ULTIMATE REVIEW! – Miura Series 1957 Wedges

“The fact that our testers awarded not 1 but 2 perfect scores (in our most two most heavily weighted subjective categories) is the clearest illustrator of exactly how well the Series 1957 wedges were received.”

Miura Series 1957 (C & Y Grind) Wedge Review

(Written By: GolfSpy T) There are golf companies, and there is Miura.  While the vast majority of equipment manufacturers subscribe to the idea that more is more; releasing new clubs every year (sometimes twice a year), even if the only things that change are the name and the paint, Miura has stayed true to their traditional ideal of only releasing a new club when there is actually a reason to do so. While in some golfer’s minds that can lead to designs that appear stale or outdated, what I’ve learned from the company is that Miura will never release a new club simply because the seasons change.

What also sets Miura apart is their unrelenting commitment to quality. I’ve spoken with a few clubmakers who have told me that there is simply no one in the golf business who delivers a more perfect product.  From the weight of the heads, to their lofts and lie angles, Miura manufacturers their clubs to the most exacting tolerances is the industry. They work with their dealers to ensure that their customers not only receive a comprehensive fitting, but that the finished product (often assembled on-site, by the fitter), exceeds that customer’s greatest expectations.

While some would view Miura’s comparatively small footprint on Tour to mean the clubs aren’t popular with the pros (the ridiculous inference being they’re just not as good as more well-know brands).  The reality is that there are more Miura clubs on Tour than you might realize (often with other company’s logos stamped on them).  The true measure of Miura’s quality isn’t the number of players bagging their clubs (that’s little more than a measure of how much a company is willing to pay a tour player), it’s that successful PGA Pros like K.J. Choi are willing to forgo huge endorsement deals in order to play Miura’s irons. Given the tremendous role that sponsorship play on Tour (and consequently in what gets sold in retail shops around the world), it speaks volumes that Miura is able to not only survive, but thrive without paying a single player to bag their clubs.

About Miura’s Series 1957 Limited Edition Wedges

The Series 1957 Collection is made up of 3 distinct wedges.  The Y-Grind, which fills the role of the gap wedge is available in lofts of 49°, 51°, and 53°.  Taking it’s name from Yoshitaka Miura’s first initial, it features subtle heel and toe relief.  The C-Grind (sand and lob wedge) is available in lofts of 55°, 57°, and 59°. Like the Y-Grind, it features heal and toe relief, though it’s slightly more pronounced than the Y-Grind.  According to Miura both grinds are designed to meet the evolving desires of today’s golfer, but without compromising the “Basic Fundamentals” of a high performance golf club.  What I take this all to mean is that the grinds provide enough versatility to manipulate the club face and play shots from a variety of lies, but do so without radically impacting the bounce angle of the club.

Rounding out the 1957 series is the K-Grind (not reviewed).  Clearly the most distinctive of the collection, and perhaps the most distinctive of any wedge on the market today, the K-Grind features a “fluted” design.  Miura claims the three channels carved into the sole provide better results from wet sand, increased acceleration on ½ and ¼  swings, and the ability to better dig the ball out of deep rough.  Of course, it also performs well from your every day, ordinary, fairway lie.

I took a moment to ask one of our contacts at Miura about the unusual lofts on the wedges.  It turns out the reason behind the lofts is twofold:

1. With the custom Y and C grinds we offer (heal and toe relief), loft is in all truth, subjective, based on how the club is “soled’. (slightly open, slightly closed, position of hands, etc.) Therefore, the Miura’s felt that creating lofts which would be easily distinguishable from our standard Tour Wedges would appeal to our customers.
2. The introduction of the ‘new lofts’ also gave golfers the option of being able to define the ‘gaps’ in the wedges. Whether it be 4°, 5°, or 6°.

 

Short on Options

As you can see from the chart below, the Miura Series 1957 Limited Edition wedges are short on options.  Only a single bounce option is available per loft, and none of the Series 1957 wedges are available for lefties, however, other Miura wedges are available for left-handed players.

