Your best JDM clubs since last season....

[gocchin]

So guys, a new season is upon us.... lots of new clubs out but lots of last years models still in people's bags and for good reason.

Which JDM clubs really stood out for you since last season and up to now?

For me it's as follows:

Driver:

Best feeling - Epon 460ZR/460 Forged - still nothing beats the feel of this driver, truly the forged iron of drivers if you know what I mean when it comes to impact.

Best performing - Epon EMB - I still don't like the sound, I've gotten used to the look and I feel confident swinging away with this driver, especially with the stock shaft and know that it will go straight.

Want to try in my bag: Mizuno JPX A25 and Callaway Legacy.... these two drivers have similar characteristics to my favorites above and I wanna give them a shot. I demoed both for a short time and I liked what I saw/felt... the Mizuno was simlar to the EMB in performance but more muted on impact... the Legacy had that soft feel of the Epon (wonder why? (^_^))

Fairway Woods:

Best feeling - Epon AF-201 - that wonderful feel but sad truth is I can't play it well as I can't handle the deep face... feels good but was hard for me to get the 3 wood in the air with any shaft I tried... higher number woods like 7 and 9 much easier to play.

Also... Royal Collection FD Star - Not quite the Epon feel but very nice feel thanks to it's large and shallow head. Easier to get the ball in the air.

Best performing - Besides it's not so pretty alignment mark, the Mizuno A25 is very very easy to hit for a FW, higher loft of 17* is actually more realistic for mid to higher handicappers and makes it easy easy to get in the air. Very straight and that's what I needed and it's in the bag now.

Want to try in my bag: Geotech GT Fairway woods.... nice size, nice shape, nice face, nice price... positive reviews make me want to try this out though for me personally I may not do so well with the square to open face as I tend to go right.

Utility:

Best Feeling: Royal Collection's Td+, not the easiest to hit due to it's compact size, but when you do get it good it's like a rocket and pure joy.

Best Performing: Epon AF-901 and PRGR's Egg, both are easy easy to hit, the easy edge goes a bit to the Egg but feel and accuracy goes to the real driving iron 901.

Want to try in my bag: Fourteen's new UT-306 and Taylormade Japan's XR Rescue. Both highly touted... Fourteen a tour level type utility and the XR supposedly being one of the easiest on this earth to hit.

Irons:

Best Feeling: Tourstage ViQ Forged and Epon AF-301, I played the ViQ's as gamers for a while and spent some time with the AF-301's. Don't have the game for the AF-301's but when the swing is on the feel is unbelievable. ViQ Forged... premium endo steel.

Best Performing: Epon AF-701 hands down. For me no other iron is as easy to hit long and straight..... I don't work the ball much so these are the strong points for me. The undercut is very forgiving and the click for me is subtle. I love these irons and they are my gamers once again this year.

Want to try in my bag: Fourteen TC-550 Forged.... gotta feel how soft these babies are. I also would love one day to try copper AF-701's as inspired by idrive.

Wedges:

Best Feeling: Epon Copper X are still the softest I've ever hit. I wish I still had them. Sky Dream Jump/ Royal Collection 6150 are still amazing feeling and compact.

Best performing in other words crazy spin: Yamaha Inpres X Wedge and Epon 208KGX just rip the crap out of balls. Feel pretty good too!

Want to try in my bag: Geotech KA-1 and Special Grinds... once again Japan forged, great design and great price... gotta try these out.

Putter:

Best Feeling: G-Field Premium Zone / Gold's Factory PZ - softest feel still when hit dead on.

Best performing: G-Field Premium Zone / Gold's Factory PZ, great roll and heavy heads equal good distance control for me.

Want to try in my bag: Nothing else right now....

Ball:

Best Feeling: Tourstage X-01 S3 - I tried the V10 but something wasn't quite right about it. The S3 was the best all around, mixing a softer feel than the four piece X-01's and a great combo of distance and spin. Kasco Kira Silicon Purple... unbelievably soft but also unbelievably florescent!!

Best Performing: A toss up between the X-01 S3's and Mizuno 352s... The Mizuno's are beasts off the tee and the super ball effect really is amazing. The S3's just do everything well.

Want to try: XXIO 2008 XD - Ranks every year as one of Japan's longest balls.

Shafts:

Best Feeling: Graphite Design Tour AD shafts in my irons changed my life... shock absorption, extra distance with lighter feel, smooth as heck... I cannot go back to steel.

