Mizuno Golf has today introduced its latest ST Series of drivers: the ST-Z 220 driver and ST-X 220 driver, which will both arrive at retail on February 3rd. 

The ST-Z and ST-X drivers both feature a 40% expansion of the carbon-sole area and thinning out the Titanium portion, alongside a doubling of the stabilizing back weight in design to provide excellent stability and consistency from off-center strikes.

“Any twisting or deflecting at impact due to an off-center hit is an energy loss and varies launch conditions. By working with the prior ST driver platform and familiar materials, we were able to find several adaptations to impact the internal weighting. Creating far more stable tendencies in both the ST-Z and ST-X.” – Mizuno’s Director of R&D David Llewellyn

Mizuno ST-Z 220 driver

The Mizuno ST-Z 220 driver features a balanced toe/heel carbon construction and central back weight designed to encourage a low spinning, efficient, straight ball flight.

The 460cc head aims to offer players a confidence-inspiring profile at address for elite players, while a heavier, 20g back weight creates a deeper center of gravity in design for more efficient performance, more often.

The ST-Z driver features Mizuno’s Z-Axis design with weight evenly distributed across toe and heel in design to provide a low spinning stable straight flight, while a highly resilient forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and multi-thickness CorTech design aims to produce increased ball speeds.

In addition, an optimized Wave Sole is included in a bid to further increase ball speeds, particularly from low on the clubface, while 4 degrees of loft adjustability allows for fine-tuning of launch and trajectory.

“The ST-Z is the most played of all our drivers. It’s a modern driver for players who have grown up hitting long straight bombs rather than shaping the ball. The addition of a 20g back weight also makes it an exceptionally forgiving option,” says Chris Voshall.

Specs & Pricing

• Lofts: Right hand – 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. Left hand – 9.5 degrees only.
• Price: $449.95

Mizuno ST-X 220 driver

The ST-X 220 driver is a draw-biased driver with heel focused weight location aimed at players with moderate swing speeds who need help producing a more extended ball flight.

The new driver features a 20-gram heel biased back weight that creates a deeper center of gravity in design for more efficient, longer drives. The ST-X is also available as a J-Spec option with an ultra-lightweight HeLIUM NanoCore shaft for seniors and those with slower swing speeds.

The ST-X aims to deliver exceptional stability from off-center strikes via an expansion of the carbon sole area by 40% and thinning out the Titanium portion, alongside a near doubling of the stabilizing heel/back weight.

Featuring Mizuno’s X-Axis design, weight is focused deep in the heel, encouraging a higher draw bias flight, while a rounded 460cc profile seeks to offer a higher launch and mid spin performance.

A highly resilient forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and multi-thickness CorTech design are also designed to produce increased ball speeds and the driver also includes an optimized Wave Sole, while 4 degrees of loft adjustability allows for fine-tuning of launch and trajectory.

“For a lot of golfers, the modern low spinning driver design preferred by tour players is a serious distance killer. The ST-X’s extra spin, slight draw bias and a higher flight will add driving distance for a surprising number of players.” – Mizuno’s Director of Product Chris Voshall

Specs & Price

• Lofts: Right hand – 10.5 and 12 degrees.
• Price: $449.95

Mizuno Golf has today unveiled its new ST-X 220 fairway woods and hybrids, which will arrive at retail on February 3rd.

ST-X 220 fairway woods

Engineered to produce a higher, draw-biased flight, the ST-X 220 fairway woods feature deep internal weighting and are designed for those with moderate swing speeds who need elevated launch to achieve their optimal distance and controlled landing angles.

The ST-X 220 3-wood features a full Ti construction with a high ball speed SAT2041 Beta face – as featured in Mizuno’s drivers, combined with a Ti811 body.

Per Mizuno, the combination has helped its engineers to create a 3-wood that produces the highest ever ball speeds from a Mizuno fairway wood.

With Maraging MAS1C steel face, the 5 and 7 wood are significantly more compact than the 3 wood for optimal use from the fairways.

Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design, delivering vibration patterns elite players associate with a ‘solid’ feel. In addition, the Optimized Wave Sole is a fairway-specific design to help create higher ball speeds from low on the face – suited to strikes directly from the turf.

“There are a lot of forgiving looking fairways woods that don’t launch high enough for the average amateur. Size and footprint is only one part of the equation – most of us need a little more spin and elevation to carry the ball to our full capability. The ST-X is designed to solve that issue.” – Mizuno’s Director of Product Chris Voshall

Specs & Price

• Lofts: Right hand – 9.5 and 10.5 degrees. Left hand – 9.5 degrees only.
• Price: $299.95

ST-X 220 hybrids

Engineered to produce a higher, draw-biased flight, the ST-X hybrids are aimed at moderate swing speed players.

Mizuno’s X-Axis design features an ultra-light waffle crown, with deep internal weighting to encourage a high draw-biased flight, while at 1.8mm, the high-speed MAS1C face is Mizuno’s thinnest hybrid face to date, and it is designed to produce the highest recorded ball speeds from center strikes (compared to previous ST-X and CLK).

In addition, as with the fairway woods, Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design while an Optimized Wave Sole is featured in a hybrid-specific design that helps create higher ball speeds from low on the face – suited to strikes directly from the turf.

“The ST-X is a great hybrid option for players with moderate ball speeds. With the new thinner face and internal weighting, it’s a nice alternative that will suit a lot of amateur golfers.” – Chris Voshall

Specs & Price

• Lofts: Right hand only – 4H (20), 5H (23) and 6H (26) degrees.
• Price: $224.85

In our forums, our members have been discussing irons for the high handicap player. WRXer ‘StrongTR’ is a recreational golfer looking to play more often and is in the market for a new set of irons, saying:

“I’ve ‘golfed’ recreationally for years. This mostly includes scrambles for events my company sponsors with a few random rounds each season. I currently play Callaway XR’s I purchased off the CPO site years ago, and they are still in good shape. I want to invest more time this year in improving my game and consistency- more rounds, lessons, etc. 

Is it worth investing in a newer set of Game Improvement irons, Super Game Improvement or anything else? If so, any recommendations on what I should be looking at? I’m not opposed to purchasing used again, just want good condition if so. Also I’ll add I’m a lefty so that can make tracking them down a bit more of a challenge. 

I will admit new shiny things do tend to make for a little extra motivation and fun. Who doesn’t like to treat yourself?!”

• Related: How old is too old for irons? – GolfWRXers discuss

And our members have been sharing their thoughts and 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.

• Davidv: “Get a set of Callaway Big Bertha irons good looking, and forgiving. Nothing like a new set of irons to make you feel good and anxious to get out there and enjoy some golf.”
• xkilgorextroutx: “Keep the XRs. Get lessons. Re-evaluate later this year as your game has improved. I was eyeing some XRs for my 15-year-old son to upgrade from his old Cobra Jr set. They’re solid clubs. Stick with them and work with someone to build a solid repeatable swing.”
• Nateyeight: “I will go against the trend of this feed. I recently purchased a set of the new Titleist T300’s. Traded in a bunch of old clubs and got a big discount. While testing out different clubs, the Mizuno JPX 921 Hot metal irons were a close second. The T300’s are long and super forgiving. I also got some lessons with the new clubs, and my shot is more consistent now, and distances are within normal range instead of short. I don’t like to swing hard with my irons, so these were perfect. They will be in my bag for a very long time; I highly recommend them.”
• demeeksDC: “You don’t have to choose one or the other. Get shiny (or satin) new clubs AND take lessons! If you have a good teaching pro, might be worth a lesson first simply to get some advice on what type of clubs might be best for you. Then hold tryouts. I’ve hit the XRs. Just due to the improvements in feel in cast clubs the past 5 years, I doubt the XRs will win.” 

Entire Thread: “New irons for a high-handicapper“

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