I dropped by to visit my clubmaker Owada-san today to have him shaft up my Seven Hills Prototype Wedges. As you may have read in my initial impressions and introduction of the brand in Part 1, Seven Hills is new brand that carries premium Japan forged wedges and irons made for the better and improving player. We played a big part in the design of Prototype 1, the dancing wedge including the shape and grind as well as aesthetics of the wedge. When I first received the the wedges as heads only I was pretty happy with how they turned out but seeing them shafted up is even better. It also helps that Owada-san does a clean install with a wickedly perfect turned ferrule.
Once shafted up, the wedges visually shine. The long neck, minimal offset, simple graphics and satin finish really stand out. The crescent shaped grind creates the illusion of a narrow sole and the tear drop shape very eye pleasing at addesss. I decided since I am putting these in play I went with shafts closer to my spec and chose Nippon NS Pro 950GH Stiff shafts. The 52* at 35.25″ and D2 and the 58 * at 35.00″ D2.5. Keep in mind that with longer lengths and/or heavier shafts, the swing weight will increase a lot as these heads were designed to be more in the D4-D6 range finished.
Tomorrow, I’m playing 18 holes at La Vista Golf Resort in south Chiba and it will be my first time actually gaming 2010 conforming grooves which the Seven Hills Proto does have. I look forward to thoroughly testing the wedges on feel, control, trajectory, and spin performance. It will be my first time at La Vista but it looks to be a nice course (picture of 208y #6 Par 3 Hole from the fall below). Will report back tomorrow when I get home!
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