putt4doh Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I'm constantly on a search for the perfect driver. My criteria is simple: it has to look good, feel good and perform. I didnt' think it'd be that tough, but it's proven harder than I thought. Some stuff will look good, but feel like poo....likewise other stuff will feel and look great, but not go anywhere. In short, I've pretty much had it with US OEM's and I've pretty much tried everything that even smelled like it might work.... Up to this point, the most appealing combo of appearance, feel, and performance for me has been the Bridgestone 460. I love the feel and performance, and lack of alignment aide is dead sexy :tsg_smilie_smile: . But I'm slowly falling under the spell of several Japan-issue drivers. With this in mind, can all the TSG experts help me out? If I had to pick just one (who am I kidding, right?) which should it be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer2 Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Since you have the B'stone 460 as a gamer, then based on that inference of your likes and dislikes, the best switch would be to the Epon 460. Time will tell on the new TS X-Drive, but in the past those have been less foregiving than say the Epon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putt4doh Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Since you have the B'stone 460 as a gamer, then based on that inference of your likes and dislikes, the best switch would be to the Epon 460. Time will tell on the new TS X-Drive, but in the past those have been less foregiving than say the Epon. The reviews of the Epon that I've read here are outstanding! I would definitely put it in the running, but I'd also hate to buy and be dissappointed...can anyone comment on the feel of the Epon compared to any US OEM's--particluarly B'stone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClubHoUno Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 The reviews of the Epon that I've read here are outstanding! I would definitely put it in the running, but I'd also hate to buy and be dissappointed...can anyone comment on the feel of the Epon compared to any US OEM's--particluarly B'stone? I have the same "problem" as you do. I'm also picking my driver for the 2007 summer season and the contenders are Epon 460 and Tourstage X-drive 460. The resale value of the Tourstage driver will be FAR better than that of the Epon 460 here in Europe. Perhaps 1000 guys in all of Europe, out of a population of 400 million, know about the Epon brand - and this means resale value is very low. The Tourstage brand is pretty popular among avid golfers in Europe, although it's to hard to get - so resale value of Tourstage is good, but still not great. I have 2 full bags of US equipment - one with Taylor Made driver & woods, Mizuno irons and wedges and Bettinarid Tour DASS putter and the other one with Titleist driver and woods, Ping irons and Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putter. But I'm looking for a third bag with some more fancy and limited stuff - a bag full of brands that the weekend golfer will know nothing about. He will not know if the total bag is worth $250 or $4.000 - I like this :tsg_smiley_laughatyou: :tsg_smilie_smile: I'll for sure get the new Taylor Made R7 TP SuperQuad driver this spring. Don't like the black finish though, so I'm awating the "normal" finish to arrive at stores. I really hit my R7 425 with Fuji Rombax great - but if the Epon is such a BOMB, I might go for that. But I'm a design freak, and my bag HAS to look great, not good - and I must admit that the Tourstage design of their clubs looks better than that of the Epon driver and clubs in general. Good luck with your search - maybe in the end we'll opt for the same driver :tsg_smilie_cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putt4doh Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I have the same "problem" as you do. I'm also picking my driver for the 2007 summer season and the contenders are Epon 460 and Tourstage X-drive 460.The resale value of the Tourstage driver will be FAR better than that of the Epon 460 here in Europe. Perhaps 1000 guys in all of Europe, out of a population of 400 million, know about the Epon brand - and this means resale value is very low. The Tourstage brand is pretty popular among avid golfers in Europe, although it's to hard to get - so resale value of Tourstage is good, but still not great. I have 2 full bags of US equipment - one with Taylor Made driver & woods, Mizuno irons and wedges and Bettinarid Tour DASS putter and the other one with Titleist driver