Been reading about this new driver from Seiko S-Yard. The T.388 driver.

Found some interesting history around forged Ti driver heads along with it.

In 1993, Seiko S-Yard released the world's first forged Ti driver T.301 which was revolutionary at the time and was designed and manufactured by Endo. Forged Ti drivers instantly became standard offerings from most major brands and most of which were produced by Endo.

The engineer who designed this head was Kenji Kobayashi of Endo who eventually in 2001 became president of Endo manufacturing. He is known as the father of forged Ti drivers in the industry. In August of 2011, Kobayashi-san decides to leave Endo for the reason he described as " It is time for organizational restructuring to refocus on expansion and development of their business. " His last creation at Endo was the Epon Zero.

In February of 2012, Kobayashi-san accepted to become president of S-Yard. His role is to run the company as well as develop new driver heads. His first development job at S-Yard is this T.388 driver. 388cc forged Ti head ( which I am sure is made at Endo ) that carries the spirit of the original T.301.

end of translation....:-)

Being an Epon driver fan, I think I need to try this new driver from Kobayashi-san!!!

I'm in if you wanna go halves…. Even have a Diamana X 70 in Stiff sitting waiting for a head...

That's one hell of a Driver ...

Thanks for the quick history lesson too.

Here is some more info:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.s-yard.co.jp/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dseiko%2Bs-yard%2Bt.388%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26tbo%3Dd%26rls%3Den&sa=X&ei=Jw25UOHsCc3MigK_poDIAQ&ved=0CFwQ7gEwBQ

Found another interesting write up from a club fitter in Japan.

Supposedly a "confidential" piece of information he got from his sources.

" The indicated loft on the head is the impact loft and not the static loft."

What the.....?! I have never heard of this!

I'm in if you wanna go halves…. Even have a Diamana X 70 in Stiff sitting waiting for a head...

Which half do you want?

The outside...

Which half do you want?

The outside...

And I always thought the inside was the better half.

LOL!!! you guys crack me up!

And I always thought the inside was the better half.

LOL!!! you guys crack me up!

Usually I would agree with the inside, but since the driver head is mostly hollow similar to the inside of a tube I figured the outside was a better half...

They had me at

"Ball up easier", such as "Do not fly straight slice"

"S-YARD" Hiromari The boom of unprecedented stretch of mouth. At present, per Has become before, this was the beginning of the development without distinction Club Pro-Am."

Where do I order?

Same designer as Epon Zero, sub 400cc head that had me sold...

We know Kobayashi-san very well.

I see him every year and he even took us out for noodles when he took us around Endo for a tour.

S-Yard has always been made at Endo and is one of the very much unknown brands outside of Japan.

I think having Kobayashi-san there will be good for S-Yard which can alter its image and target audience with some of his new designs.

So is it safe to assume that S-Yard quality is pretty much equivalent to Epon?

T,

Is there a head only price? Saw 90k¥ with OEM GD shaft...

What else can you tell us about it, him, etc...?

So is it safe to assume that S-Yard quality is pretty much equivalent to Epon?

Koga-san, yes its a premium brand and with premium materials.

The 388 is of course 388cc and signature endo with the the very nice forged VL Titanium face.

I'm going to ask Kobayashi-san to send some demos over for me to check out and take photos of.

T,

Is there a head only price? Saw 90k¥ with OEM GD shaft...

What else can you tell us about it, him, etc...?

Steve what did you want to know... many years as president not only of Endo but of Epon as well, Epon was his brand and he was there through its growth.

The face of the T.388 has a shape reminiscent of the legendary Epon Technity 380 Forged Driver... if it feels or performs anything like that... it will be an amazing driver.

Koga-san, yes its a premium brand and with premium materials.

The 388 is of course 388cc and signature endo with the the very nice forged VL Titanium face.

I'm going to ask Kobayashi-san to send some demos over for me to check out and take photos of.

Thanks Tario!

Pictures would be awesome!

Would love to see a full review video by Tatsuro with this driver.

Can't find much info about feel and sound. ( I am betting it is superb! )

100% sold on the looks already!

Oh man, Now curious to try this one! I better start stretching. :)

Found another interesting write up from a club fitter in Japan.

Supposedly a "confidential" piece of information he got from his sources.

" The indicated loft on the head is the impact loft and not the static loft."

What the.....?! I have never heard of this!

Ping used it on their Tisi Tec drivers.

Seiko S-yard has a pretty strong following here in Thailand among rich seniors. Expensive, ultralight stuff with whippy shafts. High quality finish..

Would be interesting to see new models rolling out.....

The face of the T.388 has a shape reminiscent of the legendary Epon Technity 380 Forged Driver... if it feels or performs anything like that... it will be an amazing driver.

Oh..... i loved the shape of my Yonex ezone 380, but the sound/feel just wasn't there.... and am back to my Adams 9015D.

BUT

I have just been to that google translate page - go to the T388 page and go to the photo gallery.... oooooooh, look at the top down address view. Mmmmmmmmm.

I lusted after that Techinicity 380, from pics i'd seen, so this also Endo and 388 size/shape .... happily S-yard is available in Thailand.

Looking forward to your reports on it...

that shaoe head does look awsome doesnt it .

ive heard............, s-yard is foruteens premium brand is that right ??

that shaoe head does look awsome doesnt it .

ive heard............, s-yard is foruteens premium brand is that right ??

S-Yard has no relation to Fourteen.

Fourteen is owned by ONOFF.

S-Yard was 'The Brand' 15-20 years but somehow lost its way thru the years. Its U101 forged was one of the best forged irons from Japan. Now, I wouldn't look at their irons which reportedly are now made in China. I still remember their drivers and FW were very much sought after and they were $1,000 each 15 years ago.