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MEMBER REVIEWS: Honma TR20 Driver Testing! See What Members Are Saying Inside!


knudson81

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[img]https://s3.amazonaws.com/golfwrxforums/uploads/Q5BNXNQE330M/honmatesting.jpg[/img]We have members testing the new Honma TR20 drivers and reporting back to you their findings. Please feel free to ask them any questions you might have about the Honma TR20 drivers. The testers are...
@Rapatt95 @mikewohlwend @bellken @benthegolfer @Mr. Grumpy

We also want to give a big THANK YOU to Honma Golf for putting on this testing event!

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I am about to leave on a short golf trip, so, there will be more to follow, but, I have some initial pictures.

This is what I came home to:

20200707-160648.jpgBut, happily, the contents were intact - nothing broken.

20200707-160946.jpgA closer view of the 2 shafts - The stock TR20 (black) and, the FD-55 shaft (red), both 50 gram shafts in regular.

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20200707-161237.jpgnote: the above picture, the driver is set closed.

20200707-161349.jpgA very nice head cover with fur inside.

The include tool below:

20200707-161519.jpg

20200707-161607.jpgI didn't get a good picture of the hosel adjustment, and, will add more pictures later.

 

As to how does it perform?, that is TBD. My only other odd ball thought, is that this is one shiny driver. Of course, my current driver is a Ping G400 Max, which has a matte black finish.

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So the TR20 arrived yesterday and I did what any good wrx’er would do and took it straight to the course.

 

First off, thank you so much Honma and GolfWRX. Things like this are icing on an already great cake.

 

It is up against some absolutely stiff competition (g400lst), and is going to have to perform very well to take over.

 

I’ll start with some photos of it I excitedly took after getting home from work. I was lucky my box was in perfect shape when it got here. They are very sturdy boxes, so for the above’s to have shown up like that.. that thing was manhandled!

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I didn’t take many photos right off the bat as I took it straight to the course. No range or anything, first swing with the driver was on the first tee. I hit it low on the face and so the tree I usually go over.. I went into instead. It made it through though and I forged on for par.

 

As the round went on, the driver just got better. It feels very similar to the SIM. It has a very dense thwack to it, which I personally really like. The downside to this feel is that it doesn’t feel very hot, but when I would look up, it was taking off like a rocket.

 

The FP-6x feels very stable and the ball just wants to go relatively straight. There were a few holes that required a shape off the tee, but I ended up hitting a straight bullet through the dogleg. The only issue I’ve had with the g400lst is the low strikes get spinny and I’ll hit some moon ball spinny cuts that go no where. When I’m swinging it we’ll though, the thing is a monster.

 

The TR20 with the FP-6x gave me such a great ball flight, it would launch mid-high and I could tell the spin was in a good window. It wouldn’t rise at all, but didn’t knuckle either, just a high, flat ball. I have the strokes gained and distance data from my last 2 nine hole rounds:

g400lst:

56704e86-4862-4c2c-b737-63cdaf88f906.png

18ce4ac5-da4f-4b17-9abd-8e882d326206.png

72bb0545-1dcc-4d0a-aabe-8363fc9c5f11.pngYes, I need to work on my putting. Also, the average distance of 294 is the correct one, not sure why the other says 311.

 

TR20:

ec4844d0-308f-4615-b97c-a397006771da.png

a2c2588d-4d6f-4e7a-8b21-596276193372.png

c1537e2c-0c4d-4591-9d1f-1c9fdabdd47d.pngTaking the 215 drive out (the one that went through a tree), the average drive for the TR20 was 294, identical to the Ping.

 

All in all, the TR20 is fantastic from first impressions and I would say it at least is in the same conversation as the g400 line. I’ll continue using both and recording the numbers. I’m going to try to get on my local range’s LM today and get some data to bring back here.

 

edit 1: Completely forgot to mention the looks! I never thought I’d play a gloss driver again, but here we are. The gloss black, unpainted face, and rather pear-style shape from the top reminds me so much of my 909d3, which I loved. This is a very classic looking driver. Depending on how I feel about the gloss long term I may send it to Continental for a matte black crown, but for now, the gloss is fine, and very sharp.

 

Edit 2: I got out for another 9 holes, and once again, the TR20 performed very well. I’d put it on par with my g400lst but probably a little more forgiving, especially on toe strikes. It will probably be in the bag for a while, and it’s certainly worth a look if you’re in the market. There’s not really much about it to not like.