There is no “stock” shaft option for Miura wedges (most everything is custom).  Our samples were assembled with KBS Tour shafts in stiff flex.

How We Tested

Target greens on our 3Track Equipped simulators from aboutGolf were set at 100 yards.  After being allowed several shots to verify the appopriate club for the distance, testers took their choice of  the 53° (Y-Grind) or  57° (C-Grind) wedge and hit a series of shots.  Testing for the Miura Series 1957 Wedges was done at Tark’s Indoor Golf, a state of the art indoor golf facility located in Saratoga Springs, NY.  Detailed data for each and every shot for which we collected is viewable in the interactive portion of this review.  This data serves as the foundation for our final performance score.  As a supplement to our 6 performance testers, a subset of additional golfers were given the opportunity to test the Miura wedges s and provide feedback in our subjective categories (looks, feel, perceived accuracy, perceived forgiveness, and likelihood of purchase).  This information, which we also collected from our performance testers, is used as the foundation for our total subjective score.

Radius-Based Scoring

For wedge testing, performance scores are derived using what we refer to as radius-based scoring.  Instead of simply asking our testers to hit the ball as long and as straight as they can, testers are asked to stick their shots as close as they possibly can to a pin set at 100 yards.

75% of the total performance score is calculated based on where each shot fell in proximity to the hole.  Closer is obviously better.

As we do with irons, we apply a formula to normalize the data across varying handicap levels.  Our scoring attempts to account for difference in ability levels between high and low handicap golfers, and makes a reasonable attempt to level the playing field (much like the Handicap system itself), so that it’s possible to achieve similar scores for all golfers.  Details for each and every shot hit during our tests is available to you in the interactive portion of this review.  Please check out that page, and tell us what you think about the radius-based scoring system.

PERFORMANCE SCORING

Accuracy

It should be surprising to no one that our testers are posting very similar numbers with the wedges we’ve tested so far.   In fact, average misses across the board have been differentiated by perhaps a foot or two. With an average of just over 28 feet left to the hole, the Miura wedges held their own against the other wedges we’ve tested thus far in 2011. With only a single exception, our lower handicap golfers were measurably more accurate than our higher handicap golfers.

Also noteworthy is that because we weren’t provided with a higher lofted wedge (~60°), our longest hitter, Dan, needed to hit knockdown shots to reach the distance.  It certainly didn’t cause him any problems, however; as he posted the best accuracy scores among our test group.

MGS Accuracy Score: 87.44

Consistency

Each and every one of our testers posted A-level consistency scores. The individual scores ranged from just above 90 on the low end to +/- 97 on the high end (3 scores). The remaining scores were 93 and change.  All of this indicates that regardless of whether or not our testers were missing long, short, left, or right, they were achieving very similar results from swing to swing.  The final totals were among the best we’ve seen from a wedge this season.

MGS Consistency Score: 95.26

Spin

3 of our testers put up spin number that were just shy of 11,000 RPMs.  As he often does, our highest handicap golfer posted the lowest spin totals at around 9100 RPMs.  The totals very likely would have been higher, but hitting knockdowns very likely caused Dan some spin.  Even so, he was able to hit 9500 RPMs consistently.

Whether it was done intentionally, or whether it is an oversight, the Miura website only uses the word “spin” when describing their hosels (spin welded).  Spin is absolutely never mentioned with regard to wedge performance, and yet the spin numbers are very, very good.  It kinda makes you wonder if this whole groove nonsense isn’t completely overblown.

MGS Spin Score: 96.87

Overall Performance

Accuracy accounts for the single biggest chunk (75%) of our performance score.  A foot or two makes all the difference where our scores are concerned, and while our testers put up solid (A-level) numbers, they weren’t quite as tight to the pin as they were with a couple of the other wedges we’ve tested this season.  That said, based on performance alone, the performance numbers of the Miura Series 1957 wedges make it a worthy competitor in the wedge space.  Of course, as you’ll see in the subjective section, when you’re talking about Miura, performance is only a part of the equation.

