+TourSpecGolfer Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 It's been less than a year since A-GRIND has opened its doors to the public originally they were only found via the Tour Service on the Japan PGA Tour and they were not for sale given away by Ako-san who is part owner and designer of the company not to mention the lead designer for royal collection for more than a decade. The connection with RC is apparent in this Fairway Wood, Royal Collections most successful products were it's fairway woods and now that Ako-san has left and started his own company the DNA of the design has gone with him. In this blog post I share my long term thoughts on the A-Grind Fairway Woods. First I have to say Pardon the gap between the neck and the ferrule, this is a brand new head in the photos not epoxied to any shaft which is why you see the gap, I simply stuck a shaft in there to take these pics. My gamer which is a 14* that I've had for many months is beaten up pretty badly it's been borrowed by others shafted and re-shafted again and brutalized even with sky marks so we preferred to use this new head for these shots. So yes pardon that gap. The above image shows what could be one of the most beautiful fairway wood faces I've ever seen. Ako-san only had the option and funding to make 1 new model fairway and for those that follow RC has had many over the years so Ako-san's goal was to take the best of the more than a decade worth of RC woods and combine them into what he considers the ultimate players wood. It's not deep it's not shallow it's juuuust right! I'm playing mine at 43" with the brand new Crazy FW80 "Regenesis" and let me tell you this wood/shaft combo is a sleeper. Originally I had the normal FW80 installed and that is my all time favorite FW shaft it's heavy and stable with a tight dispersion so when the new FW80 regenesis arrived prior to any specs being released I had to try it and to my surprise the shaft was very different yet shared some of the originals most positive qualities. The new regenesis is 3 grams lighter in the same flex as the original, it's got a smoother feel with a softer butt section and a more powerful kick yet it maintains that straight trajectory and it's still made of full-length 80T made by the Crazy Factory in Adachi. The 80T in a fairway shaft really stablizes the dispersion and while the original was for sure a mid trajectory the new regenesis is a mid/high launch which is what you want in a fairway wood. They make 4 different lofts 14/15/18/21 both 3 woods are 160cc's while the 5 is 145cc and the 7 the smallest at 135cc's each with a matte black crown. The face angles are all 1* open . The feel off the face is spongy metallic as it's made with a 455 stainless steel it has a shallow center of gravity with more weight placed forward all of these are specifications geared toward the better player but don't let that scare you if you are a mid capper as I found the face profile to get the ball up in the air easier than most, it's just when it is in the air it will not balloon on you. I didn't find distance to be as long as some of the Neo FW's out there ya know those bigger oddly shaped designs but that is not what this is going for, it's designed around feel, workability, and its stunning looks don't get me wrong it's long the ball pops off the face with intention. Forgiveness is extremely good considering how compact these are and the ball flight is very stable with less spin due to it's forward CG. I play square to 0.5 closed on the driver but for fairways and UT's I prefer an open face angle. I would say naturally this head produces a mid-trajectory so pairing it with a higher launching shaft can squeeze out more yards if thats what your looking for. For me with the softer profile of the new FW80 regenesis it's a match made in heaven. Other than RC woods it's hard to compare this to anything else, they are smaller heads, they have the semi sharp angles in the face profile, they are not deep nor shallow and with the removal of mass in the back of the sole it means less weight back there which keeps spin down and your shots straight, these are not all that expensive either so head on over to the TSG Pro Shop to check it out. Suggested builds, I would say the new FW80 & CB50 or best to consider as well as TRPX's Red Hot FW Shafts between those you should be covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFL07670 Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Looks amazing! Does it have the high pitched "ting" from traditional RC woods as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 This looks fantastic Chris! Can you do a mini-comparison to Modart on size, feel & performance? Excited to see more pics and hear about the new FW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gian11 Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 (edited) The pictures tells you exactly how this fairway looks! Love these off the tee, hittable even on bad days. Yes it has a high pitched ting sound, really nice. Playing the 3W 15* shafted with the old Crazy FW80, can't complain even that shaft is really a good match. Feel is better over TS358 for me. Edited June 4, 2015 by gian11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
