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Honma introduces new ‘Gain Speed’ drivers, fairways, hybrids and irons

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For 2021, Honma has unveiled its new line of ‘Gain Speed’ drivers, fairways, hybrids, and irons designed to help golfers gain speed.

For the GS line, Honma Takumi and their 60-year history of craftsmanship worked in partnership with the North American engineering team in designing the new Flip Slot and Keel Sole for the technology-packed clubs.

“In much the way the TR20 and TR21 lines we launched last year delivered exquisite design for unrivaled performance for mid to low handicappers, The GS line brings a rewarding combination of technology for golfers attracted to game-improvement clubs. Everything about the new GS line of drivers, fairways, hybrids, and irons shouts speed, consistency and confidence.” – Honma’s Vice President of Marketing Brad Holder.

GS Drivers

The new GS 460-cc drivers from Honma feature a raised Keel Sole towards the heel to promote draw-bias and a lower, deeper CG and high MOI in a bid to provide maximum forgiveness.

The 9-gram adjustable weight in the heel allows for individual customization for preferred ball flight, while the GS driver’s titanium construction, utilizing Ti811 for the body and a Ti 6-4 face, allowed engineers to sculpt thick and thin allowances throughout the club head for the optimal speed and stability.

The drivers contain Honma’s new Flip Slot technology, designed to increase face flexure and reduce spin for more speed and forgiveness. The precise location and shape of the forward Toe Slot creates a shot-straightening gear effect on off-center hits.

Additionally, regardless of where the ball strikes on the club face, the Radial Face seeks to dynamically flex all parts of the club face to harness more speed. The Radial Face design has rib patterns and variable thickness for a weight-efficient design. The ribs are designed to add strength to the top and bottom of the face to ensure hits obtain advanced flex and speed.

Per the company, the flexure of the ultra-thin titanium crown, Radial Face and Flip Slot react at the same time, for the same amount of time, to deliver more consistent shot patterns. This aims to produce the most speed off the club as well as adding distance for a wide range of players. 

The GS driver includes an integrated heel-bias crown graphic applied to encourage golfers to return the club face to square at impact, while Honma’s non-rotating hosel is also featured in the GS driver. 

Specs & Pricing 

Lofts: 9.5, 10.5, and 11.5 degrees 

Price: $499

GS Fairways and Hybrids

Honma’s GS Fairway woods feature a traditional shape and size and are built with the brand’s Flip Slot technology to maximize face flexure and reduce spin for more speed and additional forgiveness.

The internal weight positioning toward the heel also aims to create dynamic closure for increased side spin and enhanced draw-bias that is beneficial for most golfers.

The new GS Hybrid also features Flip Slot technology and internal weight positioned low and towards the heel to provide increased side spin and slight draw-bias ideal for off-center hits. The hybrid includes a heel-bias crown graphic applied to visually encourage golfers to return the club face to square at impact. 

Specs & Pricing 

Lofts: Fairways – 3W (15), 4W (16.5), 5W (18), and 7W (21), Hybrids – U3 (19), U4 (21), and U5 (24)

Price: Fairway – $249, Hybrid – $219

GS Irons

The new GS Irons are Honma’s latest game improvement clubs, designed to inspire visual trust at address and technology that corrects mishits.

Honma’s GS irons feature a wide, deep cavity and sole to increase CG depth for enhanced MOI, while the L-Cup face construction in the 4-7 irons aims to maximize ball speed and reduce spin. A 360-degree heavy steel undercut in the 8-11 irons is designed to increase face flexure as well as expanding the size of the sweet spot.

Flip Slot technology is incorporated within the sole of the iron to produce higher ball speeds, particularly on shots struck off the toe. The L-Cup face and Flip Slot flex work ‘in phase’ for increased ball speed and longer distance, while the modern accents of red in the cavity in the men’s set and vibrant yellow in the ladies clubs aim to create distinctive appearances.

Specs & Pricing 

Mens: 4-iron to 11-iron plus SW

Women’s: 6-11 irons plus SW

Price: $200 graphite with Honma SpeedTuned shaft, $175 steel with NS Pro Neo.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

 

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Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

 

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

  • PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
  • PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
  • Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
  • PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
  • PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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