gocchin

RC has long been known to make some of the best hybrid/utilties for the better golfer... they've now added a driving iron the BBD's 504i along with a new utility for the average golfer the FD Utility. BBD'S 501i Driving iron: FD UTILITY:

That would be really hard to get. It's from Solid Contacts, I don't think Ryo is playing that anymore and I'd have to see if it even went reatail.

Black and Red series... doggie is back (he's also on the current limited pro model).

Dave, Very soft and almost blade like. PRGR doesn't offer a blade but this is the closest thing to it. The 500BL are definitely comparable to the 900MD.

B, an additional 7-10 days for woods and 10-14 days for irons.

They've always done the woods but its nice to see them add the irons and wedges this year around... I wish Tourstage would do the same with their irons and wedges.

It's been in testing for some time now on the JPGA including by Ishikawa Ryo who put it in his driver over a month ago and is already a popular upgrade for many athlete golfer model drivers. It's considered a low torque control shaft with minimal twisting during the downsing. Stiffer feel than even the MD series but slightly higher launching with a low mid kickpoint. Graphite Design with it's ever leading tour presence in Japan seems to be making more and more models geared for control and faster tempos like the MD, 9003, and now EV.

Hey B, I'm assuming you're talking about the TC-550 Forged vs the older TC-660 cast irons? There are also TC-550 cast models as well.

Yamaha is relatively unknown and passed over compared to other brands outside of Japan but in Japan they are very very highly regarded as top quality and one of the better brands. Consistently among the best sellers and yes as you know the limited editions always sell out fast. B I think you had asked about the lesser weight overall and it may indeed be the cavity...

T great feedback. What loft were you using and would you say the X-Con contributed to the high launch? A good pairing?

I tried them the other day at the range and I wouldn't recommend them for a 20 capper unless you're a good ball striker. Not nearly as forgiving as the AF 501 and nowhere near as forgiving as the AF 701. That said they are quite compact and very soft. Forged by Kyoei and many have commented in Japan on their soft feel. Some may consider them softer than the AF-501 and 701 because both those irons have undercut cavities which produce a small but subtle click on impact. The Zestaim is a very nice looking solid CB made probably for the 5-15 capper.

You know what I mean... (^_^)

Of course I can't win anything but here's my example of how to post: Best JDM Driver in 2008: Epon EMB Why: Loud, obnoxious, large and simply very long and straight! Built to your specs with all the best shafts. Best JDM Iron of 2008: Epon AF-701 Why: Awesome multi piece design forged iron with great feel and amazing performance. A pleasure to hit and as forgiving as anything out there! Best JDM Wesge of 2008: Yamaha Inpres X Black Why: Super soft and biting S10C in really nice black finish. Not too big and not too small. Great feel and spin. An all around winner. Best JDM Shaft of 2008: Graphite Design's Tour AD MD Series Why: It didn't work so well for me but there is no doubting its success as tour usage in Japan was widespread as well as a choice upgrade by all major OEM's. Best Course you played on in 2008: King's Bay Golf and Country Club, Seagrave, Ontario, Canada Why: Nice and cozy 9 hole course nestled along Lake Scugog (wish it were 18 holes), in pristine condition and to top it off my wife loved it and wants to go back! Absolutely beautiful! Best shot you made in 2008: Chip in birdie on 13 at Bowmanville Golf Club Why: Over hit the green on par 3 into the backing woods. Chipped through dirt and leaves from 25 yards out. Ball lands rolls hits pin and drops in. Best professional player in 2008: Arimura Chie Why: Super cute player finally (haha she's only 20!) came through this year with some great play including her first tour victory on the JLPGA showing she will be a force to be reckoned with... okay so she's my best pro player of 2008 but probably no one elses. (^_^)