Best performing: Lots of amazing shafts out there including the Tour AD iron shafts but what blew me away was how good the STOCK shaft is in the EMB.... just make sure you get the right flex.... 7.3* torque?? Bah it matches the EMB head perfectly.

Want to try: Roddio Iron shafts and new Mitsubishi Bassara Iron shafts.... can they rival GD??

[Blader-X]

#1: The best club or should I say clubs have been my Epon Copper X-wedges. As you can see from my bag I carry 3 and they are by far the best wedges I've ever used. From every category to spin, feel, dispersion, trajectory they are the best. The Black Gold shafts I really believe add to their performance. The heads are quite worn but they still feel great. I wouldn't trade them for anything but when the time comes to replace them, I'm very positive it'll be with Epons again.

#2:TourStage X-UT utility w/ Graphite Design Tour AD UT-95. This is without a doubt the second best addition to the bag over the past year. Looking for a hybrid club which could provide complete confidence from any situation from off the tee, in the fairway, in severe trouble and beyond, this club combination has come to me as a salvation. The feel of this club is unlike any other utility I've hit to date. The ball flies off the face and the dispersion pattern is very tight with this club. It has a slightly deeper face than most hybrids which I seem to prefer in all my wood style of clubs. The head is compact and while somewhat rectangular, it has enough curves to it so that it doesn't appear "too boxy", if you can gather what I'm trying to say. I'm able to hit differing trajectories when needed. I'm telling you I've some crazy recovery shots with this club as well as huge, towering tee shots. This club is an absolute must have in my bag. Like American Express, never leave home without it. I do carry the G-Field #3 utility but it doesn't get the love the TourStage does and many times it trades places with the Epon 3 iron.

#3: Graphite Design Tour AD P9003X - This shaft has been what I've been searching for in 3 wood shaft. Recently placed in my Epon Technity 13.5° 3 wood head. This shaft replaced the QT-85 that was in there. It was a solid club before, but after switching shafts, its the mother of all 3 woods. I must say again without a doubt, the best 3 wood combination that I've hit to date. Everything about the Epon head is perfect. Perfect heighth, weight, looks; and now the shaft which powers it has solidified this club in my bag. The trajectory I'm experiencing with this combo is a low, piercing bullett. I mean its on a string. That's what I want and expect from a 3 wood. The color of the red on the P9003X is very sexy and there's just something about it that inspires me even more at address.

#4: Iomic Oversize Grip - This grip along with an inch reduction on my G-Field Premium Zone Putter has provided a renewed sense of confidence in my putting translating into a better performance on the greens. I've had mixed results in putting over the last year prompting me to consider some changes to the putter. I even payed a couple visits to local golf shops and tried many different putters while there and found nothing comparable to the feel of the G-Field. This led me to start thinking about the grip. I then started thinking about going with a larger grip and the Super Stroke review on this site started me experimenting. I found I needed and wanted a bigger grip but I didn't want to lose feel. I even placed a Scotty Cameron Baby T grip I had and liked the results but still wanted better feel. Looking at the Gold's Factory blog website I came across the Oversize Iomic Grip. At the same time I started lowering my hand placement on the putter. All at once I knew what I needed to do. So I got the Oversize Iomic grip, cut my putter down from 34" to 33", and placed quite a lot of tape to help bump up the size of the grip. That did it! Instantly my putting was quite improved. I was much more comfortable over the ball, I was starting it on line better and I was able to get my swagger back on the greens. Currently I'm desinging a Gold's Factory putter and until I come up with exactly what I want, the Premium Zone with this grip and length will fit the bill very nicely. The red color of the grip is much like the red of the P9003X. Inspires much confidence.

5#: TourStage X-Blade Irons - Still the best looking irons to me, since I first laid eyes on them in Japan three summers ago. Feel is great, looks are phenomenal and I haven't found an iron yet that makes me want to switch. The only thing might be when and if Epon ever offers a blade. Until that time, I really don't see me switching. I know this style of iron is from '05, if not earlier, its still gets my attention.

[wmclarenf1]

I would have to say my Epon Drivers (460 ZR and AF-101) with Roddio W-6BA and Diamana WhiteBoard 63 as well as my Gauge Design A1SP putter.

