Many new clubs arrived to us over the last couple of weeks and I kinda got behind in club testing. Well last week I was able to get 2 full rounds and Lot’s of range time in. Our recent test clubs included the Limited Edition PRGR TR500 Forged Irons, The Crazy CRZ-450 w/ Longest Yard TJ-46, Epon AF-102 with DI-6 SR flex, and my stunning new gamers the custom black finish AF-502 irons attached to Crazy Iron Shafts.
Custom BLACK AF-502 w/ Crazy Longest Yard Shafts Stiff & Soft Stepped x 1:
These irons after two rounds are firmly in the bag. I needed something a bit more forgiving and I’m glad I selected the AF-502, It’s got good feel at impact and the sole design simply works! The rounded leading edge and overall sole grind made hitting shots much easier. I’m able to get good distance even on slight mishit’s. It isn’t as forgiving as the 701’s but its a lot more smooth through turf, it also feels much better. I still think the 701 has more distance but the 502 is no slouch. The face is HOT!
I don’t think the finish being custom ordered black from Epon improved the feel any but I do think that the Crazy Iron Shafts did. The shafts are pretty stiff for graphite they spec out the same as a Dynamic Gold S200 so I decided to soft step it once to provide a more user friendly experience. Keep in mind that im a bit unique on how I enjoy using softer shafts despite my swing speed. Just like the Crazy driver shafts the Iron shafts felt very active and alive, compared to the Roddio I-10 these have more kick and feel less boardy. The dispersion was tight and on the good it was producing mid/high shots on the bad I had some shots push right for me. I’m two rounds in now and will need more time to adjust to these irons. I’m not sure what is causing the push just yet but will get to the bottom of this soon.
PROS:
– Very forgiving all over the face
– Long distance face design
– Endo S20C Forged
CONS:
– Offset in the shorter irons takes getting used to.
Click “Read More” to view the images and reviews of the other clubs we tested last week…
Epon AF-102 Driver w/ DI-6 SR flex:
At 45″ this SR flex driver spec’d out to 242 cpm’s. I really enjoyed this club, the stock setup fit me well and this head is simply to die for. It’s an evolution of the AF-101 with an improved head shape but most importantly the feel at impact and the sound have been upgraded. Epon claims persimmon like feel but If I were to word it the only thing that comes to mind is a 460cc version of the old Tour Issue TourStage J340 driver. Impact sensations are addicting with this club, My handicap level and ball striking skills may work best with a more forgiving 460cc design but I don’t care I need to feel this every time I drive the ball.
Against the CRZ-450 the distance was equal but the DI-6 shaft in SR was more accurate and consistent. That’s good and bad to me, it shows that with the Crazy shaft I can get it out there using 60-70% power the same as 80-90% power with the DI-6. That is the main reason I want to swap shafts out and see what the LY-TJ46 can do in this head. If that doesn’t work out I will yank the CB50 from the CRZ-450 and try that in the Epon head. I am willing to work with this driver in order to make it my gamer.
The Trajectory is a tad higher than I expected, my tester is a 10.5* loft that produced nice mid/high shots for me. The first day with this driver my trajectory was medium and over the 2 rounds played I have seemed to dial this combo in to produce more carry with a higher flight. The DI-6 is an awesome standard shaft. It’s got a very alive type of feeling with nice strong and controlled kick not boardy or overly stiff in any way. The AF-102 head isn’t really pear like many of the limited TourStage models but it does sit compact and square hiding all 460cc’s. From above you would think its a 430cc head. The face shape is very desirable it IMO is an upgrade over the 101.
PROS:
– FEEL & SOUND is Amazing!
– 460cc yet very compact
– Face is the best shape of any driver
– Endo Forged Titanium
CONS:
– Black finish would be nice!
Crazy CRZ-450cc Driver w/ The Longest Yard TJ-46 in R2 flex:
This was a custom order directly from Crazy Shaft co. In Tokyo. The driver arrived with a shaft label stating it’s length, flex, swing weight, and CPM’s. In this case t was D2 @ 45″ 232 cpm’s. My swing speed is about 100-105 and I should be playing a stiffer flex but I have always been able to control softer shafts quite well. Combine that with the fact that Crazy produces shafts that are quite a bit stiffer than other shaft companies.
I’ll be frank and say that I went to soft a shaft. I ordered an R flex and R2 at the same time, the R came out to 239 cpms and the R2 at 232 cpms. My frequency machine with a 5″ clamp came out to the exact same CPM’s Crazy designated on the shaft sticker. I have only had time to test the R2 and the result didn’t go well for me. When putting my usual 80% power on the swing the ball hung out to the right and IMO it’s because I over powered the shaft. when backing down a bit into what I would call 60-70% power the result was fantastic! The flight was mid/high loads of carry and best of all the feel was outstanding very active butt and tip sections really give you a good sense of kick. What I plan to do is remove this R2 shaft and tip it then install into an extra AF-102 head I have here. I want to bring the club length down to 44″ in the 240 cpm range.
The CRZ 450 as a head is very solid, good feel and sound but I don’t think I can comment much on distance until I get the proper flex installed. I’m going to put a Crazy CB50 SR flex into it at 45″ late this week. I will keep you posted on how this goes.
PROS:
– Long Distance Driver JPN DAT55G face material
– Design is Sexy very Gothic and dark
– Setup is just about perfect
CONS:
– The face shape is nothing new
– Wish they left the designers name off the sole
PRGR TR 500 Limited Irons:
The TR-500 Limited Edition Irons are stunning in pictures but even more attractive in person. In my quest for a more forgiving iron this TR500 is a step in the opposite direction. First of all it’s very blade like, It has very thin top line, next to no offset, and a sole with both the trailing and leading edge ground down. I think PRGR considers this model a blade, well based on my time with it I do to.
The set I have is in DGS200, this is a good shaft and one that I enjoy over the slightly heavier DGS300 model used as a stock offering for many U.S brands. The TR-500’s are a trip back to reality for me especially after solid long shots with the AF-502. These forged players irons made my life difficult. Off center hits lost distance just as a blade would and back was the ringing in the hands during very poorly struck shots. I didn’t have much luck hitting the longer irons but I did get to taste what makes these irons so sweet hitting 7 iron on down to the PW. When hit center they feel soft yet not mushy, they reward you with pure results and reflected your swings intentions and path. 7 on down I’m loving this set.
Pro level to Scratch Golfers with solid ball striking skills should seriously consider this set.
PROS:
– Maybe the most attractive Irons ever produced
– Setup is ideal for a scratch golfer or blade lover
– Manufactured by Endo of S20C
CONS:
– Not forgiving
– Needs more custom shaft options
– Already sold out in Japan ( TSG has 1 set left)
I’ve been using TR Speed irons past 8 yrs even wth 16 hc, its very good.