 

I also forgot we were supposed to be two shafts and forgot to mention it on the call, but I’m pretty happy with the FP6x so it’s not a huge deal.

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Thanks Knudson/Golf WRX and Honma for putting this together!

Am I finally gonna get my driver woes straightened out? It’s an interestingly frustratingly row to hoe. I’m 55 and I have put in my time, and now at this later stage,, BOOM Honma!

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First of all, Preston at Honma was really cool to talk shop with. It’s not easy to fit someone on the phone, but he is knowledgeable about the game and his product. He is also really personable and made the process an easy one to dial in on. We discussed my current driver, it’s characteristics, and what I want out of a driver. And though I requested the 440 head, he suggested I try the 460 because of my desired ball flight and spin numbers. 

20200708-160437.jpg

I currently game a Mizuno ST190G with a Tensei CK Blue 60s, with the sliding weights moved all the way forward to fight spin. The new Honma TR20 460 has the 9gram weight in the front and the lighter 3gram (2) in the back, and is shafted with the Vizard FP 6s. The driver on the left is the Mizuno.

20200708-160642.jpgThe Honma looks larger at address, more classically bulbous. Also not as sexy. With all the carbon used in the construction it is just a gloss black top, a really deep gloss black top. The silver face really stands out, not in a bad way, but certainly in an old school way. I dig it, but there is some aesthetic room here. The bottom of the driver is "dead sexy". Carbon weave on full display and the gold accents give it a warm pop.

20200707-185019.jpg

I know that there were supposed to be 2 shafts in the deal, but honestly when I was talking with Preston I didn't even think to ask about another, or why really. I felt confident that he was confident. However, the FP 6s was supposed to be an FD 6s, and a quick note to Preston has resolved the mix up and the correct shaft is on the way. Class act, and I would say awesome customer service but it feels better than that. The FP is a good looking shaft though.

20200708-160341.jpg

And at 55 my memory can be fuzzy, so I did a quick search to find the differences between the FP and FD series. Well, this is my only rub with Honma. There really is not that much info listed. Certainly not as much as I could find on other shaft websites. Confusing things more is that there is now a TR series shaft listed for this driver. So, it would take a fitting, or a customer service call, or just much deeper digging to get more info. All that said, I will be testing the FP and soon the FD series of shafts on the TR20 460.

The next image is the face/shape of both the Mizuno and the Honma. While bulbous, the shape is more shallow.

20200708-160725.jpgOverall, the build is solid and I did put into play today. It felt that good on the range. It's a smooth operator. More on my round later.

 

 

 

 

 

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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One thing I noticed on the range is that my tee marks on the driver face are more in the center and through the bottom more square than with my Mizuno driver. These are pics from the range, dialing in tee height - being more shallow I am coming in a tad low.

20200708-160835.jpg

20200709-090945.jpgMy miss right now is typically to the left when I am all arms with little to no body rotation through the swing, usually when I am tired. This happened later during my round and I did hit a few to the left. I missed very little to the right. You can see one ball mark on the upper right, which may be due to A. my poor ability or B. because my set up with the Mizuno was with the ball more to the toe. I found that with the Honma I needed to set up with the ball in the middle of the face.

I played a round at Vanderbilt Legends yesterday, North Course – hot and very humid. My plan was to also play a second tee shot with my current gamer, but it was hot, and honestly the Honma felt really good so I did not pull out my Mizuno. I hit 49% of the fairways and my longest drive was 267, with another at 262, these were hammered and probably all I will ever be able to muster. My ball flight was mid to high, certainly more penetrating than my Mizuno which flies a little lower with more roll out. But here is the thing, I am getting more distance from the Honma. Those longest of the round were 10 yards more than my long average with the Mizuno. Now, at 55,, I'll take that for sure. But what I really want is more consistency and after the round this stat is improving.