MGS OVERALL PERFORMANCE SCORE: 89.52

Have you had the chance to demo Miura irons or wedges?  Do they live up to their reputation?

SUBJECTIVE SCORING

Miura is in an interesting position when it comes to the preconceived notions of our testers.  Those who have been testing with us for a while, especially those who had a chance to test the CB-501 irons we reviewed last year, not only know Miura by reputation, they’ve already had an opportunity to test what many consider the finest irons in the industry.  For others, however, the Miura brand remains largely unknown. While it’s clear that Miura’s President, Adam Barr, is on a mission to increase brand awareness, in many respects Miura is a manufacturer with a great product that remains somewhat off the radar of the average golfer. With the majority of our testers having never picked up a Miura club, I was more than a little curious how this would play out.

Looks

Miura is known for producing clubs with what could be labeled “classic” designs.  The C and Y grind clubs we tested certainly fit that description.

While most of our testers don’t closely inspect the soles of the wedges we test to look at the differences in of each manufacturers grind, those who did commented that both the C and Y grinds appear more subtle than those of some of the other wedges we’ve tested. Clearly these grinds are a long way from what Solus and Scratch are doing, but compared to more conventional wedges like Mizunos or Vokeys, the grind on the Miuras is a bit more understated.

Though I personally rated the Miura wedges highly for looks (I gave them a 9), I am somewhat surprised that other testers (in fact the majority of testers) rated them even more highly.  With finishes like Mizuno’s black nickel, and Callaway’s Slate gaining in popularity, I wondered if an ordinary matte satin chrome wedge could compete.  As it turns out, our testers didn’t think there was anything even slightly plain about the Miura wedges we tested. Many commented on the shape, and how wonderful it looks at address (thin topline, little or negative offset).  Others mentioned the Series 1957 logo.  Whatever the reason, our testers rated the esthetics of the Miura wedges higher than any other wedge that we’ve received for testing this season.

In fact, when we applied our formulas (drop the high and low) to the survey responses, the results were nothing less than perfect. We’ve never had a club receive a perfect 100 points  in any subjective category before. This tells me that in a time when manufacturers are moving away from traditional finishes and painting clubs white, there will always be room in the bag for pure class. The Miura wedges scored a perfect 100!

MGS Looks Score: 100.00

Feel

Though a single 8 was dropped on the low end (along with one of the 10s on the high end), our testers were beyond impressed with the feel of Miura’s Series 1957 Wedges.  When the numbers were added up; once again our testers had voted perfection.

Miura says the feel comes from a forging technique that rearranges the molecular structure of the steel in a uniform pattern.  Our testers didn’t seem to care what makes the Miura wedges feel unlike most anything else on the market today, but they were happy to share how much they love the result.

A couple of our testers commented that the Miura wedges feel a bit heavier than some of the others they’ve hit this season.  We stopped checking specs a while ago, but my suspicion is that these wedges, as configured, would swing weight out a bit heavier than average.

Where these wedges stand comparatively in terms of feel is admittedly open for debate.  Some would still argue Mizuno’s MP-T11’s offer better feel, most of our testers swear by Miura. I personally believe that the clubs are very similar where feel is concerned, and when considering the other wedges we’ve tested thus far, just about anyone else is a distant third.

MGS Feel Score: 100.00

Perceived Accuracy

Where accuracy is concerned, while the majority of our testers posted scores in the mid-90s (A-level), our testers didn’t feel the wedges were quite as accurate as some of the other wedges we’ve tested.   Interestingly, when we look at simple accuracy (distance left or right of the center line), the Miura’s scored exceptionally well.  What this suggests is that, whether caused by mis-hits, or lack of forgiveness, or bad swings, our testers, despite hitting the club exceptionally straight, weren’t able to consistently dial in their distance.  Scores ranged from 7 on the low end to a single 10 on the high end, which is plenty respectable.  Given that distance control, and not left/right dispersion account for the majority of misses, we think if our testers had more time with the wedge they might rate it even higher.

