Phabs WITB -Nitrided Nikes / Raw Bridgestone J15's / Artisan

[Phabs]

Thursday night projects…

 

With the tip weights from the vapor fly pro’s the blades were sledgehammers at almost D6.  Had to pull the brass tip weights and now they’re right at D2.5 dry which is in a way better spot.   I’m between D2 and D4 pretty much through the bag and lighter in my long clubs versus the wedges. 
 

I’ll glue these up tonight and use them the remainder of the year.  This winter I’ll get them black nitrided and hopefully find a 3 iron head I can build into a driving iron.  
 

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Phabs

[BallerNate]

9 hours ago, Phabs said:

Thursday night projects…

 

With the tip weights from the vapor fly pro’s the blades were sledgehammers at almost D6.  Had to pull the brass tip weights and now they’re right at D2.5 dry which is in a way better spot.   I’m between D2 and D4 pretty much through the bag and lighter in my long clubs versus the wedges. 
 

I’ll glue these up tonight and use them the remainder of the year.  This winter I’ll get them black nitrided and hopefully find a 3 iron head I can build into a driving iron.  
 

 

Those…are….gorgeous!!! 😍😍

 

Too bad Nike doesn’t make clubs anymore…I’m sure they’d be making some incredible stuff with today’s technology.

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, Phabs said:

Thursday night projects…

 

With the tip weights from the vapor fly pro’s the blades were sledgehammers at almost D6.  Had to pull the brass tip weights and now they’re right at D2.5 dry which is in a way better spot.   I’m between D2 and D4 pretty much through the bag and lighter in my long clubs versus the wedges. 
 

I’ll glue these up tonight and use them the remainder of the year.  This winter I’ll get them black nitrided and hopefully find a 3 iron head I can build into a driving iron.  
 

 

One of the folks on here I am always interested in when you post as in what you are cooking up now? 

[Phabs]

2 hours ago, BallerNate said:

Those…are….gorgeous!!! 😍😍

 

Too bad Nike doesn’t make clubs anymore…I’m sure they’d be making some incredible stuff with today’s technology.

They made seriously some of the nicest stuff iron wise I’ve built.  They knew what they were doing - pretty rare to build two heads and have them both swing weight to the exact same number dry.  Part of the reason artisan is what it is… 

[Phabs]

2 hours ago, BIG STU said:

One of the folks on here I am always interested in when you post as in what you are cooking up now? 

Haha.  I’m slowing down on the buying… just trying to figure out what graphite option is best.  I’ve got an elbow that’s never happy between 5 days a week in the gym and range time.  Hoping graphite will calm one of them down.  
 

No more putters and my next iron set will be an Artisan set probably this winter with whatever graphite shaft I find works.  Nike blades are here to stay but the MP20’s will need to get moved for the artisans downpayment. 

[Phabs]

First round tomorrow morning with the Accra.  Going to try and layup intentionally to around 200 yards out a few times so I can get some swings on the 7 iron I have shafted up.  Playing a course I always seem to score well on but I’m blowing the dust off my Nikes for tomorrow so my ball striking better be A1. 

 

Went and hit another 50-60 balls with the Accra tonight and it’s great.  My knockdown swing with the Accra is super accurate with a controlled flat ball flight.  
 

I did order up a 105x Fuji Axiom yesterday to stick into a 6 iron head I have.  Going to give it a fair shake against the Accra but I can’t see the Fuji being massively better one way or another.  The only thing I saw in the fitting was the axioms peak height and spin numbers closely matched my 6.5’s I’m in currently.  The Accras were a little lower launching and less spinny. 
 

The Accras are about a third of the price of the Axioms so the fujis are going to have to seriously show me something to justify the coin. 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Phabs

[Phabs]

Accra 105 didnt work out for me.  Ordered a 115 this afternoon to try and still waiting on the axiom to come in.  
 

I was turning the 105 over about 15 yards more than my MP20 with the 6.5’s.  Going to go stiffer and heavier and see what happens 

[Phabs]

Putting drill from hell night.  Now I remember why I hate this drill so much.  
 