The TR20 460 head feels more responsive than explosive. The feel is kinda like how blade users describe knowing where on the face they hit the ball. Where the Mizuno can feel more muted/dead, the TR20 gives you more feedback - not just by sound, but also with the feel in the hands. The FP6s shaft is a really good feeling shaft through the entire swing. I like to feel connected butt to tip and this shaft give this without feeling boardy. I know they market an always aligned spline, all hand made in Japan using Toray carbon fiber, so there is a lot going on in this shaft which puts them right up beside every other other hand made high end shaft. All that said, it feels worlds better than the Fujikura Pro 60s and a lot better than the Tensei CK Blue 60s. The last one is hard to quantify. The FP has more sense(?) through the swing, definitely through impact. I just have a better awareness of the driver head in space. This allows me to step on it with confidence and also to ease up a bit when I am tired. Late in the round on 17, overly hot and tired, I pulled one way left when tried to go after it (who chooses 17 on the north course for a longest drive contest?). On 18 I said ok, lighten up a bit, 75-80% maybe, and the ball was 243 middle left in the fairway. So this FP 6s shaft is already presenting me with options I did not feel I had with my last 2 shafts.

 

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Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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A little about me, 59 and slowing down - trackman verified. My current handicap is 21.5, and, my driver swing is low 80's. For a slow swinger, I was hitting it high with a lot of spin (I was a flipper). To bring my driver ball flight down, I had been getting fit into stiff shafts, as, I spun the ball, too much. My current driver is a Ping G400 Max 9 degree with a Fujikura Pro 2.0 5-s shaft (45" playing length). I had been working to get rid of the flip, and, for the last 2 months, my ball flight has come down. A big Thank You to Preston for the online fitting, he initially suggested the 50 gram regular FP, because, I use to fight a hook. But, when, I told him my ball flight had been coming down, and, my current miss is high right, he switched the suggestion to the FD version - a little more torque, which, could help square the face, and, a softer tip to increase launch. The TR20, I am testing is a 9.5 degree head, and, I receive 2 gram shafts - TR20-50 regular, and, FD-5R (45.25" playing length).

 

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My initial impression of performance.

I actually did try the driver Tuesday, but, it was a bit rushed as I was preparing to go on a little golf trip - Gamble Sands. I was a bit rushed, and, quite aghast on my results with the TR20., so, I bought my trusty G400 Max. I did reach the par 5 18th hole in 2 from the intermediate tee - 442, with a 21 degree hybrid second shot, so, my effort to improve my club head speed is paying off.

Fast forward to today, I was able give the TR20 a more reasonable test. Honma Golf is very well known (in Asia) for their Vizard shafts, which, they design and make themselves. I think I saw that the FP are low launch, TR20 mid launch, and, the FD high launch, and, shaft weights from 50 - 70 grams are available. The Vizard shafts(I received) are lighter, and softer that my Fujikura shaft. Once, I adjusted, the results with the FD shaft was better, with a bit of a draw, and, maybe a little more distance than my Ping. The TR20 shaft had a lower ball flight, and seemed shorter. It, also, seems quite soft, when I waggle it.

Tomorrow will be a better test, as, the TR20 will be put into play with the FD-5r.

The above pictures are with the TR20 shaft (black).

A close up of the adjustable hosel, and, FD-5 shaft(red). NOTE: all Vizard shafts are spined flo'd, and, you have to use the included tool adapter to change the notch position. It rotates, but, the shaft does not. A bit of caution needs to be exercised, as, the screw and adapter piece can fall out.

20200710-085826.jpg

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I gave the TR20 a go today, and, the results were a mixed bag, bad swings yielded bad results, and, good swings yielded good results. I don't think I have enough experience with TR20 yet, to make a proper review, yet.

It is a beautiful golf club, and, it is a fun club to hit. There is some learning required on my part to get better and more consistent results.

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Great start guys i can’t wait to fallow along.

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Good Morning Guys — a little late to the game as I have been out of town for a few days but here are some initial pics from the unboxing. I enjoyed getting to talk with Preston from Honma on the phone to get dialed and I have one more shaft that I just received that I’ve not yet hit.

First impression is that the driver looks awesome— it is very clean at address and I love the shape. It looks like it is big enough that you can’t miss but still has very clean lines and looks like a players driver if that makes any sense. The bottom of the driver looks clean but full of tech and would imagine it will have tons of shelf appeal.

After some discussion with Preston, I have ended up with two shafts— an FD-6X that he described as a mid/mid profile and then a TR-70 Stiff that he described as a low spinning profile. He was very kind to build these up at my preferred length of 45” with a Multicompound and even sent me a weight kit to tinker with different weights if necessary to get dialed.

I was able to get a couple swings in before heading out of town but need to go plug second shaft in so I can give you guys the best review possible! Stay tuned for more.

