bogeydog

As I commented, they may not be as long as the egg, but for me excel in all areas. I tried the eggs way back and obviously don't have them now. I am glad Tatsuro and Tourspecgolfer also are enjoying them.

Stew, I have played a lot lately and am hitting irons well again. With the addition of the Akira fw woods, I am playing 5-PW. I am curious to see how the 2011s satisfy you. I appreciate the awesomeness of the irons more than ever. I know that a pure shot is great on any club, but these just have something. They are soft, but they have a little crisp edge to them that is like the perfect pizza crust. One attribute that I mentioned over and over with the 2008 that repeats itself with the 2011 is the ability to control spin. You mentioned that your experience with the 2010 is that you enjoyed hitting down on the ball with the 2010 irons. I can assure you that the 2011 model enjoys this also.

Today I played another 18 which makes 72 holes with the Akira 5 and 7. I have called about everyone I know that plays golf to share how great these are. One guy who has played all 72 holes with me, made a funny comment today. I hit the 7w to a tight pin in the rear of a green from 189 yards. I needed to fade it low into the green landing it in the middle and hoping for a nice roll into the back corner. Mission accomplished. As I left the box he said, "I figured you were going to be close with that." The course I played today is tight and undulated. It is a course that requires intense course knowledge and control as it is very easy to roll through the fairways. Good thing I had these clubs. One shot that comes to mind was a shot from 185 just off the fairway to an uphill green with a front pin. I hit the 7w with a baby draw to about 10 yards short of the green and two small bounces was putting 10 feet for birdie. I can honestly say that I have not been in love with ANY fairway woods or hybrids as much as these. They feel great, and perform better. I know they are providing me the ability to hit shots and get into positions that I struggled with before. In the four rounds, I have yet to really miss a shot with these. Forget looking for a hybrid. The 7s works well for me from 180 to almost 200. The 5w tales over from there up to about 220. I can't wait to see what the 3w does when it arrives. I suggest that you buy one and give it a try. It may be the one of the best buys you have ever made.

The standard height weight is on the lighter side. Depending on shaft weight and length you should be another to get that swing weight. I would think the CB 80 Ls II could be great but $$$$.

The 7w is so good I likely won't mess with the hybrid. It is a Talamonti shaft from here in the US. A small producer by a guy who used to be at SST. The shafts had some his reviews and were cheap so I am experimenting.

Flat hyrbids are tough to find. I have a cheap Taylor Made which is 60*. In a shorter length it works out ok. I have been looking for years to find a flatter lie hybrid. I think Fourteen had one out many years ago that was less than 60*.

I played another 18 today at a course I grew up playing however hadn't played in 20 years. Again the Akira woods flat out performed. I haven't had this much fun with fairway woods, ever. Two shots stand out from today's round: 1) a 225 yard second shot 5w from the rough into the green with an eagle putt. (I don't hit par 5s in two), 2) A 7w from the tee into the green of a 198 yard uphill green. Literally if this success continues my HC will drop 3-4 strokes. My playing partner Sunday and today commented that it appears I have been playing the woods for years. Maybe the best value of any club I have purchased.

Pictures added.

Heel hits can be a symptom of a lie that is too flat.

There is an S flex on ebay for $179.

Do you mean sell the irons seperately or pull the shafts?

CLOSE

I from have a Gen 1 Egg for a brief moment. I don't recall it being as solid as the Akira. What I found is I looked for situations to hit these clubs. Even ones that I probably should have not, but felt I could pull the shot off. I hit some beauties and really think there isn't another club in the bag that would have had the same results. BTW - Of the 8 Par 5 holes we played Saturday, I birdied 4 of them no doubt due to the Akira woods and let's not forget my driver with Quadra Proto. I also carried a Ping 4w G15. This is a club I have mostly used to hit long shots off the deck. It is pretty good but the Akira beat it hard in all aspects.The Ping feels cheap and tinny and now is to be sold. If the Akira 3w produces the same results, I will be very happy.

Today I was able to play 36 holes with the Akira 5 and 7 woods. I have a 3 wood on order, but i understand they are back ordered. I bought these mainly because they have such flat lies. The 5w is 57* and the 7w is 58*. Being a short gut, finding woods that are this flat is like a dream com true. Shape - Small head size, but really nice shape. For me, they were confidence inspiring, yet looked light and nimble. The face height is medium. The finish is as good as I have seen. Feel - They excel in feel to me. Super duper solid. A muted sound, and powerful punch. They seem not to me. Trajectory - As expected for each. Performance - I am very pleased and excited. After a couple of swings with these, I developed a feel as if I had hit they 100 times. I know this will sound like I am pumping these up however I hit many money taking shots today. I purposely hit these as much as I could and in as many situations as I could find. Fairway - Great, Rough - Great. One shot that comes to mind is a 180 from a below the feet lie out of the rough and uphill. I hit the 7w to 1 foot. I can't proclaim that these are the longest woods out there. I have had a large distance gap forever and after the PRGR Tour Hit, PRGR Egg, and Yamaha Spoon, I gave up and made shot changes to avoid the gap. These have indeed surprised me. What sticks out in my mind is the feel, accuracy and powerful forgiveness. I was so surprised how forgiving these are. I caught a few on the toe but distance was still close to spot on. All i can say is that these flat out perform period. I cant wait for the 3w and wish there was a 9 wood. I know a 9 wood. But these are good enough that I would try one out for sure. To me, one of the best values I have in quite a long time.

