EPON AF-206 Fairway Wood Test Review
Recently, I had the opportunity to test out this golf club.
The club I tested was the EPON AF-206 5-wood.
The shaft used is the FUJIKURA Speeder NX 60.
The loft is 18 degrees, the club length is 42 inches, the shaft flex is S, the shaft weight is 63.5g, the balance is D2, the torque is 3.7, and the kick point is mid-flex. The total club weight is 328g.
This is a simple yet very stylish fairway wood.
When you think of EPON, it’s undoubtedly the simple elegance that stands out, isn’t it?
From the name and the head design, it feels like this club would pair perfectly with the AF-106 that I tested recently.
Nowadays, many clubs feature various innovations, but revisiting such a simple design made me appreciate its appeal once again.
Indeed, “Simple is Best.”
The rounded sole and the shallow design are quite noticeable.
Although shallow fairway woods are quite common nowadays, it’s clear that the thickness has been greatly reduced compared to older models.
When compared to the older AF-201 model, the difference is evident, but it’s a reflection of the times.
Shallow is good, and deep is not necessarily bad either. It really comes down to personal preference. However, with so many shallow designs in the market today, if you prefer deeper ones, you may find fewer options available.
Just like with drivers and other woods, I really appreciate how beautifully crafted the sole is on EPON clubs.
The titanium material is delicately shaped, almost like soft paper being molded with precision.
This craftsmanship showcases the impressive level of technology EPON brings to its clubs.
I previously wrote about how Hyogo Prefecture is famous for its ‘swordsmith culture’ and Niigata Prefecture for its ‘pot and pan making culture.’ It’s these metalworking skills, passed down through generations, that have been adapted into modern golf club designs, and I believe they’re a key part of EPON’s success.
The fine art of forging, which is different from sword making, has long been a refined skill in Japan.
Japan is home to many “world’s bests,” and it’s clear that in the realm of metalworking, Japan unquestionably holds the top position. You can feel this excellence when you see the craftsmanship of this club.
The sole design is simple and clean.
I don’t think there’s any special internal weighting or innovations in the head.
Some might believe that clubs with added features like extra weight or special enhancements perform better or hit farther, but that’s not always the case.
The neck length is standard, and it does not feature any adjustable system.
The face is simple and very clean.
There are no milling patterns or other special features on the face.
Somehow, it reminded me of the crazy FW I tested previously.
It’s a shallow design, but not excessively thin, so I’d say it’s a ‘normal shallow’ model.
I often think that a deeper design might be better for a 3-wood, as it could offer more control and consistency in launch, but this type of design hasn’t appeared much lately.
This could be due to the trend of low-spin golf balls on the market today.
The face looks amazing.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw it. The beauty of the face didn’t disappoint.
This beautiful design conveys a sense of grace.
How can I express the beauty of this face? As I pondered, I thought of sumo rankings. This club is definitely the ‘East Yokozuna’ of fairway woods.
With the increase in carbon crowns in modern clubs, I checked to see if this club has a carbon crown, but I didn’t see any carbon patterns up close.
This original grip is also stylish.
EPON fans will definitely appreciate this.
The new grip from EPON feels different from past models.
The grip pattern has been modernized, providing a soft feel with excellent traction.
When I swung it, it felt really good.
I feel like I’ve come across this shaft quite often lately. Is this year’s trend shifting toward this kind of shaft?
It’s a bit lighter than most fairway woods, but after swinging it a few times, I got the timing down and it felt comfortable.
It’s very easy to set up.
There is no discomfort in the alignment, and it looks neutral.
While the 3-wood tends to have a flatter face, this club handles that “showing of the face” quite beautifully.
EPON has definitely paid close attention to the look (setup feel), and I believe it’s been crafted with great care.
This meticulous attention to detail is typical of Japanese manufacturers, showcasing their sensitivity and precision. It never feels rough or clumsy.
Test Hits Begin
The ‘feel’ at impact is excellent.
It pairs well with the AF-106, and I think this is a fairway wood that can be used seamlessly.
It has a soft feel without being mushy, and you can clearly feel the quality of the ball off the face.
The ‘sound’ is a pleasant metallic tone that gently stirs your heart.
It’s a sound you’d love to hear over and over again. I was entranced by it.
Even if a club hits far, if the sound isn’t right, I can’t fully accept it. But this sound? It’s perfect. I’m completely satisfied.
I’d call it a ‘comforting beautiful sound.’ It’s a tone that calms your mind and makes you feel at ease.
The ball goes up easily like a typical fairway wood, but in comparison with other clubs, it feels rather standard.
There aren’t any special features designed to make the ball launch higher, but it’s not a tough club either. It has all the necessary qualities.
Even with a direct hit, this fairway wood can easily produce enough height.
I tested the 5-wood today, but I’d love to try the 3-wood if I get the chance in the future.
The ‘stability’ is quite high, and the overall feel is solid.
Unlike the more high-tech fairway woods, which tend to be more resistant to twisting, I found this club’s stability to be sufficient on its own.
While it’s a stylish club, it doesn’t give off any impression of being too finicky.
Sometimes, when testing high-tech woods, I feel like they’re hard to control or don’t communicate well with the player. This club, however, allows clear communication with the player.
The ‘distance performance’ is excellent, and you can feel its high potential.
The excellent rebound and high trajectory really stand out.
With a comfortable feel and sound, I was able to swing smoothly, and this helped further increase the distance.
It reminded me of the AF-202, which was known for its distance.
Perhaps this club was developed based on that legendary model.
It offers a different type of distance from the high-tech woods—a ‘basic-type distance,’ which focuses on a natural feel and synergy between the player and club.
This club doesn’t feel like it’s just about maximizing distance, but more about providing a solid connection between the player and the club.
The ‘control’ is quite good, and the club responds well to left-to-right shots.
Despite its stability, it’s also responsive when you want to shape shots.
Some might worry that the smaller, flatter face will make it harder to square up the ball, but it’s actually very easy to close the face and get solid contact.
While there’s a trend toward automated fairways that resist bending, I think there’s value in using a more traditional, basic club like this to refine your shot-making.
Post-Test Impressions
This fairway wood is beautiful and satisfies the desire to own it.
Just having this club in your bag boosts your excitement.
While it may not have the convenience features of some modern high-tech clubs, I think this simplicity is actually a big plus for golfers.
As I wrote recently, many modern clubs have become overly convenient, but in the process, they often lose their balance.
This loss of balance can sometimes dull or confuse the player’s sensitivity.
The personality of this club is strong, but it doesn’t take the player’s work away.
Clubs like this, which provide just the right amount of features while enhancing the player’s skill, are likely to come into the spotlight in the future.
With excellent feel and sound, this club makes golfing more enjoyable while helping you improve your game.
This is a stylish club, but it also has excellent ball flight. It’s not too difficult to hit, making it suitable not only for advanced players but also for those looking to level up their game.
I was able to truly appreciate the high feel performance of this club during my thorough testing.
☆
Ease of setup: ☆☆☆☆☆
Feel: ☆☆☆☆☆
Sound: ☆☆☆☆☆
Launchability: ☆☆☆
Stability: ☆☆☆
Distance performance: ☆☆☆☆
Control: ☆☆☆☆
* (100-point scale)
☆1 = 0-20
☆2 = 21-40
☆3 = 41-60
☆4 = 61-90
☆5 = 91-100
