Latest Popular Drivers in Japan Market

Here it is a list of some of the more popular new drivers in Japan

TAYLORMADE

R1

One driver to rule them all! "One Driver that tunes any loft, any look and any flight"

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: TM1-113

Price: 58,000JPY (USD630)

Site: R1 driver

Gloire Reserve

The Premium driver of the series Gloire (only for Japan)

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: GL450 Reserve

Price: 89,250JPY (USD970)

Site: Gloire Reserve

RBZ Stage 2

The second version of the famous RBZ

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: TM360

Price: 50,000JPY (USD545)

Site: RBZ Stage 2

NIKE GOLF

VRS Covert

The first driver with cavity back technology 

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: Tour AD GT-6

Price: 67,000JPY (USD730)

Site: VRS Covert

CALLAWAY

XHOT

Driver for players searching ball speed and longer distance.

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: Tour AD GT-6

Price: 59,800JPY (USD650)

Site: XHOT

RAZR Fit Extreme

As XHOTfor ball speed and longer distance

Head volume: 440cc

Shaft: Diamana B60

Price: 69,800JPY (USD760)

Site: Razr fit Extreme

YAMAHA

InpresX RMX

The first adjustable driver of Yamaha

Head volume: 440cc

Shaft: -

Price: 40,600JPY (USD440) *Only the head

Site: Inpres X RMX

InpresX V203 Tourmodel

Only 5000 units made

Head volume: 430cc

Shaft: TourAD GT-6

Price: 87,900JPY (USD955) 

Site: Inpres X V203 Tourmodel

TOURSTAGE

X-Drive 709

The new of Tourstage with extreme impact technology

Head volume: 450cc

Shaft: TourAD GT-6

Price: 80,325JPY (USD875) 

Site: X Drive 709

TITLEIST

913 D3

More Speed. More Distance. More Performance

Head volume: 445cc

Shaft: TourAD GT-6

Price: 69.800JPY (USD760) 

Site: 913 D3

VG3

A Japan only driver

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: Fubuki 50/60

Price: 71.400JPY (USD775) 

Site: VG3

MIZUNO

MP Craft H4

From the YORO JAPAN crafted division

Head volume: 440cc

Shaft: Rombax Type X

Price: 76.545JPY (USD835) 

Site: MP Craft H4

JPX825

5-Piece Forged Titanium construction

Head volume: 450cc

Shaft: JPX MD200

Price: 59.535JPY (USD650) 

Site: JPX825

AKIRA

ADR Premium

Premium driver from ADR series

Head volume: 450cc

Shaft: Motore Speeder

Price: 80.325JPY (USD870) 

Site: ADR Premium

KATANA

Voltio Hi

The flagship of Katana Drivers

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: Tour AD

Price: 105.315JPY (USD1.150) 

Site: Voltio Hi

PING

G25

Adjustable loft +/- 1/2Grade

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: TFC360

Price: 37.800JPY (USD410) 

Site: G25

FOURTEEN

CT112

For long distance

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: MD350

Price: 43.200JPY (USD470) 

Site: CT112

PRGR

iD Nabla

A new born series of drivers

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: Nabla

Price: 75.600JPY (USD825) 

Site: iD Nabla

HONMA

Beres S-02

Straight & Smart

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: ARMR6

Price: 126.000JPY (USD1.375) 

Site: Beres S-02

Beres C-01

Control & Courage

Head volume: 460cc

Shaft: ARMR Q6

Price: 85.000JPY (USD925) 

Site: Beres C-01

Ryo Ishikawa 300 yards with new XHOT fairway wood

Here we have a video from Callaway Golf Japan hitting the new XHOT Fairway Wood.

Ryo Ishikawa signed last month a multi-year contract with Callaway.

Callaway site shows more videos of new XHOT fairway wood testing with Spaniard long hitter Alvaro Quiros and Brendan Jones : 300ydsSpoon

Japan Golf Fair 2013

Today begins the annual Golf Fair of Japan. The event is hold in the Tokyo Big Sight, the largest International Exhibition center of Tokyo.

Last year the Exhibition was visited for more than 51.000 persons, as the official site shows. The public who attended was divided into 3 categories:

Business: 17.646 visitors
Public: 33.230 visitors
Journalist: 714 visitors
TOTAL: 51.590 visitors

Here are some pictures of last year Fair.

New Commercial of Cobra-Puma Golf: What is your Fly?

New commercial for the AMP Cell Driver with Rickie Fowler, Jesper Parnevik and Ian Poulter.

What's in the bag: Tiger Woods Farmers Open 2013

This is the setup of Tiger Woods for his 75th PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open

Driver:Nike VR Tour 8.5 (Graphite Design DI 6X)

Fairway Wood : Nike VR Pro Ltd Edition 3 Wood/ 15degrees & Nike SQII 5Wood/19degrees

Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade (3~PW)

Wedges: Nike VR Pro 56 degree and 60 degree

Putter: Nike Method 001

Ball: Nike ONE Tour D

Apparel: Nike Golf TW Collection

Footwear: Nike TW'13

Via Sandbox 8

Ikeda Yuta (池田勇太）

Other great player in Japan is Ikeda Yuta, who was 2nd in money leaderboards. In official World Golf ranking is positioned in 40th, being the japanese player in higher position.