 

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Callaway Apex UW 19 Project X HZRDUS RDX 80 6.5

Srixon ZX7 4-PW Project X LS 6.5

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20200712-102015.jpg

20200713-102941.jpgJust a little info. The face angle, loft, and, lie adjustments, and, a close up of the shaft adapter. The rounded nubs allow the shaft to the adjustments to be made without rotating the shaft.

Note: today, I experimented with the face angle adjustments, and, I prefer the FL position. For some reason, I sliced it more with the FL/CL position, and, hooked it with the FL/OP position. Toward the end of my range session, I moved the heavier weight to the front position, which seemed to knock off some spin.

 

edit: I am not sure why, but, the weight in front seems to make it easier to square the clubface.

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UGH!.. Aeration closed all practice areas so I stared cold.... And stayed cold. I hit one fairway - the 18th. I could not get comfortable with my swing and toed everything weak and left HOOK. I tried to adjust but, nope. It was a lost day and demoralized my supposed game. Heck, I parred a hole and never touched the fairway! My putter deserved to be at the bottom of one of the ponds, and the only saving grace was my 6i... I shot a 95 on the North Course - Vanderbilt Legends. Bright note? This is only my second score in the 90s since November. I'll take that...

I am buying a new or used non blade putter tomorrow and will change shafts, FP for the FD just because. Next round is same course on Wednesday.

One of those days....

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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How has the feel been on the drivers??

I picked up a Honma 5 wood last year and it felt better than anything I've ever hit. Didn't fall in line where I needed it too, but the feel was WOW......

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Loving the feel so far. It’s a very solid feel that mimics a solid headed driver and reminds me of the SIM.

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Taylormade V-Steel 15* Aldila Tour Blue 75TX

Titleist 913 19* Diamana 82hy S
Srixon ZX4 MKII 4i Modus 105s

Srixon ZX5 MKII 5-P Modus 105s

TM MG 50/54 Project X 6.5 8i 

TM Tiger Grind 60* TI s400

TM Rossa Tourismo agsi+

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If you’re getting distance and forgiveness from the TW747 then obviously “upgrading” would be silly. I will say they the TR20 is exceptionally forgiving on toe strikes, though. I’ve hit some drives that based on feel, I was expecting to be very very bad, but it kept them straight and still managed a good yardage. I’ve been very impressed.

 

As for pure distance, it’s been on par with my g400lst

Callaway Mavrik SubZero 9* Fujikura Motore Speeder VC7.2 Tour Spec X

Taylormade V-Steel 15* Aldila Tour Blue 75TX

Titleist 913 19* Diamana 82hy S
Srixon ZX4 MKII 4i Modus 105s

Srixon ZX5 MKII 5-P Modus 105s

TM MG 50/54 Project X 6.5 8i 

TM Tiger Grind 60* TI s400

TM Rossa Tourismo agsi+

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Forgiveness is a mixed bag. So far I would say it is less forgiving, but I would rather blame my swing. It is certainly proving to be better than I am. If that is a forgiveness thing then so be it. I will say that when I do strike the ball well it outdrives the few I play with, similar age but a much better player than me right now.

It's not the driver, but I have developed an over the top swing. Not sure why, but it has only reared its ugly head 2 rounds ago. I played marginally better today, 5 fairways but I was off the whole round. It's frustrating but it is what it is..

FP v. FD? I think the FD may be a tad more stable. I am getting less spin, ball flight is a tad lower, but again, my swing is crap right now.

The sound of the driver is nice. One of my mates has a SIM and it sounds slightly more tiny, but barely so. He is a better player and probably hits every fairway. He is consistently 250 so I know when I have done well. I only out drove him twice, but again, my swing..

After the first outing, I know what this club is capable of and it is better than me right now.

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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Before I received my TR20, I did read some reviews, and, a couple of items caught my attention: golf magazine "TR20 drivers, which are designed for Tour-level players and those in the zero-to-12 handicap range." And, from golfdigest "the TR20 is the most complex of modern drivers that’s built to appeal to better-player muscle". The golfdigest statement is kind of odd, but, the gist of it, is that the TR20 is designed for better ball strikers. Honma Golf does have a game improvement driver - XP-1. Honestly, I think my Ping G400 Max is more forgiving than the TR20 (and, most other drivers imo). The question becomes is the TR20 forgiving enough for my game? With the 8 hosel settings and 3 weights, the TR20 can be fine tuned to address a common miss, but, like Mr. Grumpy, the club is better than me right now.

