Equipment Review: Honma Golf BERES MG710 Driver, MG700 Irons
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com
- with notes from Honma Golf Co. Ltd.

Last season, we had the pleasure of taking a close look at some of the prettiest golf clubs made today, from Honma Golf Co. Ltd. of Japan. In fact, consider Honma Golf's complete line of golf equipment (and we do mean complete Ð visit their website for a tour) the Cadillac of golf equipment: it's aesthetically pleasing in a modern yet traditional way, and it performs as well as any other golf club today. It's why London Ontario Golf named the Honma Golf BERES MG803 irons the Best New Irons of 2009, and gave rave reviews to the Honma Golf BERES MG813 driver.

Now, make room for two of the very best clubs we have tested in 2010: the BERES MG710 driver; and the BERES MG700 irons. Both of these clubs are so exquisite, you really don't want to put them to work on the golf course. But after testing both of these beauties, trust me: they will improve your game just as much as they will impress your friends.

BERES MG710 Driver

The 4th generation BERES 7-Series, the MG710 (460cc) is available in standard 2-Star grade up to the ultra prestigious 5-Star grade featuring P1000 Platinum and 24k gold embellishment for those who like precious metals. The MG710's standard production features the New ARMRQ UD49 ultra-light shaft (49g) for high handicap players with average head speed of 86 mph in regular to 95 mph in stiff. The MG710 can be made to order with the New ARMRQ UD45, UD54, UD62, UD70 and UD75 shafts by made to order only. Lofts available are 9.0° and 10.0°.

I tested the 9° model, and despite the fact I am a low-handicap golfer, the shaft specs performed admirably. Of any top-notch game-improvement driver I've tested, the BERES MG710 performed the best. The ball flight was medium-to-high, but the distance was spectacular. This club is a winner.

The MG710 retains all the previous model's advantages while at the same time boasting even better carry and distance. A slimmer, sleeker 6-4 titanium forged face and a new "bazooka rib" design efficiently convey energy back to the face to increase ball speed on impact.

A full complement of fairway woods are available (#3 wd. (15°), #5 wd. (18°), #7 wd. (21°), and #9 wd. (24°) featuring high-strength custom steel heads while incorporating the New ARMRQ UD49 shaft. The fairway woods can be ordered with the New ARMRQ UD45, UD54, UD62, UD70 and UD75 shafts by made to order only.

Created with the most loving care by the SAKATA craftsmen, each of these clubs embodies all of Honma Golf's passion for its art, and the gratitude to its customers over the last 51 years. The SAKATA Factory, one of the largest golf club manufacturing facilities in the world, is where each and every golf club is painstakingly handcrafted, passing through hundreds of hands and taking as long as six months to produce the most beautiful golf clubs on the planet.

BERES MG700 Irons

The 4th generation BERES 7-Series MG700 irons consist of a two-piece structure of SUS630 body, ES230 convex forged-variable-thickness-face. By forging the face it provides a mild feel at impact, thus reducing the harshness felt from most stainless steel irons. Each iron has a strategic weight distribution system. Adding tungsten nickel weights to the toe and heel boost the highest moment of inertia of any Honma iron ever produced. The MG700 design adds power to the sides to enhance carry and cuts down loss of distance during off-center hits. In addition, a carry-boosting design change, 7 grams to the toe and 5 grams to the heel were added from the #4~#8 iron to provide forgiveness and power. The #9~SW irons feature 5 grams evenly distributed on the perimeter for manoeuvrability due to shorter gravity point distance. The MG700 conforms to the 2010 USGA new groove rule.

I tested the 7-iron from this set, and instantly fell in love with this club. The lightweight graphite shaft did take some getting used in terms of control, but the long bombs with high flight and soft landing made it all worthwhile. At worst, this club was as long as my regular 6-iron.

The standard production MG700 is a 2-Star grade (MSRP $370/club) up to the ultra-elaborate 5-Star grade (MSRP $4,605.00/club) featuring Pt1000 Platinum, 24k gold plating, medallions, hosel rings and ion plated shaft. The MG700 features the Honma New ARMRQ UD49 graphite shaft for amateur players with average head speed. The MG700 can be ordered with the New ARMRQ UD45, UD54, UD62, UD70 and UD75 shafts by made to order only. The MG700 is available as a 10pc set (No.4-10, 11, AW, SW) or can be broken into a partial set as per the customer's preference.

If you desire something truly unique that has been crafted with a meticulous attention to detail, then consider Honma - exquisite hand-crafted golf clubs built entirely at the SAKATA factory in Yamagata Japan. Contact Premier Golf Distributors, Inc. if you would like more information on these products:

Email: information@honmagolf.com

Web: www.honmagolf.com or www.honmagolf.co.jp