Baldo is still very popular among enthusiasts here in Japan.

Snapped a few shots today of their new VT811 Night Edition Forged driver and their new Prototype Forged wedges!

I really don't understand why so many japanese brands seem to love the word"prototype"? Does that mean these are just a pre-production heads that are being tested before the "production" clubs will go on sale? No, didn't think so

WOW!! Spectacular....photos...hahaa. What kind of camera you using T? 50 mega pixel??!!

Have a Baldo driver I picked up from the BST and it surprised me initially, its beyond any doubt one of the nicest feeling drivers I've ever hit, very soft and pleasant. Performance wise its very neutral, not standout fantastic in any one category, but does just about everything well. The wedges look very nice, like the simple look.

I really don't understand why so many japanese brands seem to love the word"prototype"? Does that mean these are just a pre-production heads that are being tested before the "production" clubs will go on sale?

I was wondering the same thing about what the word "prototype" means? Is the word "proto" short for "pro tournemant" suggesting these clubs are of a higher quality? Silly question but always wondered....

wedges look good

Japanese brands misuse the word prototype all the time.

I have spoken to many brands about it and they seem to misunderstand how it is used.

I keep telling them prototype is a test model, pre production model yet they think it means something rare and limited.

The feedback from Japanese magazines is they make some of the softest feeling drivers at impact.

WOW!! Spectacular....photos...hahaa. What kind of camera you using T? 50 mega pixel??!!

I don't even use a DSLR. I use a Fujifilm X series camera. (^_^)

It's all in the lighting, I think. :)

I would put the wedges in my bag for sure. They look fantastic.

THe wedges look nice. What's Tourist Trophy? Shots of the face please T.

Is the 811 just basically the black version fo the vt511? They look almost identical

Got any shots of the wedges from address? I've been super particular about the shape of wedges lately, but I like the thin soles.

Will take face shots and address tomorrow.

Is that Night Edition driver only for those times when we play in the dark? Or on lighted courses?

Edit: oh, I just saw the knight stamping on the L in BALDO.....

Edited September 8, 201311 yr by Miuramaniac

Think they also might want to understand that the connotations of the word "tourist" are very different from those of the word "tour." ;=]

This is actually the Night edition as in all black...

I have no idea what a Tourist Trophy is... I am no longer considered a tourist here in Japan...

We've been dealing with mediocre to poor to down right absurd product names with JDM as long as any of us have been buying JDM, I highly doubt that will change anytime soon, but considering the quality of the product, they can call it whatever they like.

We've been dealing with mediocre to poor to down right absurd product names with JDM as long as any of us have been buying JDM, I highly doubt that will change anytime soon, but considering the quality of the product, they can call it whatever they like.

Couldn't agree more. ;=]

The only Tourist Trophy I can think of is the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy or TT Motorcycle races over here in the UK. What it's got to do with golf clubs I have no idea.

Is the 811 just basically the black version fo the vt511? They look almost identical

Vt811 is the 460cc version and only comes in black so far.

Vt511 is the 430cc in white, but they did just come out with the night edition of 511 as well.

Couldn't agree more. ;=]

Sure. But calling something a Prototype is akin to calling soemthing a limited edition. It's for sure not "a name", it's a description of what kind of product it is, and so should NOT be used in this manner. It's calling a product something that it really isn't. It's borderline misleading, even illegal. Sure, anybody on TSG would know about the "prototype disease" but that can't be the case with everybody that buys JDM clubs, can it?

I think we were more referring to the fact that it says "tourist trophy". It's as Tario said, JDM brands stamp prototype on the heads to make them seem rare, unique, or special.... Couldn't tell you what would be illegal in Japan, but the way they advertise and promote there products is MUCH different to the way most of the rest of the world does, or the US at least.

I guess what ever they are doing in J land it seems to be working, they can just keep doing what they are doing and all will be well i the golf world, not sure if I could ever buy a USDM club again unless in was foe one of my daughters