Crazy TJ-46 with Kamui 456 Inital Impressions

[bogeydog]

I paired a Crazy TJ-46 SR flex shaft with a Kamui 456 head. Here are the setup parameters and initial impressions.

Kamui Head - 11*, 201g, square face, 57* lie, neutral bias, black.

Shaft - Crazy TJ-46, SR flex

Setup - Installed at 45", 266cpm, D2.8 swing weight

I initially ordered this shaft with some trepidation as there has been a lot of talk about how stiff their shaft flexes and profiles are in comparison with normal JDM shafts. I typically order stiff shafts and adjust the head weight, setup to arrive at a finished flex, etc. My aim is a final flex of an SR. In this case, I ordered the SR flex thinking that if indeed these run stiffer than normal, the the SR flex would be the way to go.

After the build, the club CPM'd at 266, much stiffer than I thought it would. I was concerned as their is no way I should be playing a shaft so stiff. The scientific waggle test confirmed this shaft felt stouter than what I was used to however it was apparent that the mid section was stiff and softer in the butt and tip.

The first day of play I hit more than 100 balls at the driving range. I hit this alongside my Kamui 420 with a JPGA stiff flex Griffin. The 420 was installed to the same specs. The next day I played nine holes with both.

The Crazy shaft flat out performs. Despite this CPM reading, it didn't feel like a 266. It has a neutral feel. It shows a small kick with a smooth transfer or power. The feel of the shaft doesn't over or under present any feel. It is just a straight forward pleasant feel that I described as unremarkable because it doesn't leave any noticeable foot prints in my mind.

What struck me as remarkable is the forgiveness of the shaft. I am not used to thinking of shafts as forgiving, however the Crazy is very forgiving. Like everyone else, I have good and bad swings. My miss is a toe hit by clearing too quickly or coming over the top. I am the type that has ultra sensitive feel, and can pick up on the smallest of nuances. On many of hit, I expected failure, but was pleasantly surprised. The shaft was able to make up for my timing and inconsistencies. Pretty cool. I assume this is how the high Carbon content shows its true value.

Distance was really good. 30-40 longer, no. 10-15 yards longer on the fly, yes. I also tried to pound balls and find the line in which I could overcome the shaft. I couldn't do it. I also tried to baby it and couldn't hurt it much. The shaft should me that it was actually very very forgiving. Sounds strange.

The Kamui 456 is a nice head. I can't say much more than has been covered already on it. Paired with the Crazy, it worked as planned. Swing hard, swing soft, mis**t the ball, it all worked out pretty well. I am pleased with the results and will post more as I get more time in the setup.

In regards to the stiffness and CPM readings, I dunno. Gocchin is doing some research with Crazy on the specs of this setup. Could I get a softer shaft and get better results. I don't know, but judging how well this shaft handles abuse and TLC, it is a good bet that most can play 1-2 flexes less.

Edited April 8, 2010 by bogeydog

[corky3]

Greata and timely post....

I have an Epon AF102 with the same crazy shaft/flex coming..... I hope I have a similar experience with my swing!

Keep us posted ....

[Vineman23]

Bogeydog,

I was wondering how the dispersion went with this combo?

I read that the LY shafts are built for loooong drives but would like to know what you think about dispersion?

Thanks

Vineman

[bogeydog]

Bogeydog,

I was wondering how the dispersion went with this combo?

I read that the LY shafts are built for loooong drives but would like to know what you think about dispersion?

Thanks

Vineman

I guess I disguised that a bit in the review. The dispersion was very tight. The shaft being forgiving is essentially saying that the dispersion was tight and the distance consistent even on less than perfect swings. Tight dispersion is a high point of the shaft.

[Vineman23]

Thanks, would you say this combo was "better" than the 420 with the griffen? with better dispersion? and if so how much do you think the more forgiving 456 head played a part?

I guess I disguised that a bit in the review. The dispersion was very tight. The shaft being forgiving is essentially saying that the dispersion was tight and the distance consistent even on less than perfect swings. Tight dispersion is a high point of the shaft.

[EPONfreak]

I paired a Crazy TJ-46 SR flex shaft

After the build, the club CPM'd at 266,

awsome club

is that 266 with a 7" clamp (Japanese style) or with a 5" clamp (US style)?

266 CPM seems very high for a SR flex!

I will be getting the CB50 but want 260-265CPM (5" clamp) which is usually X of SX flex so I would like to verify!

thanks.

[bogeydog]

awsome club

is that 266 with a 7" clamp (Japanese style) or with a 5" clamp (US style)?

266 CPM seems very high for a SR flex!

I will be getting the CB50 but want 260-265CPM (5" clamp) which is usually X of SX flex so I would like to verify!

thanks.

