gocchin

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...

Here are GDO's December rankings for club sales including pre-orders for new releases next month. Please note GDO does not carry PRGR or Epon. Drivers: 1. Works Ultimizer V3 with Drakon Axiv Shaft 2. Callaway Legacy Driver 3. Tourstage X-Drive Black 445cc (this was in first place for the first half of the month, then second for the third week and passed by Legacy this week) 4. Tourstage 2008 ViQ 5. XXIO 2008 Driver 6. Works Ultimizer V3 With Works RS shaft 7. TM Burner tP 8. TM Burner 9. Yamaha Inpres X 4.6V 10. Mizuno MP-600 11. Srixon ZR-700 12. Yamaha Inpres X 4.6D 13. TM Superquad 14. Mizuno MP Craft 460 15. Tourstage X-Drive GR FW's: 1. Nike Sasquatch Sumo 2 FW 2. Royal Collection Star FD (number one or two for the entire year) 3. TM Japan Burner Titanium (Ti Burner FW is Japan only) 4. Nike Sasquatch Sumo 2 FW with GD Tour AD Shaft 5. Works Ultimizer V3 with Drakon Axiv 6. Royal Collection Pro TP FW (has become the number one FW on the JPGA) 7. Tourstage 2008 ViQ 8. Yamaha Inpres X iFF Tour Model 9. Tourstage X-Drive GR 10. XXIO 2008 FW Ladies 11. TM Japan XR FW 12. XXIO 2008 FW 13. Srixon Z-Steel II 14 Tourstage X-Drive 15. Mizuno F-60 with Quad 7 Irons: 1. Fourteen TC-550 Forged (has been number one for 6 weeks running) 2. Nike Ignite Hybrid Irons 3. XXIO 2008 Irons 4. Yamaha Inpres X V Forged Tour Model (Limited Edition and quickly selling out) 5. Tourstage 2008 ViQ NS Pro 6. Tourstage 2008 X-Blade 7. Tourstage 2008 ViQ Carbon Graphite 8. Nike Sumo Irons Graphite 9. Yamaha Inpres X V Forged Graphite 10. Yamaha Inpres X D Black NS Pro 11. Callaway New 2008 FT Irons 12. Cleveland CG Red Irons 13. Srixon ZR-700 14. Royal Collection SFI (These are the same irons as Epon's Type X) 15. TM Japan r7 TP Forged (sold like nuts in the first few weeks of release and reached as high as number 2) Wedges: 1. Callaway X Forged 2008 New Vintage DG 2. Callaway X Forged 2008 Milky Chrome C Grind DG 3. Callaway X Forged 2008 New Vintage M10DB 4. Fourteen MT-28 J-Spec NS Pro (was number 1 or 2 for months until new Callaways came along) 5. Callaway X Forged 2008 Milky Chrome C Grind NS Pro 6. Callaway X Forged 2008 Milky Chrome C Grind M10DB 7. Tourstage 2007 X-Wedge 8. Titleist Spin Milled Series DG 9. Cleveland CG12 NS Pro 10. Callaway X Forged 2008 New Vintage NS Pro 11. Fourteen MT-28 J-Spec DG 12. Titleist Spin Milled Oil Can NS Pro 13. Titleist 200 Series NS Pro 14. Fourteen MT-28 V3 NS Pro 15. Mizuno MP-T DG Utilities: 1. Nike Sumo Squared Graphite 2. Works Dyna Formula Graphite 3. Srixon AD Hybrid NS Pro 4. Cobra Baffler DWS NS Pro 5. Cobra Baffler DWS Graphite 6. Nike Sumo Squared NS Pro 7. TM Burner Rescue NS Pro 8. Tourstage 2008 X-Blade Driving Iron 9. Srixon AD Hybrid Graphite 10. XXIO 2008 Utility Balls: 1. Callaway HX Tour 2. Callaway HX Tour 56 3. Chromax Metallic Balls 4. Dunlop New Hi-Brid Bb Soft 5. Titleist Pro V1X 6. Tourstage X-01G4 7. Tourstage X-01R4 8. Srixon Z-UR 9. TM Japan Burner EX 10. Altus Newing 11. XXIO XD 12. Mizuno Tour 352s

There are a bunch of reviews out in all the new magazines I just go today. I'll look through them and post some feedback and scans this afternoon.

Actually Jack, that's not always the case. Both Epons do not have score lines going all the way across and they are indeed conforming as are several other drivers with smooth centers. I've always wondered about the design aspect vs the performance aspect of score lines on drivers as well and I believe that manufacturers to play with the lines for performance reasons. Score lines can effect spin and feel. My thinking used to be that no score lines would reduce spin however the X-Drive which does have score lines is pretty low spinning so that theory is not so accurate. (^_^)

The next generation RC utility is coming out... the next step from the Td+. It's got a strange name, the cvXer.

Of course it is S. All drivers coming out of Japan now are USGA conforming. Most of the big brands don't even sell non conforming models any more.

The 460 is 57mm tall and features an MOI around 4200.