Japanese Driver Design in the Near Future

[gyli84]

With the radically designed square drivers being introduced by Nike and Callaway I'm intrigued as to whether any Japanese company is planning on introducing anything as radical in the near future - seeing as they are meant to be at the forefront of golf technology.

Is the Japanese market much more traditionalist and would they tolerate Nike and Callaway's new offerings? Will the Sumo and FT-I be released as is or tweaked for the Japanese market?

Does anyone know anything or care to speculate?

Incidentally, when do new clubs tend to be released by OEMS in Japan?

[Phillip Alexander]

In my view the Japanese like beautiful golf clubs.

My view of the new square driver concept if they are butt ugly.

I guess we will just have to wait and see.

[Goldenhawk]

Personally, I'm waiting for the Japanese version of the FT-I Driver.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

The Nike SQ was a semi hit in Japan so I dont think having the option of a square driver around is a big problem.

They like new age tech stuff, although the FT-square and sumo are old tech by just moving the CG & MOI to extreme areas they IMO will still offer it in their market.

Im waiting to see when they will release the ERC3's counterpart in the states.

[gyli84]

Personally, I'm waiting for the Japanese version of the FT-I Driver.

Haha, yeah. I started thinking about this topic because I was fantasising about how fantastic a Japanese version of the FT-I with a premium shaft would be!

The Nike SQ was a semi hit in Japan so I dont think having the option of a square driver around is a big problem.

They like new age tech stuff, although the FT-square and sumo are old tech by just moving the CG & MOI to extreme areas they IMO will still offer it in their market.

Im waiting to see when they will release the ERC3's counterpart in the states.

So would you say that the Driver technology in Japan is more centred around how the club feels rather than providing forgiveness?

What does the use of many different types/treatments of titanium in the latest Japanese drivers offer - is it purely a feel thing? I say this because surely if they wanted to increase MOI this would be better done using composites - however, not many Japanese drivers have gone down this route.

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Haha, yeah. I started thinking about this topic because I was fantasising about how fantastic a Japanese version of the FT-I with a premium shaft would be!

So would you say that the Driver technology in Japan is more centred around how the club feels rather than providing forgiveness?

What does the use of many different types/treatments of titanium in the latest Japanese drivers offer - is it purely a feel thing? I say this because surely if they wanted to increase MOI this would be better done using composites - however, not many Japanese drivers have gone down this route.

Titanium prices are going up, thats why brands like Nike, Callaway etc.. are doing research on plastic heads. when the USSR collapsed they had to put their titanium on the market to make cash but those reserves are depleting and head manufactures are starting to see the prices of the raw material increase.

Same deal with the AirBus A380 and Carbon/Graphite shaft materials, its in high demand.

Japan uses top notch titanium, stuff that America hasnt tried due to cost, does this stuff actually help your game, probably not but they are able to do some cool things like make a low C.O.R driver fly a couple yards further than high C.O.R, create expanding head drivers that produce a stronger launch of the club head etc..

Callaway uses chemical milled technology on the ERC3 and the titanium crown done that way is almost as light as composite. no matter what the application a square driver should have a higher MOI, does a good player need that? some do some don't it really depends on the persons swing troubles. Will tiger use it? of course he will as he is Nike's money making machine.

Feel is a big part of golf clubs, everyone thinks distance, and forgiveness but when you do hit a shot perfect and that shot feels superb you enjoy the game more, and thats what this is all about isn't it.

You will see the Japanese think out of the box and try exciting things in their equipment, things that are getting the chopping block in the USA due to cost.

[Blader-X]

Titanium prices are going up, thats why brands like Nike, Callaway etc.. are doing research on plastic heads. when the USSR collapsed they had to put their titanium on the market to make cash but those reserves are depleting and head manufactures are starting to see the prices of the raw material increase.

Same deal with the AirBus A380 and Carbon/Graphite shaft materials, its in high demand.

Japan uses top notch titanium, stuff that America hasnt tried due to cost, does this stuff actually help your game, probably not but they are able to do some cool things like make a low C.O.R driver fly a couple yards further than high C.O.R, create expanding head drivers that produce a stronger launch of the club head etc..

Callaway uses chemical milled technology on the ERC3 and the titanium crown done that way is almost as light as composite. no matter what the application a square driver should have a higher MOI, does a good player need that? some do some don't it really depends on the persons swing troubles. Will tiger use it? of course he will as he is Nike's money making machine.

Feel is a big part of golf clubs, everyone thinks distance, and forgiveness but when you do hit a shot perfect and that shot feels superb you enjoy the game more, and thats what this is all about isn't it.

You will see the Japanese think out of the box and try exciting things in their equipment, things that are getting the chopping block in the USA due to cost.

You hit it there Chris. Feel is what its all about, at least for me. I have never enjoyed the game more than I am right now and that's because of all of the import clubs I am now playing with. Couple that with having my ball striking the best its ever been and I'm in heaven now. For me I want clubs that will perform and look and feel great. If its also forgiving fine, but I do not want to sacrifice that feel for the sake of forgiveness. With my game, a more forgiving club isn't going to lower my scores below par. Only more playing time and practice time which I don't have as much of as I once did.

Japanese believe in quality and the way something looks. It has to be a certain way. I love that about Japan. You can see it in many different products in Japan. From the way candy is wrapped and boxed, to the way they care for produce, individually wrapping peaches while on the trees so as to make them the best quality they can, to the way food is prepared and presented. You can't truly appreciate what I'm talking about unless you've been there and experienced it.

I think the Japanese market would embrace a square driver provided it had the right look to it. To me however, these square drivers just don't look like one could deliver the clubhead into the ball effectively. It kind of messes with your eye.

[Goldenhawk]

I think the Japanese would embrace the Callaway FT-I more than the Nike Sumo Squared.

I've seen and hit the US FT-I. It has a simple black painted crown and wasn't as distracting as the Sumo Squared. But I think the new FT-5 may give the FT-I a run for its money.

Anyhow, I await to see the the Japanese FT-5 or FT-I here on TSG. I'm saving $$$ for one of these.