Yes 266 after the build with a 5 inch clamp. That is part of the mystery here. The previous post by Chris, showed a SR flex, built with an Epon AF151, 194.5 head weight at 45.75 with a CPM of 252. The blog post by Gocchin showed his build with a Soft Regular at 239. Thos would make sense at they show approximate progression of 239 Soft Reg., 245 Reg., 252 SR, 250 Stiff, 266 X. Thus my dlilema. If this shaft indeed is an SR, and the install specs as I have shown, why on earth would it CPM so high and out of normal progession? I am waiting for Tario to help sort this out with Crazy to understand the possibilities. Bad measurement of CPM? Shaft mislable? No problem at all? Strange abnomality? Not sure, but mt concern is if this shaft is doing what it does now, could it be better with the shaft CPMing in the expected range of an SR flex? Today I hope to get some launch/spin info and will post the results.

[Duffer19]

With Chris' AF151 lower weight at 194g vs yours 201g and longer shaft (by 0.75"), it would explain the difference in CPM. For sure, the new Crazy is still stiffer than most JDM of comparable flexes.

[bogeydog]

With Chris' AF151 lower weight at 194g vs yours 201g and longer shaft (by 0.75"), it would explain the difference in CPM. For sure, the new Crazy is still stiffer than most JDM of comparable flexes.

Yeah I have thought that through. Do you think that 3/4 inch shorter with a head wight of 6.5g heavier would really result in a +14 CPm difference? To me, that would be a massive jump. Somewhere I read that Crazy rates the flex using a club length of 45.5". The TJ-46 is described as having a softer profile than the others so I can't imagine what the other models will demonstrate.

[gocchin]

As some of you have seen on the blog, I am testing a Longest Yard 01 right now in a Callaway Legacy Aero.

Yesterday I CPM'ed it a few more times using the 5" clamp to make sure results were accurate and the readings came out all around 241cpm for an R2 flex which is Senior Flex or Soft Regular (my first reading was 239 as I noted on the blog but I thought I should check a few more times and on different machines to verify).

When I flex the club in my hands it feels more like an Stiff/Regular flex.

Today I took it for the real test, 18 holes on my home course Kiminomori.

Let me say my feelings were the same as Bogeydog at first. I thought I doubt I can play this shaft as those who know me know I love soft shafts and typically play clubs between 220-230cpm but usually right around 225cpm.

OKAY.

I was wrong. I can play this shaft and I have to honestly say I HAVE FOUND MY SHAFT. I've tried several JDM shafts considered great control shafts including the Tour AD W-50, Rombax 5V06, Bassara Hawk, Axiv V, and of course many many other JDM shafts.

The Longest Yard is easily the longest and the straightest.

With softer shafts I gained distance but sometimes had to rely on good timing for optimal smash factor, but mis hits easily resulted in pushes or pulls if my timing was off.

I swung away with no thought about timing at all and every drive not only went deadly straight, but 10-15 yards further than I usually hit them.

My playing partners were surprised at how straight I was, and my trajectory actually came down. I felt I was getting less spin and more run.

Needless to say I am very excited about this. I am one who switches clubs and shafts... A LOT.

But I think I have found my calling in the Longest Yard.

My only thinking can be that regardless of the higher CPM's, both myself and bogeydog can play these clubs because of the quality of the shaft and carbon used. The high grade carbon simply returns its shape quickly and accurately and predictably. What surprised me was, I swung hard, it went straight, I swung smooth, it went straight. I tried to draw it slightly left, it did exactly that. I tried to softly fade it right. It did exactly that.

I have not had this much fun driving the ball during 18 holes in a long time. Come to think of it I never have....

I plan on reshafting my hybrids and maybe even irons now if they can perform this predictably. Golf is all about consistency... I think I found some with a much stouter LY-01!!

Can you tell I am excited????? (^_^)

[corky3]

Now I'm super-excited to see what results I get when my LY/Epon turns up.

[jamnguy1]

I have the FW80 in a fairway wood and by "forgiving" to mean "stable" then the crazy shaft is it. Interestingly, it also feels "soft" and not harsh.

I don't really care much for CPM as I'm not technical, and I'm not sure this makes any difference because it's a 3W, but the clubmaker tested it and with a regular flex and it came out 233cpm.

I'm a believer in this company, and waiting for the driver shaft to come.

[Duffer19]

I have the FW80 in a fairway wood and by "forgiving" to mean "stable" then the crazy shaft is it. Interestingly, it also feels "soft" and not harsh.

I don't really care much for CPM as I'm not technical, and I'm not sure this makes any difference because it's a 3W, but the clubmaker tested it and with a regular flex and it came out 233cpm.

I'm a believer in this company, and waiting for the driver shaft to come.

