greatdane

Hi Joey! Interesting post. I see that you have some rac cb's. How do you like them? I haven't been playing much for the last three months(business and injury), but prior to that the rac cb's that you blueprinted for me were perfect. These irons are incredibly accurate for me and the short irons are absolutely brilliant. And the pics of the 300's really drive home the fact that they are much more of a blade than a FCI or the subsequent 300 series irons. Are your rac cb's the early version(white "cb", no serial#)? It was pretty strange the way TM recanted a lot of what was supposed to be gospel truth in Japan, i.e., 'only 1st run would be Miura forgings, only 1500 sets globally and no "coin forged" anywhere, respecting Miura's forging process to rationalize the high price. The the u.s. version shows up way after everyone figured the original 1500 set run from Miura was depleted, but not labelled the same way...in fact, opposite of what they said, i.e., a black "coin forged" on the hosel, serial numbers, etc.. But then saying that the "Made in China" tags, labels and stickers on these late arriving "for the U.S" rac cb irons was a mislabelling issue really makes one wonder. I have some friends in Japan who still think that there is some major BS by TM on these....like seeing that there was quite a demand for very high margin prices after the Miura run was done and then scrambling to produce more. Anyway, what a great set. Your shaft suggestion (DGS-200 ssx1) worked out for me perfectly. I wouldn't change a thing, which is amazing, considering we did this by phone!!. Even though I'm "out of stroke" now, I got to play Pinehurst last June "in form". Using the rac cb's I broke 80 (76, 77) from the Blues (tips were off limits) at Pinehurst #2 , two days in a row without playing it before, for a really decent highlight in a washed-out golf year, 2003. So thanks again for the great service and superb work, my friend. I have another project I'd like to discuss, so I'll email you. Regards, Dane

why not consider the rac cb's? i haven't seen the u.s. version but the original Japanese / Miura TM rac cb's are probably the most accurate irons i've ever played. the short irons are brilliant.

I'm not sure why the smooth top is mre money because most players looking for a tour spec TM 200 head are looking to keep the ball down a bit which is what the ridge top does, with it's higher cog. both are great heads, but i prefer the ridge top....less spin, great trajectory.

have you tried a 652 yet. similar to the 660, with a touch more tip flex. in a X it may suite you. much smoother than the NV and even smoother than the 660 with the same attributes.

is the driver still available? any idea of shaft freq? what type of trajectory were you getting? what's your swing speed? could i have purchased a Kasco 44 from you about 3 or 4 yrs. ago? handle and location rings a bell.

My first impression was an S.C. version of a RossieII, but then I got to thinking the red "X" reminded me of MY idea about a year ago. I have an Odyssey TriHot #1. It's a 34", heavy headed model, at the time, the most expensive($>$200) and most advanced of the Odyssey line. A complicated construction of tungsten and carbon steel, one of the first of the higher moi putters available...maybe the most forgiving of the pre-high MOI types. The only dowside to this putter was that mushy white insert!! I hated it....no distance control, especially with the heavy head. I was thinking of calling Joey Kwok and asking about gutting the insert for something harder, but got diverted to a lovely JAT Prototype to now a MacG M5K. Maybe it's time to give JK a call.... ...never-the-less, a beaut by S.C. if it stays relatively the same as the tour proto.

i haven't seen a u.s. set. but i've owned a set of rac cb's for close to one year, purchased from the owner of a small golf shop in Orange County. he purchased two sets from the Miura run, rumored to be 1,000 to 1,500 sets. the originals, forged and finished by Miura display flawless workmanship and a ver high quality satin finish. these irons do not have any serial numbers anywhere, including the 5 iron. the only lettering on the hosels should be small case letters "cb" in white. anything else, according to my business associate in Japan, a collector of sorts, are not the original Miura forgings. according to him, TM had only contracted with Miura for one manufacturing run as these sets were (are) commanding a premium price of at least 50% more than their fci / 300 series irons, the best TM forgings up to that point. The price was rationalized by the higher production costs (Miura and a select steel) and a very limited supply. TM felt that attempting to commission Miura to do more rac cb sets would cause a problem with those who had already purchased and compromise TM's credibility by increasing the "limited supply". Oddly enough, I discussed the whole rac cb mystique and confusing stories with a TM rep and he told me that 600 sets of the original Miuras were coming to the states. my Japanese friend did not find this information to be credible, as he felt there was no way 600 of the 1,000 to 1,500 sets were even available. i tend to agree. most believe that the current version of the rac cb's are merely an extention of the cavity back long irons in the current tour preferred combo rac set. if this is the case, these irons would probably have the words " coin forged" in black on the hosels and may continue to have a mirror chrome finish. these are clearly not forged by Miura, but probably forged at the same facility that TM normally utilizes for their forged clubs. i'm told from those who have hit or own both that there is a difference in feel of the Miuras. i haven't hit the tp combo irons, so i can't comment on the difference. what i can comment on is that the original, Miura rac cb forgings are easily the purest irons i've hit. they give you exactly what you put in. precision and accuracy are their strength. with the negligible offset, shallow cavity and mid c*o*g they set up and play very bladelike. the feel of this iron isn't as soft as my Mizunos (MP30's and 33's), but more crisp and with better feedback and ultimately more rewarding. this is a great set of forged cb's.