It's time for the TSG Best of 2008 Contest! We've got a list of items we want you to tell us what you thought was the best of in 2008. All we need is for you to post in this thread what you thought was the best and a brief reason why. Everyone who posts will be entered in a random draw to win one of many prizes! Here are the items you need to tell us your best of 2008: Best JDM Driver in 2008. Best JDM Iron of 2008. Best JDM Wedge of 2008. Best JDM Shaft of 2008. Best Course you played on in 2008 Best shot you made in 2008. Best Pro player in 2008. That's it. Give us your best for a chance to win! The contest will end Friday Dec 5th and winners will be announced that weekend. Prizes include: 1 Epon AF-201 5 Wood 18* w/ Mach Line FW65 R Flex 1 George Spirits GS Wedge 56* with DG S200 5 Como!Come! Democrat Covers 5 Como!Come! Republican Covers (images are examples only and may not be the exact spec of of prizes offered, we ask that winners kindly pay shipping costs.)

Both are great choices. The Tourstage are selling out all over Japan. We've only got one set left and doesn't look like we'll get any more... same goes for the wedges. The Epon is not limited but also a good choice.

E500 Forged or E500 Ti Face? Do you have pictures you could send me? The Mizuno E500 line does have some fakes floating around on Ebay though if they came directly from Japan there are most likely legit.

If you're going to spend that much on the shaft you may as well go for a top quality forged iron to match and that would be either Epon depending on what you're looking for. Epon offers the Axiv as an option too so it would come at only an upgrade cost.

Hi Golfbuddy, There are minor differences between the two besides the 2g difference in weight. The 48 series has a smaller core (13.5mm vs 14.0mm) so there feels like more meat on it because while the core is smaller the overall size is only a touch smaller. Also the grip pattern is slightly different, the 48 series has a straight pattern while the 50 series uses an alternating pattern. I'm also wearing small cadet and use the 48's, they are a touch smaller (but not by much as I mentioned above) and softer. Image to illustrate:

I also wish more manufacturers would do lie on woods, 2* does really make a difference, you're right (I play my irons 2* flat) and I'd love all my woods flatter too. The lie can be the difference between making solid contact or not.

J, I don't think the lie can be bent. I haven't seen Yamaha offer this option. Wow you play your FW's pretty flat! B, I'm not sure why the weight difference of 2g exists... I will research that.

We all love to see what the pros are carrying but how about regular joe's like you and I? I'm going to post some bags from recreational and amateur golfers in Japn just to see what others are playing. First guy, 10 handicap, loves iron play. Epon AF-101 driver, Birth 3W, Burner Rescue 3u or cvXer, Epon AF-301 3-PW, KNS wedges. Wako Enterprise Putter

