launchpad
Adding a touch of glamour
Introducing the new Honma shaſt technology for 2014 J
apanese club-maker Honma is attracting a growing following in the UK aſter its reintroduction midway through 2012 – but many golfers are still unaware that Honma also
makes its own carbon graphite shaſts. The new-for-2014 Honma S-03 woods and IS-03 irons are set to
change that, with a strong focus on correct shaft selection according to swing speed and an individual’s ability. Honma’s previous S-series models were targeted at mid to high
handicappers. The 2014 replacements offer an alternative for low handicappers and elite golfers to the brand’s Tour World better- player range- as well as pleasing less-powerful hitters who seek Honma’s handcrafted heritage. The secret is in Honma’s own shafts, and the S-03 woods and
IS-03 irons are powered by Honma’s ARMRQ8 eight-axis carbon graphite shafts, available in five weights and four shaft grades, two Star through to Honma’s five Star grade. All shafts are hand-fitted by Honma’s master craftsmen in the
company’s Sakata, Japan design facility. Honma woods are always sold in their finished form – never as component parts and nor are Honma shafts sold separately from the clubheads. “The S-03 series is all about the effective transmission of power
through these amazing Honma shafts,” said Honma UK spokesman Andy Hiseman. “When we first showed them on the range at the PGA
18 SGBGOLF
Merchandise Show in Orlando this January, several low- handicap testers commented on how powerful and workable the S-03 woods and irons were, and how well they suited the better player, compared to last year’s S-02 series. “Now, with the S-03 series, Honma has a club which will make
both scratch golfers and higher-handicappers play the best golf of their lives. The secret’s in the ARMRQ8, one of the sport’s most advanced shafts, which powers not only the S-03 series but our Tour World series too.” The hand-built S-03 Driver is a 460cc 5-piece clubhead
featuring a new Ti-5N titanium alloy clubface, a G4 forged titanium sole, and a 3AP-2.5V forged titanium crown with a special mesh and rib structure for extra resilience at impact. Shot characteristics are generally high-ball flight and spin-rate, although the versatile ARMRQ8 shaft can be tuned to produce specific desired ball flight characteristics. Honma has engineered a proprietary variable-thickness face
design into the S-03 Driver, which produces an expanded, highly durable rebound surface, for enormous distance. Available lofts are 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. The hand-built S-03 Fairway Woods, available in 3W, 5W and
7W options, are cast with SUS630 steel clubheads with a mesh structure crown, and high-strength customised steel forge-cast cupped clubfaces. The large, shallow heads inspire confidence
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