50 Words or Less
The Miura CB-501 irons are a true players club that accommodates a wider range of golfers than most blades. If you have the game for them, the 501s are elite tools for ultimate performance.
Introduction
If you’re an avid internet golf reader, I don’t need to introduce you to the Miura name. You already know the legend. For those that don’t, Miura Golf is highly regarded as one of the top, if not the top, forged iron makers in the world. Katsuhiro Miura began making golf clubs in 1957 and still hand-grinds clubs alongside his two sons in the Miura factory to this day. Miura Golf only operates out of one factory in Himeji, Japan which was long-known for its prestigious production of samurai swords. Maybe they aren’t making samurai swords, but the Miura family has certainly proven they know a thing or two about high-quality steelmaking.
After decades of making highly-acclaimed forged irons, Miura Golf has had a lot of hits. When designing the Miura CB-501 irons, Miura tried to take the best attributes from their favorite Miura irons and combine them into one refined package that would appeal to a wider range of players.
Looks
From address, you would never think the Miura CB-501 irons are a cavity-back. The thin toplines, minimal offset, and flatter toe absolutely scream old school classic blade, but that cavity shows there’s a little more forgiveness built into the face than your grandpa’s old blades from the 1950’s. Like the Miura CB57 we reviewed previously, you will notice the Miura CB-501 shares some similarities with a lot of mainstream brands’ players irons, but none of those big names will come close to looking as classic, clean, and smooth as the CB-501s. The flatter toe doesn’t have a squared look and the offset is hardly noticeable because of how smoothly Miura flows the hosel into the heel of the club. Rather than have jagged, sharp lines, Miura has managed to make the 501s very smooth and soft in their appearance.
I wanted to remain calm when I received these Miura CB-501s, but when I opened the box, it was pretty hard to ignore how perfect and beautiful these clubs are. There’s minimal branding and flash on these iron heads, and when they’re lined up in the bag like the picture above, you can tell they mean business. They almost make the statement, “If you’re wondering what perfect golf clubs are supposed to look like, this is it.” Pictures do not do the CB-501 justice. Seeing them in hand is nothing short of impressive.
Sound & Feel
As good looking as these irons are, the sound and feel are where the Miura CB-501s really demonstrate their perfection. As good as I thought the clubs looked, I’ll be honest and say I was pretty intimidated by them. I expected the shots to feel solid, the sweet spots to be small, and my imperfect swing to result in a lot of stings in my hands. Instead, my first shot felt like the best iron shot I’ve ever hit in my life. That’s the 100% honest truth, too. Do I think there are a lot of really good feeling golf clubs out there? Absolutely, and this is not meant to demean those clubs, but the feel and response of a Miura iron, especially the CB-501, is on a whole different level. The feel is extremely responsive so you know exactly where you hit every shot, but when you catch one pure on the sweet spot, you very much feel the ball and it’s so soft and crisp. It’s one of those things you’ll never fully understand until you try it yourself. Interestingly, the CB-501 is fairly forgiving on your hands toward the heel and toe of the face. Should you go too extreme either direction though, you will pay for it.
As far as sound goes, it follows suit with the feel. The sound is a muted “whip-crack” at impact that embodies perfection. It’s so crisp that you feel like if you can just repeat that sound a couple of times in a row, you’ll see strokes drop off your score. Of course, as you get further away from the sweet spot, the sound gets a little rockier. That said, the crack I described has a little grace area away from the sweet spot that I don’t think you’d expect from initial inspection of the clubs.
Performance
There are many ideas that went into the design of the Miura CB-501 that were intended to make a more appealing blade with more forgiveness. First, the added mass low and behind the face makes the face a little more forgiving and helps get the ball in the air. I mentioned earlier that you can deviate from the sweet spot a bit, but when you do, you do lose yardage and it’s easy for the shot to change shape. While I don’t think the 501s are the hardest blade in the world to hit, you are still going to want to be a solid ball striker. If you are a good iron player, these irons are second to none and should help you play better golf when fitted correctly. To steal a line from Matt’s CB57 review, “While many clubs only want to do one or two things, these irons are for the player who wants to hit every shot.”
