My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina and play year around. I am 80 yrs old with a swing speed of 78-81 mph, have been playing for 65 yrs, shoot in the high 70’s at times, but mostly low to mid 80’s from 5500 yd forward tees and play 2-3 times/week. My wife is 78 with a swing speed of 65-68 mph, has been playing for over 40 years, shoots in the 90’s from the forward tees and also plays 2-3 times/week.
We were excited to hear we won the opportunity to test these drivers since the Honma Beres line is a premium product and is designed for those with low to mid swing speeds. With our swing speeds, we obviously fall into this category. We both plan to compare the Honma drivers against our gamers, which for me is a Callaway Epic Max LS, fitted by Club Champion in Sept. 2021. My wife's current driver is a Ping G410.
As with all drivers we want to maximize distance with good launch angles and maximum roll out. Considering the premium brand and the Honma statements of superior shafts that deliver high smash factors with high trajectories and long carry, I am expecting to see some very good results.
First Impressions 4.0 out of 5
Our Honma Beres drivers just arrived and they are a work of art. Almost too nice to hit. Mens driver is on the left and ladies driver on right is a Honma Beres Aizu 3 star model. In addition to being known for their renowned beauty and attention to detail in paint and finishing of the head and shaft, these Honma Beres drivers are also known for their superior shafts in delivering high smash factors, whereas the driver face is designed for high COR and more ball speed. Will have to check this out.
However, I was very disappointed in the packaging. The drivers arrived in a plain brown wrapper (typical brown driver box) whereas the driver I recently received from Club Champion was well protected and secured in a heavily constructed monogrammed golf box. Also, the ladies driver did not come with a head cover. Strange they did not want to protect this beautiful driver.
Aesthetics 4.8 out of 5
In that Honma Beres “is the most premier golf club brand in the world” my wife and I were very impressed with the artwork on the driver crown, the detailing of the shafts and even the driver face. We have never seen anything like this on a golf club. Note the diamond alignment marks front, center and rear which are unique in a driver. These drivers are definitely noticeable because of the color and intricate design, but is not distracting or noticed when playing. How could you not like the looks of these drivers.
The ladies driver sound is soft/solid whereas the men's is loud and somewhat harsh but this does not affect performance. In fact, we both get very good distance on hits mostly anywhere on the face.
The score is primarily due to loud/harsh men's sound.
Took my Beres driver out today for the 1st time and played only 4 holes in 47° weather here in upstate South Carolina. WOW!!! What a great club. The ball seemed to stay in the air forever. I was cold, somewhat stiff and not reaching my normal swg spd of 79 mph, I swung easy and the driver provided very good length and was exceptionally straight on a number of hits. Looking forward to warmer weather and some 18 hole rounds.
The Numbers 4.5 out of 5
After playing some 18 hole rounds, I still find the driver accurate, easy to hit and very forgiving on off center hits with a high trajectory. Distance is good and about the same as my current driver but consistency of hits and forgiveness is very good and I am very pleased with the overall performance.
The biggest improvement is with my wife's driver. She likes the fact that her driver is light weight, easy to hit and very forgiving. She says her shots are more accurate, more consistent and higher than any other driver and she loves it. She also says she doesn't have to hold back but can be aggressive and really go after her tee shots. She now hits a high draw with excellent distance.
One drawback is the lack of adjustability on the driver such as loft, lie angle and movable weights. Also, with my driver, I cannot be aggressive and try to really launch my tee shots. I firmly believe this is due to my R2(senior) flex shaft may be too soft.
The score is primarily due to the lack of adjustability and distance. Would of thought a premium club such as this would give exceptional distance.
On Course
The following On-Course comments will be divided between me and my wife.
Wife On-Course score 4.8 out of 5.
