50 Words or Less
The Honma TW-S golf ball is a soft, high flying Tour-style golf ball. The Honma TW-X golf ball is similar but with a firmer feel. The Honma D1 is built for distance and value, but it punches above its weight in short game spin.
Introduction
Honma is best known for their high end BERES drivers [review HERE] and their forged irons, such as the TW757 VX [review HERE], but they’ve recently made their way into the world of golf balls. Their new line includes three models: two Tour-caliber balls in the TW-S and TW-X and an affordable, distance first model in the D1. I tested all three to see how they compare to the established names in this space.
Feel
On the green, the Honma D1 punches above its weight in terms of feel. While the ionomer cover is firm, the sound is much quieter than I expected. This leads to an overall sensation that’s responsive but not unpleasant.
The Honma TW-S and TW-X fall into the typical roles of soft and firmer Tour ball, respectively. Both have a medium soft feel and premium “tock” impact sound. The TW-S is a bit quieter and lower pitched; the TW-X is louder, which might be preferable for players who game putters with soft inserts.
Moving to the full swing clubs, the difference between the Honma D1 and the TW golf balls was quite stark. With a wedge, the D1 has a louder sound and a feel that’s more hollow. This harder feel is particularly harsh on thin strikes. The Honma TW-S and TW-X fit nicely in to the premium feel category, though I would place both on the firmer and louder half of the bell curve. The TW-X is firmer than the TW-S, but the sound difference is marginal.
Short Game
In launch monitor testing, both the Honma TW-S and TW-X golf balls produced spin that’s on par with most other Tour-caliber golf balls. Both models have three-piece construction and urethane covers, so this is not a surprise. Comparing the two, I found very little difference. Based on feel, I was expecting the TW-S to produce more spin, but, for me, there was not a meaningful difference.
The Honma D1 golf ball is a two-piece with an ionomer cover, so my expectations for short game spin were much lower. While the D1 did not create nearly as much spin as the TW golf balls, it was on the high end for a non-urethane ball. If you’re looking for a more affordable ball with more spin than its peers, the D1 is worth a try.
Long Game
I want to start by noting that Honma advertises the D1 golf ball as delivering distance for players with sub-90 MPH club head speed, so I am not the target player. Take my notes with a grain of salt and give it a try for yourself if you’re in that swing speed range.
My long game testing start with some mid-irons where I had an unusual discovery. All three balls – D1, TW-S, and TW-X, produced nearly identical spin. I’ll quickly offer my standard caveat: I’m a fairly low spin player and your mileage may vary. I like that Honma didn’t give their distance ball unplayably low spin, but I would have liked to see more differentiation between the two Tour balls. When I got to the driver, I saw slightly less spin from the TW-X than the TW-S, though the gap was not huge.
Where the three balls diverged was in ball speed. The D1 was significantly slower from mid irons through the driver for me, which I expected based on its target audience. Both the TW-S and TW-X were about average in ball speed compared to other Tour balls, but the TW-X slightly outpaced the TW-S.
Taking these golf balls to the course, what stood out was the peak height of the Honma TW-S and TW-X. My drives were flying higher than normal, though they were not ballooning with either ball – I still hit my normal distances. That extra height translated to approach shots that spun back more than normal. If you have problems with getting your approach shots to land softly, these golf balls are worth a try.
Conclusion
Honma has come into a crowded golf ball market and still managed to offer golfers unique, valuable options. For the slower swinger, the Honma D1 golf ball provides good distance with additional spin into and around the green, compared to its peers. Both the TW-S and TW-X have Tour-caliber feel, spin, and speed, while also offering more height and stopping power.
Visit Honma Golf HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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