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Epon AF 302 - Anyone Still Playing Them?


MysteryV

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I've recently become enamored with the 302 and was wondering if anyone is still playing them. I'm thinking about picking up a set used, but for $800+, thought I'd see if today's opinions are still as overwhelmingly positive as in the old threads.

 

If I could find a set of copper's it would be a done deal, but trying to fight the urge to buy the standard chromes, and was hoping for your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

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I have a set of copper AF 302's and love them. They are still just as relevant as any other iron out there. My only issue is that they have alittle more offset than I would like, as I tend to play better with irons without offset, as my standard shot is a draw and my miss is a hook. I personally don't think that the technology that has been put into irons is all that significant. If you get rid of the jacked up lofts in newer irons, there really isn't much difference other than forgiveness on mishits. The AF 302's feel wonderful at impact and perform as good as anything out there for a player's cavity back iron.

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Errr, no... I'm still playing my 301's ;-)

 

 

79f912864c25a4ffa5f889bbb896e40f_zpssfzmccxe.jpg

 

Are those factory copper or after-market? I have a set of chrome 301's that see very little action.

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Loving my 302's.

Should be a link in my dig to my WITB

I highly recommend them.

 

I want to know how your wedges look now (assuming you've played them heaps)......previously had some TM black wedges and they wore off so quickly

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Pulled the old MP4s out for a range session in preparation for the 302 arrival. Can anyone compare forgiveness of the two sets?

I have both sets. Very similar in regards to forgiveness actually. Without pulling them out to compare I think the 302 long irons are a tad smaller than the mp4's. To some this makes them less forgiving. There is definitely more offset in the 302's and some find that feature aids a solid strike. In a way they set up like very different sets but as I said pretty equal in forgiveness.

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I've recently thought of selling my copper 302s but I just can't seem to let go of them. They are a to,else's classic IMO. Better feeling than anything else being turned out today.

 

You can get used sets of the chrome finished 302s in decent shape for 6/700$ on yahooauctionsjapan or rakuten global market. The coppers rarely come up for sale and when they do I've never seen them for less than $1400. I wouldn't part with mine for less than $1500 and that's head only.

 

They are still great and I guarantee you'll love them...I've never regretted mine, even though they were pricey, I've enjoyed every strike...

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Got my 302s yesterday and gave 'em a hit despite being a few degrees too flat for me. Overall they're fantastic sticks. They look amazing and seem to have a good amount of forgiveness. Size and shape are spot on with just the right amount of offset and topline width to instill confidence. Just an absolutely gorgeous club to look at.

 

That said, the feel and sound were definitely different than I was expecting. Granted I was hitting range balls, but definitely more of a "thwack" than the "thud" I expected. At first I was a bit turned off as it was unexpected, however after getting used to it I certainly like it more. I still prefer the slightly lower, deader thud of some Mizunos, but I'm sure I'll get used to this soon enough.

 

The trajectory was also higher than I expected, though that may be the KBS Tour 120s that are in there. Does anyone have experience with Modus 3 120s vs KBS 120s in these? I ask as I have a set of those shafts ready to swap in if it makes sense.

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Now that I have 2 rounds under my belt with these, I should probably change the title to "why isn't everyone playing them". My lord these are perfect irons. Great from all lies, shockingly forgiving, perfectly sized, beautiful to stand over, just amazing. If I could change one thing I wouldn't mind a slightly lower trajectory, but I tend to be a high ball hitter, so it's likely just me (and perhaps the shafts).

 

Unreal how great these are.

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  • 3 weeks later...

For anyone who cares - got my 302s reshafted w/ Modus 120s and they're now even more amazing. Lower trajectory, extremely stable kick, and amazing feel. They also seem to play about 1/2 a club longer. Will see how they hold greens and potentially play in wind tomorrow.

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I still have wet dreams about a flushed a copper 302 4 iron with Modus 120

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Played a couple rounds with the Modus 120s this weekend. They remain amazing. They feel fantastic, penetrate the wind extremely well, and hold greens just as well as the KBS Tour 120s that were in there previously. They also seem to work extremely well for my swing specifically as my % of shots hit on the screws has increased dramatically.

 

I also picked up some "epon" ferrules off the bay, which look pretty slick. That said, something tells me that they may not be the exact carbon fiber look ones Epon used previously. Does anyone have a close up of legit carbon fiber epon ferrules for comparison?

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301 and 302 are Legend status in my book. So beautiful aesthetically and feel wise. But, pointed out above, fit a wide range of player abilities. I have built sets of 302s for genuine scratch golfers and up to 25 handicappers - all with positive results.

 

All that said, I only recently put together a set of AF-303s for the first time and was genuinely surprised by what I saw. They are genuinely a member of the 300 series family. Beautiful at address, less offset and shorter from heel to toe than I was expecting. Also come standard in satin chrome. Great looking clubs.

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I play the Endo forged OnOff Kuro 2015 version and they are fantastic. I just looked at the AF 303 and did an On-Line price check and I'm shocked

that the Epon Irons are around 2300-2500 bucks.

 

What's up with that sticker price?

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I still play them. I have a combo 302/P2 set with Modus 120 TX. I don't think there's a better iron than the 302. It's the best feeling iron I've ever hit and it's a perfect blend of versatility and forgiveness. Modus 120 performs a little better than the Super Peening Blues but if you want the ultimate shaft pairing in terms of feel for the 302, get the Nippon Super Peening shafts. KBS feels like wrought iron in comparison. They Perform well but I can't stand the feel of those things.

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I play the Endo forged OnOff Kuro 2015 version and they are fantastic. I just looked at the AF 303 and did an On-Line price check and I'm shocked

that the Epon Irons are around 2300-2500 bucks.

 

What's up with that sticker price?

 

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here, but my understanding based on an old WRX article, is that the price comes down to the following 2 items:

 

1) When 3rd party brands like On-Off want an iron head forged, they have a budget. In order to fit within that budget, compromises must be made, typically in terms of tolerances and finishing. With Epon, Endo said f#&K it, we're making these perfect regardless of price because we run the plant and can do whatever we want because we own the process." Now do these tighter tolerances and (potentially) additional finishing steps make an appreciable difference? Probably. Is it 3x - 4x better? Maybe, but probably not.

 

2) The Japanese tend to have a one passion per person policy. I say that semi-jokingly, but from car culture to food to denim to leather to video games, etc. - people go very deep on their one lifetime obsession. If that obsession is golf, and they believe Epon is the pinnacle of perfection in that passion, the yen get spent.

 

I paid ~$800 for my set in minty condition and am now looking for a set of Coppers (though at $3k, I don't know if I could bring myself to hit them)

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I paid ~$800 for my set in minty condition and am now looking for a set of Coppers (though at $3k, I don't know if I could bring myself to hit them)

 

Oh, you could and would hit them.... :pimp:

 

If I'd known they were going to discontinue the copper-chrome option i'd have got a set of 302's as a 'spare' set ;-)

 

 

Use 'em and enjoy them!

 

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