One of Miura’s big points they try to sell is that their steel has a tight, void-free grain which results in better golf shots. The example I keep hearing Miura and others used to explain this is to think of a jar of marbles versus a jar of sand. The jar of sand is going to be more solid. I’ve also read about people claiming to pick up distance, specifically with the CB-501s. Again, I’ll be perfectly honest and say I didn’t believe any of that all and figured it had to be people were just excited to brag about their Miuras. Well turns out, I was wrong. I found I was hitting these Miuras about 10-12 yards longer per club, and they had excellent control. The only explanation I can think of here is the marbles versus sand analogy. I don’t know if the finer grain of steel does the trick, but whatever it is, I’m not arguing with it.
Conclusion
I hate to admit I’m drinking the proverbial Miura Kool-Aid, but I think I am. I’ve honestly had very few golf equipment experiences like my first exposure to Miura irons which came courtesy of this review. Matt said in his review that “Playing Miura irons is an experience that I wish every serious golfer could have.” The funny thing is, I sent Matt a very similar text this afternoon that said I feel like the review for the Miura CB-501s should just say, “If you’ve never hit a Miura iron before, stop reading this, and go hit one as soon as possible. You’ll see for yourself. If you have hit a Miura iron before, I don’t need to tell you anything.” If you’re looking to have a different perspective on what a good iron is, I strongly encourage you check out a Miura sometime soon.
Bill plays Scott Readman Concepts putters and accessories.
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Bill,
What shaft and are they permanently going in the bag?
I had my preferred Nippon Tour Modus 130 installed and if they go in the bag, it won’t be until later this year. If you are familiar with the tone of our reviews, you know we spend a lot of time dialing in our equipment and getting our setup just right. Right now I’m more comfortable with my bag than I have been in a long time, but if I ever start to feel differently, the CB-501’s are going to be the first irons I turn to.
That doesn’t mean I won’t take them out for a whirl from time to time. They’re too amazing to just sit in my basement.
Great job . How much does a set of these gorgeous irons cost, and what handicap range would benefit the most from them.
Thanks, robin.
Price varies heavily on fitting. Miura is starting to pop up a bit more in “pre-built” stores, but generally are acquired through custom builders. I would say a safe starting point is $2000 for a set of irons.
As far as handicap, I can’t say considering everyone is different and two people with the same handicap could have very different strengths and weaknesses. I would say these are best suited for a strong iron player that doesn’t require a lot of assistance and correction from the club itself. They’re good for the player that can hit all types of shots, not the player that should only be worrying about hitting their irons straight.
Hope that helps.
Bill
Hello Bill.
I have just read your reviews on both the Miura CB 501 and the Titleist CB 716. I am currently trying to decide between the two for my next set of irons.
I played a round with the titleist a couple days ago and loved how it felt when I hit a good shot.
Today I hit the Miura at a local store, but that was off a mat. Still felt great but it’s hard to compare the two as I played a full round with the titleist and only hit about 10 balls with the Miura.
Overall from what I read online, Miura seems the way to go. I just can’t quite decide as I really love the look of the titleist CB, and got more time to test them out.
Can you give me a brief comparison as you have played with both?
Thanks
I never played the 716 CB, I just did testing for the review.
There’s not even a conversation to be had here. Miura is in a whole different ball game and cost quite a bit more for a good reason.
I just traded my 716 Ap2’s in on the 501’s with steel fiber shafts.. ill be the one to tell you that they are the real deal! Ive always been loyal to Titleist irons but the Miura’s are on a whole new level.
I purposely went to Singapore to had the CB501 fitted.
The result was dissapointed as i hit pretty much shorter than my Titleist AP1.
Honestly, it does not feel as good as what the internet says…”the ball melts on the club”
Normally I would say “everyone has a subjective opinion” but in this case, I just think it’s completely off.
1) These are some of the best feelings on the market…but they are a completely different feel than the AP1. The AP1 is designed to feel ultra forgiving and springy, whereas the CB-501 is going to be a solid forged iron with a lot of response and smaller sweet spot.
2) As for length, the AP1 is designed to be a longer, more forgiving iron for less strong ball strikers. You’ll also notice a quick glance at the specs on each manufacturer’s sites that the AP1 is 2º stronger in loft for each club compared to the 501. That alone is going to impact the distance.
Ultimately, a player looking to hit the CB-501 isn’t looking for distance and forgiveness…the exact opposite of an AP1. They are looking for response, precise feel, accuracy, and playability. So to me, your disappointment lies with requiring a more educated comparison.
