Connect with us

Equipment

Mizuno’s MP-5 and MP-25 irons merge art with science

Published

on

Mizuno’s MP-5 and MP-25 irons will be in stores September 18. 

A hard-and-fast rule in iron design: The more compact the iron head, the more artistry matters to its design. You know… looks, sound and feel. The larger the iron head, the more science matters. Because if an iron is going to be big — and some might say unattractive — it better be big on distance and forgiveness.

Mizuno’s reputation as one of the premier, if not the premier manufacturer of compact irons has put the company in a challenging position in an industry dominated by oversized, technology-driven designs… or has it? With its new MP-5 and MP-25 irons, Mizuno is out to prove that even the most compact irons can be improved by science in a meaningful way. Even if they’re forged.

Mizuno MP-5

Two-dimensional photos simply don’t do the flowing lines of the Mizuno’s MP-5 irons justice. Codenamed “channel back” for their scooped out mid sections, the one-piece, 1025E Grain Flow Forged irons promise cavity-back forgiveness — as much as the company’s legendary MP-64 irons — with the feel and workability of a Mizuno blade.

More bait for blade lovers: the “sweet area” (how Mizuno measures its sweet spot), as well as the center of gravity (CG) height and CG depth are virtually the same as the aforementioned MP-64 irons. For those who don’t speak golf club geek, what Mizuno did with the MP-5 irons is the equivalent of making a cell phone thinner while keeping the parts the same.

To do it, Mizuno redistributed weight from the channel back to other areas: underneath the toplines, behind the impact areas… really anywhere where golfers wouldn’t see it at address. Then the company used its Harmonic Impact Technology (H.I.T.) to fine tune the position of the weight to deliver the sound frequencies that golfers tend to equate with good feel at impact.

The MP-5 irons (RH only: $999 steel, $1099 graphite) irons are available 3-PW and come stock with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 shafts.

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the MP-5 irons in our forum. 

Specs

Mizuno_MP-5_specs

Click to enlarge

MP-25 irons

85a5b805f8f7d31c1f495c95fef0b6f7

Mizuno engineers spent more than six years learning how to add a material called boron to the mix of its 1025E Grain Flow Forged carbon steel, with the goal of creating a thinner, stronger metal that could help them make better forged irons.

52c81aaacfa6870cc4ff231148216c85

The precious metal debuted in 2014 in the company’s JPX-850 Forged irons to rave reviews — and earned a Gear Trials: Best Players Irons award in the process. The second act for boron is Mizuno’s MP-25 irons, which use the same 1025 Boron material as the JPX-850 Forged irons, but are designed with a compact size that targets top amateur and professional golfers.

f1039e2e9757f4efaa2d4d09117b785a

Does this look like a slotted iron to you?

A discussion about boron only scratches the surface of the design of the MP-25 irons, however. Since boron increases the strength of the iron material 30 percent, it allowed engineers to make the faces of the forged irons extremely thin — so thin that they were able to slice through the sole with a saw to create a “Micro Slot” between the club face and the muscle pad of the club. When engineers welded the slot closed, their testing showed that the new design flew 7 yards farther.

b52b6fe8819bfc2635adcd7fa6007ac3

The Micro Slot isn’t visible to the naked eye, but it’s used in the set’s 3-6 irons. The additional loft of clubs shorter than the 6 iron make the Micro Slot ineffective, company representatives said. But in the clubs that it is used, the Micro Slot creates additional ball speed across the face, as well as a higher launch angle and less spin — all good things for the distance equation.

The MP-25 irons (RH and LH: $999 steel, $1099 graphite) are available in 3-PW and come stock with True Temper’s Project X 5.5 shafts.

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the MP-25 irons in our forum. 

Specs

Mizuno_MP_25_Specs

Click to enlarge

Your Reaction?
  • 424
  • LEGIT66
  • WOW92
  • LOL8
  • IDHT12
  • FLOP11
  • OB5
  • SHANK17

43 Comments

43 Comments

  1. Brian

    Sep 21, 2015 at 2:16 am

    Anybody here actually compare the mp-25 to its older version, the mp-54? Thoughts on their relative feel, forgiveness, etc?

  2. Tom

    Aug 15, 2015 at 6:39 am

    Tourstage’s Mr 23 perfected the small head design and everyone is still playing catch up inc mizuno.

