Equipment
Miura beefs up production of less-offset Passing Point 9003 straight neck irons
Miura Golf has increased production of their Passing Point PP-9003 Straight Neck irons, which have less offset than their sister model, the Passing Point PP-9003, while maintaining perimeter weighting and a wider sole.
“Initially, we weren’t intending to make a straight neck model,” said Adam Barr, President of Miura. “But the 9003 was so popular with so many players because it’s very easy to hit and has a great flight. When some of those new 9003 players talked with us about their flight preferences, we knew there was a class of 9003 lovers who didn’t want or need all the offset of the original. So we began to make a less-offset version, and that became the Passing Point 9003 Straight Neck. We sold out the initial run so quickly that we thought we’d better make more.”
Miura is a company that is known to resist many industry trends, such as the recent popularity of “distance irons,” but even it has recognized the value of providing golfers with less-offset, larger-sized irons as low-to-mid handicap golfers become accepting of more forgiving irons.
The 9003’s accomplish forgiveness by having a wider sole than other blade options, combined with a cavity that is engineered to put mass in the correct spots to correctly utilize its perimeter weighting. The regular model’s offset ranges from 5.6 mm in the 4-iron to 3.5 mm in the gap wedge, while the Straight Neck model ranges from 3.8mm in the 4-iron to 1.8 in the gap wedge. Depending on the club, that’s a reduction of offset of 50-to-70 percent from the standard PP-9003 irons.
Both the regular Passing Point 9003 and Straight Neck models are available in sets of 4-PW plus gap wedge, and cost about $225 per club.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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greg
Mar 4, 2014 at 9:39 am
Pricey but gorgeous looking sticks.
Ryan
Mar 1, 2014 at 7:21 am
PERFECT !
Tyler
Feb 27, 2014 at 12:03 pm
I play around scratch and am a decent ball striker. I tend to fight the pull from time to time. This would be something I would consider.
Rod
Feb 27, 2014 at 12:02 am
And only if they made them left-handed!
Ron Hampel
Mar 2, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Agreed. But they do make a left-handed cavity back; just not the Passing Point model.
JB
Feb 26, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Maltby has been doing this for years. See TE Forged model…..
Snowman
Feb 26, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Bingo! TMAG, Callaway, et.al. are you paying attention. I think there are a lot of 4-12 Hdcp players that would buy a product like this… Traditional look, Forged (or even not), minimal offset, GI/cavity back. I play the ~2010 Cobra S2 Forged which have similar characteristics…which of course they now have no similar product having moved into their ‘orange’ era.
Pooch
Feb 26, 2014 at 12:40 pm
I agree minimal offset will help a lot of players in this handicap range. Especially if they are truly working on the game. They can then buy a set and not get stuck with a set of clubs they can’t play anymore due to too much offset.