Ian-500 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) For those that are interested, here is a quick review of some drivers that I had a short range session with before 18 holes on Monday 13/08/12 with a few other UK TSGers. Chris/Tario - I initially put this review in the Tour Issue and US Domestic Equipment section in the Adams Launch Lab thread, but thought it'd be good for others to read too. We tested these drivers: Adams Launch Lab 9.5*, Diamana X 60 stiff flex. Geotech RF700 Prototype @ spec 10.5*, Project x 5.5 firm flex. Kamui Works Ray 9.75*, Diamana Kai'li 60 extra stiff flex. jBEAM 445HG 10*, Crazy TJ46 nero SR flex. So here is my 2 cents: 1st being my favourite, 4th being my least favourite. Looks 1st, jBEAM - I loved the way this looked, very industrial and mechanical. The craftmenship, fit and finish was exceptional. Face wasn't deep or shallow, inbetween the Geo and the Kam. Crazy shaft is understated but seemed to fit the jBEAM. 2nd, Adams - Lovely looking snakeskin paintjob on the crown, but this also let it down as it didn't have the best finish around the edges of the paintwork. Nice deep face. Diamana X was a bit garish and didn't fit the snakeskin crown on the Adams 3rd, Geotech - Black sole and face looks like a robot. Cool and very stealthy. I like the deep face too. Project x just looks pants! 4th, Kamui - Didn't like the olde worlde art work on the sole. Craftmanship as good as the jBEAM. Nice deep lustrous black pearl paint on the crown too. Not a fan of the shallow face. Loved the look of the Kai'li. Don't know if this was the ION plated version or not but it was the best looking shaft. Feel 1st, Kamui - Best feeling driver I've EVER had the pleasure to hit. A wonderful soft feel, just like a forged iron. 2nd, Adams - Nice feel, obviously helped along by the shaft but a distant 2nd. Probably would be a more harsh feel with a 'lesser' shaft. 3rd, jBEAM - Very close to the Adams. I did struggle to tell where on the face I'd hit the ball though. The face felt a bit harsh. 4th, Geotech - Compared to the other 3 this didn't stand a chance. Maybe if it had been shafted with a Kai'li or X it would have been a lot different but........ Playability 1st, Kamui - Couldn't go wrong with this, either on the range or on the course. I actually hit my longest drive EVER. Didn't want to go left or right, just straight. My ideal flight would be like an aeroplane on takeoff and this seemed to have this kind of launch trajectory. In my eyes it did anyway. Lol. I don't know if it had plenty of roll or not because it went really far so I couldn't see. I thought that the ball was hot off the face, but the sound was a bit too muted for me, like a thump or a thwock (what's that!?!). I would have liked it to be a little louder but not in a 'look at me' kinda loud. Sat square to open at address. 2nd, jBEAM - Slightly lower launch than the Kamui and gave plenty of roll, and it was more moveable left or right too. I just didn't hit it as long but the sound was more 'pingy' which I liked. Sat square at address. 3rd, Adams - As long as the JBEAM but shorter than the Kamui. Higher launch than the jBEAM and Kamui with less roll than the jBEAM. Had a slight tendancy to go even more left and right than the jBEAM so I wasn't too confident with it. Sat square at address. 4th, Geotech - Just went left all day. This sat closed at address and my bad shot is a hook so this was only going 1 way. It didn't help that I had to slow my swing down for the shaft, and that just throws everything out. Maybe the conforming version would be better suited to my swing. NB. I don't know the length or swing weight of any of these drivers as tested, except the Kamui head is 200g. If I was going to game 1 of these excellent drivers it would be the Kamui all day long. I've never hit a driver that went as far as this, was as straight as this and felt as soft. Maybe it was just down to the shaft being perfect for my swing, but whatever it was, this was my winner. 1st, Kamui Works Ray 2nd, jBEAM 445HG 3rd, Adams Launch Lab 4th, Geotech RF700 Prototype My thanks to fellow forum members DaleUK and Ukok for letting me test drive these weapons. Let me know your thoughts/questions. Thanks, Ian. Edited August 17, 2012 by Ian-500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleUK Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 One point I'd like to make is the price bracket each falls into.. The GeoTech with shaft costs less than the other 2 shafts bought separately alone! Pound per pound the GeoTech holds up...just not with a Sh!t shaft!! Fantastic review btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiromikey Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 awesome review! i have to agree with everything you said about the kamui and you're making me question why i'm even considering selling mine!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 very good to read review. i abaolsutely loved my kamui but i bought hte wrong one! shudda got the smaller one. u put hthe diamana X into the adams?? get that into the kamui NOW...!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdGolf Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 Hmmm interesting review as usual Stew...... now i need to find a Kamui lol. However, do you think if the J beam you were to shaft it with the Diamana, would the Kamui still be the longest or the J beam?? As the shaft in Kamui is a SR, you might hesitate to go 'full swing' lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 well differnt strokes for differnst swinging folks. i thought the kamui was easily one of hte bst driver heads id ever hit. it was beautiful feeling , but it hought it was a bit elongated for my taste ilike round full ones hence i love the kamui pro. the diamana X for harder hitters is a hell of a shaft. the jbeam takes some beating if at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-500 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 awesome review! i have to agree with everything you said about the kamui and you're making me question why i'm even considering selling mine!! Nooooo don't sell it don't sell it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-500 Posted August 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 very good to read review. i abaolsutely loved my kamui but i bought hte wrong one! shudda got the smaller one. u put hthe diamana X into the adams?? get that into the kamui NOW...!!!!!!! What differences (feel, ball flight, dispersion etc) would be see changing the Kai'li to the X in the Kamui Stew? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 the kali is a low launcher ,and a hell of a ahfst BUT i think its much better sut a bit and playeded i na fairway wood. its awsome i na fairway wood. the X is hte latest and greatest form diamana, its thier top dawg.... put it in yr best head! its low its really low spin , it feels much better than the kali in comapriso nthe kaili feels a bit thin.. the X is well, better.. i stil ahve an X that i ahvnt headed yet ,bec i m waiting for something thats awe inspiring to throw thsi into. it might be the yamaha tour fr 2013... or i t might be somehting that geetting released later this yr... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaleUK Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 the kali is a low launcher ,and a hell of a ahfst BUT i think its much better sut a bit and playeded i na fairway wood. its awsome i na fairway wood. the X is hte latest and greatest form diamana, its thier top dawg.... put it in yr best head! its low its really low spin , it feels much better than the kali in comapriso nthe kaili feels a bit thin.. the X is well, better.. i stil ahve an X that i ahvnt headed yet ,bec i m waiting for something thats awe inspiring to throw thsi into. it might be the yamaha tour fr 2013... or i t might be somehting that geetting released later this yr... Must admit, the X felt a total different class... Streets ahead of my Crazy, and dare I say slightly better than the Proto FEX, but I didn't hit them back to back.... It's an awesome Driver Shaft with a Awesome price Tag!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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