I have been an avid reader for some time now and am interested in the following info from those who have played or held the following irons (I really gravitate to these 4).

Fourteen forged 550

Tourstage 2007 VIQ Forged

Mizuno 2007 forged JPX

Epon forged 701

I was wondering how they would be catagorized with one another in the following ways.

I realize that in some area's the difference may be minute...

1) most to least forgiving

2) soft to harder/clicky feeling

3) mid to larger head size

4) thinner to wider sole

5) least to most offset

I play Mizuno MX-20's for 4 years with TT dynalite gold 300S shafts (120g low kick).

I want my next set to probably have GD 85's or 95's in stiff, graphite for sure.

I am improving each year and would like a set I can stay with even if I get down to under 15 hcp.

Any and all productive comments are welcome.

Thanks,

Kent

Can't go wrong w/any of um; though I'd choose Epon in a heartbeat, no matter where it rates on the scale of dimensions.

Edited March 29, 200816 yr by xchangmanx

1) most to least forgiving

701

ViQ

JPX

550

2) soft to harder/clicky feeling

550

viq

jpx

701 cause it's the only one with an undercut which also makes it the most forgiving

All are still soft... I don't even notice the click... on pure hits with the 701 you feel butter especially with graphite which helps reduce the clickiness

3) mid to larger head size

All are mid, viq is probably the largest

4) thinner to wider sole

all about equal viq probably widest

5) least to most offset

again very close and very hard to tell even side by side

All four iron sets are targeting similar audiences (I've seen single digit handicaps play all four and even 20 handicaps play all four) and are very close in size and shape. All are very good irons, and will perform awesome. Choosing the shaft may be harder than choosing the irons! But if you know you want GD shafts and an iron that pure performs... Epon 701's are the only ones you can actually order with GD.

I was exactly in the same boat as you back in December. I was lucky enough to demo all the clubs mentioned except the JPX which wasn't on my hit list.

My findings are pretty much the same as Gocchin's. Most forgiving is 701 and best feeling is 550. I was flip flopping between the two and ended up with the 701 since it was more forgiving and confidence inspiring. At first I felt like I "settled" for the 701. That feeling quickly went away as soon as I kept hitting pure shots with this club. To me, the difference in feel is not too noticeable. You really have to be tuning into the feel to distinguish the difference on a well hit shot.

The honeymoon period is well over and I am still very happy with the 701. I will definitely use these sticks well into single digits.

You have chosen excellent clubs and can't go wrong with either of the clubs in your list. Good luck!

Discovering EPON, is like discovering JDM clubs. "a whole new world"