Miura Grounded in Steely Tradition

Katsuhiro Miura has been plying his trade in Himeji City, Japan since he was 16 years old. Known as the steel region of Japan, Himeji City was home to the craftsmen who forged the swords of the Samurai. Centuries have passed since the sword was the primary product of these artisans but the techniques have been preserved and handed down and are now the basis for the production of the finest forged golf clubs in the world

To hold a Miura club in your hands is a remarkable experience as the marriage of esthetics and technology reaches out to you. Mr. Miura is widely known in the industry as having "the hands of God" as and he still makes final adjustments to the products which emerge from the famous steel town.

Bill Holowaty is the V.P. of Miura golf and as he walked me through the proprietary 14 step forging process it was abundantly clear that this was a man with a passion for his products. As he described the feel of hitting a golf ball with a Miura iron he used words like soft, buttery and solid.

Comparing the grain structure of the Miura forgings to other companies' product he used the image of a jar of marbles versus a jar of sand. The spaces between are literally squeezed out through a process of heat and extreme pressure leading to a reduction in the dissipation of energy. In lay terms; no vibration up the shaft. The process is accomplished by striking the club head with a pile driver the size of a parking stall.

The new putters which Miura is producing, Series 1957, are made from a single billet of soft carbon steel and they are forged using the same process as the irons. The heel/toe weighted MP 005 and 006 have a traditional look and the KM-350 blade (350 grams) is toe weighted to prevent an open face at impact. The feel of this putter is remarkable and Mr. Holowaty's words came back to me; soft, buttery and solid.

The oiled chrome finish and milled face create an instrument which may be the most beautiful putter in the world. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. This putter is as performance-oriented as it is beautiful and once you get your hands on it you won't let go.
The newest addition to the Miura family of finely crafted golf instruments is the Series 57 K Grind Wedge. Available in 56 degrees, this beautiful wedge has a fluted sole which has 3 finger-tip impressions which appear to be knuckles. As aesthetically beautiful as they are functional, the knuckles enable the wedge to accelerate through sand, rough or short grass with a minimum of resistance. Combine these characteristics with the buttery, solid feel that Mr. Miura's irons provide and you have a wedge which inspires confidence every time you use it. This is golf art.
My Series K came in a nickel (satin) chrome finish and was shafted with a stepless UST Mamiya Spin Wedge Proto. It is also available in a black finish. I auditioned this wedge over six days in diverse conditions and it has earned a permanent residence in my bag.