Has anyone looked at the J-Spec Ping Rapture? I see that it has the reduced offset of the i5 set. (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/tsg_smilie_surprise.gif)

It would seem to be an interesting club as the head is not huge like the G5.

What do you guys think?

When you say J-Spec Ping Rapture irons do you mean a Japan only version?

Chris, Yes, exactly. Ping told me they even make it in Japan, which if find dubious. Anyhow, they will NOT sell a set to a US account, at least for me.

Cameron

I will order a set to take pics of.

Now, how cool is that? (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/atsg_smilie_roll.gif)

my dad has a set of raptures he ordered from japan a week ago, ive seen it but i am unsure if its the j spec. will check and get back to you later.

I was told the only difference is loft, anyone sure there is an actual difference?

I was wrong, Japan specs 3 iron = 23

USA spec 3 iron = 30

I ordered my Ping I5s from the Wrx dept with no offset. My eye has never gotten use to looking at a offset
club and now the I5's look great.

Mike

Yes, I understand they can reduce offset on any iron but the Rapture. For that club, they obviously made a reduced offset version... though they only sell it in Japan!

By the way, I was quoted something like $65 per club to reduce offset (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/tsg_smilie_surprise.gif)

Chris, I hadn't noticed loft differences... as that does not concern me greatly. But the offset measurements from the J version to the USA version is pretty significant, as you noted.

I would be very interested in an less off-set, Japan made, set of Ping Rature irons. Is there s web site that I can check out the specs and maybe see pictures?

thanks
Randy

Hi.

They're called Rapture J.

They have the same offset as I5's, and are available not only in Japan, but also other Asian markets. I fit and sell a fair few of them here in Malaysia.

As Chris mentioned, the lofts are also stronger (much like the Asian Spec G5's which have a 'SL' above the G5 on the medallion - Strong Loft)

The Rapture J (look for the 'J' on the medallion) are assembled in Japan, NOT made there...the heads are sent there from Pheonix....

Very happy with them...if I want the American Raptures, I can also have them..we're lucky in that regard as I heard that the Rapture J will not be offered as an option in North America...

Cheers!

Ah, excellent info! So I compared the Japan and US sites. Without trying to replicate the specifications charts, for the J spec, the lofts go from 1/2* strong in the 3 iron, to 1.5* strong in the gap wedge (which is called either the AW or UW depending on country). Oddly, the J Sand wedge is two degrees weaker than the US (56* verses 54*).

Interestingly, for the J, the bounce is the same 3-8, but then decreases a degree for the 9-gap, then it decreases 2* in the Sand.

And really oddly, for the lie, the US is more upright by .02 inches in the 3-4, goes to .05" upright in the 5, the 6 is the same, the US 7 is .02" weaker, the 8 is the same, the 9 is weaker by .05", the Pitch and Gap are weaker by .02", and the sand is the same. So it looks like this:

The US compared to J

3, + .02"
4, + .02"
5, + .05"
6, =
7. - .02"
8, =
9, - .05"
P, -.02"
Gap, -.02"
S, =

The lengths are the same.

Now, apart from Ping varying the lie by all of two or five hundredths of an inch, an amount that I suspect is much smaller than the manufacturing tolerance and/or measuring capabilities, why on earth would lie move from upright, to even, to flat, to even, back to flat, then back to even? (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/tsg_smiley_crazy.gif)

Could it be that Ping is measuring the varying "droop" of each head with the standard shaft at some presumably typical swing speed? What else could it be? (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/fo