By now it has been well documented that Honma Golf has had an interesting existence since making the leap in 2013 to bring their products stateside. Even after so many years of having a presence in the U.S., the name Honma is often met with either mystery, or excitement.
If you have been a reader of THP for any length of time however, then you have been exposed to and educated that while their flashier offerings might garner the most reactions, the craftsmanship is still very real.
What might surprise you is that they have a lineup which also plays into both of those elements at the same time, the BERES Putters. Though they have been offered since 2009, this year marks the first new iteration since 2021 and once more, THP has all of the details for you.
Honma BERES PP-500 Series
Personally, one of my favorite things when writing up any new Honma Golf release is going through the materials and enjoying their uniqueness compared to the usual verbiage within domestic offerings. Honestly, at times it just feels like the JDM segment brings a different level of passion to things with the way things are phrased, and Honma always takes that a few notches further, especially with BERES.
Within the Honma arsenal BERES is the line which is absolutely relentless in their belief that they are as much about performance as aesthetics and philosophy. It goes so far with the new BERES PP-500 putter series, that the focal point is on these putters blending together both luxury and technology into “A masterpiece that symbolizes status.”
While you might feel that to be a bit much, I think it is fun and fitting. You see, one of the coolest things with Honma is that they put massive emphasis on the evolution of their designs and releases through the use of the Takumi craftsmanship of Sakata. Translation being, their master craftsmen within their headquarters of Sakata, Japan. You’ll have to agree that their way of phrasing it is way cooler than ours.
As to the putters, the PP500 Series is composed of four shapes, all with bodies CNC Milled from SUS303, soft stainless steel. Though you might not be familiar with the 2021 BERES putter lineup, these four take directly from those shapes and evolve them. Visually they have gone from trying a bit too hard to be unique, to taking inspiration from the biggest milled putter manufacturer in the game in order to blend their designs with some of the most popular shapes out there, but with Japanese craftsmanship.
Honma Beres Putter – PP-501
This is the classic plumber/crank neck blade which draws its inspiration from the legendary Anser/Newport shaping. This time around, the edges and lines are squared up a bit to create a much more familiar visual for fans of such blade shapes. The PP-501 is a singe piece of milled SUS303 with a single flange line and dual stainless steel sole weights, it is aimed at those with some arc in their putting stroke.
Honma Beres Putter – PP-502
Where in 2021 this was a very classic half-moon mallet shape, the PP-502 version now has a deeper front to back dimension at setup as well as a slightly asymmetric shape at the rear of the flange. Though the body is SUS303, the sole and center alignment portion is actually milled aluminum which shows through with either a red or silver contrast depending on which finish is in hand. This too features dual sole weights and with its double bend neck, it is aimed at those with a slight arc.
Honma Beres Putter – PP-503
This one is Honma’s version of the ever-popular fanged mallet shape. Previously, they perhaps tried to get a bit too clever and wound up with a strange combination of elongated looks. Here with the PP-503 however, it is very much a blend of the most popular versions out there currently, amalgamated into a fantastic shape. The fangs and body are in the main SUS303, while the sole and center flange line are contrasting milled aluminum as with the PP-502. The short crank neck makes this face balanced for a straight arc user and it too features dual sole weights.
Honma Beres Putter – PP-505
Finally, the PP-505 is a double bend mallet shape, and easily the biggest change from its predecessor. Called the “Hammerhead” by Honma, it is a “T” shape which is the highest MOI of the four designs. The unique aspect there is the central core is made of SUS303 while the entirety of the rear wings are from the milled aluminum that is also part of the sole plate, opposite of other models where it exists in the middle of the flange from address. Aimed at a straight putting arc, this model also uses two stainless sole weights.
All About the Details
Each putter in the PP-500 lineup uses a dual stainless steel weight setup in the sole, regardless of size. These are 10g at standard, with other options available, and aim to lower and deepen the CG for stability and tuning. Additionally, the dedicated aluminum sole plate in the mallets also help with the weight distribution and MOI goals. The real stunner is the new double milling on each face which is aimed to be aesthetically stunning while also softening the feel of the stainless thanks to decreasing the surface area impacting the ball.
As you would expect with Honma, there are finish options which range from mild to wild, each impacting how the aluminum can be seen from address. Each finish has its own tagline as well, another example of the JDM brands having more fun at times.
The Silver-Red combo is about passion, precision, and dynamism, focused on the golfer who has an “unwavering spirit”. Since some may want a more subdued look, there is also Black-Silver which Honma prescribes for the “silent ruler” who thrives on sophistication, power, and modernity. Of course, if you are even more bold, for an added cost there is the traditional all gold look from Honma for the “chosen few” demanding luxury, status, and glamour.
Each putter comes with a new Honma designed putter grip which is 63g and has a more rounded pistol shape, though if you choose the gold version then you will get the calf leather wrap. As for shaft, each comes with an originally designed black stepless steel option that weighs in at 120g. Price points range from $550-875 to start with based on which color you choose, Honma also has alternative shaft options that kick the price up quite a bit from there.
For more information or to pickup a Honma BERES putter today visit their website at us.honmagolf.com.
