dorkman53

Another company that offers an impressive amount of customization is ScratchGolf. They take Japanese forgings as blanks, then you can have them customized to your heart's content. They started with wedges, but now make 3 different iron series as well. I think they used to sell them on this board, but haven't seen much activity lately here.

I also have the Axiv X on my EMB, and the combo is an absolute jewel. For me, it produces a high line drive that rolls and rolls. By FAR the longest and straightest driver I've ever had. I use the 6058 due to my 95-98 mph swing speed. This shaft really loads and kicks better than any I've tried in the past, but is also highly controllable; not a noodle in the slightest. If you choose to go this route, get advice from one of the board experts regarding the appropriate flex for you based on tempo and swingspeed.

This may be considered arch-heresy on this Japanese equipment board, but I've tried a lot of hybrid shafts from many manufacturers, and I've been most satisfied with the True Temper Black Gold iron shafts in the appropriate flex. They make them in .355" taper and .370" parallel. I have found that it took my trajectory a bit lower than most graphite shafts, but increased my accuracy.

I'm 5' 9" and I went with the Axiv X @ 45.5" on my 12 degree EMB. It's a fantastic combination of distance, forgiveness, and accuracy. The shaft kicks great, but in a very controllable fashion. My buddies could be just a bit jealous, I fear.....

I tried one. It was fairly easy to hit. What I didn't like about it is that it had a very hollow sound and the head didn't feel solid at all. That said, I can't fault its performance.

Some of the fairway woods and hybrids look like dead ringers for Sonartecs. I'm sure I can't be the first to make this observation.

OK; I've had my EMB 12 degree, square faced head with the Axiv-X R flex shaft @ 45.5" for nearly 2 months now, so I can report without sounding like puppy enthusiasm about a new chew toy. This sucker is LONG. This sucker is STRAIGHT. The shaft really kicks, but seems perfectly controllable in my hands. I'm a mid-50's guy with a relatively flat 95-98 mph swing, and I need a bit more loft than average to get enough carry. I am carrying this over bunkers I used to avoid. I am outhitting my buddies by 20-40 yards on comparable drives. I kid you not; this is by far the longest hitting driver I've had. The only others that were close were a Golf Gear Tsunami with a 50 gram 46" shaft I couldn't control several years ago, and a Wishon 919 THI with an X-Con 6, but the Epon EMB is clearly the longest. I can get a bit of fade or draw, but it really wants to go straight. Despite the relatively low weight and slightly longer club and all the flex, this shaft is very solid and predictable. I paid a bundle for this club, but it was worth every penny.

In the photo it appears to have a closed face. Is that true, or simply a photographic artifact?

I got one with the Axiv-X and I can testify that this sucker is LONG and easy to hit straight. After 3 rounds, I'm already over the "loud" issue. I'm just getting to parts of the course I've never been before with a driver, and loving it.

I should add on significant difference. The 460 gives a quiet, solid, muted "thunk". The EMB is LOUD; to me it sounds like a home run swing from an aluminum baseball bat. I know my buddies are going to kid me about it for a round or so, then they'll get used to me blowing it by them. I had similar issues when I got a "Heavy Putter." A bit of good natured kidding, and now it is never mentioned. (Best putter I've ever had; in my bag for 2 years.....an eternity for a club ho.)

I had an Epon 460 10.5 degree with an Axiv 6564 L at 45". I now have the EMB with the Axiv X 6058 @ 45.5" and 12 degrees. Both the 460 and the EMB are square faced. I didn't get enough carry with the 10.5 and the stiffer shaft. The EMB hits more like I wish, with my relatively flat swing I get a nice high line drive trajectory. I find them both to be very long, but for me the EMB is longer due to more carry. Rollout is good for both. Both are forgiving, but the EMB seems to be even more forgiving on off center hits. It is VERY easy to hit straight shots. I haven't even tried to work the ball yet; straight is good. The EMB is the longest controllable driver I've ever had to date, and the Axiv-X shaft has LOTS of kick without feeling at all like a noodle. So far, I'm very pleased with my purchase, but experience is still limited.

What is the hosel diameter/shaft tip diameter for the Fourteen UT 106 hybrid? What are people's impressions about distance, trajectory, accuracy, and forgiveness? Any recommended shafts? Thanks in advance

I'm getting the Axiv X shaft. If for some reason I don't like it, I'm going to move an X Con 6 from an unused driver into the Epon.

Any word about the intended shipping date of December 20? When can I expect mine? Thanks

What are people's opinions about the best square faced, neutrally weighted, forgiving hybrids that mainly want to hit the ball straight and with a medium to medium-high trajectory to land softly? I've had the Mizuno MP UX-2's for a couple of years and have gotten a lot of great use out of them. I was just wondering if there is something out there now or coming out soon that is worth grabbing my attention for another look.

That reddish, gauze-like look is very similar to the SMT Babylon. Not the greatest cosmetically, IMHO, but I'm sure some people will really like it, though.

There is little doubt in my mind that "tour" clubs are usually DIFFERENT than regular clubs, unless the seller is a complete snake oil salesman. However, a club that has been modified for a tour player may not be at all what works in my hands. Would you want to wear the prescription glasses of a celebrity? Why not? They worked fine for him or her?

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I also tried a set of Project X's, too. I found that they felt great on a perfectly hit shot. They really have to be "ground loaded" by a sharply descending blow. I hit with a shallower angle of attack, and take a smaller divot, so they really didn't load properly some of the time. On a mis-hit, they are VERY harsh feeling; much worse than Dynamic Golds.

I've played Dynamic Golds, Rifles, Nippon 950 and 1150, and Tour Concepts. My favorite? By far, it's the True Temper Black Golds. In my hands they seem to have the control of the Dynamic Golds, but with much more feel and smoothness, like the Nippons. Both the Tour Concepts and Nippons gave me problems with distance control. The Black Golds have allowed me the best distance and directional accuracy I've ever experienced, with a nice, smooth, controlled kick that gives highly predictable distances. I now have them in my Scratch wedges, Wishon 560 MC irons, and I've reshafted my Mizuno MP UX 2 hybrids from Nippon to Black Golds, too. I have gotten far greater consistency and accuracy with the Black Golds on my Mizuno hybrids than I ever got with the Nippon 950's.

I've had Tour Concepts, NS 950's and 1150's. I prefer the Nippons over the Tour Concepts. The Nippons are more predictable for distance. I had trouble missing long, short, long, short, etc. with the Tour Concepts. I'd get less than I expected, then one would come out really hot. They seemed too sensitive for my tastes. The Nippons are more forgiving, in my hands. Both feel great, since they are softer tipped and have slightly lower kickpoints compared to Dynamic Golds, the 'gold standard' of iron shafts. The Nippon 950's play a bit soft to flex, but the 1150's seem about right to flex. Another shaft that feels great similar to the Nippons and also has good control is the True Temper Black Gold.

Bingo. Like the world of high tech and computers: there's always something coming out that's a little better, newer, and sexier. But does it make a large or just a small difference? THAT is the question.....

To convert mph to m/s, multiply your mph X 0.45 It's just a matter of getting the units right for hours, seconds, miles, meters, etc. For my 95 mph driver swing, it translates into 42.75 m/s By the way, what is the kickpoint, tip stiffness, and typical trajectory of the various Roddio models?

They sure look a lot like Zodias, with that rough, dark finish.

No experience with the X Drive, but I'm still passionately in love with the Epon 460/Axiv combo.

Chris; How does the copper surface on the Epon wedge hold up after use in bunkers and off hardpan lies? How much does soft feel relate to spin, or is there any direct relationship?