Miura Limited Edition Blades reviewed

[jacksonlui]

Motivation:

I've always wanted a set of exotic blades that would compliment my Epon Type S cavity backs.

My search for a compact muscle back with a razor thin top line, thin sole, minimal offset, brushed satin finish, sand blasted face, minimal text, from a top Japanese forging facility has brought me to this set of Miura Limited Edition 3-PW baby blades. I didn't want to pay $1400 for a set of irons but I had to in order to get exactly what I wanted and to appease my "ho-addiction".

Basic Info:

The limited edition or baby blades is 20% smaller than the tournament blade and 100 sets are produced twice a year.

The idea behind this design is to put more mass behind the ball since the head weight is the same despite the smaller size.

Originally they were available in chrome but due to manufacturing issues, only the brushed satin versions are available.

Appearance:

You wouldn't be able to tell the difference between these and the current year tournament blades unless you compare them side by side. I would say they are very similar in size and shape to Nike blades of old.

So far nothing has compared to how well they set up, although they didn't inspire confidence at first coming from a cavity backs, it required a range session before I became accustomed to the size and started to appreciated the attributes which I've paid so dearly for. If you think about it, It actually makes the ball seem larger.

I love how thin the top line is with virtually no offset. Every time I pull a club out of the bag, it brings a smile to my face. I love the finish, the squarish toe, shiny sand blasted face, tastefully placed symbols and text. The Miura symbol and the smaller font is a nice addition. The stamping on the sole are in italics which is one way to tell the difference between the limited and tournament edition, with the PW being the most obvious. If you look closely, you'll find that the leading edge has been blunted to prevent digging, a complaint that many people had on the older models. The shorter irons don't look clunky like other Japanese offerings, they look just as small and compact, maintaining a nice transition between clubs. These are so pretty, it would be silly not to use head covers!

Tolerances:

I know many people have a dislike for the two peice forging. It doesn't bother me too much, perhaps it's part ignorance, but as an end consumer, I go with results. One thing I've noticed are the tight tolerances in the hosel diameter. The shafts go in really tight, straight, with virtually no play. The head weights were as expected. The hosel depth varied 0.05 inches throughout the set. I don't know if this is considered acceptable. It's important for clubbuilders to insert and measure each head prior to butt cutt to get exact play lengths. Blindly butt cutting shafts will put you at the mercy of varying hosel depths. This won't effect your yardage and is insignificant to your swingweight, but for picklers of high end clubs, you might as well do it right. 50mils of variance seemed a bit high to me, I don't really know what the specified tolerances are, I had expected better for a two peice design. I wrote part of it off as measurement error plus manufacturing tolerances.

Feel:

Apart from the aesthetics, they also have to feel like something special. I'll be the first to admit these aren't as buttery soft as Mizuno's, the best two words used to describe the feeling would be "pure" and "solid". You almost feel sorry for the ball. Some have said that it feels as if the ball stays on the face a little bit longer. I can't really comment on balance since it would feel different depending on the shaft used. So far I like how the Tour Concepts perform and feel with these heads. I'd expect the NSPRO 1150 and TCS3 would be great combos. The feedback is wonderful. I already know if it's too high/low, short/long, left/right before I look up.

Ballflight:

The satin Tour Concept in these heads gives me a pretty boring flight that gets up and flattens fairly quickly. I would say they are mid flight, a little higher than my DGS300 and lower than my NSPRO1150. Since the ball flight has more to do with the shaft than the head, I'll keep my comments at a minimal. These shafts spins and kicks a bit more than my DGS300. They don't feel harsh, a bit between the Nippons and DGs. They feel muted which I have grown to like. Basically, these shafts perform and gives good return on investment on the $200-$500 that you'll spend for them. It has been said many times, this shaft needs some time getting use to, so give it some time. For me, they get up, bore through the wind, drop and stop within 3 ft from where it lands (6-PW), just like the NSPRO 1150. I like a heavier shaft, so these fit the bill. One thing I've always hated about the tour concepts are the lack of durability of their outer anti-glare casing. It will eventually start to peel and look ugly. The brushed finish on the BGs and PXs are far superior. I might consider a set of satin px 5.5s, although I'm a sweeper so based on what I've read, these might not be for me.

