chinkwan

I heard that from another friend whom has Miura PP9001 as well.. My friend needed to re-bore them for the very same reason.. I have owned a set of Miura MC101 at one point and loved them.. made the mistake of selling them so I an not here to bash Miura... I thought they claim the closest weight tolerance in the industry for their heads etc.. Doesn't seem like a good idea for us to get other clubmakers to re-bore the heads.. I am sure that would wreck their tight tolerance when we remove some material... Chris, if you can kindly find out for us the rationale and more importantly, how we should go about it...

Not 100% sure but 99%... V3 and the MT28 are all Japan.. At least the MT28 which I am using says made in Japan... If they have anohter production line then I won't know... V4 is listed as made in china on their Japanese website while the MT28 are still made in Japan... very good wedge btw.. beats everything that I have tried so far...

Not looking good.. their V4 wedges are forged in China too...

T: I am sure most of the guys here have the same question on their mind.. How much is the shipping to/from Japan and how much does Sasaya-San charges for finish change pending no additional mods?? Also, does this hurt the putter in anyway

THe irons are over the top.. too busy styling.. but I guess you don't see it when you address the ball.. However, I will not want an ugly iron like that in my bag... Any ideas what a Burner PLUS driver is?? It looks like the USDM Burner 08.. what about the R7 Limited, it looks like the R7CGB.. are they cosmetic differences only??

Medium Launch and great great feeling head.. best feeling I have played and on average I have at least 3 new drivers every season.. This is my 6th Driver on rotation this season.. Seriously good feeling or else I won't add it as my 6th!!! I find it more forgiving then my Titleist 905R.. keep in mind that Mizuno Pros in Japan (Akane Ijima) play this Driver so it's not a hihg-handicap driver (I own 06 ViQ and 08ViQ that are in that category) but it's not ridicously hard either.. Have only hit MP001 briefly at a shop so can't offer you a detailed comparison except that the Craft is way more solid feeling.. I find the OEM Quad Shaft very good for an oem shaft, it was compared against AXIV, PT6 on one issue of GolfGear and it faired quite well.. I have heard that the lie angle can be bent.. but I think it can also be purchased with different lies.. On the issue of Golf Gear, it was marked with red and yellow dot to denote the non-std lies.. Std. lie is not marked. Haven't measured mine, but my buddy's Craft425 is dead square as he's got it speced. out.. As to the difference between 425 and 460.. the 460 is internally draw weighted while the 425 is neutrally weighted.

Own 2006 ViQ cast/ NSPro900 and 2007 ViQ Forged/NSPro 90V. Currently still playing both.. the lofts are identical for the irons.. I can switch between the 2 sets with relative ease without awkward yardage gaps (I am merely an okay ball striker so my distance ain't very very precise) I have had the opportunity in Japan last month to try the 2008 ViQ Cast on a mat, I can tell you that it's much much hotter then the 2006 ViQ Cast that I own.. The ball almost explodes of the face.. The store also had a 2007 ViQ Forged so I did hit the two back to back (re-establishing a baseline so I ain't dreaming) On a side note, I tried X-Blade GR, it's quite a hot face too.. I would say it's an easier to hit iron then the ViQ Forged.. If I were to get only one set, I would go for the X-blade GR, combines the hot face of the ViQ Cast iron in a less bulky package (the ViQ Forged and X-BladeGR is quite simlar at address) No idea how it compares to the Epon though as I have never seen or hit one..

Great great driver!! Forte's got one.. I tried his and absolutely fell in love with it.. Believe me that I have tried quite a few drivers... Great great feeling head.. The shaft is definitely on the soft side though...It's a 70gm stiff Quad Butt Standard and I can play it with relative ease with my 85-95mph swingspeed (I know it's a wide range but it's what it is) I ended up picking one up as well..

For Nike Dry-Fits.. TW and non-TW golf shirts.. I take Small.. but take medium on TS and Paradiso... But they sometimes fit, sometimes don't.. I would say for every 10 shirts I get... 6-7 would fit pretty well... It's not tailored clothing so I ain't picky but some are just way way big and way way small....

My ViQ Forged set with V90 shafts are labelled made in Japan.. Not sure wherer the 08 models are made but I hit them during my visit to Japan last week and they are hot... very hot face on them.. I have 06 ViQ and 07 ViQ Forged and tried it against X-Blade CB, X-Blade GR, and 08 ViQ..If you are looking for a hot face iron.. I think it's a good choice.. Tried the XXIO as well but somehow never liked them.. the old version or the current version.. much prefer ViQ or X-Blade GR if you are in the market for a hot iron....

Just got back from Japan.. Yes, their sizes can be quite different.. Have been wearing Tourstage/Paradiso for the last few seasons already.. I take medium for both brands.. sometimes they are too big and sometimes they are too small.. Seriously, it will be hard to buy just by through the net... Must go to Japan to try them out...

Thankx for the reply.. I am guessing that the finish will wear out like a Vokey Oil Can then.. i.e. it will rust over time once the gold finish wears off...

Thankx for the reply.. I am guessing that the finish will wear out like a Vokey Oil Can then.. i.e. it will rust over time once the gold finish wears off...

For the guys that have owned the black and the gold version of this wedge, how does it wear?? Can somebody kindly post a pic of the face as well as the sole?? Many many thankx.. The gold one looks really sweet.. the black one looks cool as well...

