Equipment

All-new 2020 Mizuno M-Craft putters

Published

4 years ago

Jan 10, 2020

For the first time in a long time, Mizuno is giving golfers the opportunity to play Mizuno clubs entirely from top to bottom in their sets with the reintroduction of a putter line for 2020—the Mizuno M-Craft.

Like mentioned off the top, it’s been a while since you’ve been able to find a Mizuno putter in North America, and the last time you could, the Mizuno name didn’t stand alone. At one point in time, Mizuno has worked with some great putter designers, from Scotty Cameron (yes, that Scotty Cameron), to T.P Mills, and Bettinardi. Each line was considered a success but never had the mass appeal or caught on as anyone had hoped.

Cameron moved on to Titleist to become the juggernaut he is today, T.P Mills went back to focusing on smaller runs, and Bettinardi took the step and successfully branched out under their own singular brand after their partnership agreement ended. All were great products, but Mizuno felt now was the time to go all-in on creating a classic line of putters to cater to the Mizuno Player.

Three Putters, One Story

The M-Craft Putter Line consists of Mizuno designers putting their own take on three classic head styles; The Anser, slant-neck, and face-balanced mid-mallet. Sticking with refining those classic shapes will garner the most eyes and improve the likelihood of golfers to try it out.

Mizuno M-CRAFT I – Slant Neck

Mizuno M-Craft II – Anser Style

M-CRAFT III – Mid Mallet

They will also come in 3 different finish options too; Satin Chrome, Mizuno Blue, & Black.

Construction & Technology

Mizuno irons are known for their classic feel, and they are bringing the same philosophy of design to the M-Craft Putters. Milled from solid blocks of forged 1025 Steel, the faces are deeper milled to produce a soft yet solid sound at impact.

The technology story behind the putters is straight forward and that’s okay because we’re talking about a milled putter and not a multi-material 460cc driver after all. There is head weight adjustability, and its something Mizuno is very excited about since unlike other putter companies, the M-Craft kit comes completely stock with any putter. This gives the golfer the opportunity to fine-tune head weight as well as causing slight changes to toe hang.

The final touches are a Lamkin Deep Etched Grip, and a cover that takes its cues from the classic Mizuno lineage of colors, for a trip down design memory lane.

The Mizuno M-Craft putters will be $299.99, and are available for pre-order January 21st, and will be found at retail locations starting February 14.

Your Reaction?

LIKE364
LEGIT49
WOW42
LOL8
IDHT2
FLOP5
OB4
SHANK13

Related Topics:

Up Next

2020 Mizuno ST200 drivers and fairway woods arrive

Don't Miss

2020 TaylorMade SIM Max and SIM Max OS irons

Ryan Barath

Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

16 Comments

Joe

Aug 21, 2020 at 3:44 pm

I am shocked no one came into this comment section and say it looks like a PING or Odyssey just like every other club that comes out.

These look great and they feel terrific. The feel of the putt is soft but reacts off the putter just right. I am getting the III shortly.

Reply Report comment
Per Olav Gimnaes

Jan 13, 2020 at 12:03 pm

I have the newport 2 and fastback 1,5 t , I like these , will go for a blue one in mid tow flow 🙂 think they look great 🙂

Reply Report comment
BeachBum

Jan 11, 2020 at 9:49 pm

Does the market really need another scottie cameron putter at $300?

Reply Report comment
- Madtowntom
  
  Jan 19, 2020 at 1:13 pm
  
  Since the Scotty Cameron putters are $400, perhaps the answer is “why not?” 🙂
  
  Reply Report comment
you know

Jan 10, 2020 at 7:42 pm

Toe hang still dominantly influenced by hosel placement that orients the shaft relative to heel-to-toe alignment..

Reply Report comment
SAM R BELLAMY

Jan 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm

I NEVER thought I would putt with something from Mizuno. If the feel is anything comparable to the irons, I’m in.

Reply Report comment
southpawhacker

Jan 10, 2020 at 2:03 pm

Any word on lefty availability?

Reply Report comment
G

Jan 10, 2020 at 1:06 pm

our rep brought them by for us to try out. feel great, think scottys before he ruined the feel by using an insert

Reply Report comment
Joe

Jan 10, 2020 at 11:41 am

They will be on the clearance aisle for $29.99 in 9 months!!!

Reply Report comment
- Travisty
  
  Jan 11, 2020 at 1:21 pm
  
  Don’t be so obnoxious.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Moosejaw McWilligher
  
  Jan 11, 2020 at 7:54 pm
  
  Put your money where your mouth is: I will buy 6 of the Anser style from you in 9 months for $50 each – you’ll make $20 profit on each one!
  
  Reply Report comment
JD

Jan 10, 2020 at 11:12 am

Wow, minimal stamping, clean face, and adjustable weights included… some other folks need to TAKE NOTES! Very excited to see how these feel. Hopefully my local golf shop gets these. If anything, that headcover will be in my bag.

Reply Report comment
Tider992010

Jan 10, 2020 at 10:30 am

I can’t wait. I’ll be putting a nice blue one in my bag. I loved the old Mizuno Carbon line by Bettinardi. These look better.

Reply Report comment
DB

Jan 10, 2020 at 9:47 am

Is it just me or are the bumpers uneven? On the M-1 the toe bumper looks thicker. Then on the M-2 the heel bumper looks thicker.

Reply Report comment
- Paulo
  
  Jan 10, 2020 at 11:00 am
  
  No I think you’re quite right.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Chris
  
  Jan 10, 2020 at 12:44 pm
  
  On a properly designed putter, that is often the case.
  The toe features are generally larger than the heel features, otherwise, at address is looks like the heel is bigger than the toe (based on perspective).
  
  Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

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

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

6 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?