Tag: Miura Golf

Not too long ago, I had the great pleasure of taking Miura Golf’s 1957 Special Edition small blades for a demo. I came out very impressed, but not surprised. Katsuhiro Miura is known as one of golf’s most skilled craftsmen, and his high-quality forged clubs reflect that. The feel and workability of his forged blades is second to none, so it stands to reason that Miura wedges would also perform well.

Miura Golf offers several different models and grinds in their wedges. I’ve seen just about every kind of wedge come through my office, and the basic shape and performance of the sand wedge hasn’t changed much in the 20+ years that I’ve been playing the game. When I saw the Miura K-Grind wedges, I had to give them a closer look.

Features

The sole of the new K-Grind wedges is fluted, which bears resemblance to finger-tip impressions or knuckles. These three channels are supposed to reduce the resistance against the wedge in sand, thick rough, and even the fairway. Theoretically, the sole of the wedge moves with the grass instead of against it. The channels move around the sand instead of colliding with it. This allows the wedge to accelerate through the ball with less effort in every condition to improve the odds of hitting a good shot.

The company line:
· Better results out of wet sand.
· Reduces the odds of “catching it heavy” on long bunker shots.
· Better acceleration on ½ and ¼ swings around the green.
· Digs it out of deep rough.
· Works great in normal conditions with the same feel and performance for which Miura wedges are known

The K-Grind wedges also feature True Temper’s DG Spinner shaft. The DG Spinner is a Dynamic Gold shaft specifically designed for wedges to produce more spin and a lower trajectory. This shaft was created in direct response to the USGA’s new groove rule which reduced the size and shape of “U” grooves starting in 2011. Says Greg Cavill, True Temper’s director of metals R&D and engineering: “The DG Spinner’s unique design incorporates a specially engineered recessed section along the length of the shaft that decreases launch angles by as much as three degrees and increases the ball’s spin rate by as much as 700+ rpm. The result is a more penetrating ball flight for distance control and increased spin for greater accuracy and stopping power on the green.”

For now, the K-Grind wedge comes only right-handed in a 56 degree loft. The bounce is measured at 12 degrees, which is generous and should be good in all turf conditions. Suggested retail price is $250 USD

Appearance

The chrome finish is classic and the graphics aren’t tacky or overwhelming. I prefer a simple look. If it was up to me, all that would be written on my wedges is the loft on the back. These sport the Miura Series 1957 stamp beside the company name. On the sole is the loft and a simple “K” stamp. The fluted trailing edge is unique and eye-catching, and the sandblasted groove area frames the face nicely. The shape of the Miura M-Grind wedges is the classic teardrop, with a slightly straighter leading edge. I prefer a straight leading edge for easier alignment, but some say a more curved leading edge allows the wedge to move through tall grass and sand with greater ease. I think it’s just personal preference.

Performance

So how did they actually perform? In a word – flawlessly. These wedges look great, feel great, and can hit every shot in the book in the hands of a skilled wedge player. I spent a few sessions on the range hitting all kinds of shots, and took it to the bunkers and chipping green afterwards. To start, the feel is great. You would expect a Miura forging to feel buttery soft, and these do. The only drawback to a soft forged wedge is that they are more prone to nicks and wear than harder metals, but if feel and playability is more important than durability, these wedges are at the top of the class. It was difficult to tell if the DG Spinner shaft in this 56 degree wedge really produces more spin, since my gamer is a 54 degree wedge with a regular Dynamic Gold shaft. One day we’ll get a few demo shafts on a trackman radar to test their claims. For now, I can say that this wedge produces enough spin to compare it with any other wedge out there. I had no trouble hitting the “crowd pleaser”, a low spinning chip shot that bites hard. Nor did I have any issues stopping full shots from the fairway.

The K-Grind wedge really shines around the greens, in bad lies or when chipping. The fluted trailing edge allows for the club to be opened while reducing contact with the ground. On bunker shots and other shots with an open face, the club glides through the impact area with ease. There’s no way to measure the effects of the K-Grind on various lies, but even if it didn’t help at all, you would still have a high performance wedge that looks cool and feels great.

I currently carry 46, 54, 60 and 64 degree wedges. The 64 comes and goes with the 3 iron depending on the course. I’m considering closing the gaps a bit and moving to a 46, 52, 58 and 64 setup. Either way, a 56 degree wedge doesn’t have a place in my bag or I would be gaming this new Miura wedge. Of course, Miura Golf offers five different models of wedges with differing grind, finish and loft options to meet every golfer’s needs. Lofts range from 49 to 60 degrees. If you are looking for a premium high-performance butter-soft forged wedge, you need to look at Miura Golf and their offerings. You won’t be disappointed!

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