Review: Miura TC-201 Irons Offer Skilled Golfers Their Weapons of Choice
Miura hand-builds some of the finest golf clubs in the world. Forged in steel through a multi-stage metalworking process, their gleaming irons are made from the best materials. They’re beautifully balanced, reliable and precise. A set of Miura irons will usually set you somewhere back north of $2,000, but you’re paying for fine craftsmanship.
We’ve dedicated full reviews of Miura’s clubs in the past here, and the perfect metal rising out of the company’s Japan workshops never fails to meet the highest of expectations. Upfront for 2021, the Miura TC-201 irons look to offer a more forgiving design to welcome higher handicap players into the fold.
Featuring a new design that works to combine the balance of cavity back and muscle back irons, the TC-201s still require a golfer with some skill to get them working just right. In fairness, it’s insane to ask a golfer without some skill to invest in Miura clubs as they’re expensive sticks best suited for dedicated golfers.
What We Liked About the Miura TC-201 Irons
As is always the case with golf clubs from Miura, the manufacturing and hand construction are outstanding. The aesthetics are striking, and the feel in the hand offers a smooth, reassuring balance. There’s nothing unsettling about the TC-201 build quality.
Most Unique Feature: Dual Design Elements
Miura got serious about building more forgiving golf clubs with the debut of their MC-501 irons a year or so ago. Forgiveness in a golf iron usually involves a larger club face to meet the golf ball more fully on miss-hits and more weight at the bottom of the club to encourage a smoother swing. The TC-201 looks to join that Miura family of forgiveness by combining traits of muscle back and cavity back clubs with a slightly larger face. We’ll explain what some of these terms mean in a bit. For now, it’s safe to say these irons are some of the first to try and combine cavity and muscle back principles.
What We Didn’t Like About the Miura TC-201 Irons
Even though they’re designed for more friendly forgiveness, these Miuras are still “bladey.” To unpack that for the uninitiated, most golf irons fall into three design categories: Muscle back, cavity back and blades. Cavity back irons have an open space behind the club face, shifting more metal back and away from the club face, encouraging more lag in the swing. Muscle backs are built with extra metal centered on the rear and the bottom of the club to weigh the iron down and balance it into the slot. Both designs are shaped to make a less consistent swing more reliable.
The TC-201s want to take elements of both to build more forgiving clubs, but they still maintain that Miura blade vibe. Blade irons are usually smaller and thinner, making a more surgical and accurate club good players can use to shape shots. While the TC-201 shape wants to invite mid-handicappers into the Miura family, they’re still best suited to low handicap, serious players.
The Verdict: The Art of Japanese Steel
We managed to complete this review without once reverting to the tired cliche of comparing Miura golf clubs to fine samurai swords. We’ll maintain that high-minded practice and simply say these are painstakingly forged, beautifully shaped and surgically sharp instruments that good golfers can take into battle with total confidence.
And, they come in black.
Buy:
Miura TC-201 Irons
$2,400.00
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