needmoregolf Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 I've got the ut which makes that TING sound too, which is growing on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bankbank Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 i also re-confirm the ting sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 So I've played a Sonartec ss07 for years, nothing could pry this boy out of the bag.....looks shape sound/feel all added up to the one club that could not be replaced, even had it refinished a couple of times it was that good. a few weeks ago I stumbled across some pics of the A grind fairway wood and was immediately attracted to it, further investigation revealed the link to RC, which was probably the source of my attraction. So I bought one and had a GD MJ installed. Took it out and have used it for a few rounds now. appearance..... Wasn't sure I'd like the Matt crown, but it has grow on me.The head shape is exactly the kind of thing I like, not too big, not too small, in fact is larger than the Sonartec but really in comparison with the latest FWs it is still pretty compact. Still not sure that the black face and sole is really me but I can live with it. The face depth and shape is Perfection to my eye, tall enough for teebox work but from the deck it is shallow enough to inspire confidence. Address appearance is something I don't have to think about which is what I am looking for, it certainly does not look closed at all but neither does it look open, it just sits there waiting to be smashed..... Sound/ feel absolutely reminiscent of RC Sonartec and I love the ting that echos round a tree lined fairway......Steel is real for Fw woods for me. Performance, don't really want to comment too much on this as the shafts are completely different but I have no concerns with distance or trajectory....... Workability is not an issue either. In short I am rapidly growing in confidence with this club and thinking this really is a solid replacement for the Sonartec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted June 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 So Modart vs A-Grind... Having had both with for quite some time in the same loft 14* I'm comfortable with these observations. The Modart has a firmer tink feel while the A-Grind is softer more spongy metal. Distance the two are equals Forgiveness, what is strange is for me the Modart goes straighter on the same miss-hits. Trajectory is the A-Grind is higher I would say mid/high while the modart is more mid, this is interesting as well because the Modart has the more shallow face. Gotta add turf interaction I give this to the modart as well both the FW and UT make clean contact unlike any other woods i've seen. appearance, A-Grind's shape, size and matte crown are perfect while the Modart is still sexy and more compact than the AG I give it to the AG on appearance but only by a slight margin if the Modart were matte not sure if this would still be the case. For feel, looks, and trajectory I go A-Grind For ease of use, size, dispersion I go Modart Best for my score & what gives me confidence is without a doubt Modart + FW80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Great write-up Chris, thank you! I love the matte look on the Modart DS and hope that translates to future woods they have. The A Grind looks great as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 this is the only new fw i think id look at . ive ssee nt he 5w , not the 3, yet. its got that typcial RC look to it which is just so killer , best all rounder of any FW ive played. still got a few older bbds, not hte longest , but just so easy to use and can do anything with them. this looks loke a new version, cant wait to hit the 3..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Anyone gaming these day in and out? Would love to hear more about distance & trajectory. Thinking about a 4W for a backup bag with either the Crazy Regensis or TRPX Red Hot FW... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corky3 Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 been using one for a coup,e of months now...... Solidly in the bag, 15 deg 3 wood. With GD AD MJ shaft....... For me it does exactly what I wanted it to do......,replace a very aging Sonartec(RC). Wasn't sure about the Matt finish at first but have got used to it, but shape and feel are totally reminiscent of The Sonartec. Trajectory & distance can be so affected by shaft selection I hesitate to comment other than to say my combination gives a mid trajectory and I use a 3 wood for accuracy, not so much distance. Having said that I feel this combo is longer than the Sonartec Fuji that it replaces..... Shines off the decK. Would recommend....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbachman Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 Wonderful feedback! I recently hit the AD-MJ in a driver and the shaft was stable, great trajectory and lower spin. Awesome shaft, highly recommend. Good to know it also performs in a fairway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobmontana Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 "Follow Bubba, I'm going 7 wood! " Just hit my new A Grind 7 wood that I got thru BST. Shafted with NS Pro Regio Formula MB 75 Stiff tipped 1.25" or so. Best feeling fairway wood ever! Sound is fairly muted with that soft tiny "ting" sound. Trajectory is slightly higher and distance goes about 5 yards more than my 3U. And best of all, no hooks from this thing. It goes straight. Perhaps the shaft but I am gonna use it on the course to see if i can take out mis-hits to the left compared to my 3 Hybrid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+TourSpecGolfer Posted July 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Coincidentally I play the A-Grind 7 Wood also. It has the old fairway 80 la bomba in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobmontana Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 Coincidentally I play the A-Grind 7 Wood also. It has the old fairway 80 la bomba in it. XF5A2867-Edit.jpg I honestly think 7 woods are making a come back!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supo Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 hmmmmmmmmmmmmm i had one, it was a dead zone distance. too long for par 3s. and no where long enough for other distances on par 5s. whats the general thiniking of bagging a 7 woood ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLL33 Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 I recently took an old 7 out to see if it might handle one Par3 on my course for which I can't seem to find the right club. It's between my two hybrids. XV-5wd is a little too long. But the 7 always seems to balloon on me eventually... I end up saying hmmmmmm as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-500 Posted July 24, 2015 Report Share Posted July 24, 2015 In my experience I've found 7 woods easier to hit than long irons and hybrids. Picked up a PRGR 3U 19* to see if this still holds true. 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.