Tag: Miura

  • 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

    2018 Holiday Gift Guide

    2018 has been a pretty good year for golf, despite course closures all around the globe and the unfortunate trend of driver prices regularly creeping up to and past the $500 mark. There is more technology than ever out there for golfers of all abilities to get the most out of their game. Since the holiday shopping season is upon us again, here are some gift ideas for the serious golfer on your list, or yourself!

    Clubs

    • Ping G400 – Arguably the best driver in golf, it is among the top 3 sellers and owners of one like me will be happy to tell you how good it is. Paired with a high-performance shaft from TPT Golf, I gained 9 yards and hit it straighter too. Demand for the #1 selling G400 MAX is high, with prices rising to more than $500. ($570.00 on Amazon)
    • Wilson Cortex  – If you watch the Golf Channel, you are probably familiar with the hit show Driver vs Driver that gave us the controversial Wilson Triton driver a few seasons ago. Driver vs Driver 2 just wrapped up and this year’s winning club is called the Wilson Cortex, and it has already hit the market. The buzz with this club is that it produces very low spin. If you are a Wilson fan and your driver is a few generations old, the Cortex is a must hit! ($498.95 on Amazon)
    • Miura irons – Japanese company Miura Golf has been forging some of the best quality irons in the world for many years, and they keep getting better. Previously available only through high-end club fitters, Miura is now making custom sets available direct from the manufacturer. The new MC-501 irons have been an object of sheer lust for me since I first saw them at the PGA Show a while back. (Iron sets starting at $1350 and up)
    Wilson-Cortex-Driver
    Wilson Cortex Driver

    Training

    • Putting Mirror – I’ve been using my EyeLine putting mirror for a few years now and it has helped me become more consistent on the greens. Many of the top players in the world use similar mirrors to check ball position, eye and shoulder alignment and iron out problems with their putting stroke.
    • Eyeball Golf – Remember that old saying – Keep your head still? Well, the eyeball trainer can help you do that! It’s simple, easy to use and won’t break the bank. Give it a try! (.99 direct)
    EyeLine Golf Putting Mirror
    EyeLine Golf Putting Mirror

    Software

    • Golf Logix – The USGA has recently weighed in on the topic of green reading charts and maps by limiting the size and scale of the books people use, but the leading app company GolfLogix is ok with that, and the typical user of their service isn’t a tournament golfer anyway. The innovative PuttBreaks feature in the Golf Logix app is easy to use and can really help you read the greens on unfamiliar courses, or even help confirm what your eyes see. (Available for free in the iTunes and Google Play store – $29.99 for 12 month Putt Breaks membership)
    GolfLogix with Putt Breaks
    GolfLogix with Putt Breaks

    Shafts

    • Breakthrough Golf technology  – Golf industry veteran and living legend Barney Adams has set his sights on making you a better putter, and Breakthrough Golf Technology’s new Stability Shaft is how he’s doing it. Guess what – It works! My putting has improved ever since I put the shaft in play, and I’m looking forward to converting a few more putters soon. (Available direct w/ free install – $199.99)
    • TPT Golf – I’m a big fan of TPT golf and their innovative new shafts. Earlier this year I tested one in my Ping G400 driver and gained 9 yards. They aren’t cheap, but for demanding golfers with spare cash, TPT is the shaft you must try when you visit your custom club fitter for a new driver.
    Breakthrough Golf technology - Stability Shaft
    Breakthrough Golf technology – Stability Shaft

    Apparel

    • Oakley –  I’m not impressed too much with the apparel options available this year. That’s not to say there isn’t anything good out there, it’s just that nothing stands out. Nothing except Oakley that is. The Engineered Polo Bubba is a shirt I could live with almost every day, and they are super cheap right now. (Available direct – $24.00 as of 12/7/2018) Why not pair it with a slick Bg Emb Visor too? (Direct – $28.00)
    Oakley Engineered Polo Bubba
    Oakley Engineered Polo Bubba

