theblake Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) I shall put this to the test. Always raining here and will make sure to Wet some balls and wet the driver face too Needs to be cold, like below 20. So that when you dry the clubface it immediately "fogs" up again Edited April 19, 2015 by theblake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 This head sure does look like a kobayashi design. It's more a Kobayashi recycle as the king has retired. A new dedicated mold was not created to produce this driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 It's more a Kobayashi recycle as the king has retired. A new dedicated mold was not created to produce this driver. Even though the head size is different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegaman Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 Even though the head size is different? So they just enlarged the existing mold until it was 435cc and called it a new design? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutch Posted April 19, 2015 Report Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) It's more a Kobayashi recycle as the king has retired. A new dedicated mold was not created to produce this driver. I thought it had that look Chris, thanks for the confirmation. Sort of happy its a KK design even if it is an old one. Sure there must be lots of his molds in there that were never used. Edited April 19, 2015 by hutchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey Tan Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I know it's off topic. But would this affect the J beam 435 black out too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Even though the head size is different? So they just enlarged the existing mold until it was 435cc and called it a new design? Yes Epon has been in a phase of adjusting molds not only for the zero but just about everything post Kobayashi. Endo molds cost so much it takes almost 3-5000pcs sold just to break-even then after that is when the profit starts. Epon is not a big brand for example after the 460ZR mold broke it didn't make sense to remake it as they don't have the volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I know it's off topic. But would this affect the J beam 435 black out too? The black out you can dip it in ice water and that thing won't spin much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Just a thought so is it just epon IP finish that suffers from low spin to negative effects? I mean there is the ryoma vspec ip, romaro and even the 101 IP and no speak of this. Ping also has the i25 in black IP finish and I doubt they would compromise finish for looks? Or am I thinking that all black faces are IP? Sorry if I am wrong or was it the metal used by epon zero in conjunction with the IP finish? Doesn't get ice cold wet in PI so I guess that case doesn't apply to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Not all Black face finishes are the same, when these first were on the market the complaint was vs the silver versions they felt harder but some faces don't have this issue, that leads me to think its a specific type of finish problem or a material + finish issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Not all Black face finishes are the same, when these first were on the market the complaint was vs the silver versions they felt harder but some faces don't have this issue, that leads me to think its a specific type of finish problem or a material + finish issue. Now I'm curious. The new zero also has a mirror finish which is devoid of ip finish would that be the better choice? maybe I should test IP vs mirror finish in this case. Probably it's the metal used as the 101 IP had no problems. Someone care to experiment with your IP finished drivers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appilags Posted May 3, 2015 Report Share Posted May 3, 2015 (edited) It should still be very nice IMO, it will feel good and for sure looks good but what's needed is the explanation of why? I buy Japanese for the Quality & Technology. Epon has the Quality but not the technology. Think Casio G-Shock MR-G Watch, be that way with anything and dominate. Relying on the brand name to carry sales won't last forever without innovation. As JDM grows and golfers become more discerning they learn that technology does matter and sell! Truth is when you cut epon drivers open they are empty and rely on the material, weighting, and CG placement, nice it's still the fundamentals of golf but so much more can be done and at the very least explain the why. This is precisely why many OEM's have left Endo, the lack of advancement in wood technology "especially in Adjustability" and use of new tech in various ways to reduce and distribute weight creatively. So what we have seen from Epon is the same tech in different shapes and CG locations for many years now. They have nailed the looks part down, but it's time they play catch up with tech. Unfortunately it's already too late. The term used by my engineer friends is "unwillingness to adapt" and that has led their customers to go elsewhere. The tech comes from the OEM level, not the factory but when the factory doesn't invest in the tools and tech to produce the customers desire they go elsewhere like overseas... and then the focus shifts to Technology over Quality which we don't want. It needs to strike a balance. FYI Epon & Endo are operated completely separately, it's hard to tell who exactly is at fault for the lack of innovation but I will say Honma and Maruman are still cranking out some sweet tech at Endo which leads me to its Epon who's the weak leg in design. Endo is still my favorite iron factory for mass made but IMO paying handmade prices for mass produced clubs is outrageous. What Japan has over any factory in the world is grinding which can't be bought or designed it's years and sometimes generations of skill/talent/practice handed down that creates that so if I were giving advice to Endo again it would be to absorb Japan's best asset and incorporate it into creating the best products in the world. Will that happen? Never they want someone who works for peanuts with no attitude doing a robotic task repetitively and let me tell you these grinders have attitudes, each one is quirky and unique in his own ways so I understand these are not the easist folks to employ. Not sure I agree with this assessment. Specifically with respect to the comments relating to technology. Golf clubs are not complicated instruments when it comes down to it. There will always be a place, IMHO, for clubs that are beautiful but simple, made from premium materials and that conform to tight physical and mechanical tolerances. Edited May 3, 2015 by appilags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oceans1007 Posted May 25, 2015 Report Share Posted May 25, 2015 Look COOL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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