and woods, Ping irons and Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putter. But I'm looking for a third bag with some more fancy and limited stuff - a bag full of brands that the weekend golfer will know nothing about. He will not know if the total bag is worth $250 or $4.000 - I like this :tsg_smiley_laughatyou: :tsg_smilie_smile: I'll for sure get the new Taylor Made R7 TP SuperQuad driver this spring. Don't like the black finish though, so I'm awating the "normal" finish to arrive at stores. I really hit my R7 425 with Fuji Rombax great - but if the Epon is such a BOMB, I might go for that. But I'm a design freak, and my bag HAS to look great, not good - and I must admit that the Tourstage design of their clubs looks better than that of the Epon driver and clubs in general. Good luck with your search - maybe in the end we'll opt for the same driver :tsg_smilie_cool: Sounds like we're on the same search... I've developed quite a crush on the 430P, but I tried the 405 and it was a spin machine for me. So although it looks amazing, I'm a little worried about the performance. Basically, I check here mulitple times a day for more info on it's performance, ideally with someone who swings like I do---but beggars can't be choosers. For all the reasons you state above, I'd love to hit the Epon before I 'take the plunge'. Aside from here and maybe GolfWRX, tough to resell if it doesn't perform...but just as sexy looking as anything out! So now Miz releases a new driver....and damn it! It looks gorgeous too! This is part of the reason why it's so tough to find a new driver----they all look SOOO good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I currently own these drivers ZR-600 10.5 with PT-6 Mizuno MP425 Craft 10.5 w/ Quad 6 Tourstage X-Drive 460 10.5 w/ DREV ICN Tour Epon 460 w/ Axiv 6564M TM R7 460 w/ stock shaft Fourteen JC-606 w/ stock shaft The epon is by far the best with the fourteen and X-Drive tied for 2nd place. Highest ball speed is the ZR-600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer2 Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I don't think about resale value-- I think about the perfect gamer. For me its the Epon w/Axiv... want to know whats in the garage-- just about every Tour issue that Nike, Cleveland, TM, Titleist, Cally and B'stone has put out in the last four years-- in 9.5 and 10.5!! So thats quite an endorsement for the Epon and Axiv. I like the 460 more than the 415-- more foregiving (though the 415 is the more classic looking pear shape). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blader-X Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 EPON. All day, everyday. No contest. At least for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClubHoUno Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I don't think about resale value-- I think about the perfect gamer. For me its the Epon w/Axiv... want to know whats in the garage-- just about every Tour issue that Nike, Cleveland, TM, Titleist, Cally and B'stone has put out in the last four years-- in 9.5 and 10.5!! So thats quite an endorsement for the Epon and Axiv. I like the 460 more than the 415-- more foregiving (though the 415 is the more classic looking pear shape). I agree - but if two producst are very close performance wise, then I would always go for the product that has the best resale value and the best design. This is how I can afford to spend $5.000...plus a year on golf equipment. If I had unlimited means, I would literally have a house full of golf equipment - we're talking 10 drivers, 10 woods, 10 iron sets etc. For now I have limited my golf craze to only having 3 full bags at a time - and my girlfriend and my friends still think I'm crazy for having 3 complete bags full of new golf gear :tsg_smilie_money3: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
putt4doh Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I currently own these driversZR-600 10.5 with PT-6 Mizuno MP425 Craft 10.5 w/ Quad 6 Tourstage X-Drive 460 10.5 w/ DREV ICN Tour Epon 460 w/ Axiv 6564M TM R7 460 w/ stock shaft Fourteen JC-606 w/ stock shaft The epon is by far the best with the fourteen and X-Drive tied for 2nd place. Highest ball speed is the ZR-600. Ok, I'll take one of each! :tsg_smilie_smile: Serioulsy though, all those sticks are so freakin' gorgeous! How can anyone decide? About the only one I'd cross off the list is the TM...I've just never got along with any of their gear. I think TSG needs to do a Import Only Big Dog Shoutout, anyone else? EPON.All day, everyday. No contest. At least for me. This seems to be the concensus from anyone who's hit/played