Blader-X

I don't know man, I would say I favor this look over the Ryoma. Higher face/back is a plus as well as I'm not a fan of shallow woods and drivers.

Great review; and you know my penchant for blades, hence the moniker. For some reason TourStage really gets it right when it comes to blades. I know you prefer the 905's to my 901's but I really think the 901's look so much better for some reason. I really like the flowing lines of the back. However, I give much props to these 905's because they are a change from the 901's just like the 901's were a change from the previous X-blade models. And yes I hear you, a well struck 3-iron, just nothing like it. Beyond pure! Glad to hear your to report.

Appreciate both thoughts Robbie and Stew. I like everyone else here aren't getting any younger, so I'm always trying to keep up with the latest tech just for info and for maybe something later. With most drivers out there the tech had been and probably is pretty much at the limit. However, the Ryoma really was something new with that huge weight in the back. So from that standpoint its intriguing. My history was that many years ago; before discovering JDM I really tried to have clubs built a certain way but that was so difficult to do here in the US because club mfg's weren't doing that. Were talking only 13-15 years ago. Then I stumbled on to JDM and eventually TSG and HELLO!! My eyes along with the rest of my senses were opened up. Forged clubs, forged driver heads, etc, the list goes on. That feel that I talk about and have talked about on this forum over the years is what really gets it for me in golf. I still want to play my best but still want the feel. And again, its subjective because it is different depending upon the person. That's why this site and the members here are great. It helps hearing others thoughts especially on what they liked about past equipment. If you can relate to what that person is saying about a past club then you can get some good info on the club/setup they're talking about that you haven't hit. Appreciate all the thoughts guys.

Good to know and thanks man.

The GD SF shaft is one that has not gottem much play here, but I've got that in my RC 17 uitility and its THE perfect shaft in that setup. Awesome feel, very, very tight dispersion and as much length as I need. Flight is spot on, not high nor low. Torque numbers are low for this shaft and its not at all expensive. I really can't speak highly enough of it. Yes mine's in a utility but this utility is 17 degrees and its length is at a finished 42 inches. So in essence while its a utility its got a lot of fairway wood character in it as well. Nice thing about it is the flight. The only other thing that I can add is the P9003x like supo67 suggested. That in a fairway wood is even better IMO than in a driver. It really works there. Good luck with the search

Good to know and thanks for the thoughts. Current setup is great. But with so much about the Ryoma, there is a part of me that would love to give it a whirl. Shaftwise, though; its just getting so crazy with all the new ones out there. The only thing that I would want more from the current setup in going to the Ryoma would of course be more distance. Not that its needed mind you, just that, the distance part would be the only sensible reason to go with a Ryoma. Unsensible reasons, now that can run the gamut. However along the lines of more distance I still want that accuracy and of course my no. 1; feel. If it doesn't have feel, I'm no where near interested even IF its bombing 500+ yards. For me, its got to have feel.

Great to hear S. Would certainly love to hear about them after the reshaft. Yes the 905's did catch the eye a bit for me, but for some reason I do love the look of the 901's more. I will say though that once in awhile a 905 set comes up for sale, there's a small part of me wondering. . . should I pull the trigger?

Yep, thats the FW wood model along the lines of the Spoons. Just to add another thought my above post, I do think the rails for the TRC line (both UT and FW) do help in making the club easier to hit. I can't say enough how accurate and easy my TRC utility is. Even the Spoon which is 13 degrees and 200 something cc's I find goes where I intend it to go. Without having hit the TRC FW, but having hit the other clubs in the line, I would say that it would be a somewhat easy FW wood to hit. Good luck.

