gocchin

Same shaft as the current 80LS Noir. Right before they launched the new Black, Nero, Noir lines they had renamed the 80 to New CB80, but then they changed it to properly fit in with the current lines.

Soft is subjective. There are too many factors influencing the soft feel of an iron including not only its materials, manufacturing processes and even design and grind and of course shaft. And then finally how well we can hit it. We can already see different opinions in this thread on feel. Unfortunately I am not a fan of the AF-502. The alpha gel deadens and mutes the feel for me. I like soft but lively and somehow the AF-502 doesn't work for me... but thats me. I loved the Yamaha Tour and thats because its a simply a soft ONE piece forging. Its pure with no technology or added parts to hinder feel. For the ONOFF, the long and mid irons are affected by tungsten melded to the sole while the shorter irons are more pure. The Yamaha Tour model was one of the best feeling irons I've hit in a long time and yes I have a AF-502 demo here which I always hit against irons I test but I just can't get to like it... but then again thats just me, its all subjective and personal. I much prefer the AF-302 and some customers who got the AF-502 have said the same and on the other hand there are those who do love the AF-502.

I'm trying to get Marc a set....(^_^)

Yes you were indeed the one right before Stew!

I would wait as you could change your mind or something new will come out. When you say most JDM brands come out with new products every X number of years, that would apply only to Epon. All JDM brands come out with new products at least every year... some even more frequently!

2010 my fav V Forged model: The one with the grooves in the cavity is the 2011, this years:

Well we can always beg them for one more!

I use it for both the range and during a round. We all can swing quite differently when playing a round vs a no pressure situation at the range. Its good to compare the speeds and smash factory differences.

AS OF TODAY, YAMAHA HAS ASKED TO STOP TAKING ORDERS FOR THE TOUR MODEL LIMITED. They have pre sold out all the irons. Stew was our last order. (^_^) In my opinion considerably better looking than the 2011.

H, you have to post pictures please. Thanks, T

Also I just looked at the auction more carefully. It does indeed look like the ali'islei graphics. It could be the ali'islei proto as robbie said. The seller of that auction never said in the auction its a Stinger. T

Hi C, sorry I did not get back to you sooner by email. Many shaft companies make many prototypes so it may be a prototype but not the one released as the Limited Prototype Stinger in Japan. Diamana has had many prototypes. I know the Stinger Proto said Stinger on those ones because I took the pictures myself above. I cannot confirm the authenticity of the shaft in ebay, but counterfeit Diamana's have been known to be circulating from China though I have not heard of the fakes being prototypes.

You're very welcome Stan. Those hybrids have become the big surprise for many. Quite a few members here like stevo and jcmb really love them too for the ease of use and distance.

Prototype putter shaft made of high carbon. I think we can get it.

I feel for them though at WRX, as its not easy to manage such a huge community and sometimes the marshalls can be forced to look like the bad guy when trying to enforce order. The problem is somebody always has to take the fall and get banned. That happens on WRX and any forum for that matter whether golf or not. If its something we are passionate about its hard for us to keep emotions in and we all blow up sometimes and that goes for marshalls, admins and moderators as well. Like Stew said, its like calling your dog ugly. The truth is we are all crazy aren't we and very passionate about our hobby (hobbies). My wife thinks I am nuts, truth is I did not move back to Japan for golf... I did because I am a huge japanese pop culture nerd and crazy about everything Japanese, cars, anime, gadgets, tech, food, and yes music and idols (golf just happened to come along)... there are times my wife wants to get rid of me and for good reason!

The Tour VS is a great driver and I have to agree with you, as a whole the new SFD Black line was a bit of a let down. The TRC lineup and Tour VS is so much better.

Guys keep in mind C is talking about US Model Shimada PRO shafts which are different from Shimada Tours. They are in fact heavier than the Tours. I think the Tours in Stiff would do the trick as the Tour Lite stiff might be too soft for C.

Yes Yamaha is still S20C and of course Endo. Including all drivers, irons and wedge. Nobody else can make woods with the same process endo does and its signature forged ELF Titanium face and chemically milled crown. Considering PRGR and Callaway use the same technologies and materials I guess they must be outsourced to some foreign super high tech forging house as well now. lol Stew you go get them!! (^_^)

Flatting the iron is for stews particular case. Just because he flattens the iron doesn't mean you should. It all depends on each individual's swing and obviously stew is hitting it more pure with a flatter lie. But his swing is different from yours. Changing the lofts does have an affect on the bounce as well but 1* is minimal since the bounce is low already on the irons. Increasing loft by 1* will also increase bounce by 1*. and vice versa. Of course distance is affected as well which is all the more reason why its done. You don't need a 25y gap between your AF-302 6 iron and AF-Tour 7 iron.

1* weaker for the AF302 and 1* stonger for the tours... no that is right. Cause for example the the AF302 6 iron is 30*. The AF Tour 7 iron is 36*. So the AF302 needs to go 1* weaker to 31* and the AF Tour 1* stronger to 35* making a 6* gap only 4*. T

Pretty much everyone who buys as a combo set has the lofts adjusted. I typically suggest 1* weaker for the 302's and 1* stronger for the blades to maintain a 3* spread. T

I think he's about the 2012 Inpres X D Forged. The older D series models from Yamaha are not forged but SUS bodies with Maraging steel faces. The AF701 is certainly one of the best and forgiving forged irons ever... they are no longer available new but can be had used if you look around. You can also consider the AF-702 but I find them larger and with more offset than the 701. As a 12 handicap, you could even play the new V Forged, very forgiving as well as the ONOFF Forged. Both are aimed at the better player but many average golfers go for them as they have very soft feel and provide balanced performance and pretty good distance and forgivness.

You need to post a picture of these "rare" ONOFF Plus. Reduce the images to under 150k each. I'd like to see how rare these are, (^_^)

The D-Tour Type Bite that H ordered above is actually the most popular model from SDJ. Its one of my all time favorite wedges. JCMB and Mjr. Diarrhea seem to like them a lot and I think you will too. Honestly all the wedges SDJ make are very good. Jeff, they just came out with another new model!

Don't forget they also make pianos, golf carts, motorcycles as well. But their golf clubs are the best. (^_^)