50 Words or Less
The Miura KM-700 irons are beautiful, traditional blades with legendary Miura feel. Centered sweet spot or CG. Some help on thin strikes, but these irons generally give you exactly the result you deserve.
Introduction
Added to the lineup in 2022, the Miura KM-700 irons are the result of five years of development by master craftsman Katsuhiro Miura. Miura’s claims around this iron are quite bold, including the idea that they can be played by golfers of all handicaps. At a reader’s request, I tested a set so that I could weigh in on those big promises.
Looks
In the bag, the Miura KM-700 irons are everything that the PI-401 irons [review HERE] are not. These sticks have cool to spare. They’re a true blade with only the classic Miura branding on the toe opposite the small red hanko stamp on the heel. The three different levels of the back and the dramatic shaping at the toe cause a double take, with that second glance quickly turning into a stare.
The KM-700 delivers visually in the address position, too. The top line is thin, and the heel-to-toe length is very well-proportioned. It’s not frighteningly compact like some blades, but it’s miles from oversized. I also like Miura’s use of sharp, straight lines, which you can really appreciate in the picture below. My only critique – and it’s very minor – is that the transition from the hosel to the top line is a little jarring.
Sound & Feel
Several of the Miura irons I’ve reviewed lately have come up short in terms of feel. They aren’t bad, but they aren’t “empty your bank account, it’ll be worth it” good. The Miura KM-700 irons are. Forged from S20C soft carbon steel, these irons have the buttery soft feel on center that makes gear nerds go weak in the knees.
In addition to being soft, these irons feel solid behind the hit. I’ve noted that some clubs give you a feeling of connection from club face all the way to your chest, and the KM-700 has that.
Predictably, the feedback is elite. As you move off center, the sound gets a little sharp – a subtle cue that you’ve strayed. The feel is never harsh, but the strike loses its sweetness when you’re a little thin or toe-y. If you’re unclear on where the ball struck the face, your mind was 100% on something else.
Performance
I understand that everything in marketing has to be over the top, but Miura’s copy makes me roll my eyes so hard I worry I might go blind. In two short paragraphs on the Miura KM-700 irons, they use the word “revolutionary” twice and promote them as “benefitting all golfers.” Many of Miura’s comparisons of their own irons are equally daft. What makes this so frustrating to me is that they don’t need to do this. You’re Miura. Cut the crap. Lean into your legendary craftsmanship and taste and leave the hyperbole for all the OEMs in California.
Now that that’s out of my system, let’s cut to the quick. The Miura KM-700 irons are blade irons built for skilled ball strikers. I can’t recall another iron where the ball speed and distance correlated so precisely to the quality of the strike. When struck perfectly, these irons can produce excellent ball speed. Small misses will lose a handful of yards and a measurable amount of smash factor. Put a shot on the toe or heel, and you can expect to see your ball speed and distance plummet. The only area where there’s notable forgiveness is in thin strikes – the sole is wider than many blades and helps elevate those shots.
In terms of launch and spin, I found them to be about average in both categories, relative to their lofts. The Miura KM-700 irons have more traditional lofts – as you’d expect from a blade – which leads them to launch a touch higher if you compare 7I to 7I against modern designs. By that same comparison, these irons will appear “short,” but we know such comparisons aren’t apples and apples, and most blade players aren’t trying to hit the longest 7I anyway.
As with any blade, the benefit of giving up forgiveness is that you have more shot control. Despite the slightly thicker sole, these irons can easily be flighted down. There’s also no issue shaping the ball left or right.
Miura does promote that the KM-700 has a centered CG where many blades have their CG toward the heel. This isn’t objectively good or bad. Some players feel they can control the face more easily with a heel-side CG. Personally, I don’t like getting any nearer the hosel than I have to. If you like a traditional, heel-side CG, Miura suggests the TC-201 [review HERE].
Conclusion
At $400 per club, the Miura KM-700 irons do not offer revolutionary tech or game changing forgiveness, but they do deliver what most people want from Miura: stellar looks, exceptional feel, and the “It” Factor that some of their other offerings have been missing. If you have the high end ball striking to make these work, the KM-700 will definitely scratch the Miura itch.
Visit Miura Golf HERE
Miura KM-700 Irons Price & Specs
Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.