Damn, Plus1 it has been awhile for you. When I came onto this forum many years back, you were the man here! Welcome again. Everyone's already given really good feedback and can't argue with many. Supo67 has hit just about everything there is, especially drivers. The new Titleist-Japan Vokey Forged wedges are killer. I'm head over heals over my 46 and am getting a 62 which will replace my current Fourteen. The new Vokeys have different types of grinds given the loft of the club and it seems ingenious. Very accurate, great feel. Very interested in seeing how the 62 will compare my current Fourteen. I've got a Royal Collection 56 though that is an ideal bunker wedge. The grind is great for that, but I can also open it up and play high, soft shot as well. That's a solid club in the bag. Really, really good wedge with ultimate feel and awesome performance. As for fairways and utilities, I'm a Royal Collection guy at the moment. The TRC utility and VS Tour FW are two of my favorites. Best utility IMO (feel and performance). The VS Tour has the best feel I've ever had in FW but I think you'd find from many that its not the most forgiving. Bagging TourStage X-blade 901's and I've been happy with them ever since getting them. Don't know too many others who play them or like them, so I'm not the best to ask there. Since the 901's I haven't seen a better blade out and with how they perform for me, I really haven't needed to look. Epon's are a sure bet for sure. However, if you wouldn't mind a cavity, the Yamaha's are top notch for sure. I'm finding KBS shafts to ideal, but I hear Shimada's are also worth a look. Again, I don't change too much in the bag compared to others here. I've been very happy with most clubs in the bag, but you know how it is, always keeping one eye out for the next big thing.

Stew, You're the man to ask this question since you've swung just about every driver/shaft combo on this planet along with some combo's found only the darkest reaches of space. You've peaked my interest in the Ryoma+LS Noir combo. What was the loft/flex of the that combo, and how would you compare that setup to mine; which is the Epon AF102/Quadra FEX proto 8.5 (+10gm wt)/75x. Curious for your thoughts.

The TRC 15 would be the fairway wood model that is along the lines of the TRC Driving Spoons which were offered in 11.5 and 13. I have the 13 with a Muuzik BangVoo 787. Yes its suited for the tee but I am able to hit if off the turf as well. However I also have another RC FW the older Tour VS. The feel of both are quite different. Ultra pure in the VS model but in the TRC Spoon, more hollow and pingy. Now the TRC utilities (Best utility IMO) have great feel; more along the lines of the VS Tour. Not really sure why the Spoon is so much of a difference feel wise. I would believe the the fairway wood model, the 15, would probably be along the lines of the Spoons and have that pingy feel to them. The newer model thats now out, the 305V; while I haven't hit it, looks more along the lines of the VS Tour (best FW IMO) and IMO would be better than the TRC. I haven't had any experience with the VG3, but recently picked up a Vokey Forged 46 and its a fantastic wedge. A 62 will be joining it soon. My experience with that and combined with the success of the VG line of irons, I would say the VG3 would be an excellent choice in a fairway especially if you were looking for a fairway along the lines of more forgiveness. Lastly I'm one of the few here who was not a fan of the Egg. I did have one, gamed it for a time; and while I had results with it, just didn't like it.

Can't say enough about Royal Collection. Just look at my sig.

Thats a million dollar question. If the GD have been working great I'd say stick with them. I too have a RC 17 degree and it has a GD SF8x shaft. Absolute perfect shaft (for this combo) that I'm hesitant to even think about messing with. But then again, we're always thinking about the newer things that come out. I've loved the Quadra FEX in my Epon driver and I do think it was an upgrade over my favorite GD P9003x. I'm wondering though would the higher carbon quality like that in the Quadras and Crazys be that much more of an improvement when it comes to a utility shaft. Because I must say that my utility is absolutely stellar. If you've got the coin, why not experiment with the Crazy and Quadras of the world. If you don't love it more than what you currently enamored with you can always switch.

The Absolute by Iomic. 65 gram and the one of the best feeling and comforting grips I've found to date.