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Range session today and I am enjoying this driver despite my swing, but work is work. Today I stepped back and could have used any driver but I worked on drills to help eliminate my current over the top swing. Slow and steady (definitely sweaty) ruled the day.. And I loved every moment with the TR20, especially the shafts, with both the open and closed settings. I did not loose any more to the right with either setting, but I did feel like the the closed setting at address, which is prominent, effected my eye/swing. My swing flaws did shine when in the closed setting. Mental I tell you!

I did not move the weights around. I left them set with heavy in front.

I will say that the shafts feel great! Hard to say which I like better. I did see more distance with the FD, I think. The FD flew a little lower, but both felt really, really good. I have not picked a fave yet and keep both in the bag for equal opportunity...

Compared to my Mizuno ST190G. The sound at impact is more muted with the Honma, and I know feel is subjective, but I think the Honma combo feels more stable and lively than the Mizuno/Tensei Blue. Now, the Mizuno was a sleeper 2 years ago and is one heck of a driver. Had I not had this chance to play the Honma, I would have been more than happy to stay Mizuno for a couple more years or until I got bored. My ball flight with the Honma is slightly higher, and when struck well with both, I get more carry with the Honma. Hard to see roll out, so....

Other than spin, I really have no use for numbers off of a trackman. At 55 I just want to work on keeping it in the fairway at a distance that keeps me with those I play with. However I know they may be important to you, so I pledge to try to snake my way into a bay at GG under the guise of having a club re-gripped.

Not Apples to Apples, but..

Last 3 rounds with the Mizuno - Home course, Blue tees, Greystone, 85, 86, 84. FIR - 54% ave. (wider fairways)

Last 3 rounds with the Honma - Blue tees, Legends North Course, 85, 95, 88. FIR - 41% ave.

When I miss a fairway, most are not far off but I sometimes play from an adjoining fairway. This is much harder to do at Legends vs Greystone so I tend to to take more risks there.

I need to get out to Greystone with the Honma soon. I just keep getting invited to Legends and it's a 5 min drive for me (Greystone is a 48 min. drive).

Today was an important step for my game, the second time I have practiced and not played since November of last year. I need to do this more often.

More to come.

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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I am honestly not sure what to think about the TR20 right now, but, with the heavy weight (9 gm) in front, my drives have gotten better. The TR20 should be more forgiving with the heavier weight in back, but, with the weight in back, I would get some high short slices. With the heavier weight in front, my ball flight has really straightened out, at for one round. NOTE: for my driver setup, the heavy weight is 9 gr. and, the other weights are 3 gr. , so, the weight distribution changed minimally, but, it is amazing the effect it has had for me.

 

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I have gotten to hit this driver more now and I really love the sound / feel. I moved the weight forward in the head and have gotten much better results than I had when it was back— I was getting a weak high right shot as a miss with weight back and now the ball flight is more penetrating. My initial reaction is that the driver is prone to slightly higher spin numbers versus competitors. With the correct shaft or guys with more of a neutral / upward attack angle it is probably going to be a very good option. I have not yet found the appropriate combo of head / shaft to beat my gamer but still love the look of it. Going to try to get on trackman one evening this week and get some figures there to share.

 

Titleist TSR4 Graphite Design Tour AD GP-6X

Titleist TSi3 15 Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 75X   

Callaway Apex UW 19 Project X HZRDUS RDX 80 6.5

Srixon ZX7 4-PW Project X LS 6.5

Titleist Vokey SM9 50.12F True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

Titleist Vokey SM9 54.12D True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

Titleist Vokey SM9 60.04T True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport+

 

 

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Update- full practice and 18 at Legends, range and 18 at Greystone + overall thoughts

I have now tried almost all settings, and have gone toe to toe with my Mizuno. And while I am still searching for the best combination, I am almost done.. OMG! am I almost, kinda, sorta, done... After a day of searching, I nailed a drive on my last hole with the Honma, and it was pure, and it felt repeatable.

Numbers for my last 10 rounds:

Mizuno 59% FIR vs Honma 42% FIR. (I do not hit driver on every driver hole, and I am also not uber confident with my 3wood). I have never missed more to the left than with the Honma. My usual miss is a mid fairway to fade with the Mizuno. Not so with the Honma, 90% mid fairway to way left. It's like an opposite to the Mizuno. Except for my final plea by changing the head to open. Only then did I see a mid flight baby fade to middle of the fairway on the last hole of the day. So, moving forward I will leave the setting to open...

