An In-Depth Analysis of Japan's Top-Grade Irons (Part 1)

A comprehensive analysis of six major brand design philosophies | Find the one that suits you best

In our previous article, "The Way of Irons," we explored the craftsmanship and striking aesthetics behind high-end Japanese irons from a historical and philosophical perspective. In this article, we'll truly "get inside the club," analyzing six representative Japanese brands in depth—from their brand philosophy, playing style, design logic, to how they precisely address the needs of different golfers. This isn't a simple comparison of who's best, but rather a question: Which club best understands you?

PROTOCONCEPT｜The art of prototype, the ultimate balance between professional and amateur. Brand positioning:

Created by Golf Partner and Endo Forge, the "Prototype" concept brings professional player specifications down to the level of the advanced golfer. Technical Features: Most club heads are CNC machined, with a Pocket Cavity structure and a multi-material combination design (internal slot + soft iron body). Crafted to Tour Prototype standards.

Hitting Style: Focused and penetrating, with a clear sense of the force path after hitting the ball. Suitable for mid-handicap golfers who pursue operability but do not want to be punished too much.

Recommended model:

C07PC: A wide, forgiving club with a solid feel, making it an ideal entry-level golf club for advanced players.

C03TC: Tour-style, requiring high handling but with top-notch returns.

Users: Katsuragawa Yutaka (Japanese professional player) Andrew Putnam (PGA player unofficial endorsement)

Suitable for: Players who want to upgrade from commercial irons to higher-end specifications and have dual requirements for ball feel and distance control

EPON Golf | A Hidden Giant: A Soft, Strong, and Premium Golf Brand Positioning:

Founded by the forging mecca Endo, the OEM powerhouse behind brands like Callaway and Mizuno, EPON now publicly reveals its true identity. Core technology: Using S20C soft iron, the metal boasts uniform density, minimal vibration, and the industry's highest forging precision, requiring virtually no post-processing. High consistency (very minimal variations in weight, face angle, and center of gravity).

Hitting Style: Silky smooth and extremely quiet hitting feel "clean to the point of being almost silent" Suitable for experienced golfers who are accustomed to controlling their shots based on feel and rhythm

Recommended model:

AF-Tour MB/CB: Professional-grade feel and extremely high operability

AF-506: Advanced general-purpose model with both fault tolerance and feedback

Career Story: Ernie Els used EPON sample clubs (not endorsed). Japanese Tour players often use them privately (not in public partnership).

Suitable for: Golfers with low handicaps who value a controlled feel and seek a pure iron experience

MIURA Golf | The ultimate iron shot: a work of art. Brand positioning:

Located in Himeji, Hyogo, the legendary workshop founded by Katsuhiro Miura is renowned for its "artisan filing" and is known as the Ferrari of golf. Its craftsmanship features: Single-piece forging without welding for unified energy transfer. Each club is hand-polished by artisans, with meticulous center of gravity and weight adjustment. The exclusive "Forged Streamline" design allows for linear power input.

Hitting Style: Clean and firm, with force transmitted directly to the palm. Requires high technical skills and is suitable for those with a strong sense of rhythm and good control.

Representative model:

MB-101: Muscle Back's ultimate work, with full small-club operation force

TC-201: Tour Cavity: Balancing Control and Error Tolerance

CB-302: Designed for those who want to enjoy the Miura feel while reducing the risk of mistakes

Users: Tiger Woods (rumored to have used Miura for prototyping during his Nike days), Adam Scott, and Abraham Ancer (official LIV spokesperson)

Suitable for: Golfers with low to mid-range handicaps who are highly confident in their skills, collectors, and those who pursue style.

BALDO | A metal design enthusiast, born for strength and distance. Brand positioning:

The striking clubhead features aggressive lines that emphasize "distance, style, and individuality." This design is popular with young golfers and long-drive enthusiasts. Its sharp clubface, glossy metallic finish, and sharp edges emphasize ball speed and distance, while the high-elasticity clubface design delivers a powerful impact.

Hitting Style: Firm with a noticeable rebound, the hitting feel tends to be "explosive" and is suitable for those who swing at medium and high speeds to enjoy the burst of power.

Representative models: TTX Iron: A favorite among distance runners; CORSA Forged Iron: A mid-handicap choice with both control and style.

Player Background: Takuya Yasuo (Japanese long drive professional) JPDA Many players use the "combat club"

Suitable for: Advanced golfers who want to play farther, love extreme styling, and prefer a strong feel.

ROMARO｜A Secret Weapon of Asian Style: Elegance and Practicality. Brand Positioning:

Designed specifically for Asian golfers, it emphasizes "easy play." Its elegant appearance is particularly popular with female and high-handicap golfers. Technical Features: Hollow design + low center of gravity structure for high tolerance and easy takeoff stability. The delicate head design with soft corners also provides a more reassuring visual experience.

Hitting Style: Light and soft, with a warm and mellow sound without any vibration. Suitable for beginners and female golfers who want to improve stability and ball control.

Representative Model: Ray V Series i-Brid Utility Irons: Ironwood-style design improves hitting ease

User Background: No official endorsement, but frequently seen in women's tours and amateur competitions in Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.

Suitable for: Middle-aged and older female golfers with medium to high handicaps or those who want to play golf with ease

JBEAM｜A Japanese brand that has entered the iron market with a long-hitting DNA. Brand positioning:

JBEAM, renowned for its top-tier long-hitting drivers, has recently invested heavily in iron development, focusing on high initial velocity and a strong hitting feel. Key design features include: a weighted, weighted head design for strong energy transfer, a thicker face, and a low center of gravity for easy launch and distance stability.

Hitting Style: Crisp and explosive feeling, with strong vibration and sound presence, suitable for golfers who pursue power output and swing speed.

Recommended Models: Zy-11 Forged Iron: Combines control and distance. BM-535: Easy-to-play hollow iron suitable for mid-handicap golfers looking for improved stability.

User profile: JPDA long hitters and power-oriented amateur golfers. Suitable for: Advanced golfers who seek distance performance and powerful impact feedback.

Rather than asking which iron is the best, ask yourself: which one understands you best? There's no winner or loser among these six brands, only differences in style. Are you a feel-and-power, design-conscious, practical player, or a pure technicalist pursuing perfection?

Choosing a high-end Japanese iron is more than just choosing a piece of golf equipment; it's choosing the type of golfer you want to be. In the next article, we'll explore how these brands have managed to stay relevant despite the lack of Tour marketing and mainstream exposure. We'll also share tips on how to properly choose, maintain, and upgrade your irons, embarking on your own path as a professional golfer.

Want to choose Miura accurately

EPON

Choose Proto for a balanced technology

Love distance and style, choose Baldo

If you want to play easily, choose Romaro

For explosive power, choose JBEAM

www.miramar768.com/blog

Preview | When Miura is not the only one, there are more Japanese workshops you have never heard of

In this article, we've taken a look at six high-end Japanese irons with distinct personalities—clubs you might have seen at the store, heard about on the driving range, or seen quietly shining on the Tour.

But what if I told you that many of the studios that truly understand the philosophy of hitting the ball and are most committed to club feel and free design are ones you may have never heard of ?

In the next article, we'll uncover a group of low-key brands that don't advertise, don't sign spokespersons, and even refuse to print their logos . Their products are privately loved by professional players, collectors, and even club designers.

From Grindworks, Three Luck, Fujimoto, Zodia to Yururi, Kyoei, Seven, and Modart , these brands exist not to sell but to make quality irons.

They don't fight for the mainstream, they only fight for the insiders. The next article will take you into the real underground world of hardcore.