Henry

I always find it amusing when a local rep for a major domestic manufacturer looks at JDM design for the same manufacturer and is dumbfounded by it. It was Titleist demo day at my club. After my round, I casually went up to the rep and showed them my VG3 irons. First reaction, had no idea what they were. Second reaction, thought they were fakes. Final reaction, took no interest in them and moved on. Although I understand they cannot get them and hence, no money in it for them, at least if they were true golf enthusiests, there should be some knowledge or interest especially since its there livlihood. Simply amazing.

yep and I also noticed he was wearing a tourstage hat. I could not make out his clubs on tv but the irons looked to be oversize and his driver was white head. Anyone have any ideas what clubs they were?

So I finally decided to go boutique and spent my life savings for the Premia Driver with Crazy LY 02 Noir Shaft in Stiff Regular at 9.5 degrees. Its always fun and exciting to get the box from Japan knowing whats inside it! Its also interesing to actually see the product in person and compare it to the pictures and video thats on the site. My inital apprehension was the pictures appeared to make the Driver look a little akward from the front of the head toward the back with the "power booster" protruding. I am happy to say after opening the box, the driver head really is no different than any other head looking down when addressing the ball. In fact, the head looks like my older Callwaw Legacy Driver with the face similiar looking. However, what really stands out is the quality of this club. It just looks expensive! The head color is a deep dark red (I originally thought is was black) and the paint looks to be metalic that simply shines. This is combined with the gold color on the sole and face of the driver. My playing partners who know absolutely nothing about Japanese equipment actually asked some questions about this driver. I would give looks an A plus. With respect to hitting the club, let me start out by saying my swing is a mess now. It has been a long winter and I have only played a few holes with the club. Therefore, its too early to give a complete review on this aspect. What I can say is when I have a good swing with the club, I have noticed a substantial roll of the ball. I have never gotton so much roll on a driver than with this one. I can also say there is definitely less spin on the ball and the trajectory with this shaft is perfect for me. I am happy I listened to my fellow tourspec members who advised me to go with 9.5. I was always a high ball hitter and have always looked for 8.5 degree drivers. I believe it would of been very difficult to get an optimal trajectory with 8.5 and even think 10.5 would of worked for me as well. At this point, I have not seen the "automatic" hit and straight down the middle yet with this club but really think that may be a product of my bad swings. I also am unable to determine distance of this driver as the course is still wet and it has been relatively cool outside. I think when the course gets dryer, the extra distance will come from the roll. So far, I am glad I purchased this driver and look forward to getting out more in the near future and will report more as I play.

Does anyone know the head size? I think they are a larger head.

lol :)....Not so much the color but the size seems to be more difficult to locate in black.

Looking for black golf gloves. Footjoy use to carry junior black size large which actually fit me better than a mens size cadet and was less expensive but it appears they don't produce them anymore. Just wondering if there are any Japan manufactures that produce black gloves and how the sizes made for the Japan market compare to the US market. Any suggestions for finding the color black in a junior size large?

Is there a rule of thumb as to how many degrees an iron can be bent? I always thought is was about 2 degrees before you get into possible problems but I just saw a golf video on U Tube from a pro in which he was discussing lie angle and he bent his iron by 5 degrees to meet his swing requirments. Also interested in knowing if you order irons in which the manufactures says you can have the lie angle adjusted (ie..Mizuno says you can go up or down by 2 degrees), does the manufactures build the iron with that lie angle requested or do they take the standard lie angle offered and then bend the club to your specifications?

As an aside, I use to collect MacGregor Tommy Armour Silver Scott Putters. Looks very much like the Zen! Before Ebay, people were selling them for $1000 to $1500 a putter. After Ebay, it turned out they were not as rare as one thought. I think they are selling for about $100 a putter. Oh well. I still have about 10 of these putters. Great looking. Let me know if anyone wants to see pics and I can post.