Mizuno average distance 238 vs Honma average distance 231 (these are for fairway hits).Longest for Mizuno 253 vs Honma 267. It's really not a good trade with my current swing..

Forgiveness: Mizuno. The Honma loses more distance on miss hits. Unless you are center/center upper toe, the Honma looses more distance than the Mizuno on low and high strikes. Heel and toe strikes also produced more right and left movement.

Subjective notes:

Feel, Honma when pure'd, Mizuno everywhere else.

Confidence, Mizuno

My drives are now less than a similar HC, and this uncertainty has crept into other areas of my game. This causes me to tinker, and I have played almost constantly since which means I tinker during my rounds, not ideal. Extended practice sessions works on the range, but has not yet translated to the course. Granted, without COVID I would have already had much more practice and rounds under my belt. But, I entered March at a 10.2 and exit July at a 14.3 HC. UGH...

Shafts? The FD flies higher than the FP for me. I prefer the FP for sure. I am seeing a more penetrating flight vs. the FD. And while I am not comfortable with my swing, the FP just produced a better shot overall.

I do wish I had the 70 gram version to play with. Maybe it would slow me down a bit and help with almost everything going left. However, I am excited to play more with the head set to open.

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Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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That's funny. I gamed the st190 and 200 before the Honma.

I thought the st200 was great, very nice sound and look, but the Honma blew it away.

I play around scratch, SS around 108. Honma is the hottest head I tried. Epic flash sub zero was a close second on ballspeed, but I hated the sound on the cally and missed both ways.

The Honma for me was as straight as the Mizzy, but 10 yards longer, and if possible, even better feel.

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I totally get what your are saying. I am nowhere near your level so my results will vary because I do not always put a great swing on the ball. You are correct, when I nail one it is smooth and longer than the Mizuno. I pay a price if I don't. My hope is that the Honma becomes more automatic as I get more time with it.

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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Hit the range this evening to work on my swing and test settings again.

I will say that testing this driver while working on my swing is really exciting.

I am only 55, but my range of motion is not what it used to be. I also have a degenerative disc issue in my lower back so no wonder I do not like to rotate through the ball every time. I can be all arms when I protect that area. I am feeling the work that I did today as I sit here,, that's for sure.

However, I managed to find some better results, and I confirmed some on course assumptions about the Honma TR20...

First I worked and settled into quite a few great drives. A couple were higher than I wanted, but they traveled well. And some were a beautiful penetrating flight. The sound is quieter than my ST190, but not overly muted.

Strikes below center lost about 15-20 yards. I am guessing, but I bet I am close. Strikes above center lost less distance, but both traveled pretty much toward the target.

Strikes off the heel and the toe saw more deviation left and right vs the ST190.

However, the ST190 could not match the distance and I was 10-20 yards longer with the Honma. Rangefinder put me at about 260 + or -, slightly down hill, a little headwind today, which again are my longest drives ever.

In the hands, the Honma feels light but balanced. I can sense where the head is throughout my swing which makes it easier to figure out how to deliver it through impact, or notice when I do not. This is where the shaft shines and I have settled on the FP 6s. It's just a stable, friendly shaft. Different than the Tensei Blue, which had been my favorite until now. I will grab my scale from work tomorrow. I like to see if there is a difference between the weights of the 2 combos.

Now, an all out swing for me is much less than many here. Because of my back issues I have tried all kinds of things to increase swing speed. On the monitor, my speed can deviate about 8 or 9 mph swing to swing. My goal has been to reduce that deviation. I also do not like to lose feel of where the head is in my swing, or I do not like the head feel disconnected from my hands. I know I am nuts, and I am a hack, but my brain freaks when that sensation is lost. The FP allows me to really produce any swing and still be able to retain that feeling, which is not something I can say for other shafts I have tested - not many, but still. When I am off I know it, when I am on I know it. The FP works for me. For whatever reason, the FD does not quite provide this.

And another bonus today is that this is the first time I have translated results and feeling into finding a specific drill to help, with feeling throughout the drill.. So, I learned a lot today and will continue to practice and ingrain that. This never happened with my Cobra or Mizuno.