To be honest you can't go wrong with either. Take a look at my bag and you'll see I play the RC in a 56 and have a Fourteen 62 that is the predecessor of the RM11. Both are ideal for what I use them for, but if I had to have only one; the RC would be the one I'd give the nod to. Geat grind and even though its a 56, I can still open the face and hit high floaters if needed. Best bunker club I've ever, ever used. The Fourteen is great too, but I give the nod to the RC due to the feel. For me, feel is of the utmost importance. Everything else for me, flows from the feel. I have a SDJ in a 51 degree but I'm contemplating replacing that with another RC in a 50. Have actually picked up the new Japan Titleist Forged Vokey in a 48 just for kicks. Good solid club but I think the RC has something special to it.

Royal Collection does get my vote. I use the 17 degree and its the best utility in my opinion to date. However, I just recently picked up the new ON/OFF s-type black. Haven't hit yet but it looks to be a winner as well. From a setup standpoint, a little taller than visually from the RC, but not quite as long heal to toe. Sound seems to be a little more muted from the RC as well, but like I said haven't hit yet, so review to follow.

Mine is the 56 and yes its a great wedge. Awesome feel, very good from the sand as well as full shots fairway. As far as the finish, it does wear wherever it touches ground or ball. So the face looks two-tone if you will. The top half of the face is still black but the bottom and middle of the wedge has worn from ball/sand contact. Still though its a great wedge and the worn look does not put me off one bit. I keep it clean, use sword oil so I've got no rust issues. Mine is shafted with black nickel KBS shaft so it has a rather stealthy look to it.

Royal Collection has my vote as well. Have never hit a better FW. Currently bagging the VS Tour 3 wood. Off deck, off the tee, its absolutely marvelous.

Certainly do. Irons are at D8, and my wedges at E2-4 depending upon the wedge. I actually prefer swingweights to be this high. For me, it works well.

I hate soccer most of the time except for the World Cup, then I'm an absolute fanatic. Something about playing for country brings out the best in soccer for me. Last year was great but I thought the play by the women this year topped the mens' of last year. I watched most every match this year and the play was phenomenal! I must say it was a house divided this past Sunday with myself going for the USA and my son, daughters, wife and sister-in-law all rooting for Japan. If USA had to lose I didn't mind it being to Japan. Just awesome!

Oh one more thing. About the AF101 I had. I had the DI7 placed into that and while I was waiting for the 102/Quadra combo, I used the DI7/101 combo in a tourney. That club was pure money. I hit very straight solid shots with that club. While its not as long as the 102/Quadra, it was very, very solid and very easy to hit. Almost a no brainer. Trajectory was mid to high but not at all ballooning. As for the P9003x in the driver, its now in a Yonex 380 10 degree head. That club produces gentle draws with a low/mid trajectory. However, I don't use that much just because the 102 is longer and has much better feel. In the 380 head though, the P9003x is simply great and gets the job done every time.