Tester Perceived Accuracy Score:  87.79

Perceived Forgiveness

Based on the offset, or the total lack thereof, I expected that our testers would find the Series 1957 wedges less forgiving than others we’ve tested.  Comments about the distance loss on mis-hits were the most prevalent, and likely were the single biggest factor bringing scores down. Equally as important  were the testers who told us they think the wedges help mitigate tendencies to pull the ball left (though a couple of our testers still did).  This is certainly the case for me.  I’m a notorious puller of wedges shots, so having no, or even negative offset seems to actually help prevent pulls from becoming pull hooks.

Overall the results of our forgiveness surveys suggest our testers find the Miura Series 1957 to be a reasonably, though far from exceptionally, forgiving wedge.

Tester Perceived Forgiveness Score: 87.79

Likelihood of Purchase

We try and take price out of the equation as much as we possibly can, but when our testers ask about pricing we can’t exactly lie.  So yeah, it’s understandable that a wedge with a street price that, depending on options, can creep over $200 is going to send some people running in the other direction.  Not surprisingly this is the category where the Series 1957 wedges saw the lowest scores, though there was a bit of a polarization of the numbers.  While one tester scored it a 5, the rest of the low numbers were 7s, while the high numbers were 9s and 10s.  It’s hard to tell how serious our testers were about pulling the trigger (as far as we know, not a single tester has actually purchased one for himself), but it does give us some indication that golfers might be willing to look past price and bag one for themselves.

Tester Likelihood of Purchase: 86.00

For wedges, looks and feel are weighted more highly than the other categories (although accuracy is weighted almost as highly), which explains why despite high average scores for both accuracy and forgiveness, and a relatively pedestrian LOP score, the Miura Series 1957 posted among the highest overall subjective scores we’ve seen to date. We could split hairs over a couple of points here or there, but mostly I agree  with our testers (I’d rate the forgiveness a bit higher, because the lack of offset actually helps me). If price isn’t a serious limitation for you, the Series 1957 wedges scored well-enough with our testers that we think it might be worth tracking down your local Miura dealer for a test drive of sorts.

TOTAL SUBJECTIVE SCORE: 94.42

CONCLUSION

The unfortunate reality is that without MyGolfSpy our testers probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to demo anything from Miura. It’s definitely a shame for them since they clearly like what they’ve seen so far. The issue for Miura is simply that their dealer network is limited (especially when saturation is measured against the likes of TaylorMade and Callaway), but the company is actively trying to grow that network, which will hopefully translate into more opportunities for golfers to experience the Miura difference for themselves.

While on performance alone Miura’s Series 1957 wedges rank in the middle of the very similarly performing group we’ve tested thus far in 2011, the impact the clubs left on our testers was nothing short of extraordinary. The numbers show that  from the time of the most recent update to our scoring system (January) no club has ever received a perfect score in any of our subjective categories.  The fact that our testers awarded not 1, but 2 perfect scores (in our most two most heavily weighted subjective categories) is the clearest illustrator of exactly how well the Series 1957 wedges were received.

While it’s easy to say that performance alone should be used as the basis for what goes into your bag, for me anyway, the shorter the club, the more intangibles like looks, feel, and even confidence come into play. And while the simple explanation would be to say that I bagged these wedges because they match my irons so nicely, the truth is they’re in my bag because I’m simply more consistent with Miura Series 1957 wedges than any I’ve brought out on the golf course with me over the last two years.

FOR A LIST OF MIURA DEALERS: CLICK HERE

MGS TOTAL SCORE:  90.01

Have you had the chance to demo Miura irons or wedges?  Do they live up to their reputation?

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