gocchin

Hey Aaron, more info would help like your actual swing speed. Your tempo and transition at the top. What your bad shot usually is. Prime numbers would be around 15* launch with 2500 or so back spin. (^_^)

Here is some info I put together on the EMB technology from Epon's original Japanese info and also thanks to sarintr for his pics of inside the club which I borrowed. I really like the hybrid cup face coupled with the high MOI body... now I can see why this thing is so straight and long. It also explains why it's so loud and has a very different feel from the traditional 460 which has the welded forged insert. Epon also did some unofficial testing with a bunch of recreational mid to high handicap golfers who had problems hooking the ball, they had each of them hit 5 driver with a 460 and then 5 drivers with an EMB and averaged the results of the 5 drivers. This was very casual testing and really for reference and interest only. I cannot verify any of the numbers as they were provided by Epon. The specs are as follows. EMB = 5500MOI 460 = 4200MOI (both are actually 460cc) All EMB's were using stock Graphite Design Tour AD for EMB at stock 46" length. All 460's were using stock Mach Line shafts at 45.25" length. In all two of the three cases average distance increased and most important of all all three golfers were considerably straighter = better accuracy and distance. The run out was amazing on some of these numbers which makes me wonder if they were hitting on a hole with a slight decline. (^_^)

I did the GDO best seller list for December so I thought it'd be a good idea to take a look in the pro shop here and tally what the best selling clubs were as well for December at TSG. Here are TSG's best sellers for December. This does include pre-order items as well: BEST SELLING AT TSG: Driver: 1. Epon EMB 2. Tourstage X-Drive Black 445cc 3. Epon Forged 460 4. Yamaha 4.6D 5. Tourstage 2008 ViQ 6. ONOFF 2008 Driver Plus 7. Yamaha 425V 8. Geotech GT455RM 9. Callaway Legacy 10. ONOFF 2008 Driver Fairway Woods and Utilities: 1. PRGR M3 Hit Tour 2. Tourstage 2008 ViQ (Tie) 2. Epon AF-201 (Tie) 4. Miura Precious Edition 5. Tourstage X-Drive GR 6. Taylormade 2008 V-Steel 7. Mizuno JPX Utility (Tie) 7. Royal Collection Td+ (Tie) 9. Royal Collection Pro TP 10. PRGR M3 Hit Irons: 1. Epon AF-701 2. Taylormade r7 TP Forged 3. Fourteen TC-550 Forged 4. Epon AF-301 5. Miura MB-5003 6. Yamaha Inpres X V Forged Tour Limited 7. Yamaha Inpres X V Forged 8. Epon AF-501 (Tie) 8. Tourstage 2008 ViQ (Tie) 10. Tourstage 2008 X-Blade Wedges: 1. Yamaha Inpres X Black Wedge 2. Yururi Raw Gekku 3. Epon AF Wedge 4. Yururi Tour Seida 5. Fourteen MT-28 JSPEC 6. PRGR MTI Wedge 7. Royal Collection 6150TG 8. Taylormade 2008 XR Wedge 9. Fourteen MT-28 V3 10. Tourstage 2007 X Wedge Putters: 1. Gold's Factory Private Stock 2. Taylormade Japan Rossa Fuji ASGI+ 3. Taylormade Japan Marnello 8 ASGI+ 4. Taylormade Japan Corza ASGI+ Overlength 5. Bettinardi XR 2.0 Putter 6. Mizuno Q Series Putters 7. Zomo Z:II Putter 8. Hiro Matsumoto MG-05 9. Bettinardi Studio B SB-1 10. Bettinardi Studio B SB-5 Shafts: 1. Mamiya Axiv-X 2. Diamana ali'islei 3. NGS Mach Line Proto 4. Graphite Design Quattro Tech 5. Graphite Design Quattro Tech MD 6. Roddio Pentacross 7. Ozik X-Con Series 8. Mamiya Axiv Driver Shaft 9. Graphite Design PT Series 10. Graphite Design 9003 (Tie) 10. Diamana White (Tie)

Most JDM heads are under 200g and can range from as low as 190g to average around 195-197g.

Scoop on this driver so far by the way is pretty positive but let me check my magazines this afternoon.... far too much reading to do (^_^)

As far as I know they are only offering the 460D ST long, not the new 4.6D in ST long. The ST Long is based on their best selling previous generation driver the 460D and is just longer. The 460D models had already been removed from the pro shop as they've been replaced by the newer 4.6 versions. They haven't bothered releasing a 4.6D ST Long as all the new 4.6 drivers can be ordered custom lengths including up to 46.5" any way.

These wedges are quickly gaining a crazy reputation for their 10,000 plus rpm spin in Japan.... what more can you ask for? Good looks, good spin, great feel....

The Labo spec shafts are pretty high quality, remember ONOFF, Labo spec, Roddio are all Daiwa so they share many of the same technology and manufacturing.

It does not appear to be a liquid chrome at least not yet, the LQ came out a while after the original launch as a Japan Limited finish. Here is the milky and vintage:

B, I don't think there is a "concensus" as a lot will depend on what you're looking for. Around that weight class we have: NS Pro 950GH (high 90's) NS Pro 850GH (High 80's) NS Pro V90 (90-100) Shimada K's AC10 90 series (90-100) Shimada K's AC10 80 series (80-90) True Temper GS-75 (Mid 80's) True Temper TX-90 (90) Rifle Precision Micro Lite (90-80) The will all have different feel and launch characteristics based on their bend profiles. Some are also constant weight while some are increasing weight (the Rifle's are decreasing weight)

I bet you can't wait to hit those 5003's.... hope they can get them shafted up fast for you tomorrow? Will you get a chance to play with them in the next few days? If so please post back with feedback! (^_^)

Here are live pics... not mine... from off the web... black is in isn't it? Darker than the X-Drive 445cc....

