daamartin

My handicap oscillates btw 4 and 7 depending on how much I play/ practice. I have played courses in Australia, USA (incl. Hawaii), UK, France, Japan and Malaysia. My level of confidence in my gear also helps scoring - that's for sure. I think that selecting the right tools for the course setup/ turf/ weather conditions presented is fascinating, or even just how strong/well you feel on a given day!! I have always loved tinkering with new (and old) gear. So I think this is a good thread - it's amazing how a new head, shaft, grip, or lie angle changes the way a club plays. Tomorrow I am starting my latest "old meets new" project - pairing some prgr TR900 "neo blade" limited forged iron heads (circa 2005?) with some 125g Aerotech Steelfiber hybrid graphite/steel iron shafts (graphite core, steel filament windings) - the hypothesis to this project is that this combination will play much like my current iron set (which I love!!.....see signature), but with even better feel - and when I play 3 days straight at Barnbougle Dunes in Feb 2011, these will be kind to my 40 year old body, and I will feel every shot! It's good to be passionate about such things!! - lots of passionate hobbyists on this site - good stuff.

I have the older PRGR 500bl model. They knocked my z101s out of the bag after many, many years. Great sticks!

Unfortunately have had to put this project on hold for a while. Major reason is I'm planning a 4 day golf trip to Tasmania's Barnbougle Dunes with some golfing buddies in Feb which will consume a few bucks. If I can save my pennies up I'll try and take the plunge before then (even if it's just one of these snazzy 80T shafts!). Am also waiting to see what the new Yamaha drivers look like.... Cheers D

The 500bl irons flat-out perform. I had the TourStage z101 irons for eons and these are more forgiving, but still interact perfectly and predictably with all turf conditions. Love to try 'em with Nippon Super Peening Blue shafts one day (to compare feel with satin Project x), but for now, good swings produce really good shots....all you can ask! The other thing is - I think these are the prettiest design for a forged cavity ever. Playing partners always comment. I like that.

That particular zoom is the best of the lot imho. Sweet feel, great off tee and fairway, and the sole design good from both rough and tight fairways.....I absolutely LOVE it!. I've seen a lot of pros with this stick in the bag. I also have two of the 040i zoom clubs, but they are better on spongy fairways. Waiting on final feedback on driver setup from a few people and will order soon.....then will work on a heavy & reliable fairway wood setup. My 40th birthday in mid October!!

As mentioned in main forum, getting back into golf seriously this year after not playing much the last couple. These irons and wedges will form the foundation of my gamers, 3wood staying out of bag until my handicap comes down and I'm swinging better. Driver under deliberation/construction with help from TSG and its members. See: What's in the Bag?: Driver: Titleist 909-D2 Aldila Proto 80x 3W: No 3 wood in bag currently 2I: PRGR Zoom 220i 17*, DGs300 3-PW: PRGR 500bl forged ProjectX satin 6.5 W52: Mizuno T-10 s300 W56/60: Mizuno R DGs300 Putter: Hiro Matsumoto MZ-05 (and others!)

Oh dear.......decisions, decisions. Sounds like you are a higher ball hitter than me, but load it about the same looking at your set make up. Always liked the sound of that shaft too!

I can't get over the rapid fire feedback on this forum. Nothing else quite like it and the folks here really know their stuff! Leaning towards Epon AF102 9.5, slightly heavier head (~D3 SWt), slightly open, Quadra 75x (if the x is not too stout?), Red Iomic cord grip (1 paper), 44&3/4 inches long.....something like that anyways... Over to you Chris!

Have updated my signature equipment specs so people can see what I'm currently playing (sometimes this helps I know). OK, so with the head it's going to either be Epon or Yamaha. Both not so well known here in Australia, but I think that's what is cool about it!! Most seem to think Epon is the pick of the bunch?

Thanks Chris and fellas for helping me out. I'm getting excited! I turn 40 in October and am getting pretty (very) serious about my golf again (fitness, lessons, practice etc). Playing to a 7.2 index now, but would like to think I can get back down to 3 or 4 over the next 6 months. I know that a good fairway-finding driver that I fall in love with will be essential in this quest!! I'll post more abbout my set makeup (with photos) another time soon. AF102 9.5 seems to be the right head. Could anyone comment on the balance points of the shafts mentioned? Don't wish to add more head wt unnecessarily, but like good head-heavy feel in all my clubs. Many thanks!

Was lucky to make it there for the Thu/Fri/Sat rounds and saw them all. Followed Ishikawa, McLroy and Tom Watson on the Friday. Watson and Ishikawa hit some pure iron shots and were chattting away like old buddies....so cool to see. JDM gear is so well presented and the bags and sound of JDM drivers were real standouts for me.

TPE stands for ThermoPlasticElastomer, basically a rubber that you can melt and injection mold, rather than mix and cure like a traditional rubber. They are typically more expensive than traditional natural rubber too, but you don't need to add carbon black, and so can more readily pigment in colours etc. Hope this helps D

Hey Chris, will these have a similar grind to the old Technity wedges (my favs by far)? thanks D

I'd be very keen to see better pics of these wedges too. Have older PRGR910 forged irons in the bag (M-46) and PRGR T3 Black driver in bag now and am looking for some matching wedges. Prgr gear is really well put together and great to play with!!

I'd be very keen to see better pics of these wedges too. Have older PRGR910 forged irons in the bag (M-46) and PRGR T3 Black driver in bag now and am looking for some matching wedges. Prgr gear is really well put together and great to play with!!

46 (TourStage z101) 52 Technity 56 Technity 60 Technity Don't carry a 3 iron, but there is a big gap btw 4 iron and 5W. Considering going 53/ 58 when course plays long.

Me too, I have 52/56/60 in satin-S300 and love em. Can someone twll me if these old Epons are still legal under the new groove rules? Just looking for an excuse to buy new wedges really...

I have the 52/56/60 Technitys and love the grind and the spin. I hope Epon brings out a similar grind in future by the time these wear out!! Otherwise, if anyone has a set of new Technity heads, I'll take em!

I recently put together a retro bag with near new Mizuno MP-14s and a brand new Mizuno J-spec Tour Spirit Model III 300s driver. 300cc, 10 degrees loft and S.O.L.I.D. Needs reshafting with one of today's better shafts, but man it's really fun to play with!

I have a set of mint Fourteen TC-1000 forged cavities, s200 shafts, 1/2" long, upright. Very forgiving, soft cavities. Let me know if you would like to see pics. I haven't listed these anywhere yet. Cheers Darren

If you inserted the same shaft, what difference in trajectory and feel would you expect compared with the same-lofted MP Craft 425? Really like the look of the 425!

GD UT-95 shaft goes really well for me!

An older one, but the GD TourAD M-65x shaft is magic for me at the moment!

I think it's a tactile thing, forged products have a finer, more dense and compacted grain structure and this gives rise to a different appearance, lustre, heavy feel (higher density) etc - and less defects in the way of porosity, inclusions etc. Loving my new Fourteen 1020 TC1000 irons - best feeling cavities I have hit, and the fit, finish and quality control is a thing to behold! Forged may be softer and easier to bend, but the forged alloy itself is a lot stronger and tougher than a cast material due to the microstructure described above - that makes me happy too.

I have a set, but getting the lie angles adjusted. First 2 games didn't notice any problems out of any lies, and more forgiving than my previous TourStage z101s. Will post pics and better review once I've had a few rounds with them, properly-specd out.