gocchin Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 It looks like Sasaya-san will return with cavity backs and blades from Gold's for 2009. He's been working with Kyoei who he has a good relationship with and testing custom grinds and finishes on a head design that was used for Vega's 50th Anniversry iron which in itself was very limited. He is testing prototypes now... subtle grinding, different finishes and stampings for now: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clevelaand Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) Looks similar to the Vega anniversary blades which are forged at Kyoei. (Oops, sorry, did not read the first post entirely, just scanned the pictures.) Doc Edited December 19, 2008 by The Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrive Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I saw those on his website... I was hoping that was what he was up to. Being able to order custom grinds and finishes will make this a hard set to pass up. Do we know the metal used? S20/25? Custom stampings would be cool also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnims29 Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I can't wait to see the blades as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gocchin Posted December 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 Looks similar to the Vega anniversary blades which are forged at Kyoei.Doc That's what I said in the first post! (^_^) They are in fact using the same head as the Vega 50th anniversary CB not blade but ground, engraved/stamped and finished by Sasaya-san to the customers specs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golf 37 Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I used the Vega 50th anniversary CB all season until my Epon blades arrived, all I can say is the Vega's are great irons. I look forward to seeing Gold's take on them, should be good. The metal was 25 on the Vega's but felt very very soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 yeah they look like the vegas. probably the same mould but tweaked by sasaya san. nice looking and screaming quality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiftyNiblick Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 That's really a classic look--the wing pattern that appeared on so many classic blades (including the PowerBilt Citations with which I learned the game as a boy) set inside a modest cavity. It's been done several times before, but it's executed very handsomely here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihatebogies Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 TSG carried some of Gold's Factory irons a year or two ago and from the address position they were the nicest looking iron I think I've ever seen. I contacted Chris about getting some and he told me they were being discontinued but if I put in an order right away he might be able to get one last set. Well........I didn't order a set but now wish I would have. Does anyone know which irons these might have been and if Gold's Factory will produce an iron similar to these. Sorry I can't be more specific! Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukok Posted January 22, 2009 Report Share Posted January 22, 2009 In previous post(s) Chris was quite critical with golf manufacturers who grind existing heads to their own finish and charge a lot extra for the privilege. If my memory does not fail me Vega, Miura and Kyoei were mentioned. I appreciate that Golds Factory is a premium brand but is this not the same however good the clubs look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up'nDown Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I think you'll find Yururi was tarred with the same brush although there were other issues with regrads to them being dropped from the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xchangmanx Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I think you'll find Yururi was tarred with the same brush although there were other issues with regrads to them being dropped from the shop. I agree, but I love the look of the tour sieda wedges. Wish they brought them back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 You guys are right, I am not a big fan of adjusted aka open model heads but that is only one man's opinion. These are not exactly Catalog heads, they are open model Kyoei heads. I bash the heck out of Catalog heads usually due to pricing. Back to the ol why pay 1250 for a set of irons that could cost you 400. It is usually the smaller companies that must use them due to the cost of tooling not to mention the R&D that goes into a new club. I personally wish Gold's used heads that were an original design but there are many things I wish for that don't happen. Just know that they will perform, feel soft, and look good. The basics of this all would be 1025 Kyoei forged, ground & Stamped by Sasaya then finished in Japan. Now with Yururi, its a whole different story, some wedges had one grind & offset while the next wedge same model was very different, some wedges were legal grooves while others in the same line up were not. Add to the fact that they stopped honoring replacements for unhappy customers and we had ourselves a mess. Imagine you buy 1 Seida wedge and its perfect with almost no offset and a very nice profile, you like it so much you decide to order another from us and that one has a different grind, different amount of offset, and the mill marks on the face don't extend the same amount as your first wedge. You will not be a happy customer. IMO thats a no brainer the OEM should be replacing that wedge for one that matches your other club but when that problem is such a widespread one that the OEM can't afford to replace that many it simply puts strain on TSG as the seller who has to somehow satisfy that customer with discounts or refunds. It's not about me bashing on Catalog heads, its more so about exposing the fact that some brands are charging original design prices for Catalog Heads. Keep in mind a Catalog head and these Kyoei Open model heads are totally different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxio Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Can someone educate me on what the difference is between a catalogue head and an open model head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Can