My wife has nothing but praise and is very impressed with the Honma Beres Aizu 3 star driver. She hits it straighter, higher, is more consistent than ever and firmly believes it saves her 3-4 strokes per round. Because it is easier to hit and very accurate, it gives her confidence it tight fairway situations. Distance is as good as her current driver. As mentioned earlier, the alignment markers on the crown and art work on the crown and shaft, are items she definitely likes. These are not distractions to her. Suggested changes are minor which include lack of adjustability and ability to choose crown and shaft colors, which are important to women.
Men's On-Course score 4.5 out 5.
On the course, this driver delivers. Shots are high, straight and can be counted to be in the fairway, especially when faced with narrow fairways and shot placement is critical. This driver is not longer than my current driver, but is consistent since it is easy to hit and accurate. Because of its accuracy and ease of hitting, you won't be in much trouble off the tee. This driver has a draw bias, is non-adjustable and working the ball is difficult. Even though the artwork on the crown and shaft are eye-catching, these factors are not noticed once play is underway. Love the multi alignment marks on the crown. The following score is based on the inability to really jump on the drive (hitting it hard) and the lack of adjustability. The fact that I can't hit it hard is not because of the driver but not having the correct shaft flex.
The Good, the bad, the in-between 4.5 out of 5.
There are many very good things to say about these drivers. The first is the attention to detail in the artwork on the driver crown and the shaft, even the driver face, which appears to be a representation of the Rising Sun. Definitely an attention getter. There is nothing like this on the market.
Next, this is a very forgiving driver. It's easy to hit, has very good ball speed almost anywhere on the club face and produces a high launch. An easy swing produces very good results, however, if I try to hit it hard and step on it, the result is a hard hook and inconsistency. But I attribute this to the senior flex shaft that was given to me, which may not be a good fit. In contrast, my wife's driver/shaft combo is a perfect fit. She can hit it as hard as she likes with excellent results. She gets a high draw and not the fade she gets with her current driver. Distance is very good and about the same as her current driver.
Drawbacks include lack of adjustability or workability, no choice of grip size and no head cover for the ladies driver to protect the artwork on the crown.
Play it of Trade it 5.0 out of 5.
Besides being nice to have and show off, these drivers are definite keepers for us for many reasons.
My wife firmly believes her driving with this club is saving her 3-4 shots per round. This is primarily due to her increased confidence in hitting fairways because this driver is so easy to hit, is very forgiving with a predictable ball flight. The trajectory is a high with a slight draw. No more fade shots to the right. The color pink and graphics on the crown and shaft are initially eye catching but quickly forgotten once play as begun.
My thoughts and impressions are similar to my wife. As stated earlier, I hit it very well even off the deck as long as I swing easy, but I don't get good results when trying to hit it hard. Again, this is due to not having the correct shaft and has nothing to do with the driver. However, as I get older and my swing speed decreases, this driver will be the perfect fit.
As initially stated by Honma, these drivers are ONLY for low to medium swing speed golfers. For women with low swing speeds (60-70 mph), the L flex shaft appears to be a perfect fit, producing a high ball flight, very good distance with a straight or slight draw. Men, however, need to be fitted for the correct shaft flex..
The drivers are definitely "high end" pieces of golf gear and could be considered a fair price for those with deep pockets.
Conclusion
Every lady with a low or medium swing speed would love to have this driver in her bag. It makes a statement first,. with it's uniqueness in terms of style, graphics, color and overall looks, and second, in its light weight and playability. Due to its draw bias, it definitely reduces slicing, it's ease to hit, it's forgiving and unfortunately, it's very costly. However, from a golfers point of view, this is a very good driver. From my wife's point of view, it would be nice to have a head cover, a choice of driver colors and choice of grip, but there is nothing objectionable about this driver. She loves it!
I also find this driver to be accurate, forgiving and easy to hit. First impressions were the ball seems to stay in the air forever. Great trajectory! It appears to have a built in draw bias so slicing is eliminated or greatly reduced.
As with the ladies driver, the graphics and style make this an eye catcher out of the bag. I would definitely buy this club if the price was not so steep.
