gocchin Posted April 19, 2014 Report Share Posted April 19, 2014 It's finally time to announce the TSG Awards for 2013. As our readers, viewers and customers know, there is no such thing as the perfect golf club. Every player is different when it comes to their level of play, their swing and ultimately the clubs they need. Because of this, we have set certain criteria which our awards are based on. A combination of Market Buzz Sales Design Innovation Performance and Golfer Feedback help us in determining the winners for this years awards. As I said earlier, please keep in mind, that the clubs /products we choose don't necessarily mean they work for every single golfer. They are however the clubs that stood out from the rest based on consolidating all of our criteria. While these are the awards of the best of 2013, many of these models are still current and carry over into 2014 and are still top of the line performers. So looking at our list what do you think was the best of 2013? TSG Awards 2013 Best Driver of 2013: Maxima Runner Up: TRPX There is no denying the buzz around Ryoma not only in 2013 in anticipation of the Maxima but since they first came out with the original D-1. While the driver is not for everyone, it continues to outsell all other JDM drivers at TSG and still boasts a high tech design and great ease of use and distance. Before the Maxima was even announced many already inquired about the replacement for the D-1 leading up to huge anticipation for the Maxima. TRPX was a great surprise for a first year brand that was not even a few months old. TRPX drivers only began selling at the end of last summer and was the second best selling driver at TSG behind the Maxima. All around performance and great looks as well as great marketing from TRPX has made many owners happy and now waiting for the fairway wood. Best Fairway Wood: S-Yard XV Runner Up: EGG Spoon The XV has a bit of everything, a great shape, awesome matte crown, great feel and fantastic all around performance. Many were excited when the XV FW came out and appeared to be a mini XV driver which is not a bad thing. It's not necessarily the longest FW but all around its right up there with the best. This may be the first time we are not calling the PRGR egg the best FW out there. While there is no denying its distance as well as its consistent performance over the last few years, newer generations have had a hard act to follow when being compared to the original egg spoon which was odd looking, weird sounding, and funky feeling... but in the end was longer than anything out there. The new ones are just as long and probably better looking and feeling but has the competition caught up? Best Hybrid Club UT/DI: Romaro Type-R Runner Up: egg i+ It's not often a club that is released with minor tweaks can make such a huge difference but that is essentially what the Romaro Type R UT was. The 2013 Type R took the previous years model and changed it's internal weighting, changed it's shape slightly and increased its sweet spot for considerably better performance. It's good looking and super long and nearly unrivalled in 2013 except for... The odd looking egg i+ utility. For many people the egg i+ and its scooped out back and maraging construction is a love hate relationship. It's an iron trying to be a utility or is an a utility trying to be an iron. Either people don't necessarily love the looks or feel but there is no denying it's ease of use and distance... it goes and is as easy a utility as there is out there. Best Irons: Mizuno Yoro Craft Irons Runner Up: Yamaha Tour Model CB While there is not one specific Mizuno model being touted here we can't ignore the ooohs and aaahs generated by each custom Yoro set. With awesome finishes, custom grinds and stampings and offset as well as masterful builds by top Yoro craftsmen, there are not many other brands that can offer the same kind of customization especially a top brand with many models well known around the world. We just found out as well that Mizuno is about to add two new finishes for 2014! Details to follow soon! Year in and year out the Yamaha releases are the talk of the town even before they are released. Even though it came out in late November it has made the list as the runner up simply because we love it and customers love it. Endo forged, great looks and fantastic all around performance, many more people went for the CB over the limited blade. Best Wedges: Titleist Vokey Forged Runner Up: Miura MB-5000WC When Titleist first announced the Vokey Forged in 2012, we had no doubt it would become our best selling wedge for 2013 which it promptly did. The fact is Vokey has a huge following worldwide but the only forged models are available in Japan. It wasn't just sales though as Vokey's look great, feel great and offer more than enough loft options to fit most player's bags unlike many JDM brands that don't offer enough lofts (many still don't offer 54!). The new Cold Forged has basically taken the torch from the Vokey Forged and ran with it. Miura's MB-5000WC may be its best wedge yet... simple yet effective, the hollow or curved back creates a beautiful look enhanced by great feel and performance. We will always have hardcore Miura fans... if only they came out with more lofts than 2 options! Best Putter: Gold’s Factory MAC Series Runner Up: ….. Gold's continues to be the pinnacle of premium high end putters in Japan and really there was nobody else in 2013 hence no runner up. There is no denying that Gold's is pricey and many can't justify the costs but those who do are rewarded with masterpieces and unrivalled workmanship and one of a kind putters all made in a little work shop in