Equipment
Mizuno Performance Fitting System
By Rob Miller
GolfWRX Staff
In golf, the name Mizuno is synonymous with great irons. Chances are we all know a player – and probably a good one – that gamed ‘Mizzys’ growing up and hasn’t switched iron brands since. Great feel combined with classic good looks is hard to beat. Over the years, Mizuno expanded their lineup to include models for golfers of all skill levels while still staying true to its roots of function, clean looks and mostly ‘grain flow’ forgings. Through the years, Mizuno irons have been consistent Gold and Silver winners on Golf Digest’s annual Hot List.
Of course, when you have many different iron models to chose from, you need to properly fit golfer to club and shaft — not necessarily an easy task. Mizuno created their Performance Fitting System to help us out. GolfWRX is working with Mizuno to fit some of our equipment reviewers into the proper iron/shaft combo. I recently was invited to see what it was all about.
I have been through a few fittings before, but never the Mizuno Performance Fitting System. The claim is “In just a few swings, Mizuno’s Shaft Optimizer ends the guesswork by measuring five critical aspects of your swing to determine your unique Swing DNA. “ Having tried it out, I have to say it works great.
Your information is entered into Mizuno’s patented Shaft Optimizer software, which then recommends a shaft with performance characteristics perfectly matched to your individual swing.
I took about a dozen swings, but honestly as little as three is all it really took. My numbers came up and created my own swing signature which measured:
- Club Head Speed: How fast the club head and shaft are moving during your swing.
- Tempo: How quickly you transition from your backswing to your downswing.
- Shaft Toe Down: Measures how far the shaft bends in a downward direction during your downswing.
- Shaft Kick Angle: Measures how far the shaft bends forward during your downswing.
- Release Factor: How and when the club head and shaft are released during the downswing
The kicker is the Shaft Optimizer is it does not care about the quality of your strike of the ball. Good contact or bad, you have a swing signature and its job is to find it.
Once the data was input by my fitter, the system gave me a few shaft suggestions, including Dynalite Gold XP and Project X 5.0.
With the Shaft Optimizer portion done, it was time to decide on clubhead / shaft combo by hitting balls at the range. I alternated between MP-59 and JPX-800 Pro heads with Project X and Dynalite. Ultimately, deciding on JPX-800 Pros with Dynalite XP S300. This choice is up to you. Next half-dozen hits off a lie board confirmed 2 degrees upright.
The length of the process varies depending on how many balls you want to hit. Being a range rat, I took my time, but you could be done easily in under an hour.
So here’s the best part. Your Mizuno fitter inputs your order directly into the system. Would you rather bag an MP-R12 50* rather than your set’s Gap Wedge? You can swap out wedges on the order screen. Rather play a Fli-Hi than your 4 iron? Done. Want a mixed set of 800 Pros and MP-59s? Mizuno can do that too (I was tempted). It’s all customizable.
Finally, Mizuno has perhaps the best turnaround in the industry. Orders are submitted by the rep on the spot and you’ll be bagging your new Mizunos within 7-10 days. In my case, it was seven on the nose. Mizuno touts this as ‘the best turnaround in the industry’.
So, how are the irons, you ask? (After all, the proof is in the pudding). Happy to say I entered new territory with my Mizunos. I shot my best score ever, 2-over par for an 18 hole round, just the third time I put them in play.
In the market for new irons? With iron models made for every type of golfer, you can perhaps find your perfect set of Mizunos– and go from custom fitting to the course in about seven days.
Look for Mizuno Iron reviews from GolfWRX very soon.
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Whats in the Bag
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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Equipment
What’s the perfect mini-driver/shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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tony
Aug 15, 2014 at 10:19 pm
I had the same results and have played both the dg s300 and dnlite s300s. I do get a tiny bit more airtime with the lights but ive always used the dg s300s so thats probably why i fit them honestly.
this is real fitting here, just like the pros.
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Andrew Adamonis
May 21, 2012 at 11:30 am
This whole concept is based on the old True Temper Shaft Lab loading device. It is the real deal. It can work with woods to with a proper fitter.
Anthony
May 20, 2012 at 4:31 am
I actually just went to a fitting today. I must say I was impressed by the shaft optimizer. HOWEVER, i feel as a higher handicap that its not something i would take true to heart. To be honest this wasn’t my first fitting with Mizuno. I am a Mizuno nut btw. Anyhow fitting 1 told me to go with standard dynamic gold shafts stiff. Second fitting told me to go with dynamic XP extra stiff. ???? i was confused. I honestly feel that for someone who may not have their swing down consistently it may be a waste of time to get fitted clubs and when you change your swing you have to change to another. Comments thoughts?
MJ
Nov 8, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Hmm.. In fact, DG stiff and Dynalite (not “dynamic” btw) XP extra stiff are pretty similar in flight and spin except DG stiff might be slightly heavier.