K2_2

Hi Chris, Thank you for the quick follow up! It sounds like that would be something for another trip after I have settled on a style and basic set of specs that I want to perfect. Cheers.

Hi Chris! Speaking - pleasantries only really although I've muddled through a fitting for a driver and set of irons and have been happy with the result. Cheers, Kyle

I will have a little extra time in Japan and wanted to see about a putter fitting around Tokyo. Does anyone have any ideas? Basically, I'd like to try a few different styles and see which one (s) I manage to line up (reasonably) close to the hole at a studio. If no one has any ideas, I might have to pick up another driver instead .

Hi T, great news for everyone on TSG - there are quite a few shops in Japan that did not offer this service from Taylor Made, at least a year or two ago when I inquired. Do you have a list of the shafts for the R9 max, or if that is too lengthy to post, any chance of getting an Ali'Islei at 44.75? Also, any graphite shafts for irons and wedges?

T - do I see an all time favorite putter face in the forth picture?

I would love to try the AD 105 and 115 as well, but as T mentioned above, the price of admission is steep! While I have no plans to switch from the Roddio I-10, the heavier AD series shafts are tempting. An AD-105, Roddio I-10, Diamana Thump, and Fuji (9E05 or their USDM 115 g shaft) shootout would be very interesting.

Hi Jack, Thankfully you asked about a slightly older shaft - I haven't kept up on 09's offerings! The MD-6 was a follow-on from the green Quattro Tech series. The MD-6 was more of a mid bend shaft with a slightly more firm tip, thus offering a bit lower launch. For a driver, I think it would cover a pretty wide range of swings. I have a really slow rotation of the hands through the ball so I do better with a mid-low or lower bend but I still think the MD-6 is a great shaft.

I'm glad to hear that the AD-85's worked out well for you. The AD iron series are fantastic shafts, no doubt. I remember Big Ben having some issues, and was sorry to hear about that as I was one of the people here who have always enjoyed the AD series, especially the AD Pro. Welcome to the wonderful world of graphite shafted irons!

T - great looking photos of a beautiful club. As always, I am really impressed by the details that go into the sole on PRGR's irons. Their player's irons over the last two years have had some fantastic grinds that work well from all over the course.

Hi T, Nice looking bag to begin a new season in Japan. PRGR has produced some great clubs over the last two years. Llast years drivers and the 500bl were among some of the most well finished and designed clubs I have seen. So - when are you going to put the current Crews wedges in the bag - just kidding. Enjoy the new mix and let us know how it all works out for you.

Specs on your current driver (not only model and loft, but length, shaft, and 'real' face angle and loft) would be helpful. With that info T and the rest of the guys here can help you select a fantastic driver. I am a big OnOFF & Callaway fan, but of the models you mentioned, I would lean towards the Tourstage club if and only if the head AND shaft suit you.

Ah Kenneth Smith - I really wish they could have found a way to fit their high quality approach into a modern market driven equipment game. Hopefully their Japanese counterparts like Gold's Factory will continue on. Speaking of low volume Japanese producers, what happened to MOZ? While some traditionaly lofted clubs would be nice, the cost of producing two sets would be high, while weakening the loft 1 or even 2 degrees doesn't seem to have too big of an impact with most grinds. I don't know if the same holds true for weakening lofts though.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to everyone - nice to drop in and see a few people floating around!

I haven toyed with these (short demos only) and they are a fantastic iron! They are more forigiving than a true blade but they are wonderfully crafted and had, imho, one of the best grinds of any iron available last year.

So is the EV more firm up toward to grip providing the more stiff feel compared to the MD?

Welcome to TSG! As you said, better late than never - we are just glad to hear that you are enjoying the game. As for the irons - as you have no doubt seen, there are a plethora of great new offerings floating around. Lessons - I need a few myself but Idrive has pointed you in the right direction!