How are these compared to the CB-1008? I am a mid handicapper (15) and i game the 1008s. They might be an aggressive club for me(since im a mid handicap) but they are beautiful and feel out of this word. I hit my average 4 iron 185ish but i will take a loss on distance for accuracy and a great looking/feeling club anyday.
Sorry, Mark, I couldn’t tell you. I’ve never hit the 1008.
Hi Bill
I Have just purchased a set of 501’s with Shimada shafts. I have always been a JDM fan, my 2 previous sets were Honmas and Taylormade gloire forged. I can honestly say that the feeling off the face of the 501’s can not be beat. The flight and distance control is amazing. What I really like about them is the true loft, a 7 iron is a 7 iron, not a rebranded 6 iron . I would say to those on the fence about purchasing a set of Miuras ..NIKE..just do it ! You will not regret it . They are a mile wide grin a shot clubs.
I am getting fitted for these in two weeks and can’t wait. How many rounds have you played so far with these?
Jay,
Great, enjoy the fitting. I’m playing the CB 1008 now.
Best,
Matt
Just bought a used set. Played a bad round yesterday and brought the 7 iron in the bag as I haven’t even hit them yet. I dropped a ball at the 150 yd marker on 18. It was a back pin and uphill.
I hit it two feet. Saved my otherwise terrible round and getting fitted for new shafts today :-) Looking forward to getting to know these beauties. Cheers.
Which is more forgiving the cb501 or CB57?
Gio,
It’s really splitting hairs. Neither is hugely forgiving, but both will handle a small miss reasonably well.
Best,
Matt
With that being said, which would you choose the CB57 or cb 501 to game ?
Gio,
I gamed the 57 for a minute, so I’d probably lean that way.
-Matt
Hi, I was wondering how these would compare to the Mizuno MP 20 MMC in terms of forgiveness and performance. Understand it’s been a few years but always come here for advice. Thanks
Ryan,
I think the CB-501 and MMC are comparable in terms of forgiveness. As you said, it’s been a little while, so I’d be hesitant to get into launch or spin specifics.
Best,
Matt
When were these clubs introduced? I just seen a guy selling used ones and said he got them in 2018
I don’t know the exact release date, but the review was published in 2016.
-Matt
Hi Matt and Bill,
I currently own the CB501 but I am looking for an upgrade in the Miura line for more forgiveness and feel, essentially a more modern version as mine is wearing out. In terms of feel, is the CB501 still better than the current offerings of CB301 and TC201? You did state all 3 are not as forgiving, but can you rank them as well? To me, the CB501 and CB301 felt very very similar.
Also, have you hit Epon AF505 before? They are much more forgiving compared to the CB301 during my fitting, but looks a heck more like a cavity back.
Thanks,
Bolin
Bolin,
The three Miura irons you mention are all reasonably similar in forgiveness. I wouldn’t want to try to give a definitive ranking without head to head testing. I have not hit the Epon irons that you mention, but my past experience with Epon mirrors yours: they are much more forgiving and hotter than Miura, on the whole.
-Matt
Thank you Matt! Appreciate the response! But in terms of the classic Miura feel, are they all comparable as well or the older CB501 (Described as one of the best feeling Miura in the review) takes the cake?
Bolin
Bolin,
I prefer the 501.
Best,
Matt
How are the blade lengths on the longer irons (4,5). Compared to the MP 20 mmc
Aditya,
Sorry, I don’t have the irons in hand to compare.
-Matt
Best feel – CB57, CB501, or any other Miura iron you’ve tried since these, or any other iron on the market?
From reading the two reviews, it seems like the CB57 and the CB501 are close to being identical in almost all meaningful regards.
Jonathan,
The CB57 is certainly among the best feeling irons I’ve hit, but I don’t think it stands alone. I enjoyed the CB-1008. Some older Mizunos have been great. I’ve liked some of Callaway’s recent players irons.
Best,
Matt
Which one have smaller sweet spot, between miura CB-501, epon 302, callaway Apex pro. I usually use Apex Pro….
I haven’t tested the Epon, but the Apex Pro is a bit more forgiving than the CB-501.
-Matt
have a set of boron version if you can help check it out, i am curious about its authenticity. thanks