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Epon vs. Miura vs. other Japanese irons?


Norboo

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Epon vs. Miura vs. other Japanese irons?

 

I’m sure it’s all subjective, but what irons do you like better and why?

Driver: Ping G400 Max 10.5 Stock Alta (need shaft fitting)
Fairway Wood: Ryoma F5
Hybrid: TaylorMade M6 4H & 6H
Irons: OnOff Kuro 2015 6 - PW
Wedge: Cleveland RTX4 50, 54 and 58
Putter: S.C. GoLo 3
Ball: TaylorMade TP5X
Club hoe, builder, fitter and tester as hobbyist since 1993

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For me, the biggest differences come down to feel. JDM irons are for the most part softer than USDM irons because they use softer steel. Epon is the softest. Kyoei is next. I'd you want softness more than anything else, target those two. Quite a few companies use Kyoei blanks then apply their own grinds; for example, Vega and Crazy. Miura is soft, but its primary/initial sensation is dense/solid. Modart, which I've never used before, produces billet clubs. Modart heads aren't forged--they are sculpted by a CNC machine from a steel billet. I would expect Modart heads to have a unique and distinct feel.

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I agree with db2. Even though Kyoei is my favorite, the traditional Epon/Endo forgings were the softest. Their newer stuff seems to have lost direction. Miura makes some of the prettiest heads right now but I haven’t put a set into play so I can’t comment much other than enjoying a few shots on the range.

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For me, the biggest differences come down to feel. JDM irons are for the most part softer than USDM irons because they use softer steel. Epon is the softest. Kyoei is next. I'd you want softness more than anything else, target those two. Quite a few companies use Kyoei blanks then apply their own grinds; for example, Vega and Crazy. Miura is soft, but its primary/initial sensation is dense/solid. Modart, which I've never used before, produces billet clubs. Modart heads aren't forged--they are sculpted by a CNC machine from a steel billet. I would expect Modart heads to have a unique and distinct feel.

 

Yeah Seven Golf CNC mill their irons too though they do emphasize from a forged block of steel. I also like the Tour Pride M1 & M2 irons .

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I have a set of the Epon 302's. I play them irregularly against a set of Onoff 2015 Kuro's. Both very good iron sets, but I personally like and play the Onoffs much more than the Epons.

 

Onoffs are great sticks

ONOFF Labospec 358 — Tour AD TP6
Titleist TS2 16.5* — Kuro Kage XM 80
Justick Proceed 21* UT — Nippon GOST 
Mizuno MP-20 HMB/MB— MITSUBISHI MMT 105/125
Mizuno T20 50* and 55* — MITSUBISHI MMT 125
Seven ST 61* Black Boron — MCI Black 125 “mild”
Epon Ltd Edition I-33 — Matrix PZ-125 Shaft 
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I have a set of the Epon 302's. I play them irregularly against a set of Onoff 2015 Kuro's. Both very good iron sets, but I personally like and play the Onoffs much more than the Epons.

 

Onoffs are great sticks

 

I sold my back-up set and used the cash to buy a new set of Srixon Z765 irons. The OnOff 2015 Kuros are softer and more forgiving but both fantastic clubs. I really hope OnOff comes out

with a 2019 similar to the 2015 version because the 2017 Kuros did nothing for me.

Titleist TSi3  ,Ventus Blue 6S  Velocore

Ping G425 14.5  Fairway ,Tensei  AV Orange 75

Ping G425 17.5 Fairway  ,Tensei  CK Orange 75

Mizuno STZ- 230 22 Hybrid  ,LIN-Q Blue 

OnOff 2015 Kuro Irons ,Nippon Modus Tour 120

Mizuno T24 ,54,58 Wedges  ,Nippon Modus 115 Wedge

Scotty Cameron Champions Choice Newport  2+ 

Titleist Pro V1x

 

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OnOff all the way. Super soft and forgiving. Look great too. Just awesome irons. The best I've gamed.

 

Driver: still looking.....
4 Wood: Kamui Pro TP-XF 17.5° + Fujikura Speeder Evolution VI FW70x @ 42 1/2".

7 Wood: Kamui Pro TP-XF 22.5° + Fujikura Speeder Evolution VI FW80x @ 41 3/4".
Irons: Kamui Pro KP-102 5i-PW + KBS TGI 110 + 1/2".
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Forged 50°/55°/60° + KBS C-Taper
Putter: SeeMore SB1 + Accra FX300.

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Epon

[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Current bag:
Titleist TS3 Oban Kiyoshi Purple 65 [/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Titleist TS2 GD Tour AD-MT 7[/font][/size]
[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Titleist 818H1 19, 818H1 23 GD Tour AD-DI 85[/font][/size]
[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Epon AF-705 5-AW MRC OT-I 95
Vokey Wedgeworks SM7 Raw 54M, 58D[/font][/size]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Scotty Cameron 009[/size][/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Taylormade TP5x[/size][/font]

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Love my 705/503 combo. The 505 are tempting

 

What’s your setup?

[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Current bag:
Titleist TS3 Oban Kiyoshi Purple 65 [/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Titleist TS2 GD Tour AD-MT 7[/font][/size]
[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Titleist 818H1 19, 818H1 23 GD Tour AD-DI 85[/font][/size]
[size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Epon AF-705 5-AW MRC OT-I 95
Vokey Wedgeworks SM7 Raw 54M, 58D[/font][/size]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Scotty Cameron 009[/size][/font]
[font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Taylormade TP5x[/size][/font]

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Loved the feel (soft and smooth) & performance of Epon AF Tour CB but not the looks; too offset, too long heel/toe, sole a bit wide. Sold them

Love Miura Baby Blades, minimal offset, small head, classic. Feel is more dense, feels quick.

 

I wish Epon made a more modern player's shape. Titleist or Mizuno looks w Epon feel would be all mine!

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I've gone thru a decent amount of JDM - all the usual suspects plus a bunch of other not-so-well-known. I am playing a set of RomaRo Pro mbs. These are my favorite heads ever. Everything about them just works for me. Look at address, feel at impact, ball flight, bag appeal. I had never really heard of them, but a friend had a set and wasn't playing them. I don't know who forged them...Kyoei maybe. I think they are 4-5 years old design.

 

I haven't played any Epon blades, but I did play Miura baby blades. I prefer the RR. They are about the same sized head, think top lines, soles. The RR has a little more leading edge bevel which I like. But the head shape at address and especially feel are very different. RR are softer - still feel like a thump when you hit it, but whatever it is that makes my eyes roll up in my head when I hit one pure, these clubs are the best at it. That's just 100% subjective.

Titlest Tsi2, 10*, GD ADDI 5
Titleist TSi2 16.5 GD ADDI 5

Callaway X-hot pro 3, 4 h
TM P790 5-W, DG 105 R
Vokey SM7 48, 52, 56
Cameron Futura 5W


 
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