Itabashi, Tokyo. Best JDM brand of 2013: Crazy Even through all its company and image and financial troubles, Crazy continued to roll in 2013 as its shafts outsold any other brand at TSG. Even with its higher prices, those who are loyal Crazy users stick to the brand and love its image and performance. Crazy is a lifestyle, with high end shafts, awesome drivers and cool accessories... The last batch(es) of Toyoshima wedges sold out in days and people still ask for the Crazy MB even though it was sold out months ago in 2013.... it will be interesting to see how they do in 2014. Most Underrated Brand: Geotech Geotech is a brand that nobody seems to love. It is reasonably priced, available as heads only yet many seem to always overlook it for a higher priced alternative. It's clubs provide very solid performance and probably bang for the buck and those who were lucky enough to take a chance on models like the W-213T wedge, RF700 and GT Tour series know they put their money in a good and safe place. Best Breakthrough brand of 2013: TRPX TRPX burst on the scene only last summer with mastermind ABEX and a few of the top staff from Crazy. The result some select shafts that all have their niche and now have quite a following on TSG. Great materials matched with great designs and a focus on matching timing with different types of players to create easy to use shafts results in great all around performance. Their 2 driver models combined to fall only short of Ryoma when it came to overall sales in 2013 even though they started 8 months into the year at TSG. As the breakthrough brand of 2013 it will be exciting to see how they follow up this year. So what were your favorites of 2013? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrive Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 2013 Driver - PRGR T.388 Personally I thought the Maxima was a let down compared to the previous models FW - PRGR XV's If the Labospec F358 had a 3 wood available when they introduced the 5 and 7 FW it would have my vote. Rescue - Callaway Legacy Black. The smaller head and flatter lie made this the best performer for me. Irons - Tough one here but... Yamaha Tours - Callaway Legacy Black Stenson model right behind. Wedges - Miura MB-5000WC Putter - Do I even have to say..... Gold's Factory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Ill add i reckon the syard 388 was prob my best Fwds either the syard or prgr egg Irons cant say i didnt hit any Wedges syard bolds Putter i think craigs centre shafted damascus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gian11 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 3 clubs that shines in my bag for 2013. Rescue - Callaway Legacy Black. The flat lie angle, and small head design is just perfect for me that's why it gets my vote. Feel & forgiveness are tops too! Wedges - Titleist Vokey Forged, I can't see anything that I dislike with these wedges. JDM brand - Crazy Black FW80, a performer on both fairway wood and in a driver for me!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanla01 Posted April 20, 2014 Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 2013 Irons - Tough one here but... Yamaha Tours - Callaway Legacy Black Stenson model right behind. Jeff, 2013 yammie tours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmieboi Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 TRPX is best brand so far for me. Their driver and shaft outperform Ryoma and Crazy's and they made their branding very distinct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akapur Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 For me Driver: TPRX D with Messenger 1st shaft FW: Syard XV Irons: Kamui 101A's Hybrid: Romaro UT Wedges: Buchi Custom grinds Putter: Gold's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobmontana Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 I think Mizuno MP line in 2013 did really well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLL33 Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 For me, 2013 was the year my long game got bumped up more than a notch due to Tario's recommending the wonderful design of Kobayashi-san at S-Yard. The t.388 was a drive dream come true for me, with monster length, rope like accuracy, and a smaller head that gives me 3-wd like confidence off the tee. Love it so much, I grabbed a second one as a backup since it (and maybe S-Yard...) are limited edition... Then of course there was the complimentary XV fairways. The 3-wd is a mini-t, like having a driver I can hit off the deck and even out of rough, not to mention it's as along at times (or seems so) off the tee as the t.388. Replaced a 3-wd I'd had in my bag for years and years. Finally. Should add that I pop the XV 5-wd in my bag every now and then, too. Almost as long for me as the 3-wd, but with a higher trajectory. Still sticking with Miura wedges, although I'm a recent convert to the 2014 Yamaha RMX-mb's as my go to irons now. But that's getting into 2014... Putter: my first experience with Gold's. Actually improved my burning copper Yamada -- which I didn't think was possible! Also picked up an Epon Zen and haven't been able to put it down. Perfection through simplicity! Finally should add that 2013 was the year TSG put me in touch with Gary Gooden (Goodsie), who showed me what perfectly tuned clubs and shafts could do for my feel. Yo, Goodsie, thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIduffer Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Yam v203 / T.388 Labo F358 ONOFF Type S UT TS 909 / Yam Tour MB Crazy Toyoshima / Zodia Chiba Masterpiece Epon Zen Roddio Shafts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.