  3. Jericho

    Aug 10, 2015 at 5:38 am

    Ya know I’m kinda thinking I might like these ..I’ve had most of the mizzy blade line since the 29’s ..14’s,33’s,37’s,68’s and the Mp-4’s ..then Miura tournament blades and two sets Miura 1957 Baby Blades.. now I’m not sure how these are going to feel because they are supposed to be somewhat hollow’ish ..was really never a big fan of that ..I think the Mp-4 is somewhat the same way ..hollow’ish..the Mp-4 still felt really nice but nothing like the 14’s when flushed..the Mp-5 is supposed to still have the great Mizuno feel but with technology built in .. Wider camber/sole : a far cry from the Baby blades : .. Weight taken out of the middle and placed on the muscle pad ” low on the 3i higher on the P wedge muscle pad wise..and some weight added to the top line that would come in handy if you ground load a little heavy and take the ball off the top so there’s still some meat behind the ball ..I was a +3 years ago on the mini tours when I played the baby blades and now a non competitive low single but just can’t get away from blades ..I think these “helper blades” might get it for me , they look outstanding ..they look every bit a blade/with a technological edge.. Still love taking my 14’s out for a crack but missing them just enough to not break par I have some rounds 68’s with my 714 ap2’s ..a great club as well but miles away from that Mizzy feel..and like I said I just feel better behind a blades ..I don’t really compete anymore so now it’s just about having a good times with the guys ..would be great if these Mp-5’s gave me a little more help to miss a little better ..either way can’t wait to bagg’em

  4. Rex235

    Jul 26, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Really-The MP-5s are RH Only?
    It’s 2015- Take the MP-25s …

  5. golfman

    Jul 24, 2015 at 2:07 am

    Look Pure as always from Mizuno

    beyond me why ppl (consumers) are always bickering about companys offering too many options,
    it benefits the consumer with more choice, and last seasons offerings become cheaper, its a win-win, unless you are a reseller in that case get a better job

  6. Pingback: OT golfers

  7. WLBR

    Jul 22, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    Just wanted to chime in that Mizuno’s 37.75″ (5i) is another company’s 38.25″. Companies use different methods for measuring, and one should not assume that Mizuno irons are shorter, necessarily, than others’.

    • christian

      Aug 13, 2015 at 11:26 am

      Necessarily? Are they shorter as standard or not? And what different methods are we talking about? I have only ever heard about end ot the heel to the butt end.

  8. Scott

    Jul 22, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    Despite a schizophrenic hcp that fluctuates from 9-12, I was always of the school that there was no difference in iron construction/engineering, so I preferred blades. After playing and wearing out a great set of MacGregor V-foil MB1025s for 10-11 years, it was time to go shopping. My local fitter put me through Mizuno’s easy peasy shaft fitter and we hit all of the MP series with three different shafts (KBS, DG, Nippon) that came out on my profile. I ended up liking the JPX 850 forged.

    As almost an afterthought and the end of the fitting, my pro said, “Here, just try this for the heck of it.” as he handed me the large/shovel/non-forged JPX 850 6 iron with the Nippon 1150. WOW. I ended up going with 2* weak lofts in the 850 in the 4-5-6 irons and even added another 2* strong 4 iron (20*) as a driving iron that I can hit 200-220 and better than any hybrid I ever owned. Coupled with 7-GW 850 forged, the lofts compliment perfectly and I have gained 15-20 yards in the long irons, and a club in the shorter irons, despite a 1/2″ shorter and only 2* stronger than my traditional MacGs (48* PW vs. 46* in the Mizzys).

    Put me in the Mizuno camp…the thin face tech in the long irons is the real deal esp. when coupled with the Nippon constant weight profile. It’s a little too high/draw bias in the shorter irons, but it was a great generation shift for this now middle aged hacker.

    • Jack

      Jul 23, 2015 at 4:08 am

      CB’s definitely help if your swing speed ain’t what it used to be. I would say MBs are really only good for pro or scratch golfers. If there are other golfers out there that consistently hit the sweet spot like those guys, then they need some help with putting and short game.

      • KCCO

        Aug 4, 2015 at 8:23 am

        What he said, and for the most part…usually whatever he says is on point

    • Karma

      Jul 24, 2015 at 1:09 am

      Plus the 850 have square grooves so you get to spin the ball on the long irons and be able to stop them on the greens.

  9. Golfraven

    Jul 22, 2015 at 1:01 am

    Really like the looks of the MP-25. lofts appear tratitional at first look, maybe going one degree down in the 6/7 iron. Otherwise it suits my current specs and even the standard shaft is the one I game. Could just take it of the shelf and put it in the bag. Respect to the designers for putting best looking irons out there. Waiting to see what Titleist will show with the 716 models.

  10. KK

    Jul 21, 2015 at 11:57 pm

    I like the channel back idea but I feel like Callaway has already been doing it and doing it well for the past 7 or 8 years dating back to the X Prototype MB irons. These look less forgiving than the Callies. I am very interested in the MP-25s. They look smoking hot, should be long and hopefully are not as penalizing on mishits as most Mizunos. I am holding my breath that they will be in the same ballpark as Ping i20s/i25s.

