On the surface, a collaboration of golf equipment between Honma and Malbon it might sound a little, well, weird.
Dig a little below the surface, though, and it’s still a little weird.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t fun.
And, remember, golf is a game. Games are supposed to be fun.
The joint press release announcing this unlikely partnership states that this complete limited edition boxed collection is, ahem“a rare collaboration through which cultivated elegance meets the vibrant pulse of American youth.”
Now, there are many, many miles between me and the vibrant pulse of American youth, but I’ll keep at it.
So read on, friends. If you’re a cash-strapped young Malbon fan, you’ll enjoy this one. If you’re not, you might want to go back to the front page and find something else to read. Things in the end probably won’t make you happy.
Sakata, Japan, in LA…
“Partnering with Honma felt like a seamless fit,” Malbon co-founders Stephen and Erica Malbon said in a prepared statement. “Our shared commitment to precision and compelling design drives this collaboration, reflected in a curated collection of clubs and accessories for our player.”
it Honma X Malbon Collaboration contains two complete collections packed with all fixes. The “Performance” collection is designed for what collaborators call competitive player. The Premium Collection features Honma’s luxurious Beres Four-Star line. I can’t describe it like the press release writers, so I’ll let them tell the story:
“The designs blend timeless Japanese artistry with modern expression – where each club carries the spirit of its creator and each swing reflects a new era of golf defined by energy, creativity and style.”
Yeah, I couldn’t write that.
Performance Collection
Based on Honma’s modest line of Beres Nx clubs, Performance Collection features Honma-manufactured Vizard graphite shafts throughout the set, except for the thrower. It is a complete set of 14 pieces. Male wooden heads are a rich emerald green color (Honma calls the color Midori), while female ones are a rose gold color called Tonoko.
The driver (called simply Honma/Malbon Performance Driver) is adjustable and available in nine and 10.5 degree lofts. The irons are definitely game improving (with a 7-iron 27). They are cast with a forged L-Cup face and heavy tungsten weight for a low center of gravity. The iron set includes a Honma 10 and 11 iron, as well as an iron wedge and sand wedge.
Premier Collection
of Premier Collection is based on Honma’s Beres Four-Star ultra-fast line. As you might expect, there is a lot of gold and exotic materials used throughout the country. As is common with this category, the whole set is lightweight and designed for the player with slower movement speed with a lot of money.
The men’s kit is gilded in black and gold (Steelers colors, but Honma calls it Sumi and Tonoko), while the women’s set is Shishi and Tonokopink and gold. The irons are higher launch super game improvers with a 7-30 degree iron. They also feature forged L-Cup face technology and a tungsten truck.
The Premier Collection features a CNC-milled blade instead of a hammer.
About that logo
People often ask what animal is in Honma’s distinctive logo. It’s a mole that is, as the PR folks put it, “born of Sakata’s masterful quiet precision and curiosity and joy for the game.”
After the collaboration with Malbon, that mole looks like he spent the week partying with the beautiful people in LA They say the logo combines the mole with Malbon’s mascot, named “Buckets.” Again, I can’t do it justice, so I’ll let the PR people take over.
“At first glance, each comes from very different worlds: one, the free spirit of Los Angeles street culture; the other, the cultivated elegance of Japanese tradition. Together, they form a unique mark that represents something more.
“This is more than equipment. It’s craftsmanship meets culture, heritage meets modernity and the celebration of a new spirit of golf.”
Well, I like this kind of talk.
The new Honma X Malbon collaboration is how much???
Before I activate that particular explosive device, I need to say two things.
First, even though I’m not of that demographic, collaborations like this are a good thing for golf. Remember, if you don’t play on Sundays for a paycheck, you play for fun. Collaborations are fun and fun is good.
Second, the prices are what they are. Declaring something “overpriced” is more of a value judgment than anything else. Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it, pure and simple. For some, a Ferrari is an unattainable luxury. For others, it’s their second car. I may make fun, but I try not to judge.
That said, let’s get to it.
Honma X Malbon Collaboration Performance Collection the kit is $5,800. This includes 14 clubs, headgear and bag.
of Premium Collection the kit is $20,000. This also includes 14 clubs, headgear, the bag and a Ferrari.
(Me baby, me baby. Ferrari is extra.)
Honma is also offering one line of accessories for each collection, including Boston bags ($250 to $389), golf balls ($81 per dozen), golf gloves ($67 each) and towels ($81).
Both collections are available now at Honma AND bad websites and will launch globally this month at select Honma and Malbon retailers.
Post Honma x Malbon Collaboration: “Culturally Curated” appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