    Misc

    • Craftsman Golf Headcovers – Why not customize the look of your golf bag and protect your clubs from theft by getting rid of the factory headcovers and replacing them with fun head covers from Craftsman Golf? I recently covered my Callaway XR16 LD Long Drive club with a funny cat head cover with a bell that drove my playing partners nuts! It was great fun. Seriously though, Craftsman Golf makes good quality stuff at very reasonable prices! (Available direct – www.craftsmangolf.com)
    • Bushnell Rangefinders – Bushnell continues to make market-leading laser and GPS rangefinders. I’ve been using the awesome Pro X2 Laser Rangefinder for a while, and the perfectly sized Phantom GPS is a perfect compliment to any laser rangefinder and easily fits in your pocket. If you want the best of both worlds, consider the Bushnell Hybrid Rangefinder, that has both a precision laser rangefinder and GPS in one easy to use handheld device.
    • Club Champion Fitting –  Club Champion is the largest custom club fitting company in the US, and they are brand-agnostic, which means they aren’t going to push you towards a certain brand, just what works best with your golf swing. I recently had my Cobra F8+ driver upgraded with a new shaft from Paderson Golf and gained 6 yards and greatly tightened the dispersion. They have 40 indoor fitting centers all over the country, so weather isn’t an issue and there is probably one close to you. If you take the game seriously and want to play your best golf, there’s really no excuse not to get custom fit for every club in your bag.
    • NoSweat Liners – It may be chilly outside now, but at some point, it’s going to warm up again outside and you’ll start sweating on the golf course. Living in Florida, the summer heat and humidity makes it impossible not to sweat profusely when playing golf. NoSweat liners install easily inside your hat and really help soak up the sweat coming from your forehead. Sometimes I sweat so much that it’s hard to putt because sweat keeps dripping on the ball! NoSweat liners fixed this problem for me, and they are used by professional golfers and many other athletes in sports like hockey and football under their helmets. If you are a sweater like me, you’ll want to give them a try! ($9.99 and up on Amazon)
    • SkyCaddie SX500 – SkyCaddie has been around for as long as I can remember using such distance measuring devices, and their products are always recognized as one of the best GPS for golf, and their newest model is no exception. The SkyCaddie SX500 has a large (5″) bright screen, solid battery life and is easy to use. All SX500s come with a 1-year subscription. SkyCaddie maps all their own courses for greater accuracy, and I’ve always found their distances to be very precise when compared to a laser rangefinder. The difference is rarely more than a few yards, and for amateur golfers, this is certainly within the acceptable range. ($399.95 on Amazon)
    Bushnell Hybrid
    Bushnell Hybrid GPS/Rangefinder

  • Miura HB3 & HB4 Hybrids

    mg3-4-left2Katsuhiro Miura is a legend in the golf community. Golf equipment junkies and forged blade purists all over the world know him well, and his reputation for building some of the finest looking and performing clubs in the world is well deserved. As the Miura brand grows, they expanded from irons into wedges, woods and even hybrids. Having played with Miura’s unbelievable forged blades in the past, I was eager to try the HB3 and HB4 hybrids to see if they could live up to the lofty standards Miura has set for themselves.

    Miura Golf is a boutique brand, so you won’t find their stuff in a big box store or pro shop. Instead, they’ve built a network of skilled club makers that will fit each golfer properly to take advantage of the clubs and play their best. After all, if you are willing to spend over $2000 on a set of irons, shouldn’t they be done right? In my case, the HB3 hybrid was built with an Aerotech hls880 hybrid shaft. In my opinion, Aerotech makes the best shafts in the world, so it is a perfect match for the Miura HB3 Hybrid.

