New State of the Art in Iron Set Make-up
Is there anything different, yet?
It happened twice last week. Old customers who bought “state of the art” Miura iron sets years ago brought them “back home” for a visit. Both were Miura Player’s blades on Aerotech 95′s and 110′s that wouldn’t be different if we built them this week.
Well, a couple things would be different. Miura made a slight change to the Player’s Blade a few years back. They stamped the Miura logo on the muscle. Other than that, it takes a close look.
The shafts would be lighter weight Aerotech Steel Fibers – 70 or 80 grams. Heads would be a little heavier. When you reduce shaft weight by 65 grams – there are more options to change the feel and performance of the club.
With all the money that goes into developing and marketing new shafts every year – Aerotech hasn’t changed anything in ten years. Not even the paint job. As Chris Hilleary likes to say: “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.”
This year’s “New Big Thing” in iron shafts – in use on Tour by Kuchar and Snedeker with a dozen others in testing – is a ten year old model. And Chris Hilleary didn’t need to change the paint job. I think that’s very cool.
It should also make you wonder how important year to year changes in shaft design might be.
How old is Dynamic Gold? I just answered my own question.
Maybe the real value in iron shafts is “no change”.
“New State of the Art” wins again.
What are the odds that two players with Miura-Aerotech setups would come home in the same week? One was playing six year old Miuras – the other ten year old Miuras. Shafted with Aerotech Steel Fiber 95′s and 110′s. That was “lightweight” back then. Do you need any more information to understand why making very good golf clubs is a really bad business?
They asked the key question: “Do you have anything better, yet?”
Good news. I do. I have the “Puppy Dog”.
I gave each of them a complete set of Vega VC-03′s shafted with stiff Aerotech Steel Fiber 70 gram shafts. They took them out for a round of golf. They came back. One adopted his puppy dog on the spot.
The other player decided to test his options. He’s taking advantage of the Golf Lab high performance demo program. In the next month he’ll test four sets. He wants to compare Aerotech 70 gram Steel Fiber in both 70 and 80 gram weights with the Matrix Kujoh and Program models. He’s still not sold on the radical design of the Vega VC-03 iron head so he wants to test the Miura 501. No problem.
That’s our high performance demo program. A month of playing and testing $2000 irons for just $300.
Of the last 30 sets we’ve sold – all sales closed after a lengthy period of hands-on-testing. All “new design” sets have been some combination of lightweight graphite shafts from Aerotech or Matrix, a Miura 501 or Vega VC-03 iron head – balanced with slightly heavier head weight and some kind of counterweight in the handle. That’s an entirely new way to build a set of irons.
Why not? If you’re looking for something better, why keep playing the same old thing?
The Ultimate Challenge – Better or Free
Does it always have to come down to this?
Do I have to say that I guarantee measurably better performance from the “new design” irons – or the fitting is free? OK.
Here’s my offer. I will put a new iron in your hands that you will hit straighter – measured by the “grouping radius” on the Flightscope. Your shots will be more solid – measured by “smash factor”. I don’t go by carry distance or club head speed. Most of the time, highest club head speed indicates the “worst fit”.
After we get indoor numbers – you will take the test clubs to the range – to be sure. If that looks good but you need more experience – or want to explore the options for feel and performance – you can join the demo program.
My goal is to eliminate any doubt about the clubs in your hands.
Iron fitting $150 – results guaranteed or you don’t pay.
Make your reservation now.
You can see that we’re trying to make this game a little more fun – on your side and on our side. So, just to see who’s reading the fine print and is willing to make a quick decision – for the first six callers – I’ll offer the same Iron Fitting for $75 – half price. Call Bob Pegram (650) 654-1770.
Best Regards,
Leith Anderson and the Golf Lab Gang
PS: This deal isn’t only for the “Big Money Guys”. Even though we feature Miura and Vega – the two best of the Japanese boutique foundries – we have extremely economic alternatives.
One thing that doesn’t change is the shaft. We will always focus on the best shafts for irons. Iron heads offer a lot of choice. The best Japanese forged iron heads cost over $100 each at wholesale delivered in the US. Even at $250 per club – adding the shaft – the labor – it isn’t a high margin product.
We can fit any iron head with exactly the same shaft and build that we do with our top-of-the-line Miuras and Vegas. We rebuild and reshaft your own irons for $85 per club. If you have a nice set of forged iron heads, that could be a good option.
They will be set up exactly like our brand new, top of the line Miuras and Vegas.
The only difference is the head. We have excellent cast heads that make great sets – built to our standard – for just $99 per club. High performance doesn’thave to cost a lot of money. If you’re spending money on your irons, put it into the shafts.
Accurizer is getting Hot
If you’ve been reading Golf Lab emails for the past month you might be a little bored hearing about the Accurizer every week.
Hey, this is America. Four weeks later the Accurizer should be out of the news. Move on to the next gimmick.
If that’s what you think, you’re missing the point. Let’s take this story from the top one more time.
First of all, Accurizer works. This Saturday we installed ten Accurizers for no charge at $60 each.
P.P.S.: Please forward this link to your golfing buddies. Thanks.