Honma’s Black Collection: Exclusivity, Quality & Performance Personified
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2023-03-06
By Dr. Barry Lotz, Inside Golf
Do you have a moderate or slow swing speed? Do you appreciate quality? Do you appreciate industry-leading technology coupled with master craftsmanship? Do you believe the adage “you get what pay for?” Do you want additional yards on your drive?
If you answered yes to the above, the Honma BERES line of clubs is the crème de la crème of golf equipment and the epitome of the very best golf clubs that are produced anywhere in the world.
While Mizuno, Miura, and PXG may currently be better known in the golf domain as premium club manufacturers, NOTHING manufactured today compares to Honma’s Black BERES clubs. Five stars should really be 10 stars as this series of clubs are nullus secundus – second to none compared!
The BERES Black Driver finds fairways, unlike any other club our testing group has worked with previously. “Magical” and “outstanding” were the words used most often when using this driver.
I personally had my golf instructor observe which of the five drivers we were testing should be my choice. She was adamant that I stop using and testing any further drivers for my own use. I apparently found nirvana!
In a nutshell, the driver features triple sole slots and an L-Cup face which aims to provide powerful initial ball speed. The optimal CG (center of gravity) design provides for a high trajectory, low spin, forgiveness, and distance, while the draw bias helps correct fade tendencies associated with slower swing speeds.
The BERES driver features a NEW Radial L-Cup Face, a NEW Triple Sole Slot, and a NEW Ti811 Thin Crown Design which combine to offer the very best in BERES speed, high-launch, and low-spin performance with added draw bias for more forgiveness.
Specifically, in easy-to-understand specifics of the BERES driver, features TRIPLE SOLE SLOTS. By dividing the sole slot into three, it regains its shape instantly at impact, which maintains high repulsion performance and high strength, delivering greatly increased initial ball speed. In actuality, the triple slots bend at impact and rebound to increase ball speed. Even on mishits.
The L-CUP FACE maintains a high CT value and increases the repulsion area by avoiding any welding on the face. The adopted L-CUP structure produces high repulsion performance across the face.
The driver’s CROWN STRUCTURE EMPLOYS A Ultra-low specific gravity titanium alloy ”Ti811”+ uneven thin-walled design crown which provides an optimal deflection/rebound of deflection occurs when hitting the ball plus a low CG with lightweight crown and sole weight distribution. The synergistic effect with the L-CUP face + Radial structure delivers a bigger carry with a high trajectory, optimum spin, and increased repulsion.
What really provides the power to this driver is Honma’s ORIGINAL SHAFT, the – ARMRQ MX-ARMRQ MX shafts are made in Japan using the highest quality materials at Honma Golf HQ in Sakata. Featuring proprietary designs using NEW 10 Axis Sheet Metal Hybrid Armour Technology (4-Axis Aluminum and 6-Axis Carbon) to deliver Counter-Balance designs for added clubhead speed, along with industry-leading Toray Composite T1100G Carbon.
Lofts are available in 9.5 °, 10.5 °, and 11.5 °, each with a lie angle of 60 ° and a 46” length. The ARMQ MX Black shafts are available in R2, R. SR, and S and feature a mid-low kick-point and an average torque of 7.5 °. The driver’s GR Honma Rubber $! GD grip weighs 41 grams in an M60 size.
The BERES Black Irons
Down to a man, each of our testers could not contain their enthusiasm for these FORGED irons. Not only are they great looking and elegant irons, their buttery feel and exceptional feel, sound, and carry distances achieved, brought smiles and rave reviews! Honma’s hallmark feel is unlike any current irons currently offered! These irons are designed to produce high launches and strong carry distances.
To maximize speed and forgiveness, the iron’s wide 3D L-Cup structure provides a new ultra-thin face with vertical slits that are designed to improve the face insert strength. With an 8620 forged body, coupled with one external and two internal sole slots, plus a low-deep CG, what more can you ask for in an iron set?
Honma’s ARMRQ MX jet-black shafts are meticulously hand-rolled, feature a highly-elastic Toray Composite shaft that efficiently increases clubhead speed and stability, and is standard equipment and available in different flexes.
Honma’s ARMRQ MX jet-black shafts have great torque and are manufactured extremely carefully. The more “stars” given to Honma’s shafts mean the greater they are worth.
FYI, you get what you pay for and with Honma, there is no exception. Honma uses expensive materials like carbon fiber to give its handmade clubs the extra edge. It's one of the only manufacturers that make its shafts in-house and assembles the entire club, from conception to testing, on-site.
About the Writer
Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and the California Golf Writers Association and serves both as a consultant and mediator to the golf industry. He is also the author of numerous books, including “333 Best Web Sites for Golfers,” “How to Build Business Relationships Through Golf,” which is in the Top Ten Golf Business Book’s bestseller list. His current book, “The Right Mind for Golf,” is now in its 14th printing. His newest book, “The Right Mind for Putting,” is due out in June 2023. He currently works with 14 TOUR Players on mental coaching and scoring techniques.