I've got a scanner again so I can once again post articles and tests! Okay so Weekly Pargolf did a test this week on Brother Drivers (a literal translation from the Japanese "kyoudai drivers") Several brands this year have launched two similar driver models that I guess could be called brothers (^_^). They've taken the two models from each brand and tested at the Fujikura Lab outdoors with the Fuji hitting robot and Trackman monitor. All clubs used the same ball, the very awesome PRGR TR Spin. All clubs were tested at two swing speeds, 40m/s (90mph) and 45m/s (102mph), 5 shots at each speed with each club and the average of the 5 shots. As always this is to be used as a general guide for us to get an idea of some of the characteristics of each driver in its stock form and how it performs with each swing speed, ie launch, ball speeds and back spin etc. First up we have the Titleist Brothers, the 909 D2 and D3. Test used 10.5* lofts of each. Both shafted with Tour AD for Titleist. Wind left to right at 1-2m/s. 40m/s 909D2 Carry: 190.6 yards Total: 211.3 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 13.6* Backspin 3468 Peak height: 24.2 yards 40m/s 909D3 Carry 193.3 Total: 214.6 Ball Speed: 57.0 Launch: 13.1 Backspin: 3006 Peak: 23.4 45m/s 909D2 Carry: 236.7 Total: 254.4 Ball Speed: 65.4 Launch: 13.5 Backspin: 3345 Peak: 34.3 45m/s 909D3 Carry: 238.7 Total: 260.8 Ball Speed: 65.7 Launch: 12.5 Spin: 2846 Peak: 29.6 The D3 seems to have the edge with a touch lower spin (especially at faster swing speeds). Next up was the Srixon brothers, the ZR-800 and the ZR-30. 10.5 lofts for the 40m/s test and 9.5* for the 45m/s test. Shafted with Srixon SV-3016J T-65 shaft. Wind from behind at 1-2m/s. 40m/s ZR-30 Carry: 190.8 yards Total: 213.0 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 12.7* Backspin 3226 Peak height: 22.6 yards 40m/s ZR-800 Carry 188.6 Total: 210.8 Ball Speed: 56.2 Launch: 13.0 Backspin: 3052 Peak: 22.2 45m/s ZR-30 Carry: 235.8 Total: 259.4 Ball Speed: 65.4 Launch: 12.1 Backspin: 2845 Peak: 27.8 45m/s ZR-800 Carry: 238.3 Total: 261.3 Ball Speed: 65.5 Launch: 12.5 Spin: 3007 Peak: 28.5 The Srixons as always show they are better with faster swing speeds. Very close to each other. Next was the Callaway brothers, the FT9 and FTiQ. Both 10* lofts and stock shaft. Wind against 2-3m/s. 40m/s FT9 Carry: 189.7 yards Total: 209.8 yards Ball Speed: 56.5m/s Launch Angle 13.06* Backspin 3030 Peak height: 23.2 yards 40m/s FTiQ Carry 190.7 Total: 218.5 Ball Speed: 57.3 Launch: 12.0 Backspin: 2445 Peak: 19.5 45m/s FT9 Carry: 225.4 Total: 241.5 Ball Speed: 65.1 Launch: 12.3 Backspin: 2995 Peak: 31.9 45m/s FTiQ Carry: 228.7 Total: 254.0 Ball Speed: 66.0 Launch: 10.9 Spin: 2466 Peak: 25.2 The Callaways were going into a small headwind. The FTiQ showed real low spin and lots of run out. Next up was the Tourstage brothers the 701 and 701G. Both 9.5* and shafted with Tourstage Tour Design B09-01w. Wind left to right 1-2m/s. 40m/s 701 Carry: 195.2 yards Total: 220.0 yards Ball Speed: 57.5m/s Launch Angle 12.8* Backspin 2821 Peak height: 21.9.2 yards 40m/s 701G Carry 192.7 Total: 220.0 Ball Speed: 57.1 Launch: 12.7 Backspin: 2611 Peak: 20.7 45m/s 701 Carry: 234.7 Total: 259.6 Ball Speed: 66.5 Launch: 11.5 Backspin: 2540 Peak: 26.7 45m/s 701G Carry: 240.2 Total: 265.0 Ball Speed: 66.2 Launch: 12.2 Spin: 2629 Peak: 27.6 Both Tourstages fared well all around with good ball speeds and low spin resulting in above average distances at both swing speeds for both models. The 701G had the longest total at 45m/s of all the drivers. Final test was with the Mizuno brothers. The MP Craft T1 and R1 were tested with 9.5* lofts and Quad 6 shaft. Wind was behind at 1-2m/s. 40m/s T1 Carry: 189.4 yards Total: 220.9 yards Ball Speed: 57.3m/s Launch Angle 11.2* Backspin 2519 Peak height: 17.2 yards 40m/s R1 Carry 199.3 Total: 226.1 Ball Speed: 57.7 Launch: 12.6 Backspin: 2874 Peak: 21.2 45m/s T1 Carry: 235.4 Total: 264.3 Ball Speed: 65.9 Launch: 11.5 Backspin: 2440 Peak: 23.4 45m/s R1 Carry: 241.7 Total: 263.3 Ball Speed: 66.4 Launch: 12.6 Spin: 2942 Peak: 30.9 The Mizuno's like the Tourstage did pretty well all around. The R1 had the longest carry and total at 40m/s of all the drivers.

Oh I agree R. I don't expect them to be as easy as the AF701's. I just want a set. We're all ho's remember? (^_^)

Amazing feedback Spoon! It makes me think I will be trying a set! As for the offset, there is less on the AF-Tour. Be careful not to get confused by the specs as AF-301 specs show face progression while AF-Tour specs show actual offset.

China for the VR and Taiwan for the r7 (apparently)