Equipment
Mizuno JPX 900 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids
In the golf equipment world, it’s rare for new releases and technologies to produce drastic distance gains in off-the-rack purchases, mostly due to limitations by the USGA. But where many new releases excel is in their increased adjustability, which allows golfers to fine-tune their clubs to fit their preferences and needs. That can create big distance gains, and a host of other benefits as well.
Mizuno is at the forefront of the custom-fitting movement with its JPX-900 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, which were designed with focus on allowing golfers to optimize their swings and properly gap their clubs. That means golfers can get their games dialed in more than ever before.
Thanks to the added adjustability of the new JPX-900 driver, golfers can optimize spin rates, fine tune their visual preferences and help reduce their big miss. The new JPX-900 fairway woods have a central sliding weight that allows the clubs to perform as either a rocket launcher from the tee or high-ball hitting clubs that will stop shots abruptly on greens. The new JPX-900 hybrids have also undergone design changes to better fill a golfer’s yardage gaps, and look better, too.
Learn more about each of the new offerings below, and join the discussion about Mizuno’s JPX-900 clubs in our forums.
Mizuno JPX-900 driver
When designing the JPX-850 driver, which the JPX-900 driver is replacing, Mizuno “pulled out the stops,” says David Llewellyn, Mizuno’s Director of R&D. “We changed our attitude to make premium and aspirational drivers to match up with our irons.”
With a blue crown, adjustable center of gravity (CG) and adjustable hosels, Mizuno definitely broadened the scope of their drivers. Now, the company is expanding its technologies to cast an “even wider net,” according to Llewellyn, with a goal to “bring the most adjustable driver ever to the market.”
To do that, Mizuno’s new JPX-900 driver offers an “Infinite Track,” which allows golfers to adjust center of gravity forward or rearward for trajectory and spin rate adjustments. It’s different from the familiar “Fast Track” of its predecessor, because there are no longer pre-determined spots on the track to put the weights; thus, the new track has infinite settings.
Also, like the JPX-850, JPX-900 drivers have two additional weight ports in their soles on the heel and toe of the clubs. They allow golfers to take one of the two weights and make the head either draw or fade-biased. The drivers also have adjustable hosels for lie angle and loft adjustments.
Also new on the JPX-900 heads is VFA (visual face angle) adjustor that allows golfers to alter the soled face angle of a club, making it more open or closed at address. This is especially beneficial for gear heads who want their club head to look a certain way, or protect against missing shots a certain direction.
Not only is the 450-cubic-centimeter JPX-900 made to be more adjustable than ever, but it’s also designed to be more forgiving on off-center hits. This is accomplished through added technology you can’t see. With its new “CORtech” face design, Mizuno added support behind the face at the equator, but also vertically along the center of the face. This means that shots hit off center, or too high or too low on the face, will have additional forgiveness compared to their predecessors.
The JPX-900 drivers are adjustable from 7.5-11.5 degrees in 1-degree increments. The stock shaft family is Fujikura’s Speeder Evolution II shaft, which has a counter balance design and comes in a variety of flexes and weights.
Why the Evo II? “With a linear bending profile, it’s perfect for a max-adjustable driver,” Llewellyn said.
Mizuno JPX-900 fairway woods
Mizuno also implemented the new infinite-track technology in its JPX-900 fairway woods to allow golfers to fine-tune spin and trajectory, so whether your fairway wood is primarily used off the tee or from the fairway on approach shots, you can maximize its effectiveness.
Move the track forward and a JPX-900 fairway wood becomes a lower-spinning, lower-flying option from the tee. Move it rearward and it becomes a higher-spinning, higher-launching club with more forgiveness to give you a better chance of hitting and staying on the green with your long approach shots. With Mizuno’s infinite track, spin rates can change by 450 rpm, according to Mizuno’s testing.
