Equipment
Miura MB-101: The first new Miura blade since 2013
It has been six years since Miura unveiled a new forged blade iron. For 2020, the Japanese company is introducing the all-new Miura MB-101 iron—aimed at golfers looking for a classic, compact, shotmaking tool.
The last blade iron Miura launched into the market was way back in 2013: The MB-001. Since then, there have been quite a few new additions to the Miura family of irons, but no pure blade until now.
“This is a model of which the entire Miura family can be proud,” says Shinei Miura. “My father is as passionate about the MB-101 as any club he has ever designed. Our hope is that it will be recognized as one of the finest irons our factory has ever produced and will remain in our model lineup for years to come.”
Muira’s heritage is based on creating timeless forged irons, including blades—and don’t for a second think that this is just a rebadged Miura Baby Blade with a new name. Miura prides itself in their endless pursuit of perfection—their design philosophy is “kaizen,” which means” continuous improvement.” With respect to the MB-101, every detail has been refined to create the ultimate shotmaking tool for golfers seeking the absolute best in precision performance.
The muscle shape is much more organic and rounded to go along with the new sole design that greatly improves turf interaction. The other part of the iron that has gone through a tremendous change, thanks to Shinei and Yoshitaka Muira, is the transition from the hosel to the topline. This is, for the most discerning player, the telltale sign of a well-designed club: The hosel should look like it almost melts into the topline of the club, and with the new Muira MB-101 iron, you get exactly that.
The new Miura MB-101 embodies the theory that the smaller the clubhead, the more focused a player will be over the ball, resulting in better strikes. Along those same lines, the more compact head means more mass will be behind the ball, even on mishits, providing better results and offering the greatest level of feedback.
“Miura’s reputation is centered on its history of crafting exceptional, championship-caliber blade irons, and the MB-101 continues that legacy,” Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf.
Miura MB-101: Tech specs & availability
The Miura MB-101 is forged from premium S25C soft carbon steel and finished in satin chrome to visually delight the most discerning golf purists.
The MB-101 set runs 3-PW and is available for $280 per iron. Golfers can purchase the MB-101 and all other Miura products at authorized club fitters around the globe or fully assembled at www.Miuragolf.com.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Ken
Dec 4, 2020 at 3:43 pm
I currently have the miura mb001’s and I am looking for a new set. Thinking about these but also like the WIlson Staff model staff blades. Any comparisons between the two??
Dave Bryce
Oct 14, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Simply as good an iron as anything out there! Like the fact that the lofts are not beefed up!
s
Oct 5, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Real men’s lofts. Love it.
MhtLion
Oct 4, 2019 at 11:22 am
Looks like Japan issued MB-5001/3.
Miuralovechild
Oct 3, 2019 at 11:15 pm
Not sure about the MORE rounded toe! Other than that they’re perfect. Appear to be smaller than the mb001. What ever happened to the 2019 baby blade????? Is this the same thing?? The ferrule is most likely BB&F (Patrick Boyd).
Randy Wall
Oct 3, 2019 at 1:45 am
Wish my game was capable of playing these. They’re gorgeous, and I’ll bet buttery soft when well struck.
Jim
Oct 19, 2019 at 8:36 pm
Randy – your game IS capable. These and similar blades (we used to just call them golf clubs) will improve anyone’s ball-striking ability. Unfortunately for most, they require a little practice once in a while. Most people today do not want to bother themselves with practice – it’s time-consuming.
James
Oct 2, 2019 at 10:23 pm
Miura has always considered the hosel to be the most important part of the head – it was always the most meticulously crafted part ‘where the shaft unites with the club head. When they came to visit our shop before opening our account & certifying us to build them, they made sure we had a quality drill press…the heads used to come with a pilot hole and builders had to bore it to whether or not you were using a taper or parallel tip, assuring the tightest shaft to head fit. Only a small amount of glue was needed & helped ‘lubricate’ the shaft as you pounded it down that last 3/8″ or so to seat it all the way down. Miura believed this accounted for the exceptional distance & feel.
Take apart any Mizuno or Titleist – even PXG and you can wiggle the tip around in the hosel. They dimple the shafts to give the glue more to bond with and more than a few times we needed to shim all of the above brands.
The difference is real. Still the best.
Milton Taylor
Oct 2, 2019 at 4:31 pm
$280 per club…… Bye Miura. They look exactly like my 620s
Jarnio Bubly
Oct 1, 2019 at 4:30 pm
Every manufacturer should go to a 7 year cycle on irons!
BO BO
Oct 2, 2019 at 7:56 pm
I thought the exact same thing when I saw the article.
rex 235
Oct 1, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Ryan-
“…and don’t for a second think that this is just a rebadged Miura Baby Blade with a new name.”
If theres a LH model, OK. Otherwise…
CJ
Oct 1, 2019 at 1:47 pm
Check out the 901s, which also dropped today
dat
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:49 am
Perfection
Casey Crooks
Oct 1, 2019 at 9:15 am
How does the size compare to the baby blade and MB001?
Cookazz
Oct 2, 2019 at 5:09 pm
3mm longer
VS
Oct 2, 2019 at 5:41 pm
Can you provide the source of this info? would like to see the dimensions of baby blade vs MB-101
Brian Audia
Oct 31, 2019 at 2:10 pm
+1 This comment. Where can you find full specs?