Forgiveness:

These aren't very forgiving although they a lot easier to hit than you think. A bad swing is a bad swing, no club will help you. What makes these unforgiving is the distance control. If you hit it on the sweetspot, these are going to go a lot further than you had anticipated. An inch from the sweetspot, you'll lose 7-10 yards. I don't post better scores playing with my cavity backs which tells me I need to work on my game from 100 yards in. I consider myself a decent ball striker, so I call bull to those that try to equate a handicapp to their ball striking capabilities.

I also want to mention that it's easier to turn the head over since they are smaller. I get a nice draw with these which makes it more forgiving for me, takes out the right side. However, being a blade, at times when I rush my swing, it will draw too much and turn into a nasty duck hook... In summary, these are a lot more forgiving than you are lead to believe. Don't be afraid to try a blade. You don't play golf for a living, so why not change up your game and keep it exciting. I think playing blades makes the game that much more enjoyable, I truly believe they will make you a better and more creative player in the long run.

Other:

I've changed from the Golf Pride Multicompound reds to the white Iomic X-Evolutions. I wear a small to medium glove so I'm slightly below standard in glove size. These Iomics are advertised to be for larger hands but they suit me just fine. I love the way they feel and how durable they are. I go through the multicompounds too fast so these are definitely worth it in my book. They may get dirty, but it reminds me to keep my grips clean. The shafts were spined and flo'd with the 6 iron cpm'ing out to 312. To me this feels more like a softstepped stiff which is perfect for me. (I'm expecting a 10cpm slope.)

Conclusion:

This is one of the best purchases I've made and everything I was hoping for. I feel so confident with these clubs. When I play, I don't really think that it's a blade anymore, I just worry about my target. It's priceless when you work the ball around a tree to pin high, that's what keeps you coming back.

These have gone through 8 rounds and a few range sessions so far and the durability is better than expected. They seem to hold up better than the Epon Type S. Here are a few pictures, enjoy.

Edited December 2, 2007 by jacksonlui

[jwfar119]

Jack, that is a great review, I am in love with my CB202's but if I was ever going to make a change it would be to go to LE or baby blades for my 7-PW.

[ajaykkr]

great review.... those clubs really look good......

[rb2235]

Great, insightful review. Very nice pics as well.

[gus]

I've always found the Miura finish to be superior to anything else out there. My 201's are almost two years old and still look fantastic; like new. For a buttery soft iron the finish is incredible. I believe very strongly that Miura is the best I've ever played. Although I must admit that the Golds Factory offerings appear to share very similar high quality aspects but I've never had the luxury of seeing them in person.

Edited December 2, 2007 by BigBen

[TBone]

Jack,

Great review....great to hear you are enjoying them.

I agree with your statement about changing things up from time to time to keep it exciting. To me, it's about enjoying the game and it's fun to experiment. Life is too short not to have fun, especially with a game we all enjoy.

[K2_2]

Jack,

Just another person saying thank you for the nice review! One thing that has put me off of a few different blades has been the leading edge, so that makes these blades sound all the more appealing.

[xchangmanx]

Kudos on the review! I can also contest to Miura's unique feel; I have used Miura wedges in my bag and the feel is outstanding. Gotta love Miura craftsmanship! Much props on your new set of irons Jack!

[jacksonlui]

thanks guys, for the feedback.

I don't typically spend time on reviews but this forum has helped fueled my JDM obsession and thought I'd give some back.

I've never tried the Miura wedges, always wondered if they were any good, just didn't like the way they looked. I love the Epon X wedges so far, the Chikaras couldn't kick those out of the bag.

I personally hold TourSpecGolfer and Gocchin responsible for being the drug dealer of golf =)

I also added a review on the Bog Moss putting green a few minutes ago.

Edited December 2, 2007 by jacksonlui

[gocchin]

What we're drug dealers now???

Wonderful review Jack, they look similar to the new MB-5003 which are supposed to be Miura's softest feeling blade ever....

Big Moss too?? (^_^)