I have never played the 2008 ViQ Fwy.. But I do have a set of 2006 ViQ Fwy.. 3 and 5 with the oem stiff shaft.. The head profile is very low and the shaft is a high trajectory shaft.. very easy to hit.. distance according to Japan Golf Digest Fwy Comparo is on par with everything else on the market except it hits it higher... Interestingly enough.. the 3 and 5 have almost the same trajectory going by the magazine noted above.. the 50gm oem stiff is definitely more suited fow a easier swinger.. I need to be very smooth in order to make the club work.. it's always in the back of my mind to re-shaft them.. I think it's quite relevant as I seen the marketing material for the 2008 ViQ Line.. there ain't any big changes they made to the Fwy 2006 vs. 2008.. 2008 Driver, Irons all had tons of graphs and stuff highlighting the changes...

Your post is a bit dated.. wondering if you have found what you need yet.. I have 6064M, AXIV-X 5062 (56gm) and Quattrotech 65 Stiff... Let me know if they suit your needs.. U can find my ad. on BST section under FORTE, lots to unload...

Gocchin: What about the Rombax X and the Rombax V?? Are they different??? US and Japan spec.???

Chris, can u provide us with more info on the free fitting session over at Fujikura in Tokyo?? What heads do they fit you with??? Am i able to bring a Driver head and have them install it for a fee after the shaft fitting.. And most importantly, how can I get there?? Many many thankx in advance.

Correct me if I am wrong.. I think he was using a X-Drive GR at one point.. This doesn't look like a GR.. but he's still wearing Tourstage clothing (Paradiso).. I THINK it must be a new TOURSTAGE Driver...

I use IOMIC sticky which I like the looks.. they feel good.. but are a pain to keep clean.. I also have NO1 Grip.. 50 series.. I find the left hand fits just right but the taper is too little.. I feel the area for my right hand is too thick.. I know I can get my clubmaker to stretch it but it's just so much easier to ask him to slip it on... Does anyone know how the IOMIC sticky compares to the NO1Grip 48 series in terms of sizing?? in terms of longevity and maintenance?? I can play any grip as long as they are fresh and tacky.. I have golf pride tour velvets, winn avs and lamkins on my other clubs..

Not 100% certain.. But this is what I have heard... I heard the Mizuno heads are forged in Japan, then plated in China.. The ones that you find at the local golf shops, the custom M-Stamp Mizunos are forged in Japan and plated in Japan.. I ain't no logistics expert but it seems strange to me to forge in Japan, then ship the heads to China for plating.. I wonder if that is indeed true, does it mean that the clubs are assemble (i.e. shaft/grip) done in China??? Can't see them sending it back to Japan for final assembly... I hear that the PING Redwood putters are the same story.. Putter heads forged in the USA then sent to China for plating.. then sent back to USA for sale.... As for Endo...I have 06/07/08 Japanese Catalog for Tourstage.. it clearly states that X-Blade are Thailand and Japan.. I am guessing that the exact same model are made in both Endo factories.. what you end up with would be luck of the draw.. It might be from Thailand and it might be from Japan.. I think Chris says the steel is from Japan exported to Thailand.. Theoretically, they should be the same.. but it's sort of a believe that the Japanese made ones must be better... i.e.. My friend works at the local Lexus dealer.. he bot a RX350 made in Japan instead of the ones made in Canada.. he says from experience that the Japan ones have less squeaks and tigher tolerances.. I am sure somebody will correct me if I am wrong..

Has anybody heard if any Japanese OEM's have announced that they will be releasing interchangable shaft drivers for consumers?? I have seen Callaway, Taylormade and Nike all announced that they are coming out this year.. i.e. I think the Callaway system comes with 1 Driver head and 2 shafts.. and of course the tool to remove and install the 2 shafts.. I think we are all equipment Ho's here and it will be great to sample shafts without going to the clubmaker all the time.. I can imagine swapping shaft or head with friends to try. GolfGear is no longer published so I have no more information...

I have got the 2006 ViQ Fwy, 3 and 5 wood in addition to the ViQ driver.. Super easy to hit.. high trajectory and it stops real well on the green. The low profile makes it easy to hurt off the fwy.. I have had Ping Fwys, Sonartec fwys, and have hit almost all the US brands.. only the R7 fwy are good but the shafts are too broady for me.. Bot the 3Fwy from Tokyo for like $300... liked it enough to buy the 5fwy.. It's a lot for my budget for a fwy wood but they are good enough for me to pluck another $300.. Have seen the PRGR stuff but never tried it so can't compare the two..

I own W70 on a ViQ Driver custom ordered from Tourstage in Japan.. Great Club.. I am a 90-95mph swinger and it works.. I am pretty confident that the W60 will be good in a fwy application as my W70 has tight dispersion and a medium trajectory... Currently playing ViQ 3/5 Fwy with oem 50gm stiff shafts.. those are a touch too whippy.. got to put a very smooth swing to it to make it work... I might re-shaft both in the future with something a bit tighter in dispersion...

T: Do you know what type of Dynamic Gold?? S200 or S300?? Can they be ordered with NSPro Wedge Flex?? I play 45PW on my set and have Fourteen 50/54/58 (bent to 50/55/59, as my Joe Kwok Vokeys are 50/56/60) Keep us updated on this one..