Axiom and Accra 115 will be here Monday and we’ll shaft those up and see if they’re any better than the 105x. 

[Phabs]

Round two of graphite testing. 

 

I also found a 3 iron and built a nice impossible to hit driving iron.  It’s really not that bad - nice low boring trajectory with the LAGP 105x in it. 

[BagofToast]

1 hour ago, Phabs said:

Round two of graphite testing. 

 

I also found a 3 iron and built a nice impossible to hit driving iron.  It’s really not that bad - nice low boring trajectory with the LAGP 105x in it. 

A or L series? 

[Phabs]

1 hour ago, BagofToast said:

A or L series? 

A series low 5 flex

Edited October 7, 2023 by Phabs

[Phabs]

Just finished building up a 6 iron with the axiom in it.  I’ve been tinkering with club building for about 2 years now and I’m decent at it.  Know enough to be dangerous…I think the axioms would be pretty challenging for an amateur builder to get set up correctly at standard steel lengths.  I’ve never got along with anything over standard in shaft length in irons. 
 

I’ve got 6-7 grams of tape on the 6 iron head and it’s still at D0.  I didn’t was to waste my time down in the C weights banging balls.   I don’t know how’d you get these to D2 or whatever the happy place turns out to be with them with how the shafts designed.  I’m sure you’d be boring the tips out for tip weights which I’m not sure I’d be comfortable doing with 800 bucks in graphite. 

Edited October 7, 2023 by Phabs

[BagofToast]

3 hours ago, Phabs said:

A series low 5 flex

How do you like it? Thought about pulling the trigger on one for my 2i but still haven't.

[Phabs]

On 10/6/2023 at 10:33 PM, BagofToast said:

How do you like it? Thought about pulling the trigger on one for my 2i but still haven't.

Only hit about 20 balls with it but the flight is nice and controlled.  Feels similar to my KBS tour prototype in my 2 iron.   It’s stiff but doesnt lack feel. 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Phabs

[Phabs]

On 10/6/2023 at 10:33 PM, BagofToast said:

How do you like it? Thought about pulling the trigger on one for my 2i but still haven't.

Played today with it and hit it quite a bit off the tee.  I really like the LAGP shaft, it’s a little softer than the KBS prototype.  Little more kick, ball flight is really good 

Edited October 8, 2023 by Phabs

[BagofToast]

3 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Played today with it and hit it quite a bit off the tee.  I really like the LAGP shaft, it’s a little softer than the KBS prototype.  Little more kick, ball flight is really good 

Good to hear. Hopefully PXG release the 0317x so I have an excuse to change shafts lol. 

[Phabs]

I'm about 300 balls in to shaft testing with the Accra 115 and the Axiom 105x.  I have the Accra in a pro combo Nike 7 iron and the Axiom in a pro combo 6 iron head.  The Accra is at D2 and the Axiom I have at D1 after doing some testing - both have about 8-9 grams of tape on the heads to get to those weights.  I'm playing both shafts at the same length as my 6.5 Project x's which are a 1/4" short the new 'standard' length most manufactures ship 

 

Both shafts are extremely similar in the air and actually feel very similar swinging them.   If I had to I think I could definitely play either shaft - the axiom is the better looking of the two but I'm biased to black iron shafts. 

 

Accra is easier to work both ways and flies a touch lower than the Axiom.   I had both shafts out last week in about a 10-20mph cross wind and the Accra was far far less effected by the wind versus the Axiom.   I could still work the ball right to left in to a cut wind and could also knock the Accra down and play a wind pushed cut no problem.   Distance wise compared to my VR Pro 7 iron with the Project X 6.5 it's with in a yard +/- 

 

Axiom in the same wind wasn't nearly as controllable.  I had to really try and turn the ball over right to left to get it to hold it's flight line and it really seemed to want to cut 10-20 yards on every swing, even knock downs.  My hunch is the Axiom isn't spinning enough for me and is more prone to be effected by the wind.   Distance wise the Axiom is nearly identical to my VR Pro 6 iron head with a 6.5 Project X

 