My best combination of settings - Head- open, heavier weight up front, FP 6s shaft. I am done (for now) and will work on drills and hopefully translate the good to the course. First goal is to out perform the Mizuno and hit 60% fairways. I am not too worried about distance, I am already seeing a gain, but my second goal is to up % on the course, not just on the range.

 

I truly believe that the Honma is better than I am, but it is there and willing to help me get better.

 

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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The TR20 has really improved my drives. I am hitting more fairways than ever. It might be the shaft/head combo, or, it might be that the silver face and glossy black head really for me. But, I seem to have an easier time finding the center of the clubface. I am really enjoying the TR20. I think with the choice in shafts, adjustable hosel, and, 3 weight positions, it is possible to achieve an optimal setup for almost anyone.

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After a couple of weeks out of town for work, I am finally able to add my review.

 

I was very happy to be selected to test this driver. I tested it myself as well as a few of my buddies. We range from a 5-25 handicap.

 

My current driver is a F9 10.5* with a UST VTS Tour SPX Black 6 tipped 3/4".

 

Here are some pics compared to my Cobra F9. I didn't even think to take any of the way it was packaged from Honma.

img-20200719-131933.jpg

img-20200719-131908.jpg

img-20200719-131921.jpgPerformance:

Everyone that hit the driver like the performance. Distance was within plus or minus 10 yards orlf their current driver. The drivers it was tested against were a M1, F9, Big Bertha Sub Zero, Epic, Epic Flash and a Mavrik. Shaft wasn't the best fit for some of the guys, but wasn't to far off. Swing speeds are in the 105-120 range. And some can be faster, just not as consistent.

 

Looks:

This is where there were some complaints. I don't mind the gloss top and silver face. But most of the other guys weren't a fan at all. The related it to a lower end driver in looks.

 

Sound:

We were all a fan of the sound. I prefer it over my F9. To me it has a similar sound to a SIM, which is my favorite sounding driver.

 

Feel:

We all agreed the it felt very heavy compared to what we play. I weighed it compared to my F9. Swing weight was about a point heavy and over all weight was 15 grams heavy. I never did a balance point test to see where it was.

 

Price:

Is a little on the high side. But when you factor in the upcharge on certain shafts from the other companies, it's not to far off.

 

Overall:

I would give this driver a shot if you are in the market for something. The looks and feel may not be for everyone. But the performance is there for sure.

 

Preston was also very informative and a great guy to talk with. He asked everything possible to make sure the club was the best setup for me. I completely forgot about the fact it was supposed to come with 2 shafts.

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UGE! day tomorrow... Trying to get in 36. Not gonna lie, I am on the fence... Kick in the pants distance of the Honma vs the ex girlfriend that smells good... My hope is to play 2 drives each hole, but ya never know...

There is an aspect of the Honma that just keeps begging for more. When you PURE it, the feeling is sublime. Miss hits aren't that bad, and to be honest it is a driver that continually tries to coax more out of you.

What is the drawback then?

Well, it's probably because it's $100 more than the other top shelf drivers. Plus you can't find it in every shop, and it does not carry the same brand recognition here in the states. However it packs a lot of tech within the head, and because Vizard hand builds each shaft, it may actually end up being about 100 cheaper if you went big name and shaft upgrade. Yes, deals can be had and if you are paying 600 ish you will be looking for deals. However, the Honma TR20 is certainly worth serious consideration, especially if you put a good swing on the ball and crave a little more distance.

 

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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Not a full 2 rounds, but,, Greystone GC, White tees..

9 hole 42, 66% fairway - Mizuno, longest drive 242

18 hole 81, 71% fairway - Honma, longest drive 254

I am getting on better with the Honma and while not automatic, I struggled way less today. I also played better over all so stepping up on the tee box was less stressful. And weird enough the Mizuno started to feel more foreign.

Against my better judgement, I passed my driver off to a playing partner that is as OCD as I am during COVID. He plays a Big Bertha and his first response was "that sounded cool". He is a very consistent driver - not the longest - his ball flight is almost always headed left then cuts back into the fairway, and this continued when he used the Honma, gaining up to about 5 yards, but not really that notable. However, he did like how it felt and I think he would opt for the Regular flex shaft if he were to order...

 

Honma TR20 Vizard RED S

Callaway Fusion 3 Wood Recoil S

PXG 6-Gap TT Elevate S

Vokey SM8 50, 54, 58

Scotty Phantom X 5.5

 

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