[driverhead]

Now that the warm weather finally hit the DC area I played Weds thru sat and had for the 1st time a real chance to truly evaluate the new toys I acquired this winter in normal conditions. The standouts are the EPON AF 101 with the GD MD 6, and the Callaway Legacy with the Speed Axis 55. As and all around performer the AF101 is a standout with the MD 6. I can work the ball both ways and really have to make a bad pass to hit anything off target. The Legacy is more one dimensional. With the 24 gram weight in the heel you will hit one shot , a High draw. Now I have a very fast release at impact and you would think I would fight the snap hooks with the Legacy. Not so. I use the weight to my advantage as leverage and I play my normal draw and BOMB IT. The Legacy I have is 46 inches. I was tempted to Put an XCON 5 in the legacy but have learned to swing the 55 shaft similar to the EMB , very smooth. I hit some record drives last sat with the Legacy. I also have an EMB and AF101 with stock shaft setups. These clubs work better for me in cooler offseason golf. I am playing in a big event in May and the high draw of the Legacy is perfect for that course. Spring is here.

[ajaykkr]

driver - Epon 460zr, epon EMB (longest driver i have hit)

Irons - Miura blades, Tourstage xblade 2, mizuno mp 33 (us obtained, but hey its a japanese company), gauge MB blades

Wedges - Gauge Wedges (best ever)

Fairway wood - Epon technity 3 wood (i found only the 3 wood good among the fairway wood) gauge fairway woods

Putters - Gauge Premium Zone putters

hybrid - fourteen ut-306, royal collection td+, gauge hybrid

Edited April 22, 2008 by ajaykkr

[Randy]

Fairway wood - The only club that made it from last season is the Epon AF-201. This thing is a rocket launcher from the t-box and hit it almost as long as most drivers and much more consistent with it.

Irons - Nothing from last season, but just bagged the Epon Technica Pro1 irons and so far they are great. I may get a set of Epon 701s to try.

Hybrid - Have an Epon AF-901 19 degree coming to try

[xchangmanx]

I'm most pleased w/the Epon 208 wedges. I'm a wedge guy, and I've tried alot; hands down best wedges I've ever invested in. So good I bought a backup set. They work w/any shaft IMO.

Second is the Tour AD MD7 shaft. I mated it w/an AF101. Very smooth, soild piercing bullets, that never stray left.

[dkats]

My Epon 460 driver, PRGR M3 Hit Tour 3 wood and Epon Type-s irons won't be leaving my bag for a while. Super clubs!

[wmclarenf1]

Fairway wood - The only club that made it from last season is the Epon AF-201. This thing is a rocket launcher from the t-box and hit it almost as long as most drivers and much more consistent with it.

Hi,

Have you hit the TourEdge CB2 Exotics? If yes, can you compare both. Thanks.

[Randy]

It has been a while, but I have hit the CB2 Exoctics and although it is a very nice club, I did not get quite as much distance as the AF-201. AF-201 also seems to be a little more solid feeling.

[wmclarenf1]

It has been a while, but I have hit the CB2 Exoctics and although it is a very nice club, I did not get quite as much distance as the AF-201. AF-201 also seems to be a little more solid feeling.

Now, you really had to say that didn;t you.

[TBone]

Epon driver is outstanding, but the absolute best new club that I put in my bag is the Yamaha IFF Tour Model Fairway wood. I been searching for a fairway wood for what seems like years (tried a lot, including the EPON AF/Technity), the search ended with the Yamaha.

[gocchin]

Epon driver is outstanding, but the absolute best new club that I put in my bag is the Yamaha IFF Tour Model Fairway wood. I been searching for a fairway wood for what seems like years (tried a lot, including the EPON AF/Technity), the search ended with the Yamaha.

Awesome to hear you finally found your FW!

How does it set up and how does it feel and perform? Details details!