His profile:

Home Town: Chiba

Date of Birth: 1985, December 22th

Turned Pro: 2008

Sponsors: Tourstage (Bridgeston Golf)

What's in his bag:

Driver: Tourstage X-Drive 703

Woods: Tourstage X-Drive 701, 3w

Utility: Srixon Ad Hybrid 16#, 19#

Irons: Tourstage X-blade 703 Limited

Wedge: Tourstage X-Wedge 101 HB 52#, Titleist Vokey SpinMilled Series 58#

Putter: Tourstage M1P

Ball: Tourstage X01B+

Shingo Katayama (片山晋呉)

Shingo Katayama is another great Japanese player. He ended in 4 position in last year's Masters. Shingo Katayama is quite recognized for his "unique" style clothing. Actually he is in 79 position of World Ranking.

His profile:

Home Town: Chikusei, Ibaraki pref.

Date of birth: 1973, January 31st.

Turned Pro: 1995

Sponsors: Onoff, Dance with Dragon, Asics

What's in his bag:

Driver: Onoff Driver

Woods: Onoff Fairway Arms plus 5W, 7W

Utility: Onoff Fairway Wings 24#, 27#

Irons: Onoff Iron Plus Prototype 6~9

Wedges: Onoff S-Forged Prototype 46#, 53#, 59#

Putter: Rossa Monza Spider

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Momoko Ueda (桃子上田)

Momoko Ueda is one of the most famous lady's golfer in Japan. She became a star in 2007, winning 5 tournaments and finishing at the top of money leaders.

Here some details of her profile:

Home town: Kumamoto

Date of birth: 1986, June 15th

Turned Pro: August 2005

Sponsors: Sony, Callaway, Pearly Gates....

What's in her bag:

Driver: Callaway FT-5
Woods: Callaway X Fairway woods, 3w,5w,7w,9w
Irons: Callaway X Tour 5~PW
Wedges: Callaway X Tour Vintage 52, Callaway X Forged New Vintage 58
Putter: Callaway Tri Hot 3#
Ball: Callaway Tour iX


Momoko Ueda's swing

Epon Golf

Epon Golf manufactures high quality clubs and some accessories. Having a great experience into club makers, Epon golf combines the craftsmanship, the technology and stylish designs for their products. Not all these 3 factors geta long well at the same time, but Epon Golf have achieve the manufacturing containing those factors with absolutely mastery.

My current iron set is the AF-Tour model and I must said that I love the feeling of the clubs.

It's quite impressive how Epon have achieve a high forgiveness into a blades. Design of the clubs are really beautiful as well.

Epon golf manufactures clubs for all levels, so any player can find a club which adapts its game.

Epon Golf factory and headquarters are located in Niigata prefecture, Tusbame-Sanjo City, where includes a big store to purchase their products, so if you are by the area, it's worth just to stop by and take a look. Even if you became member you can have big discounts and be invited to Epon sponsored tournaments.

Madera 3 Facil & Solida 5

En los pares 5, la madera 3 y 5 tienen un papel muy importante para dejarse un 3er. golpe de approach de menos de 100mts al agujero,para ello el segundo golpe suelen ser efectuado con una facil madera 3 o una solida madera 5.

Las 10 marcas mas populares actualmente segun la revista Golfdigest Japon para conseguir el Birdie utilizando Maderas 3 faciles y maderas 5 solidas son:

(He colocado accesos a los palos de cada marca para los que esteis interesados. Aunque en la gran mayoria esta en japones, pueden verse los graficos y especificaciones tecnicas.)

1. XXIO Fairwaywood 2010

Pagina del Fabricante: http://golf.dunlop.co.jp/xxio/wood/xxi_wd_2010_fair.html

2. YAMAHA D-Power Spoon & V Fairwaywood

Pagina del Fabricante: http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/golf/products/fw_utility/d_ps.html

3. ROYAL COLLECTION SDF III

Pagina del Fabricante: http://www.royalcollection.co.jp/lineup/index.php?controller=lineup&action=showDetail&orderNo=00000120

4. ONOFF Fairway Arms

Pagina del Fabricante: http://onoff.globeride.co.jp/club/fairway/fairway-arms.html

5. COBRA S2

Pagina del Fabricante: http://www.cobragolf.co.jp/fairways/index.html

6. TAYLORMADE R9 Max Ti

Pagina del Fabricante: http://japan.taylormadegolf.com/product_detail.asp?pID=357&section=technology

7. TOURSTAGE V-iQ

Pagina del fabricante: http://www.v-iq.com/

8. PRGR GN502Hit

Pagina del fabricante: http://www.prgr-golf.com/catalogue/en/product/gn502/gn502_hit.html

9. MACGREGOR NV-Red NV-Blue

Pagina del fabricante: http://www.macgregor.co.jp/

10. HONMA BERES MG710 & TW914

Pagina del Fabricante: http://www.honmagolf.co.jp/item/search_result.php?lang=jp&sea=20&l_menu=10