Honma Golf Clubs Reviewed
There are very few golf brands you can count on for consistently amazing results.
Honma is one of those brands. After testing golf clubs of all kinds for many years now, I still get giddy every time a Honma club comes my way. Even the lower-end Honma clubs outperform many major golf club OEM products.
And if you have ever played a Honma golf club before then you know what I’m talking about. But what makes Honma golf clubs so good? What are some of their best models? We will be answering these questions and more in the following brand review.
A Brief History of Honma Golf Clubs
Surprisingly, Honma isn’t as old as some of its rival companies. The company was established in 1959. While Honma is hush-hush with the names of its founders, we do know that the company started in a small workshop in Yokohama Japan.
But at that time, they were calling themselves the Tsurumi Golf Center Company. In the 1960’s the company was renamed to Honma Golf Club Manufacturing Company as they started to produce more clubs.
From then, the fame of the company spread throughout Asia. In the last couple of decades, the hype has made its way Stateside.
Where Are Honma Golf Clubs Made?
In 1981, Honma moved production of their clubs from Yokohama, Japan to Sakata, Yamagata, Japan. Amazingly, this is still where Honma golf clubs are produced.
Who Makes Honma Golf Clubs?
Honma is very proud to mention that they are one of the few companies that oversee their entire production process. From conception to manufacturing, all Honma golf clubs are made in-house by the company.
Why Are Honma Golf Clubs so Expensive?
Honma is a premium golf club brand. As such, their products tend to be on the pricey side. But there is a reason for that: the company frequently uses high-end materials and prioritizes premium looks. So you not only get high-performance clubs with Honma, you get really great-looking ones as well.
Does Honma Make Good Clubs? Is Honma A Good Brand?
Largely, Honma is known for making premium, tour-grade clubs that have been used by the likes of Justin Rose on the PGA Tour. But personally, I know Honma to be a solid brand. They employ a meticulous design and production process and use only the finest materials.
I believe that Honma is a good brand because no matter which club you choose, you can always count on solid performance and durability.
Honma Golf Clubs
#1 – Honma XP1 Driver
#2 – Honma TR20 Driver
#3 – Honma TW747 Driver
#4 – Honma XP1 Irons
#5 – Honma Beres Irons
#1 – Honma XP1 Driver Review
The Honma XP1 driver features a channel behind the face similar to Taylormade’s Speed Pocket. It basically allows the face to flex more and produce more ball speed on thin shots. It also features a super-lightweight carbon crown and a 43-gram Vizard shaft.
Overall this shaft produces really good club head and ball speeds. I found that the shaft, as light as it is, was also very stable and kept up with my slightly aggressive tempo. And did I mention that Honma also makes all their stock shafts in-house?
The Honma XP1 also has internal draw bias so it is a good option if you need to correct a slice. This driver looks very clean and unassuming at address. All you can see is the matte black carbon crown. It doesn’t have any adjustability features so the versatility (especially with the internal draw weighting) is limited.
Still, this is a very fast-feeling and fast-performing driver. I also noticed that it was very easy for me to turn the club over and square up near perfectly on almost all my swings.
Who is it for?
The Honma XP1 driver would be a good choice for anyone looking for a lightweight driver. If your driver swing speed is between 70 and 80 MPH, this will be a likely fit for you. And obviously, if you have a big rightward miss, the internal draw bias will help you straighten your shot out.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Doesn’t distract you at point of address
- Produces good club head speed
- Controlled launch
- One of the more affordable Honma driver options
Cons:
- No adjustability features
Overall Score: 96/100
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#2 – Honma TR20 Driver Review
The Honma TR20 combines a titanium frame with a carbon fiber body to deliver lightweight performance and stability. And unlike our last entry, it has adjustable weights and an adjustable hosel.
In my opinion, the TR20 club does everything the XP1 driver does and more. Like the XP1, the TR20 is exceptionally lightweight. I was able to get ball speeds that exceeded 160 MPH with the TR20. The sole is even made of graphite to keep the overall weight down and overall speed up. The face even bears a variable thickness design to promote better ball speed and dispersion on mis-hits.
Who is it for?
The Honma TR20 driver is a great choice if you are looking for a combination of excellent club head speed and versatility. It’s also an excellent choice if you want a low-spin driver.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Adjustable weights
- Variable face thickness
- Very workable
Cons:
- 440cc head may be unforgiving for some players
Overall Score: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
#3 – Honma TW747 Driver Review
The Honma TW747 also features a proprietary carbon crown in combination with a 455cc head to generate fast club head speeds. But there are bracing bars inside the head much like the Jailbreak bars of Callaway clubs.
This helps to increase stability on shots made near the perimeter of the face. Overall, I found the Honma TW747 driver to be very workable and surprisingly forgiving. Even with the 455cc head volume, I was able to use the entirety of the face and not send my ball into the trees.
Who is it for?
The Honma TW747 is a very unique blend of workability and forgiveness. I feel it would be best for mid handicappers actively attempting to work their way into single-digit handicap territory.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Compact head design
- Good shot-shaping capability
- The face plays hot
Cons:
- It’s expensive
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
#4 – Honma XP1 Irons Review
The Honma XP1 iron set has a very interesting configuration. The long irons have hollow bodies with tungsten weights in the sole while the short irons have a solid cavity back design.
For me, this made the long irons play very long but it made the shorter irons a bit harder to control in terms of launch. While I usually prefer higher launch in my short irons, I noticed that the Honma XP1 short irons were ballooning a bit.
Other than that though, these irons were very impressive. They have a very clean look at address even though the head shaping and size is reminiscent of game improvement irons. The face plays incredibly hot and I was getting some really nice ball speeds as a result.
The stock shaft is a Vizard graphite fiber 63-gram shaft. The lightweight shaft wasn’t ideal for my slightly aggressive tempo and I feel like I left some yardage on the table as a result. But for players with more moderate tempos, this should work just fine.
The Honma XP1 irons allow for moderate workability but overall, I think they are better as game improvement/distance irons. The large head profile makes it easier to strike anywhere on the face and still achieve playable lies while the hollow body design ensures excellent distance.
Who Are They for?
The Honma XP1 irons are best for mid to high handicap players who tend to use the whole club face. This set would also be a good fit for players with moderate tempos. Plus, you can get the entire set (5-SW) for around $600 making this one of the most affordable Honma iron sets.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- High launch
- One of the more affordable Honma iron sets
- Great long iron distance
Cons:
- Not great for players with fast swing speeds and aggressive tempos
Overall Score: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
#5 – Honma Beres Irons Review
The Honma Beres Irons are arguably the most iconic irons this company produces. These are premium forged irons with a no-weld face design that helps increase the sweet spot by a significant margin.
When golfers hear “forged irons” they typically think of butter knives. That is not the case with the Honma Beres Irons. The Beres irons have a moderate head size and high toe area to make them easier to hit with.
Indeed, I got into a groove with these irons after just a few swings. They launch low and have an incredibly soft, smooth feel at impact.
Who Are They for?
The Honma Beres Irons are a good fit for players who prefer a boring trajectory and exceptional feel. I would recommend them for low and mid handicappers.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Good for aggressive tempos
- Great distance
- Soft feel
Cons:
- Sounds a bit thin
Overall Score: 97/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Final Thoughts
Honma clubs are excellent choices because they simply work for all kinds of golfers.
Whether you are looking for a GI driver or premium irons, you can hardly go wrong with Honma. Plus, Honma golf clubs have gone down a bit in price over the last few years so now is a great time to check them out.
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