You do know who makes the Yamaha right? (^_^)

[Spoon]

wow my bag has evolved so many times but here is the best from what i had last year.

driver: af101 damn longest and best feeling driver i have ever used, although i had the r7cgb as backup since it came in 2* closed face.

woods: still the af201s with quattrotech, have the 15 and 18* and have yet to find a club to replace it. nice combo with the qt and superb feel. had a brief stint with the quattrotech md but was losing carry distance which hurt my overall distance. QT green rocks!

hybrids: the old school gfields 20 and 22 are still in the bag. these are the oldest gals in the bag, they have treated me good and i have no reason to replace them. damn go to clubs in every tricky situation. they have yet to fail me so they will be here for a very very long time

am also using an epon 25* af901 but still prefer the look and feel of a traditional hybrid head. g field rules!

wedges many many wedges from chikaras, beres, epon 207/208 etc etc. the only ones that lasted are the epon 208. works for my swing and like the versatility of the multi bounce. really helps me get creative. no need to change just like the gfields.

irons: many many as well. i probably changed irons half a dozen times let me enumerate: mizuno mx23, katana 801g, ping g5, ping rapture jspec, beres mg801 ,epon typex, epon af701 graphites then epon af701 px. in the end i was happy with the epons af701 w px and have stayed with them since gettng them last december. no need to change til the next epons come:)

what i like about them is the feel, accuracy and forgiveness. epon has made a magic want here for less consistent ball strikers like me. although the feel of the type x was more soft overall. couldnt be happier with my irons.

putter: also changed many times more so than my irons but in the end i am missing the gfields i sold. i still have my eldik and leap but sold my gfield protos and premium zones. had a brief sting with custom byrons, tpmills and c & l but the thrill dint last very long and they have all been sold and adopted. im in limbo searching for the perfect putter still crossing lines between neo mallet and traditional anser2 designs. right now i am using an obscure anser 2 clone from a japanese designer fitted with ust frequency filtered shaft. so far so good but then again its only bee 1 week:)

more to come

[TBone]

Awesome to hear you finally found your FW!

How does it set up and how does it feel and perform? Details details!

You do know who makes the Yamaha right? (^_^)

I have no idea who makes the Yamaha.......who?

It sets up square to maybe a degree open. Feels "solid", if you like the Royal Collection feel, you'll love the feel of the Yamaha. Similar feel but more solid imo.

I'll put together a more detailed review soon.

Until then ----- Who makes the Yamaha?

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I have no idea who makes the Yamaha.......who?

It sets up square to maybe a degree open. Feels "solid", if you like the Royal Collection feel, you'll love the feel of the Yamaha. Similar feel but more solid imo.

I'll put together a more detailed review soon.

Until then ----- Who makes the Yamaha?

Take a look at Yamaha's product, there is only one factory in the world that can produce such edges, finishes, and purity in complicated forged cavity design.

[Bat]

Does it starts with an "E" and ends with an "O"?

[Richmond Golfer]

Still using the Epon type X irons as my regular set. Easy to hit and good distance.

[gocchin]

Does it starts with an "E" and ends with an "O"?

Okay you said it.... not me.

[Backspin9]

Best clubs are still in the bag and going nowhere. It takes too long to get it right.

Hybrids: Tourstage X-UT 19* and 23* with Nippon Utility (steel) shafts

These set up and play like long irons more than woods. Easy to elevate, very consistent off the tee, and pretty long. They fill the spots of my 4 and 2 irons perfectly and most importantly -- they don't hook like 90% of the other hybrids I tried. I use them everywhere -- off the tee, the fairway, the rough, and out of FW bunkers. Expensive, but worth every penny.

Putter(s): TM Rossa Corza Japan models

I loved the Rossa Corza, but hated the finish on the U.S. version. The Japan version is a nice gloss black. I liked them so much I bought two -- one with a softer RSi insert and one with an AGSI+ insert. Having MWT I was able to put two 18g weights in and get them to D4 at 32 1/2". They give me a lot of confidence and I make a lot of putts. Can't ask for more than that.

3 wood: Tourstage X-ST 15*

Picked this one up cheap in almost new condition. Put a Diamana 83 Blueboard in it and WOW, this thing just kills the ball. Trajectory is mid-high off the tee or the turf and the feel is superb. 3 woods (for me) are difficult to get right, but this one is great.

Last (but not least) -- Tourstage X-Drive 460 10.5*

Jury is still out on this one. I like the club and hit bombs with it, but it can be terribly inconsistent because it is relativley difficult to hit. It currently has an Xcon 5 in it, which is about the 5th shaft I've tried. It hits much lower than I'm used to but still pounds it out there. It seems to want to go straight, which is good I suppose, but turning it over for a draw is almost impossible for me to do and I hit a draw with every other club in the bag. I may try yet another shaft, maybe one with a lower kickpoint to try and get the ball flight up a bit. It either that or another driver, but I'm kind of reluctant to give up on this one just yet. When it's good, it's very, very good. But when it's bad.....fore right!!!