All I can say is "Sweet" the GD Japan Irons are a custom design not a modified blank head with a logo. * Head: Soft iron forging * Finish: Nickel pearl chrome satin plating * Grip: Gauge design original century cord/code The Gauge Design Forged Irons are made in the famous forging town of Himeji, Japan. The Irons were tested and designed with the help of many teaching professionals at the ETGA (the Etsure loyal golf academy). I was able to demo a set of these last month with Rifle 6.0 shafts and loved them very much, they have a higher center of gravity like any players CB, It sets up very blade like yet is very sound and very forgiving. I liked the Rifle 6.0s because they made my ball flight a little higher than usual some of them perfect for low wind golf conditions. The heads were very soft, the finish and durability were better than most and that finish was insanely beautiful. These are definitely irons worth considering. If i didn't have the XCBs these would be in the bag for sure.

Those are so sweet. I like how only the Gauge Design on the back is the only paintfill other than the number on the sole. I also like the round toe. Those are beautiful. How much are thoses babies? It would be nice to mix these with the blades on the other post.

You really know how to make a decision on purchasing a new set hard!!!

I'm considering the X-Blade CB's and now these. They look great!!!!

Tell me about it K . I just got my Z101's and now Chris comes out with this thread and the one in the Tour /Impost section and he has me drooling all over again :lol:

One word "SWEET"

The plating and finishing job is above and beyond almost every Japanese OEM including Tourstage , It costs 40.00 per head to have done 8O

I also learned that in a CNC milling machine there are needles that are used for the actual milling, Gauge Japan prides themselves in using 20-25 needles which is a more expensive process because needles wear and cost $, what GD Japan believes is by CNC milling the face of the putter flat and smooth the ball will have cleaner impact with the putter face with decreased variables over deep milled faces. The JPGA loves them and the reaction is evident this year with 16 in use even as we speak. I now play a 365g anser with Ingots and the perfectly flat face does feel better than any mill marks putter.

I got mine Gauge Design Japan irons from Chris with Rifle 6.5s. It's everything Chris says and more. It's rock solid and super sweet. I've been playing MR-23 US Blades in X100. I've been having problems with lMR-23 longer irons so I thought I try player's cavity backs. I've already had MR-23 US Spec CB and Miura 201 CBs netither of which I liked the feel. I thought the MR-23 Blades were better than MR-23 CBs in longer irons in terms of solidness and sweetness and for some reason was easier to hit. Miura were sold in shorter irions but didn't like the longer irons beacuase I was getting less distance than MR-23 Blades and was less consistent. Being a club HO, I took a blind leap of faith and got the Gauge Design Japan from Chris. Figuring I'll sell it for a loss if I didn't like it. It's only money.

Man, am I glad i got these puppies. I went on few rounds with these clubs and even spent some time on the launch monitor comparing MR-23 US Blades and Gauge Design Japan irons. Gauge Designj irons are incredibly crafted. It exudes quality and craftsmanship from the insanely beautiful finish to the balance and feel of these clubs. The irons are little more progressively offset than the MR-23s and is slightly bigger(or should I say MR-23 Blades are more compact than normal). The sole has more camber and is a little wider than MR-23. The look from the top sets up like blade irons.

These irons hit so much more solid than MR-23 Blades and is at least one club length longer. MR-23 Blades got this Dr. Jekyl and Hide feeling when you've hit them When you hit them dead center it's indescribly sweet but it's rather easy to miss the sweet spot and a bit harsh when you do even though it doesn't penalize you much as you think you did. With Gauge Design there is much bigger sweet spot area and mis hits don't feel harsh with much tighter dispersion and consistency with distance.

I'm currently playing to 8 HDCP. I suppose if I'm a scratch player who can consistently hit the sweetspot I may prefer MR-23 Blades because of it's dead center sweetness and workability. But for me, these itons have improved my game considerably and will stay in my bag as I havn't up to this moment hit anything better.

Nice review golfnut!!!!!

Here are some comparison pictures (first go round, I have more)

First 3 are the 3 iron then the soles of the 7

(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/3-1.JPG)
(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/3-2.JPG)
(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/3-3.JPG)
(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/7-4.JPG)

What do you mean these are sole of the "7"?. Do you mean Titleist 670 or 690.cb you've pictured. I had 690 and GD aren't anything even remotely similar nor the 670s.

By the way, I go rid of my TM Rescue Mids as these GD long irons are that easy to hit. I stuck em off the deck on par 3s and on fairways consistemtly.

These are just comparison pics of the 690.cb's versus the Gauge Design CB's. The last picture, the soles of both 7 irons were just for comparison.

One thing I noticed while comparing the two sets is that the length of the soles (heel to toe) on the Gauge Designs are longer than the length of the soles on Titleist 690.cbs. They also seem a tad wider. The size progression in the heads from 3 to PW are also more noticeable in the Gauge Designs.



Titleist 690.cb 3 7 PW
(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/t37p.JPG)

Gauge Design CB 3 7 PW
(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/gd37p.JPG)


Also, when comparing the offset of the two, I noticed the GD have less offset in the 3 and 4 irons and a tad more offset in the rest of the set. I converted the offset from MM to inches to compare to the Titleist Specs.

(IMG:http://mysite.verizon.net/sydneydog/gauge/chart.JPG)


I have a set of the GD on order and will be comparing to my Titleist 690.cbs. I was encouraged that your review included a comparison with the MR-23 US Spec MB which I have also played. I loved the feel and playability of the MR-23 US Spec MB but realized with my infrequent play (it seems I get to play golf for 2-3 weeks in a row and then its another two weeks before I even pick up another club) that I would be better served with a CB. My frist two weeks playing with the MB's were some of my best ball striking rounds but after the first layoff, reality set in. I thought the MR-23 MB's were just as forgiving as the MR-23 CB's.

Without wasting any more bandwith, I will post a review when I get them in hand. I just wanted the other board members to have something domestic to compare specs with in case they are considering in making a purchase. Its not an easy decision to make to fork over the $$$ when you can't go to a local pro shop and hit a demo.

Great information guys. It looks to me that the Guage would be cutting easier into the grass than the others. Less bounce. I prefer some bounce and don't like the club to just dive into the grass and cut. Would you say that this is correct?

Thanks for the specs and pics. For some reason your pics of GD looks different than Chris's pics and the looks of my clubs. Wow, I didn't know that loft is stronger on these GDs. No wonder I was hitting them long for the club numbers. Kind of surprised about the bounce. I hadn't noticed that GD was digging into the grass easily. But then again I don't have steep angle of attack with my downswing. Sounds like if Jim wants bounce, Tourstage X-Blade CBs might be the choice due to its flat sole that gives you bounce.

Thanks again for the info. I have to try these bad boys out. They look incredible and if the sole is rounded as they appear in the photos, I'll be happy. :P

(IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/magazine/modules/coppermine/albums/Gauge_Designs/normal_DSC00340.JPG)
(IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/magazine/modules/coppermine/albums/Gauge_Designs/normal_DSC00341.JPG)
(IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/magazine/modules/coppermine/albums/Land%20of%20the%20rising%20sun/normal_GD22.JPG)
(IMG:http://www.tourspecgolf.com/magazine/modules/coppermine/albums/Land%20of%20the%20rising%20sun/normal_gd88.JPG)


The Image gallery should be fixed by the end of this week, Sorry about all the red little x's in the box.