    The Miura HB3 hybrid has 20 degrees of loft, and the HB4 has 23. Meant to replace the three and four irons, these hybrids are designed to look and play much like the long irons they replace while adding height and forgiveness to your shots. Many hybrids are shaped like and play like woods, but Miura adopted a more iron-like profile and face design for greater accuracy and trajectory control.

    hb3-hb4For testing, I put the Miura HB3 in the hands of golfers who’s handicaps range from 0 to 18. The 18 handicap tester actually played with the hybrid for several months and it quickly became one of his favorite clubs. He loves the clean, classic good looks of the club. The black finish makes the HB3 look more compact and inspires confidence at address. The face is very hot. It feels like the ball really shoots off the face at impact, and the the dampened metal sound is perfectly tuned. The HB3 hybrid launches the ball with the high trajectory you would expect from a hybrid, but it doesn’t balloon in the air with too much spin. You get the high launch you want from a hybrid, and just enough spin to get longer carry and a softer landing than a long iron shot.

    Some testers thought the Miura HB3 hybrid wasn’t as forgiving as some other hybrids. The lower handicap testers didn’t feel the same way, but they tend to hit the center of the club more frequently so that’s no surprise. Given that the HB3 is designed to look and play more like a long iron, it’s natural that it might not be quite as forgiving as other hybrids that are designed for forgiveness and distance.

    Miura doesn’t have adjustable hosel technology yet, and while these features aren’t all that prevalent in hybrids yet, one tester thought it might be a nice addition. Since Miura is more of a boutique brand who’s clubs are built to order by professional clubfitters, I don’t think we’ll see a need for adjustable hosels with them.

    Aesthetically speaking, the brass colored weight ports on the sole don’t appear to be anything more than cosmetic, but I could be wrong. While not adjustable by the player, it’s very likely the club maker can use the ports to adjust swing weight and CG (center of gravity) location for a player’s specific needs. I haven’t yet confirmed this detail with the manufacturer.

    In the end, every single person that hit the Miura HB3 hybrid wanted to take it home with them. There are plenty of quality, high performance hybrid clubs on the market, but for those that want something a little different and the best quality available in custom built clubs, give the Miura HB3 and HB4 hybrids a try. Visit your local Miura authorized dealer for a fitting and more information.

  • 8 Christmas Gift Ideas For Last Minute Shoppers

    Christmas is almost here, and if you are like me, you still haven’t done your shopping yet. Shipping cutoffs are approaching fast and the stores are packed with last minute shoppers. If there is a golfer on your gift list, here are a few suggestions that you may be interested in…

    • HIRZL Gloves – There are several things Switzerland is famous for making well. A few products that come to mind are chocolate, watches, Swiss army knives and golf gloves. Wait, what? Hirzl gloves are the real deal. They are a premium golf glove that provides superior grip in all conditions and durability that surpasses all other gloves on the market. Made with a mix of Kangaroo and Cabretta leather, they are worth every penny. Street price: $25 – Visit their website for more information. 
    • IJP Designs Apparel – Most everyone that follows the professional tours knows Ian Poulter. Americans know him mostly as the guy that wears flashy pants and keeps kicking their asses at the Ryder Cup. His apparel company has made great inroads in the US market, and IJP offers a complete line of shirts, pants (or trousers if you prefer the Queen’s English), shorts, belts and more. The line features classic designs along side the more darling paterns, and there should be something for just about everyone. Visit ijpdesign.com for more.
    • Slammin’ Sam Beer – A new venture, Slammin’ Sam Beer Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license with the estate of Sam Snead. Slammin’ Sam is a craft-brewed American lager with a refreshing taste and balanced finish that is inspired by the legendary all-time PGA Tour wins leader. Developed using a proprietary recipe developed by Ray Klimovitz, recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Life Service Award from the Master Brewers Association of the Americas, Slammin’ Sam will be offered at renowned resorts, golf courses, restaurants, bars and everywhere beer is sold.
    • TaylorMade Ghost Spider S Putter – TaylorMade’s newest putter was released just in time for the holiday season. The next generation of the Ghost Spider makes it easier for players to square the face at impact to start the ball on its intended line and delivers tremendous twist-resistance on the backswing and off-center hits. Its Tour-designed crown flows smoothly into the outer frame for less distraction, while the black and white frame and single white center-line promotes focus, accurate aim and stroke awareness. TaylorMade’s PureRoll Surlyn insert promotes incredibly soft-yet-solid feel and smooth roll off the face. Available 11/1. MSRP $179 – taylormadegolf.com.
    • adidas Golf Adipure Motion Shoes – One of golf’s great classic shoes, the adipure motion is 5 ounces less and 23% lighter than the previous adipure model. A state-of-the-art outsole construction frees the foot and body to move in a way it was inherently meant to – from the ground up to the shoulders. The adipure motion features a 7-spike, ultra-light exoskeleton outsole with puremotion technology designed to provide dynamic movement and ultimate flexibility. Available 12/1. MSRP $220; adidasgolf.com
    • 2012 Miura Wedges – Miura has been making some of the most beautiful and playable forged irons and wedges in the game for years. The New Wedge Series from Miura, the world’s preeminent maker of quality forged golf clubs, preserves the eternal elements of the “old” Series and adds refinements that make the clubs a pleasure to look at and a joy to play. Now in odd-numbered lofts from 51 degrees through 59, the New Series features redesigned bounce angles that work well with the way thinking players like to play golf.
    • Switch Belts – Made of thermoplastic resin, Switch Belts won’t stretch, fade, warp or wear out. You cut them to fit, can clean them in the dish washer and walk through metal detectors as they contain no metal. What I’m trying to say is, Switch Belts are not just good for golf, but for any outfit. In fact, there are 196 possible belt and buckle color combinations to match every outfit in your closet. Belts go for about $30. www.switchbelt.com
    • SwingTip – In a market flooded with useless swing aids and devices that make you look idiotic on the practice tee, it’s refreshing to see a device that is neither. The SwingTip is a device that attaches below the grip on your club and transmits information about your golf swing to your iPhone, iPad or Android device for analysis. It will give you a graphical display of your swing path along with information like club head speed, club face angle, swing path, impact zone and tempo. You can also review your swing and/or practice session info later online. MSRP $129 – www.swingtip.com