someone educate me on what the difference is between a catalogue head and an open model head? These are just terms that I use when talking about the 2. Catalog heads are available in a variety of catalogs that were designed and produced over 5-10+ years ago for brands to stamp their logo on make adjustments and sell. Almost everything is adjustable from the metal used to the offset, topline, etc... An open model Kyoei head is as high quality as Kyoei makes for themselves, they are made using Kyoei's techniques and are sold directly from the factory not from various 3rd party sellers or club crafting catalogs. The cost and price of what I call a Catalog head compared to these Kyoei Open model heads are very different with the Kyoei heads costing much more. I don't see dozens of brands using these same heads like dozens have used catalog heads. Bottom line is if your gonna pay top dollar for something you best be getting your money's worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxio Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 So if anything designed in the past 5 years is not a catalogue head, does that make it an open head? If I understand correctly it is more of the cost and price that differentiate open vs catalogue? Nothing else. Just curious because I get sent pics every once in a while of heads coming out of Japan that look similar to really expensive heads at half the price (even less). The materials are the same based on the spec sheets, just lack of/different grinding and no logos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Up'nDown Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I'm curious about some Yururi irons I tried on a demo day as I seemed to click with them straight away. Is there anything you can tell me about their KM0107 irons or are they simply a tweaked and renamed head from another manufacturer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 So if anything designed in the past 5 years is not a catalogue head, does that make it an open head? If I understand correctly it is more of the cost and price that differentiate open vs catalogue? Nothing else.Just curious because I get sent pics every once in a while of heads coming out of Japan that look similar to really expensive heads at half the price (even less). The materials are the same based on the spec sheets, just lack of/different grinding and no logos. I think your missing it X, It has nothing to do with years. Original designed heads a factory forges it out of a billet of steel using a custom die or tooling that they created using CAD. The design is a collaboration between factory and OEM but mostly OEM. Besides the product itself Tooling and R&D is some of the most expensive parts of building a original designed golf club. Open Model Heads is a term used in Japan quite often to describe blank designs that other brands can stamp their logo on. In this case Kyoei offers much of its collection to other brands that can't afford to go the original design route, It's up to the consumer if they want something like that. Personally if 2 irons are the same price one is original the other is open i will almost always go for the original. Catalog heads which is a term i pretty much invented belongs to some very old designs sold by most hand grind factories or small golf club manufactures not to mention low end component catalogs. For example take a look at Geotech, they sell a version of catalog heads unadjusted for about 300-400 for 8 to 10 clubs. You will also find other brands selling an adjusted version of the same catalog head for 1000+ Let me know if that makes sense to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I'm curious about some Yururi irons I tried on a demo day as I seemed to click with them straight away.Is there anything you can tell me about their KM0107 irons or are they simply a tweaked and renamed head from another manufacturer ? This is my best guess: They take a raw blank and hand grind it to the shape desired, they send it for CNC milling in the cavity then engraving and finally on to finishing, paint fill, and assembly. Let's take a look at Titleist, Nike, Epon, Yamaha, Tourstage, XXIO, Callaway and other top brands, they do not go the hand grind route they have top factories produce the die, press the head, and produce clubs that they design, this is the most consistent way to produce high tech and high end golf clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxio Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I think your missing it X, It has nothing to do with years.Original designed heads a factory forges it out of a billet of steel using a custom die or tooling that they created using CAD. The design is a collaboration between factory and OEM but mostly OEM. Besides the product itself Tooling and R&D is some of the most expensive parts of building a original designed golf club. Open Model Heads is a term used in Japan quite often to describe blank designs that other brands can stamp their logo on. In this case Kyoei offers much of its collection to other brands that can't afford to go the original design route, It's up to the consumer if they want something like that. Personally if 2 irons are the same price one is original the other is open i will almost always go for the original. Catalog heads which is a term i pretty much invented belongs to some very old designs sold by most hand grind factories or small golf club manufactures not to mention low end component catalogs. For example take a look at Geotech, they sell a version of catalog heads unadjusted for about 300-400 for 8 to 10 clubs. You will also find other brands selling an adjusted version of the same catalog head for 1000+ Let me know if that makes sense to you. Didn't miss it. This is just a much better explanation. Just to ask which companies use the same heads as geothech and sell them at 2xs more? Does geotech make their own stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Didn't miss it. This is just a much better explanation.Just to ask which companies use the same heads as geothech and sell them at 2xs more? Does geotech make their own stuff? Geotech has many original designs. To many companies use catalog heads to list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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