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Tested:
Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Irons (4-GW), Standard Length, Loft, 2* Up from Mizuno standard with Project X 5.5 Shafts (Soft Stepped)
About Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Irons:
The Grain Flow Forged® JPX-825 Pro™ pushes the design limits to achieve greater forgiveness and feel in this “players” game-improvement iron. The 4-7 irons offer a deep CNC milled pocket cavity that provides 17 grams of discretionary weight that is used for extreme toe-heel weighting providing plenty of forgiveness where you need it. The 8-GW features a full cavity design with greater thickness behind the impact for a more penetrating and workable ball flight for pinpoint accuracy in the scoring irons. Suggested Handicap Range: 6-18 (My handicap: 7)
Pros:
Classy, satin-like finish. Fantastic forged feel. Scoring irons are have thinner toplines than previous JPX series. Excellent forgiveness for their size and better-than-average playability. Versatile triple-cut sole design.
Cons:
Not a distance iron. Long irons do not have ground-breaking forgiveness. Completely useable by better players (6 and below), but some may be turned off by the thicker topline. No love for lefties.
Bottom Line:
Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Irons blur the line between game-improvement and players categories. These are not ground breaking, but rather an enhancement of the previous JPX-800 Pros. That’s a good thing for these are all-round top performers. Solid, soft and deadly accurate. While the recommended handicap range is 6-18, but you can bet there will be even better players putting these in the bag.
The Review
Looks:
Designed to appeal to both the game improvement and traditional iron player, these hit the nail on the head. The “not too big and not too small” size appeals to a broad range of players. Previous offerings had cavity badging that were bold and polarizing. The JPX-825 Pros tone this down a bit. The black cavity graphics are understated, but at the same time are edgy enough to hint there’s technology helping you under the hood. The satin-like appearance enhance the technical look. I do wish Mizuno would change the font on the iron numbering a bit. Really, font? Yeah, that’s a little picky, but its squared-off, oversized appearance is a little dated.
With iron forgiveness vs. size, there is always a trade off. Mass is needed all around to help with forgiveness, yet a better player is turned off by thicker topline. Well, Mizuno has fooled you this time and you’ll be glad you did. The mass is still there, but thanks to a clever topline bevel, it appears more like a traditional players iron. You’ll thank them later.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Performance:
I am a long-time Mizuno game improvement player, from MX-200 to MX-300 Pros to JPX-800 Pros. The latter were are step up from the MX series, and also taught me the importance of custom-fitting (read more on the Mizuno Performance Fitting System here). While these are a different shaft than my beloved 800 Pros, these were recommended by Mizuno and the performance reflected it.
After four rounds of with the JPX-825 Pros, these perform every bit as well as the 800 Pro model they’ve replaced. You can work these a good deal, or play your natural shot and just fire away. Long irons (4-7) employ an undercut cavity design (thankfully not visible at address) which helps with forgiveness and a hotter face for distance. I didn’t find any groundbreaking distance gains, but the consistency was top-notch. The 8-GW have no undercut cavity and are extremely accurate, no doubt helped by the cleaner, scoring iron shape. You can score with these clubs, so get the putter ready.
The flight seemed a little higher to me in the long irons than my 800 Pros. That’s a good thing as it helps stop the ball on the green. I had no problems flighting these lower. Low punches, especially with the scoring irons, were spectacular. They flighted low and stopped quickly and were fun to pull off.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Feel:
We’ve all seen “Grain Flow Forged” proudly etched on the hosel of Mizuno forgings. They are some of the best feeling irons around. Feel is excellent and uniform with long and short irons despite the difference in the cavity designs. Somehow, these feel nicer than the JPX-800s they replaced.
These are more muted than a blade on mishits, but still provide great feedback at impact. If you flush one, you know it. Overall feel is excellent and uniform throughout the set. Not quite like a hot knife though butter, but very soft nonetheless. These are easily some of the best feeling clubs in the ‘Players Game Improvement’ category.
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Overall:
The JPX-825 Pro Irons continue to blur the line between game improvement and players categories. They do everything well, in a handsome, forgiving forging.
I consider myself a “recovering forged-iron snob.” There was a time I wouldn’t consider an iron that wasn’t forged. Now, I’ve come around to believe technology can help in all clubs, including irons. Multi-material designs and castings all have their advantages for sure, but Mizuno packs technology into a forged iron like no other. Forgiveness, workability and soft feel. When you flush one, you smile. That’s what the game is about.
Overall Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
More info on the JPX-825 Pros on Mizuno’s web site