Also in the JPX-900 woods are a “Shockwave” sole, a waffle crown and a new head design. The Shockwave sole helps give the fairway wood a more forward CG, but is said to maintain high-COR on shots hit low on the face, which is a common spot for golfers to contact their fairway woods, especially when hit off the turf.
“The shockwave acts like an accordion, and concentrates weight forward and low on the face,” Llewellyn said.
A “Waffle Crown” on the fairway woods refers to the multi-thickness design, which allows weight to repositioned for better forgiveness and lower CG while maintaining strength.
The JPX-900 faiway woods, which are available in 15, 18 and 21-degree stock heads, will come stock with a Fujikura Evolution II shaft and Golf Pride M31 360 grips. They will sell for $299.99 starting on September 16.
Mizuno JPX-900 hybrids
For its hybrids, Mizuno focused on providing golfers with clubs that will bridge the gaps between their woods and longest irons. To accomplish that, Mizuno put emphasis on head shaping, which gives the clubs a more streamlined appearance that blends better with a golfer’s fairway woods and long irons
Each hybrid head (16, 19, 22, 25 degrees) was individually designed for the task, with the common goal of giving each club the right look at address. If you’ve ever looked at a high-lofted hybrid and shook your head — the leading edge seems to jut way too far in front of the hosel — you know the problem Mizuno was trying to fix. To solve the issue, Mizuno gave the hybrids a progressive amount of offset as loft increased, which gives the club faces a more traditional, iron-like look.
In terms of tech, the hybrids were designed with a 1770 maraging steel face, a shockwave sole and a thicker sole-design than its predecessors for a lower CG.
The stock shaft in the JPX-900 hybrids is a Fujikura Pro available in 83X, 73S, 63R and 63R2, and the clubs will sell for $249.99 beginning on September 16.
- LIKE223
- LEGIT36
- WOW27
- LOL2
- IDHT6
- FLOP4
- OB2
- SHANK29
Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
- LIKE13
- LEGIT1
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
- LIKE3
- LEGIT0
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
- LIKE11
- LEGIT2
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
-
19th Hole3 days ago
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
-
19th Hole1 week ago
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Jon Rahm dealt fresh blow to hopes of qualifying for 2025 Ryder Cup
-
Equipment2 weeks ago
Best driver 2024: The best driver for you, as recommend by expert club fitters
-
19th Hole3 days ago
Charlie Woods finds it tough going on American Junior Golf Association debut
-
19th Hole6 days ago
Why Kevin Streelman sought USGA approval to use this equipment tool as he leads Valspar after round one
Rich
Sep 2, 2016 at 3:23 am
Link to forum thread doesn’t work for me. Keeps saying error and that I don’t have permission to view that thread and I’m logged in. Please fix it.
Mark
Aug 30, 2016 at 9:49 pm
How can a company that makes such gorgeous irons constantly get their woods so wrong? They look bling and Cobra ish and not in a good way. No wonder our local stockists stick to irons and wedges only.
Dave R
Aug 29, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Mizuno are probably the best iron I have played, been a ping guy for years but switched this year and not looking back. Still play the g25 woods though hard to get rid of them.
Jeff
Aug 29, 2016 at 5:45 pm
For $1200 the JPX 900 better go 325 yards right down the middle every time.
Sm
Aug 30, 2016 at 1:56 pm
You must be an eejit
Bigboy
Aug 29, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Stick to irons Mizuno.
DevilDog18
Aug 29, 2016 at 11:46 pm
Why not hit it first then judge in Bigboy
Chance
Aug 29, 2016 at 5:07 pm
I loved the 850 and still do as I am gaming it. Never had the respect for Mizuno before I tried that driver. These look just as fantastic. Would love to try.
Lester Diamond
Aug 29, 2016 at 12:17 pm
$300 for a fairway wood, and $250 for a hybrid? I also see there is no price listed for the driver.
Shank.
S Mizzle
Aug 29, 2016 at 9:00 pm
Hardy har har