everytime a golf site starts to promote a certain golf club the hype really starts going strong. A short while ago the hype started about the chikara wedge needless to say i had to go out and buy three of them. I only have had them about 2 weeks now and nobodys talking about them now. I also see that Tadd has already stopped using his and went to vokey wedges. I remember when zodia wedges were supposed to be the best thing ever made i went out and bought three of them and a short time later they went cold also. I think from now on i am going to wait awhile and see if a club stands the test of time. does anyone else feel the same way.

Here is my take and there are certainly other's opinions that will differ...Do they work for you? If yes, who cares if they are a hot topic on boards or on tour. The hot items come and go and would drive yourself crazy trying to keep up. 2 years ago it was the Gauge NC-1's now it is EPON and next year it will be something else.

Play what works for you and gives you the best chance to beat your buds.

(IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/tsg_smilie_smile2.gif)

It's so rare that I agree with anything Yourpressed says I'm compelled to admit that I couldn't agree more.

It's bad enough being a club maniac, but when your addiction runs to JDM (or its qualitative equivalent, e.g., Chikara), you can be sure that you've paid top dollar and that to resell will result in a significant loss. We all know that and have accepted it obviously. So, since you know you're going to lose big bucks when you buy something originally, might as well make that purchase knowing that you'll love what you bought and use it as long as it helps your game. When it stops helping, sell it, take your bath, and buy the next beautiful item you have to have.

Web sites tend to hype what they have to sell, particularly if you can't get it anywhere else. That shouldn't surprise any of us and it's ok so long as it's done with honesty and integrity. The good news is that what's hyped is generally good stuff so we don't go wrong getting swept along with the tide. Enjoy the ride--it can get expensive but it's fun.

Chikara is like a 1 man brand with a core group of supporters, also very expensive so it doesn't appeal to everyones taste.

Gauge JPN / G-Field would be hitting its stride about now if their investors didn't pull out and break the bank.

Epon IMO will be around a long time as they have been for 30 years, also I have confirmation of the production schedule as far out as 2010. Another thing is they have not officially launched in the USA and I hear they will be making a decent yet conservative attempt at that.

PRGR, Tourstage, Miura, and others are here to stay also.

IMO..

We buy different clubs to see if the new one you buy will be better than the one you have in the bag.

Sometimes I buy a club just to own it, other times I buy the club to see if it improves my game.

In the case of the Chikara's, I bought the wedges to see if they would help my game. At this point it doesn't
really matter if they are the hot topic of conversation or not. Bottom line, they are still in my bag. I am playing
extremely well with them and until something comes along that can knock them out they will stay in the bag.

When the Epon wedges with the custom grinds are offered, I will try a couple of different ones in the
constant search for the very best clubs FOR MY GAME.

I don't know this for a fact but I'd be willing to bet that Tad is being paid to play Vokey... which is the main reason
a player plays the clubs he plays. I have enough Vokey wedges to start up a museum. None of them compare to
the Chikara's... or Epons... or Zodia... or Golds... or.... but I have to admit I'd probably play them (vokey)
if I was paid too...

its not the hype that hurts, its when one buys based on just hype alone that it hurts..


The zodias... I had them for two seasons... they were fine wedges, but after two seasons of play, I sold them and moved to gauge..... I did buy the Chikaras.... (two sets)... They are very good wedges....

i will play them as well as the gauge.... as long as i think they work for me and as long as they dont wear out. when they do, i will move onto something else.

BTW, the extra set of Chikaras and set of gauge is to ensure that when my current sets wear out and I can't find anything new, i have a dependable set of new to fall back into.

Will i care two years from now that they dont talk about gauge or chikara's .....no.

In regards to the Chikara's I don't think I agree with this statement. Yes it got quite a lot of pub for some time but that's like with anything new. It can't possibly last forever since there aren't many of us who play with JDM and even fewer who even bother posting. I believe Chris told me one time that only about 10-20% of customers who buy from him actually are active in the forums. When Epon came out it got huge pub, but now you don't see much written but its still a very excellent product. Also the cost of these wedges is also a factor. Its quite an investment. The average consumer wouldn't even think about purchasing these on cost alone. I think though, that these wedges will stand the test of time as Carlton was doing excellent work on wedges up until this time where he decided to go it alone. I love his design but I'm content with my Epons at the moment and am waiting to see what he offers in the next year before I take the plunge. However, my eye keeps watching and waiting. Just enjoy the wedges as they are and as far as waiting in the future, if there's something you come across and want, go ahead and get it. Base your decisions on your feelings and not the masses. Sometimes the masses are correct and sometimes not, especially when it comes to something so personal as golf equip, and JDM golf equip at that.

I know for a fact that Tadd is not being paid to play the Vokey wedges.

if the chikaras weren't so expensive and more in line with the prices of Epon wedges, I'd get a set. For now, the Epons are in the bag. i too am looking forward to the different grinds but not willing to pay a premium for it. the market segment interested in 250 wedges is much less than what can be had at the 150 range

I think its OK to have a $250 wedge or even a $1000 wedge but it depends on WHY it costs so much. I mean if its simply an owner trying to charge big bucks for a 1025C head he manufactures at 30-60 bucks in order to give his brand a luxury or high end presence then its a totally unjustified and wrong, but say for example you take Gold's factory wedges, you can be assured Sasaya has done the grind himself, the basic head shape is CNC milled to basic shape then hand ground to its end state, the grooves are milled after he received the blank not pre punched and that every part of it is hand done including the finish. No corners cut, true hand crafting of a master and very few wedges are made like this.

As far as materials go 1012-1018-1020-1025 have a very little difference in price, Materials get expensive when you start using SS or FE99.9% grade or selecting a batch with a specific hardness rating.

I bought a Chikara and (IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/forum/style_emoticons/TSG_Smileys/tsg_smiley_heart.gif) it.

The only bad shots with the Chikara result from a very poor / disgraceful swing.....good swings, great results.

Personally I like Carlton's story and the banter of The Hawaian guys who get to visit his shop. I would like to visit the shop if I ever get to Hawaii.

.....oh yeah, you can get a set of custom made Titleist clubs for $10,000. The ones just like the pros play. On that basis the price of Carlton's product is reasonable.

Each to their own, however Jack is at the point where he has the wedge he wants and is now going to be man enough to get a short game lesson to make it perform even better.

.......every second bag has a set of Vokeys in it, haven't seen anyone else down under with a Chikara.

Personally, I tend to not care what is hot or not. If something is hot I will lokk into it, but other than that I tend to stay away from trends.
But.....I LOVE my Chikara wedges. I have put more balls 3 feet and in, in the past 8 rounds with these wedges then I did in the privious 50.
I hope some of the things regarding customer service and such mentioned here by Chris are not true, because I am VERY inpressed with these wedges and look forward to the irons and putter.