I can chime in on this topic having had much experience now with the P9003x and the Quadra FEX. Just a little history, the "P" series of the 9003 is only available in X. It is an 80gm shaft with 2.9 degrees of torque and while it claims its rated for swing speeds of 115to125 you can get away with a swing speed of 108. The other 9003 shafts are avaialbe in stiff and x-stiff w/ both having torque ratings of 3.2. My experience is only with the P9003. As you all probably know, I've raved for a couple years now about the P9003x and up until recently it was my ideal shaft. That was up until I got the Epon AF102. When I first ordered that club I had it built at 10 grams heavier, 2 degrees open and 2 degrees flat. The shaft was the DI7 in stiff. After a couple range sessions and not happy with the DI, I had Goodsie change out the DI for the trusty P9003x. While it was a remarked improvement it didn't totally work for me. After some discussion with Gary I opted to try out the Quadra FEX proto in 75x. In this head (Epon102) the FEX was far better than the P9003x. It became a much more stable club. The P9003x before being placed in the 102 was in an AF101 head and it was perfect in that. However, I had wanted more of a weightier head and when I decided upon the 102 I decided to have weight added to the head. But when I did this I did not achieve the effect I was looking for unitl I had the FEX proto installed. I attribute the added stability to the stouter butt of the FEX proto. Now you might think that I've abandoned the P9003x. I haven't. My 3 wood is a Royal Collection VSTour in 14 degrees. In that club I have the P9003x. And let me tell you, it is by far the best 3 wood I've hit to date. It is rock solid and you wouldn't believe how stable this club is. Off the tee its a pure 240-260 yards depending upon conditions and quality of strike. The trajectory is a low boring flight that's just perfect for a 3 wood off the tee. Of late I have been thinking of going with the new RC spoon in 11.5. Reason being is that my utility has become basically a monster 4 wood and I don't find myself using the 3 wood much off the deck. I am however using it more off the tee. Its very, very accurate and the trajectory like I said is ideal. So to try to answer your question, its really up to you. I'm using both shafts currently in a driver and 3 wood and I really couldn't do any better. The driver with the FEX proto is an improvement but I account for that only because I went very heavy in the head weight. In this situation I give the nod to the FEX proto. However in my 3 wood which of course is a much lighter head weight the P9003 is perfect and I honestly don't think that having an FEX proto in that would improve it at all. Bottom line I would have to say this: If you're wanting to achieve a more stable and stout shaft in a driver, go with the FEX proto. While I do think that the 80T does help, I can't say its the end all-be all. Reason being is that I've got two clubs, the VS Tour 3W and the RC TRC that have got two GD shafts; the P9003x and the SF8x respectively. Both club hit torrid bullets with the perfect trajectory. The ute hits upwards of 235 yards (off the deck) and the 3 wood upwards of 250 off the tee. Both are very, very tight in dispersion and I really can't say that I would gain any more in dispersion or distance with another shaft in either. As for the driver, I'm loving it quite a bit with the FEX Proto. I went 75x and I find it fits me well. With my body getting healthier and my swing better because of it, I'm really starting to be able to lay into this shaft. I produce generally straight to 15 yard fades with this club. I don't hit draws with my driver basically because of its specs and I usually tend to get into too much trouble with a draw. If I really need a draw, that's the 3 wood's job. I hope I've helped you a little bit with this. I know its very tough but I honestly believe you couldn't go wrong with either shaft. Pick the one you feel most confident about and then just hit it and let your confidence build. That (your own confidence level) is as much a factor as the shaft you choose.

Oh yes, the never ending question. I tried to do this of late myself, going with the new TRC 17 and bringing back the old TRC in 22. However like Stew, I just need the four. Especially now that my swing has returned to form after suffering injury last year. Now even the 3 makes an appearance in place of the 4 from time to time. During practice both are in the bag. Hybrids are great but I would suggest bringing the long irons to practice. Really helps hone the ball striking. Speaking of Stew, are you still gaming the RC Spoon 11.5?

If that doesn't work out for you, may I suggest the SF line from Graphite Design. Its a low torque fairway wood shaft and its killer in the TRC. Very tight dispersion, with a wonderful mid trajectory. Gives plenty of distance and fine feel. I'm actually very surprised at how well its working out in my very own TRC.

My vote is for either the P9003x or Quadra proto. Just recently replaced the P9003x in my Epon with the Quadra. its been working out very well. When I had originally ordered the Epon head I had it made 10 grams heavier. The Quadra shaft is outperforming the P9003x in this particular head setup. However, still game the P9003x in the RC 3 wood and its perfect. Of course I got the RC just before the new driving spoons came out and now that Stew's gone down the road and tested them out for us, I'm pretty sure the next club will be the 11.5 DS with a P9003x. If you're looking for a fairway shaft or even a ute shaft, I'd highly reccomend the Graphite Design SF line. I know that it never really got much pub around here but I'm liking it very much in my RC utility. Very straight and powerful shaft, I had also used it in the original PRGR EGG. For fairway shafts definitely worth a look.