Japanese Market Drivers - Are the shafts this soft? CPM Test

[Easygoingal]

I purchased the Japanese version only of the Mizuno JPX A25 driver in SR (Stiff/Regular) flex and just received it in the mail today. Even though I average my drivers between 250-270, I've always had more success with regular flex on my woods than stiff flex (use stiff flex on the irons).

 

I did some research before purchasing the new Mizuno driver and fully understands that clubs from the Japanese market typically have softer shafts; therefore, I was expecting the SR driver to play more like a regular. When I recieved the driver today, it felt whippy, so I took it to my local proshop to have them test the CPM of the shaft. I was told that the CPM of the shaft is at 217.... that's equivalent of a senior flex shaft. Can that be right?

 

Is the CPM test an accurate indicator of shaft stiffness? Are Japanese clubs really THAT much softer? Or could it be that I purchased a counterfeit club? The seller was out of Hong Kong, but he guaranteed its authenticity.

 

Any comments? suggestions?

[Siwash23]

CPM is not a good measure of overall shaft stiffness. It is just measuring the butt frequency. It is really only meaningful for comparing the same shafts with the same bend profile. The bend profile is much more important than the CPM these days when trying to figure out how a shaft will play. They have come a long way with shafts in the past 10 years.

 

Also, as a general rule, Japan issue shafts are generally less stiff than the USA versions of the shafts, especially in the tips.

 

All that said, if it came out of Hong Kong, there is a good probablility it is counterfeit. I am not saying that just because the shaft feels whippy. It just seems that most guys I know that have gotten fakes and the ones I have seen on Ebay come from Hong Kong. (no offence to any members on here from China).

[uthockey24]

I believe that SR flex means Senior flex

[buykrux]

I believe that SR flex means Senior flex

 

yes it would mean SR

the only company i can think of to use 2 letters for inbetween flexes is graphite design

i had a SX which was in between s and x

[dcrsx]

Mizuno Japan does use SR for soft regular and yes they are that soft. My boss has a japan model Mizuno driver with a SS (super stiff) shaft in and the shaft freqs out like R.

[Easygoingal]

I believe that SR flex means Senior flex

No it's not. I checked the specs on the Mizuno Japanese website. SR us between a Stiff and a Regular.

 

I've always known the Japanese market uses softer shafts than the U.S., but a Stiff/Regular = senior shaft? X-Stiff = Regular? That's absurd.

[Easygoingal]

CPM is not a good measure of overall shaft stiffness. It is just measuring the butt frequency. It is really only meaningful for comparing the same shafts with the same bend profile. The bend profile is much more important than the CPM these days when trying to figure out how a shaft will play. They have come a long way with shafts in the past 10 years.

 

Also, as a general rule, Japan issue shafts are generally less stiff than the USA versions of the shafts, especially in the tips.

 

All that said, if it came out of Hong Kong, there is a good probablility it is counterfeit. I am not saying that just because the shaft feels whippy. It just seems that most guys I know that have gotten fakes and the ones I have seen on Ebay come from Hong Kong. (no offence to any members on here from China).

 

Does this mean that it's possible to have a 217 CPM shaft which plays like a regular flex and not a senior flex?

 

Does anyone know on average how much less stiff are the Japanese issued shafts compared to the U.S.?

[xxio]

It will depend on the target market of the driver model.

 

Usually "executive" type clubs will frequency softer than their "player's" club flexes when comparing same flex. Even then generally Japanese shafts frequency soft.

 

I usually find the stiff flexes to play like hard regulars but that the X flex shafts are almost or are true to flex. Guys who normally play stiff (250-255cpms) have a hard time getting fit into Japanese OEM shafts and usually have to get custom or aftermarket.

[jirizarry]

Back in March, Jesse Ortiz came to San Juan for a promo/preview of his new wedges. One of his presentations was at a local golf shop, of which I am a client. Among the topics he discussed were the differences between Japanese and U.S. clubs. He explained at the time that clubs in Japan are usually cutting edge in technology and also have some differences between the Mainland counterparts, among them stronger lofted clubs and much lighter and more flexible shaft flex.

He mentioned at the time that the Japanese were using 45gm graphite shafts and turning out much lighter ( i.e. <75gm) steel shafts.

So in fact, according to what Jesse Ortiz told us and if you bought your club from a reputable seller it is very likely you got an original club.

Hope this helps.

 

J.R.

[Rollshisrock]

I have been fortunate enough to be able to use a few Japanese tour clubs and i can say that the X flex drivers that i have used play more like a S flex. And the weights of the shafts seem very light compared to the weight actually written on the shaft..

[thewitt]

We sell several shaft lines in the Asian market - and the most popular shafts are 45 and 50 grams. As a result of being ultralight, they are also softer than the same flex would be in a 65 or 70 gram shaft.

 

-t

[taktak]

SR does exist, and Japanese models usually 1flex softer than the US model.(carbon shafts)

so If we buy US models they usually buy 1flex softer :black eye:

[azone]

Hope the O P got the answers...the REAL question is, how do you hit it?