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  • Miura Golf Introduces Limited Forged Black Blades

    Miura Limited Black BladesI’m very excited to share the news coming out of Himeji, Japan about the release of the new Limited Edition black blades from Miura Golf. I’m a huge fan of Mr. Miura and his designs, and I feel like his clubs are second to none in the world of golf. I’ve already had the pleasure of reviewing the fantastic 1957 Small Blades, as well as the unique K-Grind Wedges, and there is no reason to believe that the black blades will not as good or better than his other offerings. The press release is below. Click on the photos to zoom in for a closer look.

    Beauty From the East

    Miura Golf, the Japanese company known for its excellence in forging fine clubs, also has a reputation for the beauty of its creations. The tradition continues with the company’s latest forged iron. Miura’s new LIMITED FORGED BLACK BLADE iron is a stunning version of the popular muscle back Miura Tournament Blade — but with the distinctive Miura Black finish. Company founder and club making expert Katsuhiro Miura and his sons, Yoshitaka and Shinei, and their staff took special care to create a no-glare, flat-black finish with a surface texture that’s pleasing to the touch. When golf club fans see these beauties, the effect is like coming around the corner and seeing your dream car parked at the curb. They can’t get that look out of their minds.

    Miura Limited Black BladesThe LFBB finish is the same as on Miura’s Black Wedges. Like the wedges, these irons will show gradual, desirable wear with repeated use. But “wear” doesn’t mean “wear out.” Instead, it’s more like a breaking in, a personalization no different than the one that occurs with your favorite baseball glove or the skates you want in the games that matter.

    This personalized settling-in of the finish will differ slightly for every player. But in general, the black finish will mature over time to a silvery gray, mostly on the center of the clubface and on the sole, starting at the leading edge. Time in the sun enters into it, as well as the turf the golfer usually encounters. In the end, the Limited Forged Black Blades will be distinctively Miura, and distinctively each golfer’s own – and always a joy to look at as well as play.

    “This is one of the great things about being the kind of company we are — small and focused on careful, handcrafted work. So we can satisfy golfers’ appetites for clubs that are beautiful as well as functional,” said Adam Barr, president of Miura. “When Miura-san has ideas like this for something special and exciting, we can do it, and to a very high standard. Of course, by definition, there can’t be many of these sets available. But that just adds to the allure.”