Best JDM Driver in 2008: Callaway Legacy Why: Feel as good as any driver I have picked up in years combined with a nice balance of control and forgiveness. Best JDM Iron of 2008: PRGR 500BL Why: One of the best looking irons from PRGR in years, one of the best off the shelf grinds I have ever tried, and an absolute gem to swing when you are on top of your game. Best JDM Wedge of 2008: Golds Factory wedge with a liquid chrome finish. Why: I only saw these in passing but the Golds Factory wedge with a liquid chrome finish (like the 2007 Clevelands and X-Tours) may have been some of the best looking wedges I have ever seen. T/Chris, is this finish an option from Golds Factory? Best JDM Shaft of 2008: Graphite Design Quattro Tech Series (MD and the Green 2007 version) Why: While the MD didn’t fit my swing, this is a fantastic shaft and as T noted, it has gained quite a following on the JPGA. Combined with the Green 2007 Quattro Tech which work like magic in a fairway, this has to be one of the most solid shaft lines in golf imho. Best Course you played on in 2008: If my schedule isn’t flipped upside down again I plan to try my luck at Blue Canyon in Phuket, Thailand: solid conditioning for the most part and a killer layout that kept the Johnny Walker Classic field entertained for several years. Best shot you made in 2008: Chip in birdie on 7th, Galloway in Memphis, TN. Why: After not playing for months I managed to put together the best round I have had in more than 5 years thanks in no small part to some positive momentum gained from a tricky chip that snaked its way across the green for a nice birdie. Best professional player in 2008: Ji-Yai Shin Why: This young lady has made some waves winning the Women’s British Open and giving the field of the Mizuno Classic a preview of things to come, leaving her nearest competitor six strokes behind after a fantastic week in Japan. She just capped off the year with a win at the ADT Championship down in Florida.

Hi T, I am glad to see that you make good use of the wedges - and that you can have them refinished as well! I will be interested to hear how the glove holds up as well - do you have any info on what distinguish's the material from the rest of the pack? Cheers Idrive - I have been away for too long - how are the Gold's cavities working for you? I never thought the Epons would leave your bag!

From what I have read and 'heard' while in Japan - ie a quick chat in a shop I visited - the Diamana Thump should be reasonably firm in the tip providing less spin than some other graphite irons. However, I don't know the bend profile so I can't comment about the degree of softness on the other end.

Hi Tbone, I only hit the Fuji in an R7-TP so any comparison to the Roddios (which I use in the OnOff Plus) would be vague at best. For me, I like the feeling of the Roddios more and they are very consistant shaft to shaft. The Fuji's may be as well, but in the past I have noticed a difference in feel between Fuji's 'home model's' like the 9E05 that is sold in Japan and some of their US tailored products. The heavier AD series are also very nice - if I was not playing the Roddios I would probably be using the AD-95 or Tour AD Pro. Just a note on the AD-Pro, I really like them, but one of the members here (BigBen?) had some issues with them playing way to soft. Drop him a PM if you get a chance. I would like to try the Thump in a nice set of irons but I haven't gotten around to it yet. The Roddio-OnOff Plus is working quite well for me so I have had little motivation to change.

TBone, I have been waiting for this to pop up on the Fujikura Japan site, but no such luck as of yet. I will hazard a guess... this shaft is probably very closely related to the REAX 115 that Fujikura produced for the Taylor Made R7-TP. Specs look similar although 115i might have a slightly higher bend point. From memory the 115 g REAX by Fuji was a pretty nice shaft - very smooth, great at absorbing vibration in comparison to steel, and as I spent some time with practicing in both a head and cross-wind, my impression was that it didn't baloon or add excessive spin to the ball.

Thank you for the preview T, these look very nice. I will miss the all black OnOFF Plus - I know it has nothing to do with performance and remains hidden under the headcover and... I guess I will have to try the new drivers out! Now, how about an updated Roddio?

... wait. You went to Kapalua and didn't take pictures? Just kidding man, thanks for the update on the witb for Momo-chan. More importantly, did you have a good time at the tournament? There are quite a few that I would like to watch live, and the Kapalua Classic is certainly high on the list.

So Momo-chan is going to give up the X-Tours... I hope that she takes her time getting set into these - she has played some amazing golf with the X-Tours over the last two years. EDIT - is she already playing these? If so, does anyone have an updated picture of her current set?

Kudos to E for taking care of C then!