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Crazy rumor of the day: Justin Rose to Honma?


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Definitely happening. Irons in the bag November, rest to follow. I imagine it's a combination of TM concentrating on a small core of players and Rose doesn't move the needle sales wise for them. And an aggressive offer from Honma.

 

I've hit the new Honma range and was super impressed with the irons and driver. The biggest issue for a player like Rose is if they enforce the rule that players must use Honma graphite shafts in the woods. With his history of being a shaft tinkerer and having a lot of success with Matrix, I think he is a good fit for LA Shafts.

Driver: PING G430 MAX 10K 9 Mitsubishi Diamana WB 43X
Fairway Wood: Provisionally PXG 0311 Gen 6 at 15.75 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 19 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 22 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S

Irons: PXG 0311P Gen6 5-PW Aerotech Steelfiber i95S

Wedge: Ping S159 50 S, 54 H, 60 T
Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 7 CH 34 inches
Ball: Titleist AVX

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Definitely happening. Irons in the bag November, rest to follow. I imagine it's a combination of TM concentrating on a small core of players and Rose doesn't move the needle sales wise for them saleswise. And an aggressive offer from Honma.

 

I've hit the new Honma range and was super impressed with the irons and driver. The biggest issue for a player like Rose is if they enforce the rule that players must use Honma graphite shafts. With his history of being a shaft tinkered and having a lot of success with Matrix, I think he is a good fit for LA Shafts.

 

I have Japanese golf magazines that have Honma players with x100s and Modus shafts.

 

 

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^He's talking about Honma proprietary graphite shafts in their woods.

Yeah edited to make clearer. Typed that off the phone!

Driver: PING G430 MAX 10K 9 Mitsubishi Diamana WB 43X
Fairway Wood: Provisionally PXG 0311 Gen 6 at 15.75 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 19 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 22 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S

Irons: PXG 0311P Gen6 5-PW Aerotech Steelfiber i95S

Wedge: Ping S159 50 S, 54 H, 60 T
Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 7 CH 34 inches
Ball: Titleist AVX

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Oh ok.

 

I'm sure Honma can make a shaft to match his swing then just paint it retail Vizard graphics.

 

I don't disagree with you. However Rose has always tested lots of shafts looking for an edge. I think that is a hard habit to break.

Driver: PING G430 MAX 10K 9 Mitsubishi Diamana WB 43X
Fairway Wood: Provisionally PXG 0311 Gen 6 at 15.75 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 19 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 22 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S

Irons: PXG 0311P Gen6 5-PW Aerotech Steelfiber i95S

Wedge: Ping S159 50 S, 54 H, 60 T
Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 7 CH 34 inches
Ball: Titleist AVX

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A source of mine in TM told me that Rose isn't the only Englishman joining Honma.. an equipment free agent from last year will be joining him.

 

Tommy Fleetwood??

 

Wasn’t told who but was told they’re both done deals

 

Would imagine Nike free agents are worth a bit less having to wear Nike hats

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His new irons?

 

There are certainly enough models to choose from http://www.honmagolf.co.jp/en/item/club/iron.html

Titleist TS3 w/ Even Flow White
M1 w/ Diamana Thump
M4 Tour w/ Kuro Kage TiNi
GAPR w/ KBS Tour Proto
Srixon Z-765 w/ PX LZ
Vokey 46° 
Hi-Toe 52° & 58°
Bobby Grace Tour Diamond 3

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Honma could always get the shaft Rose wants and paint it to their Vizard graphics. Easy.

 

I thought this sort of thing was passé on tour...like when Tmag used to do it for their rocketballz line.

Titleist TS3 w/ Even Flow White
M1 w/ Diamana Thump
M4 Tour w/ Kuro Kage TiNi
GAPR w/ KBS Tour Proto
Srixon Z-765 w/ PX LZ
Vokey 46° 
Hi-Toe 52° & 58°
Bobby Grace Tour Diamond 3

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Honma could always get the shaft Rose wants and paint it to their Vizard graphics. Easy.

 

I thought this sort of thing was passé on tour...like when Tmag used to do it for their rocketballz line.

 

Slightly different, other manufacturers aren't going to supply blank shafts like they might to TaylorMade as an example, because there is no chance of Honma working with them. And you can't just paint on top of existing graphics.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Honma can build him great shafts, but I still think he likes having the choice. It'll come down to how quickly they can reverse engineer other shafts I suppose. Maybe they will let this slide to sign him. Who knows.

Driver: PING G430 MAX 10K 9 Mitsubishi Diamana WB 43X
Fairway Wood: Provisionally PXG 0311 Gen 6 at 15.75 Fujikura Ventus Blue 7S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 19 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 22 Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 8S

Irons: PXG 0311P Gen6 5-PW Aerotech Steelfiber i95S

Wedge: Ping S159 50 S, 54 H, 60 T
Putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 7 CH 34 inches
Ball: Titleist AVX

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Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

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Taylormade's cost of adding Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy have to be offset by somebody. Tiger Woods winning any random tournament will move the needle significantly more than Justin Rose winning even two majors in a season.

