Japanese Domestic Market Clubs

[TheClaw]

I've been spending too much time looking at nice, shiny exotic clubs online...Miura, Vega, Epon etc.

I know they're pricey but I'd love to get a proper custom fit for a set that I could keep for a good while. I like the idea that they are a bit different as well as the great reviews you see.

What are your views? Anyone else looking (and waiting for a big birthday/casino win)?

I searched for this topic and found a thread that got a bit abusive haha...didn't bother to revive it.

 

[Mattyboy]

Saw a set of Miura blades a couple of years back. They looked awesome but the heads were so small - like the tour blades of the early 80's.

Probably cost IRO 5k as well!

Whilst they are certainly top of the looks chart I reckon they are too hard to play for the average golfer.

 

[pendodave]

I have an epon 701 50 degree wedge (£2 in the bargain bin).

It is one significant chunk of metal(s). So you can certainly get big GI stuff as well as bladey things.

In all honesty, I don't think it would reduce my score by a single shot if I replaced my whole bag with them compared with any other suitable club for my ability. I certainly don't think my golf game is worth it.

The only route in for me would be if someone mis-spelt them on ebay and I was the only bidder...

 

[TheClaw]

Yes the blades are great looking but I was meaning the more forgiving irons e.g. Miura PP9003 or Epon 502 etc.

Never hit them or even seen them in the flesh so don't know how forgiving they are.

 

[Foxholer]

I've had Miura Tournamenf blades, CB201s and Vega Blades.

Miura TBs were really nice - and the Rifle 6.0s suited me very well.
Vega V-Muscles (KBS Tours) were nice too.
CB201s were not so great for me, though S300s felt dead an PX5.5s too harsh - on links.

Neither set of blades as really any better than MP37s.

Best Miura clubs I've had were 4 of the 6 sets of TM300s I had (1 Rifle 5.5 set too soft, 1 Rifle 6.0 too stiff so must have been hard-stepped). He also made McGregor PCB Tours, the Maruman conductors Woosnam won the Masters ith and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the Australian Blades weren't his too!

The Japanese market is weird in many ways and most of the price is because of that. Value for money new is poor imo, but plenty of takers in Surrey!

Cooper clubs (Edinburgh) use the same forging house as Vega - Kyoei - which is also used by a number of specialist wedge designers too - Hakusa, Chikara and others.

Had plenty of Vega and (more so) Miura wedges. I personally prefer the relatively hard feel of Vega Wedges to the 'soft' feel of Miuras ones. As a Sweeper/Slider, I used to have to grind a fair bit off Miura edges too, though there is plenty of 'meat' to allow that.

So by all means try them, but they are not magic imo. And you still have to sing them properly!

 

[Foxholer]

Endo is a major Japanese forging house - though they have a factory in Thailand as well. Golf clubs are a major part of their output, but they also produce forgings for Automotive, Medical and Household applications. Actually started making screwdrivers for Sewing Machines!

Bridgestone, Tourstage and Cally X-Forgeds, Titleists Yamahas and many others are forged by Endo as are their own Brand Epon.

The MR-23US Specs in my sig are actually the best feeling CB I've owned. The US-Blades feel slightly harder. I'm sure that is down to the design rather than the forging and I think I would actually have been very happy with a complete set of US-Specs. I reckon the Miura CB301s/PCB Tours would probably feel about the same as they are a similar head shape.

 

[TheClaw]

Cheers Foxholer, lots of good info. Although I like the look of a few heads I would keep an open mind and see what suited me best.

There's a guy near me - Pure Forged Golf that stocks a really good range of JDM gear. Anyone know anything about the place? The website looks pretty good but doesn't go into the fitting process in too much detail.

 

[Foxholer]

Cheers Foxholer, lots of good info. Although I like the look of a few heads I would keep an open mind and see what suited me best.

There's a guy near me - Pure Forged Golf that stocks a really good range of JDM gear. Anyone know anything about the place? The website looks pretty good but doesn't go into the fitting process in too much detail.

Pure Forged have been round for quite a while.

There are a few others about too. I know this guy (Aberdeen based) through another forum http://www.tourconceptgolf.com/

 

[TheClaw]

Pure Forged have been round for quite a while.

There are a few others about too. I know this guy (Aberdeen based) through another forum http://www.tourconceptgolf.com/

Nice site too. I can see me spending some money soon. My wife's not helping either "you could get new clubs even if you still use your PINGs just now because you're playing well".

 

[gdc]

What are your views? Anyone else looking (and waiting for a big birthday/casino win)?

I am thinking of going to back to blades and have been looking at Miura.
I've emailed Scottsdale.co.uk who are my nearest distributor to find out a bit about their fitting process.
I will try the titleist and mizunos blades this weekend from my club pro to see if my swing can hold up to the switch and get anything close to the middle of the club.