gocchin

Yes you're correct the JPX series does compete directly with the Legacy and ViQ Forged. I'm looking for the new ViQ forged to hopefully come out very soon after Tourstage finishes with the X-Drive launch. This will be a very exciting winter for sure! The new JPX woods look a bit busy from the sole but that's not such a big deal, how they look from above and preform is what counts. (^_^)

Jon, your aggressive transition and wrist lag would point at either the Xcon-7 Stiff or the Diamana kai'li 70 Stiff. The X-Con would be the higher launching of the two. The kai'li will launch higher than the Whiteboard. Both are stiff tipped though which won't necessarily help your unwanted fade.

Haha I'm the same as you. Many people's gamers look like gamers.... even the Gold's is my gamer I keep it looking brand new like its been never used. (^_^)

Recently putters with blinkers or alignment aids as they are typically called have become very popular. The blinker not only acts as an alignment tool but also adds weight and stability helping smooth out the putting stroke and increasing the putters MOI substantially. This new blinker is a two piece blinker that in its prototype form adds nearly 90g of weight to a head. The design may remind people of the old Gauge Design Eldik series which was a wonderful design that inspired this new blinker. Think of it as an improvement or evolution of what was already a very good blinker. (note Sasaya-san was a chief designer at Gauge during the Eldik days). The end product should add around 60g to the putter as backweighting but that may still be heavy so it's still quite an experiment.

Definitly, the Axiv Iron shaft is a very good choice. It is NOT whippy at all and plays rather stiff, definitely stiffer than the 750GH. Another great thing is it is ascending weight, meaning the longer iron shafts are lighter and progress to heavier as the irons get shorter. The Axiv is very smooth and controlled and definitely does not have vibrations like steel. You can swing normally without worrying too much about being too much hands as you say. Based on your distances and weight requirements, you could get the 758M which is rated up to 99mph driver speed. It probably has similar stiffness to the M-40 Inspec light steel but more feel and definitely more distance. It definitely plays between a regular and stiff/regular flex. It's not uncommon to see users including myself use Axiv in their wedges as well. One thing you will find is the increased feel provides touch around the greens and the Axiv works well in your set because the wedge shafts are heavier. I'm not sure what your set makeup is but I'm guessing you're carrying 5-PW + 2 wedges? If that is the case you could get 5-9 + 3 wedge shafts that would weigh the following: 5 iron - 74g 6 - 76g 7 - 78g 8 - 80g 9 - 82g wedges - 84g So as you can see the longer irons will have lighter shafts, providing more forgiveness and distance but the short irons will be heavier for more stable control. The torque on the Axiv set is also very steel like and gets tighter as the irons get shorter ranging from 2.3* for the 5 iron down to a very steel like 1.8* for the wedges. There are other graphite shafts that are very good but the Axiv fits the characteristics you're looking for the most. Shimada makes a good shaft too, but it won't be better if not the same as it's NS Pro equivalent afterall.

YES! New driver and V Forged.... will most likely be a tour version as well. I have magazine pics (but no scanner) so let me see if I can track down some pics for you.

Also keep in mind that custom grind adjustments are available on this putter, just like for the tour pros!

It may keep the right side out of play a little more than the X-con since the X-con has a slightly stiffer tip. So far its been very popular in Japan. I will have to read up a little more on it since I haven't tried it yet.

No word at the moment but it seems like they won't be.

What head did you put the shaft in and did you tip it correctly for install? Installed with the right tipping it can be pretty hard to hook badly. Of course much does depend on how you swing. No shaft will totally eliminate hooks or slices only help reduce them.

I have a feeling they may still be there... ONOFF uses those hosels/ferrules cause they allow adjustment of lie and face angle.

They are not out till the 25th of next month but I will try see if I can hit a demo tomorrow. (^_^)

T, Like the previous Rapture they are pretty easy to hit. I did hit them with the Tour AD and it was a very easy to hit combination with nice feel. I am no low handicapper but I prefer the look of less offset. If a player wants easy and forgiving but less offset the Rapture V2 is definitely an option.

Mizuno tends to put that lie logo on their drivers indicating that custom lie was done/or is available for that club. The Mizuno MP Craft's have 3 lies available depending on the model. The difference between the two heads is that the T1 is more traditional and has a deeper face and not as deep center of gravity. It is square to open faced and weighted for a straight to fade ball. Aimed at the better player. The R1 has a shallower face and deeper center of gravity in it's larger, as in at address, head. It's got a square face and is weighted for a straight to draw ball.

If you have the budget, all the characteristics you're describing... stepless, kick, swing feel, no vibration is pointing towards graphite shafts. The 3001 from Shimada is actually stepped. The 7001 is the newer model and is low kicking while the 3001 was mid kick. They are both constant weight shafts in the same weight range. The NS Pro 750 is definitely soft and you need to be careful of flex with that model. What's your swing speed and how far do you hit your 7 iron?

T1: R1:

Haha I give up on trying to stop people from posting pics of the Epon blades... they are on way too many Japanese blogs already. Sorry Epon! (^_^)

ONOFF Driver, ONOFF Driver Plus and New ONOFF Plus Forged!

Here are some pics: 701 Driver: 701 FW: 701G Driver: GR Driver: GR FW:

Recently most Odyssey releases have been global releases unlike in the past when they had Japan only models. I'll have to check if the new Black Series are Japan only.

Felt very soft WHEN I pured it (^_^) and had very clean setup. Reviews have started showing up in magazines here and they all tout the 901 as soft and pure control though made for the very good ball striker as forgiveness is not it's strong point. In a recent comparison on weekly par golf it got max ratings for control.

ALL Tourstage are made in Japan. They just happened to be assembled in different places one of them being China. Only the GR C1 and P1's are being assembled in China. On another note, here in Japan the 901 Limited Blade is very hot. Most retailers are out already and demand is very high. Beautiful blade with wonderful lines. I had to hit it even though it is beyond me. (^_^)

I didn't notice if she is actually playing these yet. I saw on TV the other day, she was working with a Callaway rep testing them with the idea of putting them into play eventually. She was testing with several shafts, different weights etc... they probably need to fine tune for her still.

Yup Fujikura is available I'll add them in. The Tour AD Pros are too but they are very costly. Also the black KB shafts are also available now.

Many of us scoffed at the TP-7 and Crazy Shaft prices... now it's Mamiya Axiv's turn as they release their new Premium Axiv. Only 500 shafts will be made and only in one flex. Retail price.... $1050.00 This is a 55g light spec shaft with optimal torque set at 3.8* and made of high modulus 80T carbon in Axiv's 4 Axis weave, the highest grade carbon available in golf shafts today. The shaft combines maximum distance and accuracy with minimal energy loss. According to Axiv, if you want distance this is the shaft. Sadly it's only available in one flex 5.5kg and rated at around 238CPM or Regular flex. Maybe I should get it. Finish is a gold/silver.... (^_^)