one.... How does she feel at impact? Can you equate to the feel to say, TM, Titty, Callaway, B'stone, XDrive, or just different and better? I don't think about resale value-- I think about the perfect gamer. For me its the Epon w/Axiv... want to know whats in the garage-- just about every Tour issue that Nike, Cleveland, TM, Titleist, Cally and B'stone has put out in the last four years-- in 9.5 and 10.5!! So thats quite an endorsement for the Epon and Axiv. I like the 460 more than the 415-- more foregiving (though the 415 is the more classic looking pear shape). I'm with Klaus. It's not a huge concern, but when you're ho'ing clubs and don't have limitless resources, you have to be 'aware'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranghips Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 Does this mean that the unanimous opinion is the Epon 460? I have not heard a bad word about it, but virtually every reviewer has an Axiv shaft in their 460, I have an Axiv v in my PRGR T3 and consider it to be the best shaft I have ever used, and I am delighted with the PRGR, if the Epon is any better it must be fantastic. Claus, 3 bags is in no way excessive, I currently have 7 or is it 8 sets of Irons, only 6 drivers, 8 FW's, 7 wedges, 5 putters - my girlfriend doesn't understand, but I can forgive her! Merry Xmas everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Alexander Posted December 24, 2006 Report Share Posted December 24, 2006 Does this mean that the unanimous opinion is the Epon 460?I have not heard a bad word about it, but virtually every reviewer has an Axiv shaft in their 460, I have an Axiv v in my PRGR T3 and consider it to be the best shaft I have ever used, and I am delighted with the PRGR, if the Epon is any better it must be fantastic. Claus, 3 bags is in no way excessive, I currently have 7 or is it 8 sets of Irons, only 6 drivers, 8 FW's, 7 wedges, 5 putters - my girlfriend doesn't understand, but I can forgive her! Merry Xmas everyone. I've lost count of the number of wedges I have, but that is the weak part of my game. There is far more sanity around everything else in the bag. That said I recently acquired a TM 510 from the Japanese tour van. I think it's the ducks guts, however I have to acknowledge the Epon 460 must be something special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiftyNiblick Posted January 24, 2009 Report Share Posted January 24, 2009 (edited) I'm constantly on a search for the perfect driver. My criteria is simple: it has to look good, feel good and perform. I didnt' think it'd be that tough, but it's proven harder than I thought. Some stuff will look good, but feel like poo....likewise other stuff will feel and look great, but not go anywhere. In short, I've pretty much had it with US OEM's and I've pretty much tried everything that even smelled like it might work....Up to this point, the most appealing combo of appearance, feel, and performance for me has been the Bridgestone 460. I love the feel and performance, and lack of alignment aide is dead sexy :tsg_smilie_smile: . But I'm slowly falling under the spell of several Japan-issue drivers. With this in mind, can all the TSG experts help me out? If I had to pick just one (who am I kidding, right?) which should it be? Here's an oldie but goodie with which I can identify, putt4! There isn't an OEM on ANY continent making drivers or fairways with my preferred loft/face angle/lie angle combos. I wish you better luck with your search than I've had, but even 2+ years later, it wouldn't surprise me if you're still looking! But a "Scratch" type company making woods to custom spec would really hit the spot about now. Edited January 24, 2009 by NiftyNiblick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonlui Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 i was in the same boat a few years ago. I couldn't decide between the xdrive or epon and i did tons of reading and didn't want to spend so much on a driver based on reading. to keep it short, i bought both. the epon 460 and 445 xdrive was very similar in my opinion. i gave feel towards epon and looks for tourstage. i didn't keep either because then i started hoing and haven't stopped since. i haven't played any new set of irons or driver for more than 10 rounds before selling them since i rotate every week and i don't get to go out all the time. so if you're a club ho, don't ask, just buy, the chance are it won't stay inyour bag. if you're not a ho, just get fitted and buy domestic equipment. that's just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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