Honma 2-Star Beres Driver
Posted
Introduction:
My wife and I live in upstate South Carolina and play year around. I am 80 yrs old with a swing speed of 78-81 mph, have been playing for 65 yrs, shoot in the high 70’s at times, but mostly low to mid 80’s from 5500 yd forward tees and play 2-3 times/week. My wife is 78 with a swing speed of 65-68 mph, has been playing for over 40 years, shoots in the 90’s from the forward tees and also plays 2-3 times/week.
We were excited to hear we won the opportunity to test these drivers since the Honma Beres line is a premium product and is designed for those with low to mid swing speeds. With our swing speeds, we obviously fall into this category. We both plan to compare the Honma drivers against our gamers, which for me is a Callaway Epic Max LS, fitted by Club Champion in Sept. 2021. My wife's current driver is a Ping G410.
As with all drivers we want to maximize distance with good launch angles and maximum roll out. Considering the premium brand and the Honma statements of superior shafts that deliver high smash factors with high trajectories and long carry, I am expecting to see some very good results.
First Impressions 4.0 out of 5
Our Honma Beres drivers just arrived and they are a work of art. Almost too nice to hit. Mens driver is on the left and ladies driver on right is a Honma Beres Aizu 3 star model. In addition to being known for their renowned beauty and attention to detail in paint and finishing of the head and shaft, these Honma Beres drivers are also known for their superior shafts in delivering high smash factors, whereas the driver face is designed for high COR and more ball speed. Will have to check this out.
However, I was very disappointed in the packaging. The drivers arrived in a plain brown wrapper (typical brown driver box) whereas the driver I recently received from Club Champion was well protected and secured in a heavily constructed monogrammed golf box. Also, the ladies driver did not come with a head cover. Strange they did not want to protect this beautiful driver.
Aesthetics 4.8 out of 5
In that Honma Beres “is the most premier golf club brand in the world” my wife and I were very impressed with the artwork on the driver crown, the detailing of the shafts and even the driver face. We have never seen anything like this on a golf club. Note the diamond alignment marks front, center and rear which are unique in a driver. These drivers are definitely noticeable because of the color and intricate design, but is not distracting or noticed when playing. How could you not like the looks of these drivers.
The ladies driver sound is soft/solid whereas the men's is loud and somewhat harsh but this does not affect performance. In fact, we both get very good distance on hits mostly anywhere on the face.
The score is primarily due to loud/harsh men's sound.
Took my Beres driver out today for the 1st time and played only 4 holes in 47° weather here in upstate South Carolina. WOW!!! What a great club. The ball seemed to stay in the air forever. I was cold, somewhat stiff and not reaching my normal swg spd of 79 mph, I swung easy and the driver provided very good length and was exceptionally straight on a number of hits. Looking forward to warmer weather and some 18 hole rounds.
The Numbers 4.5 out of 5
After playing some 18 hole rounds, I still find the driver accurate, easy to hit and very forgiving on off center hits with a high trajectory. Distance is good and about the same as my current driver but consistency of hits and forgiveness is very good and I am very pleased with the overall performance.
The biggest improvement is with my wife's driver. She likes the fact that her driver is light weight, easy to hit and very forgiving. She says her shots are more accurate, more consistent and higher than any other driver and she loves it. She also says she doesn't have to hold back but can be aggressive and really go after her tee shots. She now hits a high draw with excellent distance.
One drawback is the lack of adjustability on the driver such as loft, lie angle and movable weights. Also, with my driver, I cannot be aggressive and try to really launch my tee shots. I firmly believe this is due to my R2(senior) flex shaft may be too soft.
The score is primarily due to the lack of adjustability and distance. Would of thought a premium club such as this would give exceptional distance.
On Course
The following On-Course comments will be divided between me and my wife.
Wife On-Course score 4.8 out of 5.
