Gauge Design forged cavity backs?

landshark · February 4, 2009

opinions?

i picked up a set of gauge design forged cavity backs. they are shafted with dyn gold s300. haven't really had much opportunity to hit them. just wonder if anyone else has here and what your feelings are to this club. forged in japan, i think himeji. my other set i have is tourstage viq forged 2007 model shafted with nippon ns pro 950. what would a change to the kb tours have in the gauge heads? thanks

potatofu · February 19, 2009

Finally got my set in today, much faster than I expected. Easier to shape shots compared to my x-14 pros, could be the shafts though. Probably not as soft as the miura blades that I tried, but definitely much more forgiving.

Loving it on the range thus far, will add more opinions after I take them out for a round next week.

landshark · February 19, 2009

any chance you can post pics of yours? should be the same as what i have

potatofu · February 19, 2009

This is a picture from the seller, the irons look much better in person. The only thing is that there is a "Studio" lettering stamped on the head of each iron, I have not found similar stamping on other pictures online thus far.

The 5 iron is 37.5 inches, probably suitable for people with smaller build.

landshark · February 20, 2009

interesting. haven't seen that stamp either. if it's like any of the other gauge designs, Studio would indicate premium models.

jh19 · February 20, 2009

The Gauge feel great, you might want to try the Fourteen TB1000.

potatofu · February 22, 2009

Ok, took them out for a round today, they performed well. Great feel, nice ball flight, a good balance between workability and forgiveness, even for someone like me that has played only 40 rounds so far.

They are, at least for me, more prone to going left than right. It could be the shafts though, my previous x 14 pros had constant rifle shafts, and the only misses I had with the x 14 was right and short.

I am having difficulty with the PW, it was great for green side chipping but other than that I was messing up with it. I also shanked my 56 vokey many times, so it could be just the swing today.

To think I bid on these on impulse...if all JDM had similar quality, then I will not be looking back at most OEMs anymore. (I don't have much experience with OEM irons anyway other than Cleveland, Callaway and Titlesit)

My TS 430P should be reaching any day now...I'm looking forward to it as I have been driving well with the R7 425.

landshark · February 22, 2009

you've got a sweet set. no need to look any further really. it is tempting though, but i really doubt you'll do any or much better.

potatofu · February 23, 2009

Yes, I don't think I will be parting with this set even if it is not in play. Looking forward to many future rounds with it. The fact that there is a "Studio" stamp makes it a little bit more interesting.

Dug up some old posts here from 2007, someone mentioned Kyoei used to forge for gauge design, and that Kyoei is a cousin of Miura.

Duffy19 · February 23, 2009

and that Kyoei is a cousin of Miura.

I know it makes no difference about your Gauge, but I thought Hiro Matsumoto is related to Miura on the mother side.

potatofu · February 23, 2009

Eh? I'm quite new to the world of golf equipment, and even newer to the world of JDM, so this is the first I've heard of Matsumoto. I guess golf is similar to other businesses in Asia, family members tend to be involved one way or another.

On a side note, the previous owner mentioned that "the Studio ETGA was issued prior to the standard ETGA, and that the groove and grind is more on tour preferred". As far as my eyes can tell, they don't look different at all. Anyways, great first impressions, looking forward to spending more time with the set.