Unfortunately there is no X-Flex in the stock shaft which is 60g. It isn't a Callaway deep bore type hosel as far as I know... and I just checked and it still seems as if they are still offering a hosel adapter to change the face angle. I think also down the road Roddio will once again be offered with these drivers.

No Miura clubs at GDO, and especially no Gold's Factory clubs, that is hand made stuff and is very high end boutique (^_^).

The comment also on the ONOFF Plus is that it's not big like many of the new drivers today. It's still a more traditional shaped head from up top with a deep face. The face angle is listed as square but it's not uncommon for all PLUS models to be measured at 1* open. This was commonly the case with ONOFF's previous generation Plus driver. Interestingly though the feedback from two pros have been that it has great impact for distance... and is easy to draw but not as easy to fade (could be the shaft contributing a bit to that too) Pretty forgiving face. Traejectory a little on the high side but produces good hang time.

Straight from Epon R, 4200 for the 460, 5500 for the EMB. But of course they are two totally different drivers. The 460 is far more traditional whereas the EMB is meant to be a larger high MOI driver as you know.

To further what changman and federerfan said, just because they are both forged by endo doesn't mean they will feel the same. Endo forges MANY irons, nearly 70% of the world's irons but they will all feel different based on, type of steel, quality of steel, club design, and shaft used. Those will all affect feel. Federerfan may think the topline is think but for me I think it's all subjective. I don't find it thick at all but I play mid sized cavities so that's probably why. (^_^) If it is a blade you are looking for, another option is the Miura MB-5003's, I think federerfan may have gotten a set so will probably chime in soon on them but feedback has been very positive for feel and performance.

Yes T, GDO online sales only. GDO is by far the largest online dealer in Japan.

Most of the reviews that have been out are on the standard ONOFF Driver a couple on the black Plus. The general gist I see is that the drivers are getting their best ratings ever for an ONOFF driver... we're talking Tourstage and XXIO type rating scores from reviewers which have long been favorites in the Japanese market. Feedback from recreational players have been very positive for the ONOFF driver saying easy to hit and good distance. Higher trajectory type ball and a driver that helps slicers. The black Plus is getting comments (a lot for looks!) but also for ease to work the ball and nice feel. Stock shaft a little on the soft side. Let me check for more... New live pics really show what a different looking driver these are with their interesting sole...

Both have been getting very positive reviews, for feel, performance and looks. And the TC-550's which were originally classified as an "Athlete" model has turned out to be far more forgiving than that which has helped sales significantly with even 10-20 cappers buying them. That's probably why their sales have been so good. The Yamaha is a little newer but reviews have also been positive. I think they are actually very comparable. Both meant to be "athlete" models, forged by Endo with a little offset and almost between compact and mid sized CB's size wise. Both irons have been praised as very soft and easy to hit straight, especially the Fourteens which are pretty much point and shoot.... I'm reading my magazines now to see what more they say.... but so much driver talk these days especially with 2008 SLE kicking in... (^_^)

We could take a guess at it depending on finished length and how deep the hosel is (I have that info somewhere). The Roddio was probably tipped to a certain extent for your Epon as that's how Roddio's reach CPM. The Roddio can be installed to any CPM you want really. 235-245 is pretty much SR though many people have different opinions on this (^_^). I AM an R flex and play all my shafts between 225-235 cpm and have played even softer at 215 or so. I tried one at 197cpm (wifes... didn't quite work for me... couldn't time it right (^_^) ) but had no problems with 210-215. CPM's aside, a lot of the shafts performance will depend on it's bend profile and rigidity distribution, that is what the player will perceive as flex and kick.

Hi there and welcome to the forums. Fourteen is forged at Endo and have long been known for some of the softest irons around. The standard finish on the AF301's is the satin nickel but you can also get the vintage copper finish here which softens them up even more: http://forum.tourspecgolf.com/t26284.h...hl=copper+af301 There's an upgrade charge for that which I can't quite remember off the top of my head. You could probably do flat black as well since AF Wedges are finished that way. There are certainly A LOT of soft irons out there. Soft aside, finding the right one to fit your game level and personal tastes is key as well. (^_^)

B, not bad numbers for that swing speed, but I think optimal would be 15* or so of launch and under 2500 spin. I bet that would gain you 10+ yards. You may very well get that with a Roddio or Axiv X. I'm not surprised that they are CPMing out so low, especially with the extra length in the clubs. I bet a Regular at 46" will come down to like 210. Also in Japan lately, there has been a lot of focus on flex and cpms and what it means in relation to swing speeds. They had tests where 95-100mph swingers had the best results hitting a shaft at 197cpm!!

Epon is very exclusive, and they actually like to keep it that way. For Endo it's like their little secret project. There are very few Epon dealers in Japan and they are only given accounts because they can deal directly with customers to customize their orders and maintain epon's high end brand image, one of the reasons why epon is the ultimate in custom high end gear. At GDO and other online outfits they just sell gear straight out and are not really custom fitters. As for PRGR, they USED to be sold at GDO, I really don't know what happened there.

They are very popular as they are easy to find but I can't see myself hitting them as they are WAY too shiny. I've used Kasco's florescent balls which are okay but these.... whoa...