Few sports have as wide a range in equipment quality as golf. A player can take on a given golf course with a new set of clubs that cost a couple hundred dollars, while another might tee it up with sticks costing well into the thousands. Choosing what clubs to play with and how much to pay comes down to passion and skill level as much as budget.
Japan-based Miura golf clubs require a bigger chunk of a golfer’s budget, but — for players with developed skill and a genuine passion for the game — there are no finer clubs available. Long known as a maker of irons designed and constructed for precision, Miura golf clubs were largely reserved for low handicappers looking to play their absolute best.
The MC-501 irons are the company’s foray into friendlier, more “playable” clubs. In an effort to attract a wider variety of players and skill levels to their product, Miura designed a club head that’s wider and better weighted for players falling into the mid-handicapper range. The result is a club the feels securely balanced in the backswing and utterly smooth through address.
After testing them out, I can confidently say that Miura has accomplished their goal.
What We Liked About the Miura MC-501 Irons:
They’re gorgeous. Considering their nation of origin, it seems like a tired cliche to compare gleaming, forged Miura irons to classic, handmade Samurai weapons. Still, there they are. The MC-501 irons are metallic and angular, as sophisticated as they are simple. Avoiding the colors, lines, grooves or enhanced soles that other iron makers use to draw eyes to their golf clubs.
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Of course, it wouldn’t make any difference how Miura golf clubs look if they didn’t excel in the right hands on the course or at the range. Fortunately, the MC-501s are so well made, it’s OK to gawk at their beautiful design.
Most Unique Feature: Miura Forging
Miura’s golf clubs are widely held above those of many manufacturers because of their manufacturing process. An iron goes through a process of forging, grinding and hand polishing that lends a spirit of artisan craftsmanship to every club.
The club builders use soft carbon steel and put it through a three-stage forging process that shapes and reshapes the club head until it meets Miura standards. While some OEMs rely on automation, it’s human beings that monitor and guide the Miura process, as it’ll be human beings who play the clubs.
What We Didn’t Like About the Miura MC-501 Irons:
“Cavity back” and “muscle back” are golf buzz terms for clubs that have fuller heads and more forgiving faces — presumably making them easier to hit for higher handicap golfers who just look to get their favorite golf balls up in the air and moving in a positive direction. Alternatively, “blades” in golf club terms are lighter, thinner and more precise — the choice for low handicap golfers who can shape their shots. Miura always specialized in blades, making some of the most precise clubs in the golf world.
The company looks on their new MC-501 golf clubs as muscle back, and they do qualify in look and design. However, these irons retain much of Miura’s blade genetics and can prove tricky for high handicap golfers to master.
The Verdict:
Incredible to look at with the quality to match their aesthetics, the Miura MC-501 irons are the clubs that open the world of elite Japanese craftsmanship to the mid-handicap golfer. They’re pricey, but there are no better-built clubs available for the players able to handle them.
Where To Buy the Miura MC-501 Irons:
Clubs of this quality and price range are intended for dedicated players and enthusiasts. It’s possible to order anything from Miura “off the rack,” but an investment of this quality should follow a proper fitting to get a player’s full specs. If you already know your spec numbers and feel confident that you can order a set of golf clubs immediately, Miura’s website allows you to build your MC-501 irons from the 3 iron through the pitching wedge at a cost of $280 per iron, MSRP.
Otherwise, Miura recommends a potential buyer go through a thorough fitting process with their dealer partners, such as True Spec Golf.