    The suggested retail price for the Limited Forged Black Blades will be $275 USD per club. Interested golfers around the world can check the list of expert dealer/fitters near them by clicking on this Miura Dealer List.

    About Miura Golf

    Miura Limited Black BladesJapanese golf club maker Miura Golf has been making the world's highest quality forged irons, wedges and putters for more nearly 50 years. The company was founded by Katsuhiro Miura, a deeply experienced golf club designer and steel forging expert from Himeji, Japan, the center of the Japanese steelmaking tradition that began with samurai swords more than 500 years ago. Miura-san and his sons, Yoshitaka and Shinei, work in Himeji with a small staff of craftsmen they trained to patiently make clubs of the finest possible quality, employing a careful mix of ancient metalworking traditions and modern forging and finishing techniques. Miura-san himself still works every day in the factory, honing his peerless grinding skills in what he considers a never-ending journey to the pinnacle of golf club quality. Although Miura never offers paid endorsement contracts, top players have won numerous championships with Miura-built clubs. For more information on Miura Golf in English, please go to www.MiuraGolf.com.

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  • Miura Series 1957 Special Edition Small Blades – A Love Story

    Miura Series 1957 Small BladeMany purists and low handicap golfers prefer the feel and shot shaping control of a forged blade iron. When it comes to forged blades there are only a handful of manufacturers out there that really get it right. Any club company can forge a blade and sell it, but very few make a club that is as much a work of art as it is golf club. Still fewer companies are able to make a club that when hit solid can evoke an emotional response. Most golfers know this feeling. It’s the feeling of a perfectly struck iron shot – one where it feels like the ball wasn’t even there and you can hear the ball spinning as it rockets towards the target with a fssssssss sound. The pursuit of this almost spiritual feeling is one of the reasons we play golf.

    Katsuhiro Miura has been referred to by the Japanese media as having the hands of God for his ability to craft forged irons and wedges. Miura is based in the Himeji City area of Japan. The area has a rich history as the home of the Samurai sword. Many skilled craftsmen created the legendary weapons in Himeji, which were known for their strength and precision. The area eventually converted to other steel work and is now known for producing the finest forged irons and wedges available. I recently had a few minutes with them to ask a few questions about their operation:

    ITG: How long does it take to make a set of Miura irons?
    Miura: A custom order set of irons can take 6 – 8 weeks to complete

    ITG: What is different about the way Miura forges an iron compared to other companies?
    Miura: To Miura-san, a pure strike requires a very fine grain structure in the steel used to make the head. If you try to forge the head all in one piece, from the toe to the top of the hosel, the molecular structure of the steel gets stretched, and you sacrifice that fine grain. Compare it to a jar full of marbles: there may be many marbles, but the spaces between them are open and ineffective in giving a good, solid hit. But in a Miura iron, the structure is more like a jar of sand: no open spaces, all high-quality steel, all effective in creating a pure strike.

    The Miura Forging ProcessSo Miura-san forges the head from the toe to the heel only, then uses an exclusive spin forging process that spins the hosel piece onto the head so rapidly that the friction creates a firm union. Once trimmed and finished, you can’t tell the club was ever anything but one piece. And Miura-san’s spin forging and drilling machinery is so finely tuned that the company is famous among clubfitters for the unerring straightness of its hosels.

    ITG: With the addition of Mr. Adam Barr as president, do you plan to expand and grow?
    Miura: We do plan to grow, but at a reasonable pace that, first and foremost, respects our existing network of dedicated dealers. They’re the ones who got us to this point. That said, we will carefully add dealers in places where we’re underserved. We will also consider off-course specialty stores, at least in a limited way, as long as we can agree with the stores that Miura clubs will be sold in an attentive, customer-oriented way. It’s not an off-the-rack golf club, and we don’t want to do anything to peel away its special nature. The same ideas apply to green-grass shops that are looking for a way to serve members without a crippling inventory requirement. We’ll work with shops that see the value in offering a club this good to their avid and knowledgeable players.