 

Rose's position in the rankings can command a serious payday from any manufacturer that's willing to foot the bill for brand recognition. In this case, Honma is taking on the task.

 

At the end of the day, professional golfers of any level are contract employees where the only job security is the money that's already in the bank. A big goal is to win tournaments, sure, but it's also to have the most money you can by the end of it all.

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Taylormade's cost of adding Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy have to be offset by somebody. Tiger Woods winning any random tournament will move the needle significantly more than Justin Rose winning even two majors in a season.

 

Rose's position in the rankings can command a serious payday from any manufacturer that's willing to foot the bill for brand recognition. In this case, Honma is taking on the task.

 

At the end of the day, professional golfers of any level are contract employees where the only job security is the money that's already in the bank. A big goal is to win tournaments, sure, but it's also to have the most money you can by the end of it all.

 

I also heard that because of the way Tiger's incentive laden contract is structured with TaylorMade, and his performance this year, it left less endorsement money to go around. Once TW played in a certain amount of tournaments, returned to form and won a tournament someone from the core TM team was going to leave. I wasn't sure who the odd person out would be, but I guess it is Rose. Unfortunate since I liked the Rose/TM partnership. But they've been together for 20 years, so I guess it's run its course. Rose has never been better and you gotta get those extra endorsement dollars while you can! #StrikeWhileTheIronIsHot

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im joining in on this thread 4 pages deep now, but i did see on twitter about a month 1/2 ago from jonathan wall (writer for PGA Tour and equipment guy)...at least i think it was him, but that taylormade was losing a big name player at the start of next year.

 

thinking who had been with taylormade the longest i was thinking rose or dj; i initially thought dj with all his constant putter changes. after hearing some of this other stuff, i could see rose leaving

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Makes perfect sense.

 

1. Ascend to #1 in the world

 

2. Change out entire bag

 

3. Descend from #1

 

So what excuse do the players that have ascended to world number 1, left all of their clubs the same, the descended from number 1 have? Another daily typical WRX over reaction to something that might happen. This place never disappoints.

 

Relax my man. It was mostly in jest.

Clubs regardless of manufacturer have to be swung, they dont swing themselves. You can give thos guys a bag full of shovels and they will eventually figure it out.

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Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

 

lol. Some of the comments by the uninformed are funny. Honma is grade A+ quality. He’s taking a step up in quality of they get him into a good fit. Especially in irons.

Callaway epic max LS 9* GD-M9003 7x 

TM Sim2 max tour  16* GD  ADHD 8x 

srixon zx 19* elements 9F5T 

Cobra king SZ 25.5* KBS TD cat 5 70 

TM p7mc 5-pw Mmt125tx 

Mizuno T22 raw 52-56-60 s400

LAB Mezz Max armlock 

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Wow, I think I'm fairly tuned into the golf world, and this is the first time I've ever heard of Honma Golf.

 

Oh boy.....

 

Come my little Newbie, and take Uncle WRX's hand and let him lead you down the rabbit hole to the world of unknown, exotic, and obscure equipment.

 

Soon you will discover all sorts of wonderful brands and boutique makers that you never knew about but suddenly have a need to explore and own.

 

Be careful along the way, as your quest for the best and most interesting equipment will surely lead to your wallet becoming mysteriously lighter and your basement becoming full of "perfect" clubs that didn't quite work out as expected.

 

It's an adventure....prepare yourself for the ride.

 

Honma is not exactly "unknown, exotic, and obscure".

 

lol. Some of the comments by the uninformed are funny. Honma is grade A+ quality. Hes taking a step up in quality of they get him into a good fit. Especially in irons.

 

I had a look at their website. The blades look stunning. I’m sure I’ve seen many of the GI models on pro shop shelves under different brands though ?

 

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We all hear how great Japanese golf clubs are, Muira, Honma, Epon, Yururi etc yet their presence on tour and their usage is minimal. It will be interesting to see if his change away from the established big 3 has an influence on other players.

 

Personally I don't think there is a bad set of irons these days they are all very good

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Just watching the WGC from Shanghai - Justin Rose just hit the top of the leaderboard (recorded so not sure how day three ends). It strikes me that TM would be completely crazy to dump him. They have just gone through his stats - he’s one of the greatest on the planet and frankly puts Rory in a box. He’s just won the Fedex. Maybe something about what Rory might yet do ? Strange old world.

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Just watching the WGC from Shanghai - Justin Rose just hit the top of the leaderboard (recorded so not sure how day three ends). It strikes me that TM would be completely crazy to dump him. They have just gone through his stats - he’s one of the greatest on the planet and frankly puts Rory in a box. He’s just won the Fedex. Maybe something about what Rory might yet do ? Strange old world.

 

Rose is a great golfer who doesn’t sell many clubs for Taylor Made

Ping G410 LST 10* (DI-6X)
Ping G410 3W 15.5* (DI-7X)
Ping i20 3-PW (DI-95X, PX 6.0)
Ping Glide 2.0 50*SS, 56*SS, 60*ES (PX 6.0)
Ping Vault Arna

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