That's interesting. A 3w being a shorter club and a heavier head yet the cpm is comparatively softer that T's or bogeydog's driver set up.

[bogeydog]

That's interesting. A 3w being a shorter club and a heavier head yet the cpm is comparatively softer that T's or bogeydog's driver set up.

The mystery of Crazy continues....

[Vineman23]

I hope that T can get to the bottom of this for us all as the reviews on the shaft are making us all save our pennies to buy one (or more) of these shafts. When you are spending quite a few dollars you want to get the best fit for you and some of these numbers seem a bit inconsistant? How much of that is due to different club builders and testing machines and how much is due to the shafts? I only hope that there is a simple answer and that ther are no QC issues involved.

[gocchin]

Actually the numbers are not inconsistent.

Based on the numbers I see they are consistently higher than other brands.

Many factors will indeed affect the CPM reading of any club, the machine, the clamp size, club length, head weight, grip on or off, even balance point of the shaft.

So far from my club, bogeydogs club, as well as all the data I have on Crazy shafts here it appears Crazy CPM's out anywhere from 10-20 cpm higher than other brands depending on the brand. Chris's build is a bit of an exception due to the much lighter head though it is still higher than expected.

And what we have found so far is that even with the higher CPM, the clubs are surprisingly very playable and amazing performers even when the player usually could not play a CPM that high.

Based on the Shaft Bible which I refer to on a daily basis, where most of the top shafts in Japan were built with the exact same head and grip to 45" Crazy CPM'ed also 15-20 higher than equivalent flexes from other brands... so the numbers are consistent. (Stiff flex LY01 and CB50 were both at 273cpm finished)

What we are trying to figure out is why does the shaft feel and perform so good considering the CPM is so high??

I cannot verify jamnguy's numbers (clamp size, grip on or off, headweight etc) but I do know the CB80 is the softest of all the models followed by the TJ-46.

[jamnguy1]

That's interesting. A 3w being a shorter club and a heavier head yet the cpm is comparatively softer that T's or bogeydog's driver set up.

The 3W head I had was a very light head, almost similar to a driver head weight. This may explain it.

[jamnguy1]

I agree. There are so many variables involved. I had mentioned in another post that the 3W head I used was very light for what it's worth. I not a club techie. I just know I the club/shaft feels to me. It is the best shaft I've played

Edited April 11, 2010 by jamnguy1

[jamnguy1]

I agree. There are so many variables involved. I had mentioned in another post that the 3W head I used was very light for what it's worth. I not a club techie. I just know I the club/shaft feels to me. It is the best shaft I've played.

[frogeye]

Corky3,

Have you had much playing time with your new Epon AF102 crazy shaft combo?

How is it playing so far?

Thanks,

F

[+TourSpecGolfer]

I made the mistake of going to soft in one of my crazy shafts at R2. The waggle felt like what I was used to in regards to stiffness but on the course the R2 left the hanging not allowing the head to catch up.

I tried the same TJ-46 shaft in stiff flex it felt like a pole during the waggle but during the swing i was shocked that it was smooth and there was nice kick.

I have to revise my opinion on Crazy shafts, Just because they CPM to a much stiffer flex dont go too much softer. The flex vs feel is deceptive. At the very most go 1 flex down.

[corky3]

Corky3,

Have you had much playing time with your new Epon AF102 crazy shaft combo?

How is it playing so far?

Thanks,

F

2 Rounds in here are my thoughts....

The Head is a beautiful shape and hides it's size very well.

The shaft is really well finished and although the graphics are a little 'Cheesey' for my taste, I soon got used to them and forgot about them.

The feel is certainly different, the sound is a muted thwack, a little much like my Tourstage MR23 driver (which I know has been foamed to weight), maybe the Epon is foamed too? I wouldn't call it Persimmon like but certainly more solid sounding/feeling than most TI drivers..... I like it.

The Shaft is really something different, I went SR although normally play a Stiff. There's no way this shaft was gonna be sending the ball left, unless I pulled it left. It really does seem stout, until you actually hit a ball and then it just wants to go straight and long.

I'm a low traj player (need some blue pills) naturally and maybe the 10.5 loft Af102 is a little too low-launching for me, although I did hit some really good bombs, it wasn't consistant in terms of trajectory.

I think that Crazy are really onto something with their shafts, it's like no other that I've swung and I think I can get to love it. The club as a whole, is showing some progress and I am going to perservere with it, it really is early days and I think it will build it's reputation with me rather than being an instant surprise. The length has not been as great as some have found, but I think that's more a trajectory issue and maybe I can improve that.

The quality of the components and the build are really exceptional,.

I know it's a cliche but anyone should give either the shaft or the clubhead a whirl, because I think for some it could be nirvana.