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Epon Zen vs Epon i33 vs Yamada Emperor 2


anakatsu13

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Hey all,

Long time lurker, first time poster here. Although I've purchased a few things from some wonderful people on the sales section.

I've recently begun overhauling my bag and next on my list is a new putter. I've narrowed down my choices to the either the Epon Zen, Epon i33 or Yamada Emperor 2.

Currently I game a Scotty Newport 2 and while that style putter is the one that I've been gaming for the last few years, I previously played an old school blade putter that I had for about 10 years. So in terms of feel, I'm pretty indifferent in terms of my preference between the different models.

I recently purchased an Epon Zen from Golf Effort in Japan through the aid of a friend that's living there and while I'm excited to get it in and test it out, I can't stop looking at the i33 and the Yamada!

So I'm asking the help of other board members who may have tried a couple or gamed them to shed some light in terms of your personal preference. I know in the end it comes down to personal preference but unfortunately, that would mean actually buying all 3 which I don't mind, but my wife probably wouldn't be too happy about.

Thanks!

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Since it appears I share your taste in irons and wedges as well, I thought I'd say I think you've zeroed in some fine choices with those putters. From my POV, I didn't think a putter could exist that would compete with the Yamada I use, the 85029 burning copper which Golds made even better for me, but then I came across an Epon Zen... Just the most exquisite touch, it really ranks right up there for me. And between the two, I've never been happier with a rotation between these best of best. I use the Yamada when I want a little more weight, the Zen when I feel my touch is right on. I haven't rolled the Epon, but there was one for sale in the BST recently. Good luck.

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Since it appears I share your taste in irons and wedges as well, I thought I'd say I think you've zeroed in some fine choices with those putters. From my POV, I didn't think a putter could exist that would compete with the Yamada I use, the 85029 burning copper which Golds made even better for me, but then I came across an Epon Zen... Just the most exquisite touch, it really ranks right up there for me. And between the two, I've never been happier with a rotation between these best of best. I use the Yamada when I want a little more weight, the Zen when I feel my touch is right on. I haven't rolled the Epon, but there was one for sale in the BST recently. Good luck.

That burning copper Yamada you have is a sweet sweet putter. I saw one when I was in Japan a while ago, didn't get to roll it but wow is it ever one of the nicest putters I've seen. Knowing you play both and how you feel about the Zen, it honestly make me feel like I did the right thing pulling the trigger on the Zen first and asking questions later haha.

zen...nothing else

Thanks! I've read a lot of great things about all of the putters, when I was looking through previous threads, but I've noticed that the Zen like you said, seems to be the favored putter by a lot of posters.

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Where are you guys finding the Epon putters now? The i33 looks nice to me. Don't think I have the stroke for the zen.

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I had a burning copper Yamada and thought it was superb...until my Zen arrived. Sold the Yamada immediately! So far the only putter that feels as good as the Zen is the Miura KM-350 but it has the Freq Filter shaft so it is cheating a little. That's the best bang for the buck around but it doesn't hold a candle to the beauty and balance of the Zen.

Edited by chiromikey
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ive got them all.

they are all very differnrt.

they are all very nice to roll.

WHEN.....................................!@!!!

i had my normal putting stroke on song.

the zen was amazing. as spoon sid its like frozen butter.

the yamada is a veyr nice putter as well. isent min to egt customed and it cam back out of this world.

depeer grind on face softeened the feel up on slow greens thsi is beautiful.

the 133 has prob the softest feel of them all tho.

ilost my touch with ansers comletley so iddint get the best for mthis but the one match i played with it and range session it was like hitting a marshmallow. balance was great. milling is magnificent.

my reccomedation is............

get them all.!

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The Zen is a very different putter compared to the other 2 anser style putters. Which style suits your stroke the best? As nice as the peening on the Zen putter is and its finish, if you can;t putt with it, there's really no point. I'm on a putter binge now and if I could putt with the Zen, I would have jumped on it a while ago but what I buy has to suit my swing and stroke and not vice versa. Zen is a very nice looking putter but I don't putt best with that style of putter.

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Bill3508 - I actually lucked out and found one from a used golf shop in Tokyo. But I've seen a few pop up on Yahoo Japan Auctions if you're ever in the market for one.

chiromikey - I tried out the Miura KM-350, loved the feel. My local shop had one in stock but given that the majority of my clubs are Miura's, I wanted to try something different for the putter. A little variety I guess haha.

supo67 - glad to hear your take on all three of them. I honestly wish I could get all three, maybe one day. Although I'd probably have to leave them all in the trunk of my car so the wife never found out.

wmclarenf1 - Before switching to my current gamer Scotty Newport 2, I use to game a similar putter to the Zen (not nearly as nice, heck I don't even remember what brand it was haha) But to tell you the truth, I putt pretty much the same with them both. Although when I originally switched to the Scotty, I found that my putts from anything 10 feet out were more accurate, but I was missing more of the closer putts.

Thanks everyone for your input, I really appreciate it!

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To be honest, you cant go wrong with any of them. They are all seriously top putters, and as has been said, whichever suits your style, or fancy.

I doubt you will be disappointed with any of them

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I've tried both i33 and Yamada, both are great putter but when come to a putter it's depend on personal feeling after all. About Zen I haven't had a chance to own one of them but the feedbacks from TSG members I would say that is one of the most wanted putter in my list right now.

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I have over 65 Scotty's in my basement

NONE of them can touch the three Putters mentioned.

At any price.

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I have over 65 Scotty's in my basement

NONE of them can touch the three Putters mentioned.

At any price.

+1

While I've not owned (or even rolled) that many Scotty's, I too have never found one to be even close to the Yamada, not to mention the Zen!

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Craig - Thanks! It was hard picking between them with everyone having good things to say about each putter.

tokidoki1986 - Good to know, and love your profile picture btw.

tourSpecGolfer - Thanks! Judging from what other's have said as well, this seems to be what a lot of people think.

idrive - wow 65 Scotty's!!! That's impressive in and of itself.

swing981 - I understand where you're coming from. The zen and i33 especially are pretty pricey even used and Yamada's aren't too far

behind either price wise for some of their finishes. It's certainly a lot of money and performance wise may not yield 2x better results

over a $200 USDM putter. That said, the three that I was debating between are just too nice looking. They caught my eye faster than any

putter I've seen at my local shops.

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let's not forget, there are tons of pga tour pros who play putters that cost 200-375 retail and win...im sure epon putters are very nice..is it worth double the price of a scotty..up to you

They are not retail Scotty's

Go on ebay and price a GSS or 009 etc.

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let's not forget, there are tons of pga tour pros who play putters that cost 200-375 retail and win...im sure epon putters are very nice..is it worth double the price of a scotty..up to you

Swing, what you say is true. Does a $1000 putter cut anyone's putting average in half and more as the math would suggest, of course not but to each his own. Your logic is not wrong but I suspect for those who spend more than retail for non-retail putters, there's other perhaps emotive factors which they place a premium on and are willing to pay. Again, no right or wrong just different strokes.

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Swing most of the Scotty users in PGA tour didn't use regular retail Scotty, most of them are using Circle T Scotty which cost more than 1,000$ and i even saw a piece of Circle T that cost 4,000$. But what you said is right, expensive putter didn't make you putt better. I've seen so many golfer that has an average of 25-26 putt per round by using a retail putter. But what custom and premium putter give you is a quality and self-satisfaction, when you play with something you struggle for then you'll play with a better feeling same as women using brand name and men driving a super car.

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