My wife has nothing but praise and is very impressed with the Honma Beres Aizu 3 star driver. She hits it straighter, higher, is more consistent than ever and firmly believes it saves her 3-4 strokes per round. Because it is easier to hit and very accurate, it gives her confidence it tight fairway situations. Distance is as good as her current driver. As mentioned earlier, the alignment markers on the crown and art work on the crown and shaft, are items she definitely likes. These are not distractions to her. Suggested changes are minor which include lack of adjustability and ability to choose crown and shaft colors, which are important to women.
Men's On-Course score 4.5 out 5.
On the course, this driver delivers. Shots are high, straight and can be counted to be in the fairway, especially when faced with narrow fairways and shot placement is critical. This driver is not longer than my current driver, but is consistent since it is easy to hit and accurate. Because of its accuracy and ease of hitting, you won't be in much trouble off the tee. This driver has a draw bias, is non-adjustable and working the ball is difficult. Even though the artwork on the crown and shaft are eye-catching, these factors are not noticed once play is underway. Love the multi alignment marks on the crown. The following score is based on the inability to really jump on the drive (hitting it hard) and the lack of adjustability. The fact that I can't hit it hard is not because of the driver but not having the correct shaft flex.
The Good, the bad, the in-between 4.5 out of 5.
There are many very good things to say about these drivers. The first is the attention to detail in the artwork on the driver crown and the shaft, even the driver face, which appears to be a representation of the Rising Sun. Definitely an attention getter. There is nothing like this on the market.
Next, this is a very forgiving driver. It's easy to hit, has very good ball speed almost anywhere on the club face and produces a high launch. An easy swing produces very good results, however, if I try to hit it hard and step on it, the result is a hard hook and inconsistency. But I attribute this to the senior flex shaft that was given to me, which may not be a good fit. In contrast, my wife's driver/shaft combo is a perfect fit. She can hit it as hard as she likes with excellent results. She gets a high draw and not the fade she gets with her current driver. Distance is very good and about the same as her current driver.
Drawbacks include lack of adjustability or workability, no choice of grip size and no head cover for the ladies driver to protect the artwork on the crown.
Play it of Trade it 5.0 out of 5.
Besides being nice to have and show off, these drivers are definite keepers for us for many reasons.
My wife firmly believes her driving with this club is saving her 3-4 shots per round. This is primarily due to her increased confidence in hitting fairways because this driver is so easy to hit, is very forgiving with a predictable ball flight. The trajectory is a high with a slight draw. No more fade shots to the right. The color pink and graphics on the crown and shaft are initially eye catching but quickly forgotten once play as begun.
My thoughts and impressions are similar to my wife. As stated earlier, I hit it very well even off the deck as long as I swing easy, but I don't get good results when trying to hit it hard. Again, this is due to not having the correct shaft and has nothing to do with the driver. However, as I get older and my swing speed decreases, this driver will be the perfect fit.
As initially stated by Honma, these drivers are ONLY for low to medium swing speed golfers. For women with low swing speeds (60-70 mph), the L flex shaft appears to be a perfect fit, producing a high ball flight, very good distance with a straight or slight draw. Men, however, need to be fitted for the correct shaft flex..
The drivers are definitely "high end" pieces of golf gear and could be considered a fair price for those with deep pockets.
Conclusion
Every lady with a low or medium swing speed would love to have this driver in her bag. It makes a statement first,. with it's uniqueness in terms of style, graphics, color and overall looks, and second, in its light weight and playability. Due to its draw bias, it definitely reduces slicing, it's ease to hit, it's forgiving and unfortunately, it's very costly. However, from a golfers point of view, this is a very good driver. From my wife's point of view, it would be nice to have a head cover, a choice of driver colors and choice of grip, but there is nothing objectionable about this driver. She loves it!
I also find this driver to be accurate, forgiving and easy to hit. First impressions were the ball seems to stay in the air forever. Great trajectory! It appears to have a built in draw bias so slicing is eliminated or greatly reduced.
As with the ladies driver, the graphics and style make this an eye catcher out of the bag. I would definitely buy this club if the price was not so steep.
Final Score 27.5 out of 30.