  11. john

    Jul 21, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    mizuno joins the loft down brigade and claims they’ve reinvented the wheel with slot technology, lol

    no more can mizuno fan boys say they’re only hitting 6 iron while i’m hitting 7 because their lofts are softer

    • G

      Jul 22, 2015 at 2:06 am

      Loft don’t matter….it’s flight that is important! Who honestly cares??

    • LTP

      Jul 22, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      I did not see where they claimed to reinvent anything.

    • LTP

      Jul 22, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      I did not see where they claimed to reinvent anything. And if the lofts are one club stronger then obviously one would use one less club. Duh.

  12. Galen

    Jul 21, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    Dear Carlos,
    Stay strong!
    Sincerely,
    Not a total jerk on golfwrx

  13. Sargio_Gercia

    Jul 21, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    I gotta chubby goin in here! Shake and Bake!

  14. Dino

    Jul 21, 2015 at 1:53 pm

    Thanks Zak for giving us an insight for what new is coming. Love it!

  15. Tom

    Jul 21, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    roflmao

  16. cody

    Jul 21, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    i am really liking the way both of these look.

  17. Keith

    Jul 21, 2015 at 11:45 am

    Actually, 15-20yd difference…4 degrees=12yds plus they extra from the slot.

  18. Keith

    Jul 21, 2015 at 11:43 am

    So on the MP-25, wouldn’t the distance gains create a large gap between the 6-7 irons? The slot is not in the 7i-Pw because it doesn’t affect distance but is in the 3-6i because it adds an extra 7yds. So, wouldn’t there be about a 15yd difference between 6i and 7i as long as the loft gap is a normal 4 degrees??

  19. Booger

    Jul 21, 2015 at 10:59 am

    I see a combo set in my future.

  20. Carlos Danger

    Jul 21, 2015 at 9:05 am

    WHOA!!! These look totally different than literally every iron Mizuno has made over the past 15 years!

    I sometimes wish Mizuno would take a page out of the Titleist handbook an cut back on the number of models they make and how often they release new versions/models. Im such a club geek and know all of the models of all the clubs out there and look at this site almost daily…however, I can not for the life of me tell you the progression of Mizuno irons models and if I were to walk into a golf store and see the 19 different Mizuno sets on the wall, I would need one of the workers to tell me the difference from one to the other.

    • Joe

      Jul 21, 2015 at 10:01 am

      Your gripe is completely unfounded. Mizuno has 4 MP’s and 2 JPX on the wall at any given time. And they flush the particular model every TWO YEARS. Seems identical to titleist to me. They will change 2 irons this year and the old models will become legacy.

      Current players lineup for Miznuno are: MP4, MP15, MPH5, and MP54. All quite different. These new irons above aren’t available yet, but they will replace the MP4 and MP54 which have BEEN OUT FOR 2 YEARS, leaving 4 models in the stable for players. The MP4 and the MP54 will go away.

      If your retailer still has any old models such as MP64 or MP69, that’s because they are carrying back-stock.

      • Carlos Danger

        Jul 21, 2015 at 12:22 pm

        Uh oh…got the Mizuno Mafia after me.

        I should have learned after I got death threats from you guys for saying that Mizuno didnt have very good woods one time.

        • Joe

          Jul 21, 2015 at 4:14 pm

          You won’t get any police after you if you speak in facts rather than hyperbole. 19 models? “release too often” when reality is every 24 months per model – the slowest trickle in the industry.

        • stephenf

          Jul 22, 2015 at 3:06 pm

          Worst mafia ever, I guess, if all they do is disagree with you and cite facts to support their opinion. Hard to get criminal things done that way.

          • Carlos Danger

            Jul 22, 2015 at 10:57 pm

            oh they are very dangerous. sort of like the Van Buren boys.

            I got cornered one time at a Golfsmith over by the Mizuno iron section (took up about 1/4 of the store). I barely made it out alive. Luckily I knew the Mizuno Mafia hand signal so they let me go.
            I promise

        • Jack

          Jul 23, 2015 at 4:13 am

          It’s fairly similar to their MP-32’s, which were the cut muscle. To me that’s a pseudo CB/MB hybrid. That’s a good thing too. Hitting a true classic MB is just not good for me. Not my psyche nor the people close to me.

    • Joe

      Jul 21, 2015 at 10:03 am

      19 models? Try four. MP4, 54, h5, 15. These 2 new irons replace the mp4 and mp54.

      The JPX series are game improvements, and there are simply 2. Forged and non.

