doing more work like I was supposed to though, I wouldn't know or have time to comment lol. M@rc, as you just joined, search through the forums a bit for info on the R7 forged. You won't find as much about the R7 TP because 1. The guys here play more JDM/Japanese equipment and 2. The R7 TP and R7 forged are very different clubs. R7 TP is a nice forgiving club with okay feel for something cast. The R7 Forged has a softer feel and will allow you to shape shots a bit more imo. Both will be more forgiving than your current set though.

Great topic, as I was going to ask everyone their thoughts on this one tonight! For the guys using a 52/58 combo, what type of a grind to you have on each, and what do you use out of the sand (from people I have talked to, most would use the 58)? I've played a 52/59 combo for ages (started with a very non-JDM 52 deg Ping SW and have used it for ~a decade). I use the 52 out of the sand, off of plush lies on the fairway, and it is my favourite club out of the rough, far and away. The only thing I can do with it is open it up on a tight lie, as the front edge doesn't lay down well with the way the bounce is configured. From a tight lie or hard packed sand I would use the 59. I am trying a few new wedges, but I haven't found a 52 that is as good out of the sand (these are mostly set up to be an approach or gap wedge) and I haven't found a 58 that works well out of different types of sand while still allowing me to open it up off of a tight lie. And suggestions for a 58 that would be that 'well rounded?' Thank you.

T, I had no idea you were so new to the game... but I am glad that you are having so much fun with it, both on and off the course!

Nice selection of PRGR gear! When you get a chance, it would be great for you to throw up a bag picture or two as well. Also, is the Speed TR from one of their older sets, a semi-wide sole with a hollow head? If so, they were some fun clubs, easy to hybrid like irons years before hybrids were 'in.'

Hi Chris, Sorry to go off topic, but are you playing the Flat Black Blades in 5-9/PW or are you doing the 3 and 4 as well? Also, did you go with Tour AD Pro's, Axiv 959, or something from NGS? This sounds like a good set up as I've been waiting to go try the Flat Black mid irons out.

Chris, do the new OnOff drivers have a special ship/hosel that allows you to set them up with different face angles (I am pretty sure I read about a manufacturer doing that, and I 'think' it was OnOff). Either way, the driver looks nice and clean.