Forum member @nvgolfer80 asked the question of which brand did it better. You tell us.
“I find it interesting when many company walk the same track at the same time but don’t really know it.
So, with that. Which of these very similar irons do you think looks best? There are some differences, but to me they are so close that if they didnt come out at the same time you could say one copied the other.”
I can’t say I disagree too much. It is a stellar looking iron. I would love to try both and compare them. Honma clubs are just really hard to come by.
Looked at a stock photo of the Honma and would agree with others that I like the symmetry better, but the multi-finish metal look does not do it for me. The TM’s look sexier in a single finish.
Honestly haven’t heard of them before (not a golf junkie yet). What is the reputation and style of Honma typically? Does anyone on tour use them?
well there is a an interesting story with honma and the tour.
honma has long been a very high end Japanese brand. They are just recently (past few years) making the move and pushing towards the US market. They signed at the time the world number one Justin Rose and started releasing more appealing “tour” inspired clubs.
Justin then about a year (estimating) into his contract was unhappy wanted out and they parted ways. I heard he mainly with the support at tour events but I honestly don’t know if that was the case.
@JB probably has more info there. The past two years or so they have put out some quality looking stuff though. Their first driver has a bit of a rocky story as well but again. I don’t have all the details there either.
Interesting, thanks. Are they on par with XXIO or even superior based on price point and supposed quality?
hard to say there. I am not sure.
Pretty solid summary. They came over to North America in full back in 2016, when they hired Adam Sheldon(preciously of Cleveland) to run operations. We did a really cool thing wit them at the time called the Countdown. After a couple of years and him making inroads, things changed and they hired Mark King as a consultant.
when we first got that news we were asked to keep it under wraps, ironically enough it was just enough time for them to feed the story elsewhere, but they apologized. ?
From there Mark hired some of his former TM team like Kawaja that now runs it generally speaking. Moved their office and then signed Justin Rose. I don’t remember if he was #1 then, but it’s possible for sure.
Mark left for Taco Bell and Rose split. They have a new PR team and are still putting out equipment and making a run at it.
Those TR20 B’s sure are. I wanted to compare them to the Rose Protos and I couldn’t even find one to buy and try, other than a 3i.
thanks for filling the gaps!