rexwrx Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 (edited) Seems like a fairly thorough test, with many iron models having been reviewed. The testers appear to be value conscious in their grading, but Epon's are still ranked much lower than the Snake Eyes 675B for instance, in both value and feel. Surprising. http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/Golf/News/se...amp;R=EPI-22716 Epon AF-301 TG rating rating is 2.5/5 Stars These top-end forgings performed reasonably well in our test, but they failed to stand out in any department and lost crucial marks in the value category. Our testers questioned if the huge pricetag was worth it, as there seemed no obvious payback in actual performance or results, and there were even some reports of a harsh and unforgiving feel. But, these are still seriously high-quality clubs with sleek and stylish looks, giving plenty of niche appeal, and are clearly aimed at the discerning golfer looking for something a little different. Snake Eyes 675B TG rating rating is 4/5 Stars Only just pipped to our Bronze award, the 675 won admirers in our test and our test pro loved its soft feel and all-round performance. Players will appreciate the forgiveness on off-centre hits, while the design maintains a traditional appearance, with a thin top line, bevelled Tour-grind sole and minimal offset. With a shiny chrome finish, this is a real players’ club and gave solid results. We tested the musclebacks, but the 675C cavity backs are also available for more forgiveness. Both can be combined to create a combo set. Edited April 16, 2008 by rexwrx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocchin Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Wonder how the set was shafted and put together... one thing we've discovered is the right shaft choice in the AF-301 is crucial. That harsh and unforgiving feel is not what most here would say, and many here have been playing them far longer than those testers did probably only in a short time. Also they posted a pic of the AF-501... did they review the right iron? (^_^) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Let's have it guy's. We have members here who have hit R7TP, Epon, Vega, Titleist, and others what you say? Thing that makes me not agree with this test is that I have TMTP irons, Vega, Titleist, and Epon irons here with me and the Epon and Kyoei are noticeably softer than the TM TP and others they rank so high. They are ranking 1035 & Cast irons as better feeling than 1020 & 1025 Forged irons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xchangmanx Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 I dunno my 301s w/1150s are pretty much a perfect match for me. Moreover my 301s w/1150s are way more forgiving than my mp60s w/s300s. As far as harsh.... never been harsh for me, MP60s are WAY harsher w/DGs300s, dunno maybe it could have been the shaft, cuz 1150s are pretty darn smooth. I have owned TMracs(miuras), R7TPs, R7 forged, Mizuno 37s 32s amd 60s, titleist 680cbs 695mbs. (some friends of mine play snake eye blades, callaway big berthas, etc.... they say "JDM is to expensive") IMO none of these clubs compare my epons. LOL in fact, I'll come right out and say it, "I literally think snake eyes are cheapo knock offs that anyone can buy." Not saying they suck... but I wouldn't buy them. I don't think it is even fair that TG compared the 301 to a snake eye club. lol Its like comparing a VW beetle to a 911turbo. Hands down Epon goes in my bag. All my other sets except the R7 forged, have been sold. 2.5/5 is really odd for epon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coops1967 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 The main problem is the UK sterling price tag.... something like 1200 GBP if i remember - that's $2500 US for the standard no customised set! (only 5 - PW also maybe?). Here in Thailand they're not cheap - but cost about same as Tourstage, ie ~ $1000 for a 5-Pw set. If the tester knew the price before hiiting the ball..... he'd expect them to feel like the inside of a chinchilla fur lined codpiece! coops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmclarenf1 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Ha! My beloved Scratch Ar-1s with 1018 steel didn;t even make it to the test LOL. And I still love my Ar-1s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slice1969 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 NO doubt about it Chris. I read the article on the newstand, and I could not believe my eyes. I understand the value criteria, definitely not cheap clubs, but when it comes to performance and feel, they are second to none. The feel of a well-struck iron, does not even compare. I have had so many golfers on the driving range, some of them PGA Pros, come to me and ask me what irons I am hitting, just from the sound at impact. Epon RULES..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marty Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 the test seems questionable, shows a pic of the AF-501, but test it's supposedly on the AF-301, and then they test the Bridgestone J33. They dont even make that model anymore. Did the mean J36? , pic shows a J33.... hmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Hmmm British Golfing mags never give in-depth reviews, I don;t know of anyone that takes them seriously..... They are used by consumers to see what is new/available at a particular pricepoint. You never know the full spces of what they are testing. I wouldn;t be surprised to find out they'd mixed the review up. Today's Golfer always struck me as a 'tabloid' type of mag. ie. not taken seriously.... just my opinion though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 I have played more than 1/2 the clubs listed better than EPON and I didn't find one the comes close to the feel or craftmanship of the Epon AF 301. I am makeing the assumption that 301 is just like the Technica Pro 1, which is the set of irons I have in the bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bat Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 (edited) They clearly have no clue what they're talking about. Just look at their review of the Srixon i701 - "The press-milled face increases spin control in rough and wet conditions, and a new sole design reduces turf drag from all lies. Decent performance and solid feel were plus points, but a slight lack of forgiveness in our test meant that Srixon’s offering fell a little short of the top scorers." First of all, the i701 (non-tour) doesn't come with press-milled face. I'm also willing to bet that they are by far one of the most forgiving sets in the test. Certainly more forgiving than MP67, MT-Pro, ZB Forged, TP Forged, etc. Of course we here know they were probably talking about the i701 TOUR and not the regular i701. But it just shows how incompetent they are by using the regular i701 in the picture, title, AND description when they're clearly talking about the i701 Tour. I really feel sorry for some their readers that may not know any better. Bat Btw, AF-301 HARSH?!! you have got to be kidding me. Edited April 17, 2008 by Bat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bat Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 (edited) Here's a quote of their description of the Ping i10 "...with a noticeably penetrating ball flight created by its low centre of gravity." Hmmm Reeally?? Also, along with the incorrect photos of the Epon and Srixon, the Snake Eyes pictured is the 675C not 675B. Bat Edited April 17, 2008 by Bat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 We have now learned that this magazine rates the club based on the amount of money the golf OEM spends on advertising in that magazine. Anyway that is what their bigger competitor says as well as Itochu which is the EU distributor for Epon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexwrx Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 We have now learned that this magazine rates the club based on the amount of money the golf OEM spends on advertising in that magazine. Anyway that is what their bigger competitor says as well as Itochu which is the EU distributor for Epon. Wouldn't Golf Magazine likely say the same thing about Golf Digest, or vice versa? Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indharbor Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Wouldn't Golf Magazine likely say the same thing about Golf Digest, or vice versa? Just a thought... I think major magazines are influenced by companies who pay big bucks for their advertisement in one way or the other. But, I think Golf Magazine's case and their review on Epon iron is little extreme. Maybe the panels were bothered by the price tag or something but as far as pure performance is concerned, I just can't see how Epon iron can get THAT poor reviews, espcially comparison among most of the iron set in the review which I consider them 2nd grade by far below Epons. I am not some Epon fanatic, just regular guy who likes to try out different sticks from different brands for pure pleasure but IMO, Epons are one of the best, if not the best, in every category there can be for an iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrive Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 I was a club ho long before I came upon the JDM offerings a few years back. I've played or at least hit them all. (USDM) They have some good clubs, they have some lousy clubs, but the quality and feel of the Epon brand is a step up, not down. I'm glad I quit reading these mags a long time a go. When they have something worth reading gocchin posts here anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrive Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 One more thing... Some of you may or may not be able to relate to this... Flushing an Epon Technity, now 301's, - 5 iron was the first time a golf shot has produced a bulge in my pants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 It has taken me a long time to get there, but I can now relate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golf 37 Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Hmmm British Golfing mags never give in-depth reviews, I don;t know of anyone that takes them seriously.....They are used by consumers to see what is new/available at a particular pricepoint. You never know the full spces of what they are testing. I wouldn;t be surprised to find out they'd mixed the review up. Today's Golfer always struck me as a 'tabloid' type of mag. ie. not taken seriously.... just my opinion though! I have too agree, I own both Vega and Epon clubs are they are exceptional quality. There is only one British golf mag worth reading (Golf Punk), this mag has shown both Vega and Epon to be the best of the best in there tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Alexander Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 I only have an Epon 3 wood, but the club is a canon and feels great. Golly gosh, you mean a media publication doesn't tell the truth No one in the population in Aus believes ANYTHING the media says...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slice1969 Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 One more thing...Some of you may or may not be able to relate to this... Flushing an Epon Technity, now 301's, - 5 iron was the first time a golf shot has produced a bulge in my pants. Funny idrive, it was a 5 iron for me too. 5 iron from 215, the craziest, smoothest, most unbelievable shot I have ever hit with a 5 iron, and I am above average distance, but nowhere, I can hit a 5 iron that far consistently. The wife was playing with me that day, so I could show too much excitement...because she knows, it means more money spent on golf... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xchangmanx Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 (edited) One more thing...Some of you may or may not be able to relate to this... Flushing an Epon Technity, now 301's, - 5 iron was the first time a golf shot has produced a bulge in my pants. Same here, 301/1150 5 iron is a great club. It feels like a no other, and it Epon STANDS ALONE on this one. One week amonth I take the woods out of the bag, and play that whole week w/only 5-lw and putter.... (long iron practice) FT. shafter GC is close to my workin place so its a easy and cheap round. It is a standard length GC, however, all the par threes are 220 and under and the only par 5 is a up hill 510 from the back. My epon 5 iron goes a steady 205, and 215 going at it. IMO Its a laser gun that allows you to shape the laser... Seeing, hearing and feeling the shot w/epon irons; is one of those things that just makes you wanna hit another shot exactly like it. (yet you don't wanna hit another, cuz it might not be that perfect) I know many concur, and I have many friends that love them, they just don't have the money to spend on Epons. (one of my friends, just borrowed my af101 and I didn't know about it) LOL Edited April 19, 2008 by xchangmanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarintr Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Hello, cannot open that website now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoe295 Posted April 26, 2008 Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 One more thing...Some of you may or may not be able to relate to this... Flushing an Epon Technity, now 301's, - 5 iron was the first time a golf shot has produced a bulge in my pants. whoa...just a tad too much information...however...I need to get me some of these irons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClubHoUno Posted May 24, 2008 Report Share Posted May 24, 2008 (edited) I've read Todays Golfer for years and I've completely stopped buying this magazine, because I more often than not find a lot of faults and misses in their pop reviews and 9 out of 10 times I find, that I know golf gear better than all the club testers at Todays Golfer. Sorry to put it this way, but: Today's Golfer is more of a golf porn magazine, than a serious golf magazine - it simply sucks, because it never makes in depth reviews of anything- and when they make reviews, the reviews are full of flaws and faults. Stay away from this very poorly made UK Golf magazine. Unfortunately I can't really say that Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and our danish golf magazines are much better. This is the reason why I haven't bought a Golf magazine in more than 2 years now. Their reviews suck, are lacking in detail and they never test with anything other than stock shafts. I can't speak of how good the Japanese golf magazines are, because I still don't read Japanese But basically ALL American, UK and European golf magazines sucks to put it mildly. Full of errors and lacks in depth reviews of any kind. Edited May 24, 2008 by ClubHoUno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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