For years and years, the Japanese Supreme Master of Forging Irons, Katsuhiro Miura, labored in near obscurity. Known largely to only the professional golfers and major club manufacturers, he forged the best blades for many of the major manufacturers' PGA Tour Players. It was their names, rather than his name, that appeared on his creations and the "Regular Joes and Janes" were none the wiser. However, like most best kept secrets, the truth has come to light and I have seen it!

I first saw a Miura iron in the February 2007 issue of the Golf Digest "Equipment Issue" as I was spending Christmas vacation on St. Thomas, VI. I was looking at this beautiful Miura CB-301 iron described in that issue as "This is the best-looking girl at the bar-- and I haven't had a drink yet . . . Should say 'For Serious Players Only.' The feel and trajectory are better than anything. You'll be the only one in your foursome with these."

After having played Mizuno MP 33 forged blades for several years, I was intrigued, not to mention I like NOT seeing my irons in everyone else's bags. When I returned home, I called my local Miura dealer and found the other Golf Digest Review quote that "the price is "unconscionable" to be absolutely accurate. These irons were  $125/club head, plus $60 per shaft and grip and tax. No way!

So, I went to the golfer's addiction supplier--eBay-- and checked for Miura irons. I found a limited number of CB-301 irons and, what's this, CB-201 irons up for auction. After researching both irons on the Miura website, I found that Mr. Miura calls the CB-201 "perhaps his best ever forged iron." High praise from a man considered the "best of the best" when it comes to forging irons. Since they are a fine looking iron with a generous cavity back, I decided to go for it. Hey, most tour pros are going cavity-back, too.

After purchasing my set of Miura CB-201 irons, I replaced the stock regular flex shafts with the True Temper Tour Concept S3 stiff flex shafts and Golf Pride DD2 grips. The feel is fantastic, almost as good as a blade. You can work the ball left or right and hit it low or high. Mis-hits fly pretty much the same with a little loss of distance. You can feel the difference before you ever look for the ball. Center contact feels like a practice swing! I loved them so much, I purchased another set just for tournament play and equipped them similarly for consistency.

I can honestly say I have never played a better iron, regardless of manufacturer. There is NO COMPARISON with other cavity-back irons! These irons are very durable and playable, though I use Club Glove head covers at all times. In addition, I have NEVER seen anyone else playing them, regardless of where I was playing. Most golfers have never even seen them in person!

If you can afford them, you owe it to yourself to try them. I must confess I seldom buy brand new clubs anymore. Let someone else absorb the initial depreciation. To give you an idea, I bought a 5-pw set for $530 shipped and a 3-pw 201/blade combo set with 54, 56, 60 degree blade wedges for $830 shipped. Normally, a new set of 3-pw from a dealer would cost more than both of my sets. In fact, the second set originally cost over TWICE  what I paid for them! I replaced the Royal Precision Rifle 5.5 shafts with my favorite, True Temper Tour Concept S3 shafts in the satin finish and Golf Pride DD2 grips for about $450. Astonishingly, I sold that "second set" a few weeks ago for $1200, or almost every dollar I had in them!!! That has NEVER happened before. Miura irons are a fantastic value when you buy them previously-owned.

I am now on the hunt for the new CB-202 forged, cavity-back irons. Leave it to Mr. Miura to constantly look to redefine perfection. The CB-201 is as close to perfection as I have played and I have played over 20 different sets of irons from a variety of manufacturers. Miura CB-201s--as close to blades and perfection as possible with a cavity-back filled with forgiveness. The next time you want to take your game to the infamous "next level," (wherever that is!) ask for a little forgiveness, ask for Miura CB-201 forged, cavity-back irons. You may be disappointed in yourself, but you will NEVER be disappointed with these irons!

Dafoxyman

"Beaten by skill, but NEVER by technology!"