      • Mikko U

        Jul 21, 2015 at 10:56 am

        Actually there are four JPX irons, the 850 Forged, Ez Forged, 850 and Ez.

        I thought they were supposed to replace the Ez line this year also and we’ve seen the Ez woods but no sign of the Ez irons yet.

    • Oxy

      Jul 21, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      “Im such a club geek and know all of the models of all the clubs out there and look at this site almost daily…however, I can not for the life of me tell you the progression of Mizuno irons models and if I were to walk into a golf store and see the 19 different Mizuno sets on the wall, I would need one of the workers to tell me the difference from one to the other.”

      That is such a totally contradictory statement, it’s so asinine, and I don’t know how to begin to insult you you’re so worthless.

    • Gautama

      Jul 23, 2015 at 2:07 pm

      I’m a loyal Mizuno fan, but I don’t think his remark is that far off. Mizuno has 8 irons sets on the market to Titleist’s 4, so it can truly be said Titleist’s range is more focused. I think the real challenge with Mizuno is their naming convention, though. It’s so hard to follow the lineage of one club to the next – AP2s are AP2s, for example – they just update the year of introduction. With Mizzy you definitely have to stop and decide whether you’re looking at the replacement for an MP 64 or 54, etc. And I also agree the JPX range has gotten a bit muddied with all the options there. Product line simplification in the current market doesn’t seem like a bad idea to me.

    • KCCO

      Aug 4, 2015 at 8:30 am

      Can Los and Galen just find somewhere else to troll?
      That being said after two sets of MP-64’s, I decided to try MP-15, and thought they were a great blend of 64/59 (just my thoughts) would 25’s be a nice replacement for those in mizzy’s mp lineup? Just assuming that’s what I will be fitted into when released.

  21. Steve

    Jul 21, 2015 at 8:23 am

    Arent all golf clubs art and science. Art being a personal preference. Zak do you actually have these clubs in hand. If so, why not hit a bucket and give a opinion?

    • Galen

      Jul 21, 2015 at 7:51 pm

      I have an opinion on these irons that I would like to share. If you would like to know my opiniont please email me directly. I fear that if I post my opinion here, and members have a different opinion I will be bushwhacked and harassed. Feel free to reach me in the land of email, far far from the hateful haters of hate-land. Thanks in advance for your love.

      • Carlos Danger

        Jul 22, 2015 at 11:00 pm

        Do NOT post a negative opinion about Mizuno irons here or else the Mizuno Mafia will come after you.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Whats in the Bag

Russell Henley WITB 2024 (March)

Published

on

  • Russell Henley WITB accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.

Driver: Titleist TSi3 (10 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70 6.5 TX

3-wood: Titleist TS3 (16.5 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX

Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid 100 TX

Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (7-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 50-08F @51, 54-10S, @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron T5 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Your Reaction?
  • 0
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL0
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK0

Continue Reading

Whats in the Bag

Vince Carter WITB 2024 (March)

Published

on

  • The NBA legend was teeing it up in the Arnold Palmer Invitational Pro-Am.

Driver: Ping G430 Max 10K (9 degrees)

3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees)

7-wood: Ping G430 Max (21 degrees)

Irons: Ping i230 (4-PW)

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 (50, 54, 58)

Putter: Ping

Ball: Renegade Mbu

Check out more photos of Vince Carter’s WITB here.

Your Reaction?
  • 6
  • LEGIT0
  • WOW0
  • LOL1
  • IDHT0
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK1

Continue Reading

Equipment

From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations

Published

on

In our forums, our members have been discussing the most forgiving irons currently on the market. WRXer ‘TheShark1’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons, saying:

“Currently gaming the Mizuno Pro 225’s but think I need more forgiveness in my irons. My well struck shots are real nice, but my mishits are not performing as good as I had hoped anymore. I really like hollow body irons so if I could find something more forgiving in a hollow body iron that would be great.

Open to any and all recommendations other than Ping. Can’t hit Ping irons at all.”

And our members have been sharing their best suggestions 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.

  • AvidSwampThing66: “Another vote for the super forgiving and fast Paradym irons.   They look really good for being a GI iron.”
  • bobfoster: “I just went from MP20 MMCs to the new 245s in my scoring irons (just played my first round with them today). If you have a chance to try them, you might find them worth a serious look.”
  • vman: “Shoot me down, but spend the money on lessons.”
  • J_Tizzle: “i525s are great off the heel in my opinion.”

Entire Thread: “From the Forums: I need more forgiveness in my irons – Looking for recommendations”

Your Reaction?
  • 4
  • LEGIT1
  • WOW0
  • LOL3
  • IDHT1
  • FLOP0
  • OB0
  • SHANK2

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending