Equipment

Mizuno MP-69 Irons Review

Published

12 years ago

May 20, 2012

by floyd

Introduction:
This in my non-biased review of the Mizuno MP-69s. First I must say that I have played Mizuno blades on and off for many years. I have played the MS/MP-9s, MP-11s. MP-14s, MP-29s, MP-33s, MP-27s,MP-63s and my favorite TN-87s. They all were great feeling and top notch quality irons but I always found something I didn’t like. Either they had to much offset or too round or too square looking. So in nutshell, I have been well aware and kept up with Mizuno irons for many years. For the past three years I have been playing Bridgestone/Tourstage blades and CB’s. I have playing the MP-69s for a few weeks (about 15 rounds) now and have practiced with them extensively.

Pros:
On April 23, 2012 I met with Mizuno to get a complete fitting for a set of MP-69s. It was very impressive, especially the shaft optimizer. After an extensive two (2) hour fitting session I was fitted with the KBS Tour X, standard length, standard grip, and 1* upright. It was an awesome experience! After I left the session, Coby (with Mizuno) sent me an email and told me I would have the irons on the April 30th. Well, he was correct, they were on the door step. One thing I found out about Mizuno is they are very detailed about their fitting and they will not tell you what you want to hear. They will tell you the facts. They will fit you with what will work for you.

Now to the irons. These irons are things of beauty. Really too beautiful to hit. What I really like about them is there is minimal offset — especially in the short irons. The head shape has a soft roundish look which I really like a lot. The heads took me a little to get use to because of the size. They are somewhat small but very confident-looking. The first iron I hit was the 8 and it was love at first shot. The MP-69s have the traditional buttery feel like as usual. In fact I believe they have the buttery feel of the TN-87s. I was a little concerned with the sole width. They are thin, but after a few shots the concerned disappeared quickly.

Cons:
As a +2.1 GHIN, these irons are perfect. For the higher handicapper ,it might not be the best choice because of the small head, thin sole and very little offset. I have thought long and hard and cannot say one negative thing about these irons. Maybe the only thing that was not ideal was several of the grips were installed a bit crooked.

Quality:
As for quality , the MP-69s get an “A”. The swingweights on all irons were D3. All the lengths were spot on. All the lofts and lies were spot on. I must say I was really shocked about the lofts and lies being spot on. This is the FIRST time ever that the loft and lies were spot on after getting fitted. Very impressive. The only thing that was a little less desirable was there were a few grips that were crooked.

CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THE MP-69S IN THE FORUM

Review:
MP-69s are grain flow forged with 1025E “Pure Select” mild carbon steel, 4D muscle design delivers unmatched ball and trajectory control by maintaining the perfect COG design in each club head.

Looks:
The looks of the MP-69s are stunning. Pure beauty. Shiny chrome with soft edges. No fancy or gimmicky looks. Very minimal offset with a smallish-type head. The leading edge has been soften some to prevent digging. The soles look thin but surprisingly very workable. I really like the edge. They have a nice round and soft transition rather than an abrupt edge. Mizuno went all out on these irons, paying a lot of attention to detail.

Performance/playability:
I practiced extensively and played about 15 rounds with these. To be honest at first I was very intimidated because of the size but after one hit I was in heaven. The performance is absolutely top notch. The sole design cuts through the turf without digging. They are very easy to hit any type of shot — fade, draw, high, low — Really easy to manipulate the ballflight. After hitting a lot of balls, I figured out the only way to miss the sweetspot is to miss the ball completely. Sound strange but that is what it came down to for me, in fact to me the MP-69s are easier to hit than cavity backs. I really like the sole design, when I think of thin soles I think of digging into the ground, the sole design is thin but will not dig unless you want it to, very easy to hit out of divots and deep rough.

Feel:
The feel is what is to be expected from Mizuno, soft and buttery, to me they very comparable to TN-87s, which to me is the all time best feeling iron. Don’t get me wrong, all Mizuno irons I have had were soft and buttery when struck but to me I feel like the 69s are the best they have made in years. Mizuno did a great job building the 69s. All the irons have a consistent swingweight of D3. All I can say is the MP-69s have impeccable feel. I have played many irons over the years and to me these are the best feeling blades since the TN-87s.

CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THE MP-69S IN THE FORUM

Overall bottom line:
Years of playing on and off with Mizuno’s the MP-69s are the best blades they have put out since TN-87s. I had planned on playing these for a few weeks and putting the Bridgestones back in the bag, BUT that did not happen. The MP-69s are the gamers and the Bridgestones are a memory. If my review sounds like I am loyal to Mizuno, but I have no loyalty to any company. I use what works for me. It has been many years since any iron just shocked me with the feel, playability and quality….the MP-69s have done that.

Check out all the pics…

CLICK HERE TO DISCUSS THE MP-69S IN THE FORUM

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17 Comments

Greg Berlin

Aug 13, 2013 at 10:35 pm

I purchased a set on a whim after playing my old ping eye 2 abd callaway diablo forged. After playing those two interchangeably, both I found had pluses and weaknesses although both very good sets of clubs. These mizunos mp67s are absolutely incredible! I’ve never hit a set of irons better than these. Everything you said hit nail on the head. I haven’t found them harder to hit than any cavity back, but instead easier for me with more distance on both. I have the x100 tour issue shafts 1/2″ long in length d3 swing weight and they are incredible. The feel, the distance, the look, etc. I’m in love for the first time ever I think. I figured if I didn’t hit them well, I’d just sleep with them because they are quite possibly the sexiest irons I’ve ever seen. I highly recommend to everyone who loves golf to at least give these a try at your local range or store. There’s no way you could be disappointed. I may buy a 2nd set to keep when I wear these out.

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Andrew Diesel

Jul 25, 2013 at 10:36 pm

I just got the mp 69s today and I experienced everything that was said in this review. They are unbelievable!

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Chad

Feb 1, 2013 at 1:11 pm

I put these in my bag on Jan 1. These irons are as pure as it gets. To me they felt much better than the mp64s and slightly better than the 712MBs. They really aren’t that hard to hit either. You have to hit it pretty far of the toe to get punished. The best part is flighting the ball. Very easy to play with the heights and spin on each shot. I did lose 5 yards cause the lofts and shafts aren’t jacked up. I could always turn them down a degree if it bothers me. +1.7 if it matters to anyone.

Oh, and they are absolutely gorgeous. It’s like getting to play with Brooklyn Decker a couple of times a week.

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Daniel

Jan 22, 2013 at 8:09 pm

Hey, I play off of 10 at the moment , am a pretty decent ball striker, would these clubs help my game or am I getting ahead of myself?!

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Fred

Dec 17, 2012 at 12:57 am

Just got my 69s – 1′ upright, KBS Tour C-Taper X-flex. Been playing MP60s for over 5 yrs now – haven’t been impressed with new irons until the MP69 came out.

WOW – great sticks! Assume the shaft is a big factor, as I was in DG X100s before, but impressive bump in workability, variability of flight, & feel @ contact.

I play between a 2-5 GHIN Index, and haven’t had any probs with the aggressive optics (topline, offset, head size) compared to my MP60s

Will be working on getting yardage gaps right over the winter, as the specs are about 1′ stronger than my 60s.

Net/net: I HIGHLY recommend these irons for any better player, Dont get wrapped around the axle on the hdcp guidelines- if you are consistently making good contact with forged, cavity back, perim weighted sticks, you will manage the transition to the more optically aggressive 69s just fine.

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Jim A

Nov 10, 2012 at 9:54 am

I really didn’t find them to be all that small. At least they were bigger than my Titleist 681s.

Anyway, you really can’t appreciate Mizzy’s grain flow forging until you hit them in 40-degree temps. I waited all season to get the right temps to compare the GFF to my Titleist 681s, 690s,, KZG ZOs, and old MP-33s. When we finally got a sunny day with temps in the low 40s, I hit the range. I beat about 80+ of those hard-as-rocks off-season range balls with the 6-iron from all five sets. By comparison, the MP-69 felt like I was hitting ProV1x balls off turf in mid-season temps. And it was easily 5-8 yards longer than all the others.

At first, when the MP-69s first came out, I loved the 4-D concept because they gave me the trajectory of my low-muscle 690s. But I was iffy about the offset. Minimal as is might be, I don’t like more than 2mm in the mid and long irons, which is why I tended to favor my 681s or ZOs. But when the weather turns cool, the thin misses of my picker/slider swing would be too punishing.

But after playing over 20 rounds with the MP-69s (four in late season temps), the offset isn’t an issue in the least bit as the face is easy to manipulate regardless of which way I’m working the ball.

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Riley

Oct 14, 2012 at 10:08 pm

Been gaming these in the 8-PW along with the 59’s in longer irons. I wish I would have gotten all blades. When struck well they are so pure. Nothing more rewarding then sticking one tight.

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- Chance D
  
  Feb 20, 2013 at 8:51 pm
  
  The mp59’s are still considered blades. Just a bit more forgiving.
  
  Reply Report comment
Matt

Sep 12, 2012 at 10:43 am

Im a 3 handicapp and am looking for new irons and i really love the look of these irons. Do you think im good enough to have success with these irons?

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- Terry
  
  Mar 19, 2013 at 11:00 pm
  
  I have two sets of MP69, one with Dynamic Gold S200 and the other with KBS tour s. I’ve been playing with them for about 6 months now (USGA 7.5 handicapper). I don’t find them difficult to hit at all. I love their sharp look which gives me that I could really cut grass behind a ball. I also have Callaway Razr X forged, which is excellent irons too, but hardly play with them since I got my hands on MP69. You should definitely try! No problem for bogey player or better player.
  
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Jake

Jul 12, 2012 at 5:06 pm

I never smiled for 45 minutes straight until I took these clubs to the range.

UNBELIEVABLE!

My last blades were Hogan Apex irons and they don’t even compare to the feel and workability of the MP-69.

You will not go back to a cavity-back after you hit these.

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Mick

Jul 5, 2012 at 9:22 am

Awesome irons…but probably only suitable for the top 20% of tour pros. Anyone not named Luke Donald or Sergio Garcia would be better off with something more forgiving if he is really looking to improve his scores. Otherwise, a dream for equipment junkies and vanity handicaps everywhere

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RJ

Jun 29, 2012 at 11:07 pm

I found this article to be spot on. I’ve been using the Bridgestone J38s over the last 12+ months and I had the same reaction when using an MP69 demo 6-iron at the range. I took the 53, 59, and 69 to the range and the 69 is hands down the best of the three. The 53 has a bit of a dull feel, the 59 is a bit too firm, and the 69 was quite a surprise.

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David

May 28, 2012 at 8:22 pm

I also have to say that I could’t be happier with the irons, amazing!!

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David

May 28, 2012 at 8:17 pm

I have a mix of mp 69’s and 59’s and had the same problem with the grips!

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Goober

May 21, 2012 at 11:54 pm

Crooked grips would’ve made me crazy.

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Dark Elf

May 20, 2012 at 9:58 pm

Well done Hipcheck. You could do this for a living. MP59’s should be here first part of the week. Having second thoughts after reading your review. And I would have saved $100. 5 years MP32’s and still amazed with the feel, performance, value and durability-still look great. Maybe 69’s 7-PW. Thanks again!

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Equipment

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

Published

5 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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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