I got the Epon 460ZR Driver. Could not get the ball in the air and sold it. I think I had the stock shaft but can't remember. I DO remember it had the most incredible low spin ball flight I ever had. Tried it out during the winter for a few holes. Should of kept it as it had so many great reviews!

Looking at the Premia or even the just the D1, not the V-Spec. I think Tario said with all things being equal, the Premia may be a tad longer. I need that extra distance! Willing to go with 9.5 but then looking at Crazy Med High Kick point shaft?

Ok, so I am going to take the plung into the dark side and go with Ryoma D1 Premia Driver. If spending that much money, I might as well go deeper and shaft with Crazy. Need help picking the right combo. Only requirment is the shaft has to be 44.75 length. Presently play Tourstage X-Drive 705 455 8.5 degree loft is the upgrade Diamana a'hina 60 in stiff flex (PM me if interested in purchase). Shaft "feels" a little tough for me to handle in the S flex. Current Driving Distance is about 230 yards. Swing speed is is about 95mph. 8 handicap. I have always had a tendancy to hit high shots so would like to keep 8.5 loft but go with a med or high kick point Crazy shaft to offset the true loft of Ryoma. Not sure what the weight of the Ryoma head should be for balance purposes with the 44.75 length requirment, Looking for neutral bias shaft as well. Thanks for your input!

Can anyone give me an education on the different Drivers Ryoma offers and what the differences are? Specifically looking for which ones are geared for specific swing types and what would the custom offerings be with this company. For those that have played them, thoughts?

I now see Mizuno Japan has come out with the JPX 825 line of irons. They look similiar to the US versions that already came out but for stronger loft and minor aesthetic differences. For example, in US, there is the "JPX Pro 825" while the Japan market is the "JPX Forged 825." Would these be the only differences or are there anything else that would cause the Japan version to be different? Sounds like a question for Gocchin!

Has anyone played these irons? Seems like Mizuno was everywhere on this forum but recently other brands have overtaken them. Would you compare the JPX on the same level as On Off Forged, Yamaha forged and Titliest VG3 irons? Not sure if the JPX are forged by Endo?

Topic says it all. We have seen releases already for Yamaha, XXIO, On-Off and some others. Can anyone tell me what other new models will be arriving soon or if there are any rumors for new gear for next year?

Appreciate the feedback. I presently play with the 8.5 degree Tourstage X Drive 705 driver size 455 with the Diamana ahina 60 stiff flex. I have alway hit the ball on the high side and this shaft certainly keeps the ball on a lower trajectory which I like. However, I seem to always be "fighting" the club and/or the shaft. Although I guess I could replace the shaft with one that is more user friendly to me and which keeps the ball on the lower trajectory, I am willing to go with a 2013 driver in an 8.5 degree loft that may be easier to hit but still keep the lower trajectory that I desire. Any suggestions?

Other than Tourstage and Callaway, what other JDM manufacturers make a driver at 8.5 degrees?

Thanks for the review. Can you tell us what Titliest offers in custom length, lie and loft options? Also, does the cavity back show at address with the 4 iron?

Seems that everyone believes Epon is the best manufactuer on the market. Help me understand why as I want to fall in love!

TSG is the first sight I open in the morning and last sight I view at night!

In a similar vein, When I show my JDM equipment to my friends, they always ask me why the script is in English and not Japanese. I think there was an answer several years ago in this forum but cannot remember the answer.

On a similar question, been looking for a "mini" JDM stand bag with feet and that can hold a full set of clubs. Want something that is different for my golfing partners to notice!

Hey Gocchin..able to test your demos with the VG3's yet?

presently have the 2011 Callaway Legacy wood in stock SR (nothing wrong with it, nice club, shaft a little wobbly) 9 handicap, looking for mid club, mid launch.

In all my years of playing golf, I have never played with a utility club. I think its time to replace my 7 wood with a utility club that may be easier to hit but have equal distance to my 7 wood. Would not even know what the degree for the utility club would be? Looking for suggestions. Thanks.