Staff WriterWhen Malbon Golf meets Honma Golf, you can forget the usual industry talk about “heritage meets innovation.” This one actually means it.
Japan’s most meticulous clubmakers and California’s most rebellious golf brand have built something that looks as good as it swings — a full lineup of drivers, fairway woods, irons, and putters that lands worldwide this November.
From Sakata to Los Angeles, the two names couldn’t be more different. Honma’s Takumi craftsmen still shape clubs by hand, as they have for six generations. Malbon, meanwhile, lives in a world of fashion, art, and music — where golf meets street culture and nothing is sacred except style.
“Partnering with Honma felt like a seamless fit,” said Stephen and Erica Malbon, co-founders of Malbon. “Our shared commitment to precision and compelling design drives this collaboration, reflected in a curated collection of clubs and accessories for our player.”
Two Collections, One Idea
The partnership splits into two lines. PERFORMANCE is for players who care more about birdies than brunch — power, control, and forgiveness in a sleek package.
PREMIUM takes Honma’s famous BERES lineage and adds a layer of art. It’s not equipment; it’s sculpture that happens to send the ball a long way.
Colour plays its own role in the story. Gold tips its hat to Honma’s legacy. Green, the signature of Malbon, signals youth and energy.
The men’s PERFORMANCE gear runs deep emerald (Midori); the women’s glows rose-gold (Tonoko). The men’s PREMIUM line wears black and gold (Sumi and Tonoko), while the women’s shines pink and gold (Shishi and Tonoko). Every finish feels intentional — like a brushstroke, not a paint job.
Inside the PERFORMANCE Line
The driver uses a carbon crown and upper L-cup face to squeeze every last yard from the sweet spot. A booster slot and radial face promote high launch and straight flight, even when you miss it a groove or two. A keel sole keeps things steady, and the non-rotating hosel lets tinkerers fine-tune trajectory without pulling the shaft.
Fairway woods and utilities carry the same DNA: titanium frame, carbon crown, stainless-steel sole, and weighting that drops the centre of gravity for a penetrating, stable ball flight.
The irons mix tungsten weights with vibration-damping resin to give that crisp-soft feel serious players chase. The L-cup face keeps the speed up across all lofts.
Then there’s the mallet putter — high-MOI, double-milled, and balanced like a dancer on wire. CNC precision, aluminium soleplate, vented neck — it’s built for the confident stroke that rolls true every time.
MSRP: $5,800.00
The PREMIUM Difference
This range is all about feel and finish. The driver’s carbon sole and PBDB weight push stability through the roof, while Honma’s HMT face tech adds power that’s almost indecent.
Fairway woods and utilities use a 14-gram back-heel weight for straighter flight, with fine-tuned CG positions that keep every club honest.
Irons mix a wide L-cup face with a vibration-absorbing mid-layer for feedback you can actually feel. The emblem work alone could sit in a design museum.
The putter, an angular blade, lines up easily and rolls like silk thanks to its double-milled face and internal weighting system.
MSRP: $20,000.00
“Honma Golf is proud to introduce this collaborative collection with Malbon Golf, an influential brand that continues to bring fresh energy and authenticity to the game,” said Liu Jianguo, Chairman of the Board, President, and Executive Director of Honma Golf.
“This creative, style- and performance-driven collection reflects the shared vision of two culturally iconic brands — combining Honma’s revered craftsmanship with Malbon’s modern, fashion-forward bravado.”
The Mark That Tells the Story
A new logo ties it all together. Picture Malbon’s cheeky mascot “Buckets,” the ball with swagger, teamed with Honma’s dignified Mole — a symbol born from Japanese patience and precision.
Two characters from opposite worlds, fused into one emblem. It says exactly what this collaboration is about: heritage meeting hustle.
This isn’t just another “limited edition.” It’s a handshake between craft and culture, between the workshop and the street.
The PERFORMANCE and PREMIUM lines arrive globally in November 2025, available through select Honma and Malbon retailers and online at honmagolf.com and malbongolf.com.
