My JDM Story

By Richmond Golfer

I have been playing golf about four years and went with standard off the rack clubs as most people do. As my skills improved, I looked at the gear that is out there and looked at component customization. What is lost on many people is that these clubs are mass produced and don't really say what they are. At one time most iron heads were forged and in the last thirty years or so, most manufacturers have gone to some type of casting process which can be passed off as forged through various names. The sets are assembled but the specs can vary a lot.

Wanting more, I found Miura and studied their manufacturing process. I was interested in learning the metal working process goes back centuries in the making of Japanese swords. As the demand for swords fell off, these same skills can make forged iron heads which have much tighter grain structure resulting in a soft true feel at impact and more a more efficient energy transfer to the ball.

I started with the tournament blades last year and hit my first hole in one with the pitching wedge at 125 yards. These clubs make your swing improve as you can feel the mishits. For the winter here in South Carolina where it is at the coast and winding, I went with the Honma MG Beres 801s, 4 thru 11. These are very forgiving clubs and strong lofted to get there into the wind. What a wonder to behold reaching greens 175 out into the wind.

When I play with my clubs no knows of either brand. This amazes me somewhat as these two companies are leading makers of clubs. But neither company yet advertises much in the USA. What many do no know is Tiger's clubs by Nike are made by Miura.

Have my clubs helped my game? In a word, yes. I can no longer blame the club, only the "clubber." The confidence I get from a well made club that feels good when hit and sets up well is a major boost.

The next chapter is finding TSG. To view the website is thrilling to see all the works of art that exist in the Japanese world of golf. The time and pride which are obvious and go into every club. The difficult thing is to choose from among the best to find the next set to make that second hole in one.

What amazes me is the workmanship that goes into each club. Its like having that guy who made the club with you on the course, hopefully, ensuring I'll hit the best shot the club can muster. Care in the making and care in the playing go one and one.

One of the many nice things about golf is its traditions and competition. Japanese gear fosters the high traditions of the game and its precision by the precision of their manufacturing and quality. Golf goes back to the 1600's or earlier and it is fascinating to be able to retain old world forging into the modern game where so much modern technology is gimmickry and mass production. To take a Japanese forged iron or wedge out of the bag fosters the spirit of the game.

One of the nicest things about golf, I think, is that it is a continual process to improve and the enjoyment of that process is the critical factor to improve. Japanese gear and its high standards and specifications make that process more do-able and fun. The search for perfection is found in the clubs which eliminates that part of the challenge.

Now, I am off to actually play golf which I try to almost daily. The weather here works year around, if you like the elements in winter. I kept the Honmas in play throughout the summer, love that distance, and they yearn for their daily walk through the links.