    Any growth plans we decide upon will not outstrip Mr. Miura’s insistence on uncompromising production standards, nor our ability to provide flawless customer service.

     

    The Miura Forging Process "Follow a Miura iron from forge to factory -- from a billet of carefully selected, prime steel to a finished piece of industrial art, the highest expression of what a forged golf club should be. In this brief video, you'll visit both the forge and factory that Katsuhiro Miura owns in Amaji, Japan, near the ancient city of Himeji. This region was for centuries the seat of samurai sword making, and it has grown into Japan's center of fine metal work. Here, Miura-san and his sons don't just supervise -- they get their hands into the work, every day, creating the subtle shapes and lines that define the very best in forged clubs. This video, shot in fall of 2010, shows the highlights of a typical day at Miura. But what is typical in that work day yields results that are extraordinary." Check out the fascinating video below: Overall Impressions Being a purist and blade lover, I couldn't wait to hit my demo 6 iron that was sent to me for testing. Miura has several models of forged irons, but the one I wanted to see and hit was the new 1957 series blades, which are not only gorgeous but also 15% smaller than the standard Miura tournament blade. These are the smallest irons I've seen since my old set of MacGregor blades I had re-chromed in college that were from 1953. A classic small blade with modern design characteristics and top notch craftsmanship is something to treasure in the age of oversize cavity back snow shovel shaped irons. Miura also claims the face of this 1957 iron is more dense than any other Miura model. At first glance, and especially when addressing the ball you would think this iron would be very hard to hit. Personally I've always hit a smaller headed club better when it comes to the irons. Perhaps it's the "fear factor" or maybe the mind has a way of focusing more when the target is smaller. Mr. Miura also feels this way. He says the smaller head makes it easier to square up at impact, since the center or gravity is located closer to the shaft of the club. This feature also makes the clubs more workable for fades and draws. The smaller clubhead also glides through the grass with greater ease than a large oversize club. Indeed, this is probably the most playable forged blade I have ever hit. Now, I'm not trying to tell you that everyone can hit this tiny little forged blade, but I'm saying it may not be as hard to hit as you would think. Despite the company's claims that just about anybody can hit these irons, I would still say that the target buyer for these irons are the better players, and I would go further and say they certainly are aligned towards players who make consistent solid contact, and that means a handicap range of zero to maybe 6. True to the legend, the feel of a well struck golf shot with a Miura blade is unlike anything else. Hitting balls with this 1957 blade is so rewarding that I barely noticed the blisters forming on my left hand. For the first time in years, I spent an entire practice session of several hundred golf balls hitting nothing but the Miura 6 iron. Once I got into a grove with the club it almost felt like an extension of my arms. The solid shots feel almost like a practice swing, as the ball the club contact is hardly noticeable. The mishits transmit instant feedback and you can tell exactly where you missed it. Miura Series 1957 Small BladeThis club can do it all. It's like a surgeon's scalpel, or a chef's pairing knife. In the hands of a skilled golfer there is no shot these irons can't hit with ease. Workability is paramount when selecting a blade. After all, why hit a blade iron if all you want to do is hit it high and straight? The 1957 blade is as workable as any of the best blades I've hit. Miura has always been known as the cream of the crop of forged clubs. Many of the worlds best players have had clubs made by Miura and stamped with the markings of another company to comply with club contracts. Anyone with the desire and cash can have a set of irons custom made to their exact specs or, through one of the company's dealers can be fit for a set. MSRP for the 1957 blade is $250 per club, so they aren't for the casual buyer. But for the forged blade purist, they are worth every penny. In the last 10 years I have hit hundreds and hundreds of different clubs, and the Miura 1957 Blade is in my top 5 of all time. Miura Golf's corporate office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and Miura Golf clubs are sold at the finest custom-fitting shops in North America. The Miura brand is marketed exclusively by Miura Golf Inc., in the United States and North America. More information on Miura products can be found at www.miuragolf.com.

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