Going to get probably 3-4 more range sessions in on both shafts and I have a fall tournament next Friday, Saturday and Sunday to close the year out.   2 man Alternate shot Friday - 2 man best ball Saturday and 2 man scramble Sunday 

 

I'm also pretty set on ending up in a set of Artisan irons this winter.  Going to have to move my MP20's and some other parts to get some funds drummed up but it'll be worth it.   Listened to a podcast with Mike Taylor on it yesterday on a 2.5 hour drive and listening to how much care and attention to detail he puts in to every set of heads is awesome.   My artisan putter has developed a 'ting' that's driving me nuts so it's benched right now until I can get it figured out. 

Edited October 14, 2023 by Phabs

[MattM97]

57 minutes ago, Phabs said:

I'm about 300 balls in to shaft testing with the Accra 115 and the Axiom 105x.  I have the Accra in a pro combo Nike 7 iron and the Axiom in a pro combo 6 iron head.  The Accra is at D2 and the Axiom I have at D1 after doing some testing - both have about 8-9 grams of tape on the heads to get to those weights.  I'm playing both shafts at the same length as my 6.5 Project x's which are a 1/4" short the new 'standard' length most manufactures ship 

 

Both shafts are extremely similar in the air and actually feel very similar swinging them.   If I had to I think I could definitely play either shaft - the axiom is the better looking of the two but I'm biased to black iron shafts. 

 

Accra is easier to work both ways and flies a touch lower than the Axiom.   I had both shafts out last week in about a 10-20mph cross wind and the Accra was far far less effected by the wind versus the Axiom.   I could still work the ball right to left in to a cut wind and could also knock the Accra down and play a wind pushed cut no problem.   Distance wise compared to my VR Pro 7 iron with the Project X 6.5 it's with in a yard +/- 

 

Axiom in the same wind wasn't nearly as controllable.  I had to really try and turn the ball over right to left to get it to hold it's flight line and it really seemed to want to cut 10-20 yards on every swing, even knock downs.  My hunch is the Axiom isn't spinning enough for me and is more prone to be effected by the wind.   Distance wise the Axiom is nearly identical to my VR Pro 6 iron head with a 6.5 Project X

 

Going to get probably 3-4 more range sessions in on both shafts and I have a fall tournament next Friday, Saturday and Sunday to close the year out.   2 man Alternate shot Friday - 2 man best ball Saturday and 2 man scramble Sunday 

 

I'm also pretty set on ending up in a set of Artisan irons this winter.  Going to have to move my MP20's and some other parts to get some funds drummed up but it'll be worth it.   Listened to a podcast with Mike Taylor on it yesterday on a 2.5 hour drive and listening to how much care and attention to detail he puts in to every set of heads is awesome.   My artisan putter has developed a 'ting' that's driving me nuts so it's benched right now until I can get it figured out. 

 

Sounds like the Accra shafts will be the winner and your wallet will probably be much happier with them.

 

Also those Artisan irons will be sick, don't skimp on the updates or anything with them.

 

The putter part sucks I'm sure John will get that fixed up for you, so odd it suddenly started doing that. The neck loosen a bit?

[Phabs]

22 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

Sounds like the Accra shafts will be the winner and your wallet will probably be much happier with them.

 

Also those Artisan irons will be sick, don't skimp on the updates or anything with them.

 

The putter part sucks I'm sure John will get that fixed up for you, so odd it suddenly started doing that. The neck loosen a bit?

Yeah financially I’d appreciate the Accra 🤣

 

On the putter I have no idea.  I noticed it first putting from the fringe when the balls hitting higher in the face.  Now it’s all the sudden it’s any putt outside about 15 feet it’ll ting.  I’ve got a hunch it’s an acoustic thing with the titanium neck and carbon head.   If I’d of known that I’d of done carbon on both in hindsight 

[MattM97]

4 minutes ago, Phabs said:

Yeah financially I’d appreciate the Accra 🤣

 

On the putter I have no idea.  I noticed it first putting from the fringe when the balls hitting higher in the face.  Now it’s all the sudden it’s any putt outside about 15 feet it’ll ting.  I’ve got a hunch it’s an acoustic thing with the titanium neck and carbon head.   If I’d of known that I’d of done carbon on both in hindsight 

 

It's just odd that it's suddenly happening now after all the putts you've hit with it. But if that's the case probably not hard for John to get you a carbon neck in place of the titanium one as long as the balance doesn't get thrown off much.

[Phabs]

1 minute ago, MattM97 said:

 

It's just odd that it's suddenly happening now after all the putts you've hit with it. But if that's the case probably not hard for John to get you a carbon neck in place of the titanium one as long as the balance doesn't get thrown off much.

I haven’t even contacted them about it.  Not too worried about it right now 

[Phabs]

Spoke to Artisan tonight about the putter.  Cool of them to answer after hours on social media.  Going to ship it down to them this week so they can try and duplicate the sound and figure out a fix. 
 

Im hoping it’s just a neck material change. 

Edited October 19, 2023 by Phabs

[Phabs]

Probably my last round of the year today.  Shot even from the tips at 7300 on a private course as a twosome with my buddy who's the member.  Had a launch monitor with me for the round just to confirm what I was seeing with the graphite iron shafts. 
 

Axioms are a great shaft just for someone else.  They spin 1000 less than my 6.5’s and fly about 15 feet higher which is fine until it gets windy, then they turn into knuckle balls that I can’t control or get to fight the wind. Ran the same test on 10 shots, same lie, same ball, similar strike and compared. 
 

Accras I’m still fighting a little over draw but after using the monitor I see it’s a release issue. Not the shafts fault.  Accras are almost identical stat wise to my 6.5’s in terms of height and spin.

 

Was pleased to see when I swing how I’m supposed to with the driver its about as optimized as it could be. Ball speed was low 180’s , 12* launch and 2100 spin with the maxfli tour x ball I’m messing with. 
 

Bought a dozen of the tour x maxflis on a deal to play this fall and they’re an awesome budget ball.  Similar to the V1X - my only issue is the cover shreds bad off full wedges and it doesn’t spin near enough on partial wedge shots from 40-80 yards.  It was 1800rpm lower than the BXS I usually play on the same shots with similar quality strikes.  Was super beneficial to get 4 hours of education with the launch monitor in real course conditions/situations. 

Edited October 28, 2023 by Phabs

[Phabs]

Well here we go…

 

Just ordered ferrules for them and got them dry weighted all to D3.  
 

John from Artisan called me and let me know I’m not an idiot - the putter definitely has a spot that makes a significantly diff sound versus the rest of the head.  He’s pulling the neck out now and looking deeper into it.  

[MattM97]

Those irons look awesome and glad to hear about the putter getting looked at. 

[Phabs]

57 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

Those irons look awesome and glad to hear about the putter getting looked at. 

Thanks I’m excited to get em built up and hit a few.  I’ve got my two sets of lifer irons now. 

[AlohaPineapple]

beautiful irons, definitely a lifer set!

[Phabs]

Got these all assembled and paint filled today.  Going to get them loft and lied tomorrow.  Trying out a new grip on them which should be here tomorrow. 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by Phabs

[glm]

DAMN!!!!!

[Phabs]

Artisans are loft/lie’d and new Lamkin UTX Cords are installed.  My putter is still down in Ft. Worth with the guys at Artisan.  I got ahold of them last week and ordered a 4 iron HM head to complete this set.  They’re sending it with the putter so hopefully next month I’ll have the Artisan set complete 4-PW. 
 

Sent the 3w and 5w heads out to Clarion Clubworks to have roughly 6g's of hotmelt stuck in each head in a neutral location up against the face.  Regripped both those and the Aerojet with the grey UTX’s as well.  
 

I’ve got 3 more Nike heads I need to get to TigerNick for Nitride.  After that both my forever sets are complete.  
 

My MMC’s got snapped up pretty quickly once I listed them for sale and I've got my backup set of MP15’s to still get rid off.  Once the 15’s are gone , I’ll be down to two sets of irons for the first time in my life 🤣

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by Phabs