Keep in mind that anything you want the guys at TSG can get for you. Contact Gocchin. The Srixon is a driving iron style. Check out the Golf to Impress blog as well as the forums for info. Weight is iron like. A style similar to the Epon 901. Since you say that you hit the irons so well, that style may work well. The Quadra is a must have. I will post a review of the Akira tomorrow.

Yes that is a long post. DRIVER - that Machline shaft may be too light and soft for you. Go Quadra Proto 65S. FW - You have demonstrated some great clubs. I doubt the Epon FW will offer you any more. Maybe consider the Akira M series. I just received a 5 and 7 wood. They look excellent. Will phone them tomorrow. Nice shape and flat lies. I am going through the same exercise now. I also have the new Srixon 20 and 23 hybrid irons to test. I am hoping to settle on driver, (3, 5, 7) woods, 4 iron Srixon 5-PW, 51, 57, putter. I could rotate a 18* hybrid and 3 iron Srixon if necessary.

Dammit when are you guys going to listen to me? The Yamaha s**t is the real deal!!!

I run around with a bunch of golfers that are pretty good players, but not into JDM equipment. Each one has an unexplained allegence to one of the large OEM American comapnies: Taylor Made, Callaway and such. They have faintely listened to me for years rant and rave about their equipment and my JDM equipment. One says that its the Indian and not the arrow meanwhile he is playing crap old equipment ill fitted for him. Some seem to buy new equipment because the marketing hype is there or they just like the looks of something. About 3 months ago, one of the newer guys to the group wanted a new shaft for a TM Burner driver. I suggested that he try some JDM stuff and he didn't resist. While at the range, I handed him my 2009 Yamaha Inpres X 4.6V Tour driver with a Quadra FE shaft. He couldn't miss with it. He fell in love. To make a long story short, Supo sold him the same driver in the proper flex. It is his new girlfiend. About a month ago, one of the guys who is born and bred Titleist happened to be at a local tournament where the first guy was. I suggested he hit the driver which he subsequently did. He quickly stood over the ball and proceeded to hit a 300 yard laser drive. A few weeks later, we were talking. He asked my, "What was teh driver that I so-so had? I smiled and said, "It was nice wasn't it? You can't stop thinking about it." After a conversation he said ok get me the shaft. I suggested a FEX proto SX flex. I then told him that there was no way it was going to be installed in the Titleist head. I suggested that he allow me to have it installed in another Yamaha 4.6V 10* I have. I said, "Try it. if you like it, I will sell it to you." Goodsie installed the shaft. Background - This guy is a strong player. 53, about 6'-2" strong powerful guy with a very stable swing, great ball striker. Probably a 7 HC that could be a 2. Ok fast forward. The phone rang last Thursday evening...Here was the conversation and comments. "Is this legal? I have never hit something that felt so hot. I was hitting it 320 dead staright. The harder I swung the better it performed. Even miissed were long. I need to print paperwork to carry because no one will believe that I 53 year old can hit 320. David (his son) was hitting it into the 350 range. He had goosebumps. Are you sure this is legal?" The conversation resumed Monday with the same comments. Yesterday the same conversation happened however he had a list of Yamaha non-conforming drivers to prove it wasn't on the list. More comments included, "Dude I am in trouble. No one will believe me. It is a different game now. I can't belive it. I can't wait to play again. Dude you gotta see this thing." Needless to say I found another head of the same model in 9*. He son wants it with an X shaft. These boys are hooked and I am sure their friend will be ordering some new equipment from TSG. Who would have thunk that 4 of these heads which I think were limited to 1000 or so would be in the state of Maryland?

Quadra Proto? The three shafts you mention are different profiles with the Quadra and 80LS2 the most similar.

The 302s over the Pings. However do yourself a favor and consider the OnOff Forged irons. If you are interested in feel and a forgiving straight flight, these may be your best bet. Cheaper but the stock shaft is a NS950 which could be changed.

According to the website : Quadra FEX Proto is 76g P9003x is 80g P9003 is 74 or 75g depending on flex Which P9003 are you considering?

I do recall the Kamui 420 being longer for me than the 456. I miss that head sometimes. The FEX Proto is slightly heavier than the GD and less torque. With the smoothness of the Quadra, you may be able to go SX flex and get great accuracy with a great feel.

I think we get confused by thinking there is something out there that is not being provided by what we know. Combine this with the need to tweak the specs and boy it can be a bottomless pit and confusing. Not doubt the p9003 has it followers as does the FEX proto. But the Quadra has the 80T advantage. I addition, you know the FEX Proto well as you have played it. Sounds to me like the Proto is the safest bet and likely the best performing especially knowing that a 360 head will be more demanding and require more consistency and precision in each swing.

I don't have the 08 any longer so I can't provide a side by side comparison. However my eye doesn't see any appreciable offset in the 2011 model. I think the 08s have a slightly more square look from top so that may be creating the look of less offset.

Ordered one each of the fairway woods: 3, 5 and 7. I need to decide what shafts to put in them. Ideas?