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Looks like you know your stuff, I hate Delta like you but nothing beats the Amex Reserve. Then there is the issue if you travel with someone getting bumped off the top spot because they don't carry status as well. We just finally made Diamond on delta and only now is it starting to pay off. nothing much at silver/gold/plat except the occasional upgrade. but now its a lot more frequent. sad part is you must buy a full price ticket to use points to upgrade your travel partners seat. which makes no sense if the discounted rate is 1600 for a ticket and the full fare is 5000 why not just buy business class. frustrating, did i write this post to vent? haha.

nothing beats the Hyatt especially at Diamond. Does Marriot status match you? Just looking for other people who are as nuts as I am, doing millage runs and dumping hotel stays to reach status. Totally worth it imo.

Best airline frequent flyer program is united (premier 1k or global services), followed by American followed by delta if you are Diamond (given I am NY based and where I travel for leisure, I prefer Delta ), below Diamond, its not much use. Also, not much use for redeeming for international flights.

BA is a good program, but only if you redeem on flights other than BA (Cathay, American).

Criteria is ease of getting business class redemption on flights at the lowest miles. The biggest bang for the buck is to use miles to redeem the business class or first class international tickets, not domestic flights (exception is Delta, whose redemption cost in terms of miles are substantially higher than others).

heads only?

hey ajaykkr!

good to hear from you, its been a while!

just playing golf..... and never felt the need to change the equipment,

hi Guys

was wondering what 3w everyone is playing? anyone kept something classic like the epon 3w in the bag after all these years?

J

I am still playing with the classic epon 3W 13 degrees (mostly off the deck, a couple of tee shots) and epon driver still.

depends on the pitching wedge.

if its 47* or 48* (miura or callaway xtours) its 52* and 58*

if PW is 49* (nike tour blades) its either 56* and 60* or 53* and 58* (depending on the course, high greens with bunkers around the greens (56* and 60*) else its 53* and 58*

.............two of the best blades in the market (MB-5003 and AF Tour.)

I just hope that they dont disappoint as much as the AF301s did, which despite the claim of being player's CB are more mid handicapper's cbs.

Where did you hear about the Epon AFTour? TSG of course and almost half a year ago.

That Japanese Blog is a JPGA Players who is sponsored by EPON. The images are of his actual bag, he is a close friend of the company I believe.

We had the images and others over a month ago but the pics themselves are not to TSG's standard.

Granted. Thanks.

if they are all over the japanese blogs, why not here? shouldn't they be posted here first? else, how can we maintain our reputation of being the place to go for any information on japan clubs....

SOLD

ONE DAY BIG PRICE CUT - $355 SHIPPED / PAYPALLED CONUS

Second PRICE CUT. NOW $425 shipped / paypalled CONUS

PRICE CUT. NOW XXXXX shipped / paypalled CONUS

FS: Epon EMB 9* Tour AD Stock stiff shaft 9+/10 -Played only 4-5 rounds $449 shipped CONUS/ paypalled

NO TRADES

after having tried the altus hybrid shaft, i have to admit that its far superior to the UT-85 and basara. Smoth, very stable and consistent and repetitive.

Thanks for everybody who chimed in with their views

How does the GS-Wedge compare to the Gauge GFT wedges in terms of grind, grooves, playability from different lies etc. ? i have been toying with pulling the trigger on the 52*,56* and 60*, but have not done so, because every wedge that I have bought since then has not measured up... so a detailed comparison may help. thanks in advance

TSG? How do the GS-Wedges compare to the Gauge -GFT wedges?

I must say the GS-Wedge is a master piece, the feel of the 1020 Japanese forged steel and its very soft brushed black finish make this club ooze pleasure at impact. Spin is off the charts and USGA + R&A approved, it will need some range balls to dull them down a bit but back spin is not a prob for most while using these. These wedges are in serious contention and imo will bounce the 208's out the bag. I am playing mine at D5 with S400's and they are deadly accurate with nice drop and stop. From above its a butter knife thats extremely compact and thin, much more playeresque than others on the market today. If you got the gold put your faith in these wedges I can vouch for them that they should be some of the best you have ever hit.

How does the GS-Wedge compare to the Gauge GFT wedges in terms of grind, grooves, playability from different lies etc. ? i have been toying with pulling the trigger on the 52*,56* and 60*, but have not done so, because every wedge that I have bought since then has not measured up... so a detailed comparison may help. thanks in advance

i have owned the epon 380, miura 390, but my vote goes with the Mizuno MP Craft 425....... it looks almost the same size...but its the best for me in length, workability and accuracy of placement of drive.

Miura got the nod over the epon 380

Blade

i have a set in good condition with nippon 1150 stiff with golf pride red multicompound grips. these are the xblade 2 set. let me know your email and i can send pics tomorrow.

Thanks,

the cbs or the blades?

ajaykkr,

I enjoyed your iron shootout a while back. Even back then I think you voted for the Miura MB-5003s.

Would you say those 5003s were the easiest blades you've hit? I think you said the TB-1000s were the softest, but the 5003s did more of what you wanted in a blade.

Just curious.

haven't played the mb 5003s. played mb 5002, CB 1006, miura tournament blade. miura tournament blade is in the bag as are nike tour issue blades (forged by miura)....

what i look from blades is accuracy. the shot doing exactly what i want it to do with limited dispersion. i dont look forgiveness..... i will rate the mp 33s as the easiest to hit. not much difference between the others.....in terms of easier to play.

Traditional Golf for sure; they have a bit of offset and the feel is simply top of the line. I have idea if Mark is still in business or not (I'm sure he is; great guy, super classy) but his irons where 100% Japanese and 100% fantastic. I have a set I would sell if anyone was interested; drop dead good looking irons. Actually; if anyone is interested send me a PM for pics and specs....BB

There was a time when Miura used to OEM heads.....Traditional golf, I believe, used to sell those Miura heads... Miura stopped the practice a couple of years back.... as they set out to build their own brand for retail in NA

anybody have any experience with the bassara hybrid shaft (compared to the ut-85 shaft and altus hybrid)

I have used both the 904HB and the UT-85 as well as UT-95. The UT series is far superior in my opinion to the 904HG. Haven't had any experience with the Altus, but I'm more than pleased with the UT series from Graphite Design. Very high quality shafts.

Thanks for the feedback. The fourteen 306 is much larger than my other two hybrids, RC Td+ and Gfield. SO its more forgiving, sits square. Downside is that its less workable. but even with a diamana x flex (i play a stiff), its goes 230-235 yards for me (17*) than the 210-215 of a gfield Hybrid (18*) or TD+ (19*)

Once i put the right shaft in, will be able to better evaluate.

Any other UT-85 users, who have used the altus HB, please let me know your experience of the two to help me decide. I like that yourspressed said it has a high flight, great for holding the ball on the green.

How does the 904HB compare with the UT-85? in terms of ball flight, left/right, accuracy and length etc.

what have been your experiences? for your reference, i am a mid-single digit handicapper and i am looking to reshaft a 17* utility (the fourteen 306). I currently have a ut-85 in my 18* gfield.

WHats the recommendation and why? thanks for your help in advance.