Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “Best Mizuno blades?”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day comes from hypergolf, who asks fellow GolfWRX members for their view on which Mizuno blades are the best on the market. The MP4’s may currently be edging it, but our members are keen on a variety of different options from Mizuno.
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.
- Warrick: “4’s feel. 5’s forgiveness. 18’s looks. I have not played older Mizzy blades.”
- Sir edward of putternut: “MP14 and MP29 are the boobs. MP5 is my gamer. Mp33 is fantastic as well. I like them more than the MP4.”
- Andyman234: “I love my MP18 MMCs. I would highly recommend hitting them first though. Maybe you can find them new somewhere and demo them before purchasing them used.”
- dark : “Picked up a set of MP-68s recently with ProjectX 5.5 shafts. So good, they kicked my MP-14s to the curb”
Entire Thread: “Best Mizuno Blades?”
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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 one degree upright 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
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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
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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
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TW11
Nov 9, 2020 at 10:38 am
I think the MP5’s are the best looking they have produced, of even maybe any blade ever! Great feel and less intimidating that the razor thin blades
David Cox
Jul 22, 2019 at 10:07 am
The MP4s are the best – the best looking, the most forgiving, the best feeling. However I tried the JPX Tour and found the 5 iron went better so put them in my bag, but did not get rid of the MPs. I’m a mid handicapper and I’m fed up with being told you must use a clunky cavity back with its attendant nasty feel. The modern blade, at least as realised by Mizuno, is not hard to hit and feels good most of the time and sometimes sublime. By the way the JPX Tour has an MP feel to it. I have Nippon NS Pro R shafts which are light in both sets.
DaveJ
Jan 9, 2019 at 9:24 am
IMO, the MP33s are the benchmark by which all blades should be measured. They are about as close to a pure blade experience as you can get. They feel great, flight effortlessly, and can be worked left or right as much as your skill allows. I sadly had to stop playing mine as I got older and started getting arthritis in my hands and wrists. I think the 2 iron was the most fun club to hit of the set. Pure one off the tee and it fell like you were swinging a hammer at a marshmallow.
The MP32s are my favorite “modern” blades. I would be gaming them if I were to magically go back to my early 20s.
Tommy Roberts
Jan 9, 2019 at 10:35 pm
Faldo’s TP 19’s cannot be beaten. Well maybe, but they are incredible blades. Have a completely new redone set in case anyone wants them. X100’s, never hit, in wooden case, I cannot even open. Will take 5 min to do so !
koober
Jan 7, 2019 at 5:36 pm
My MP-60’s are over a decade old now, but I always go back to them. I know they’re not strictly blades, but these muscle-backs are so pure. Also have the stock R300 shafts in them. If anything, I’ll probably just upgrade the shafts. Heads are still fantastic. (No rock balls.)
chad
Jan 7, 2019 at 1:45 pm
EVERYONE knows the mp32s were the best irons they ever made
William Davis
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:14 pm
TP9 – bought perhaps last set in UK back in ?. Take out now and again and still pleasing. MP30 going strong. Went to JPX850 but no great improvement.
Jack Nash
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Still to me some of the most beautiful irons produced.
Jack Baker
Jan 6, 2019 at 9:30 pm
Jpx 900 are the best I have played but I have hit a bunch of them. Silver Cup blades were the absolute softest ever, sweet.
Brad
Jan 6, 2019 at 8:52 pm
MP-68s and MP-5s have been the best Mizuno blades I’ve used. MP-18s are very nice as well, but I felt the MP-5s were still better in the feel and forgiveness categories.
ACTUAL FACTS
Jan 6, 2019 at 5:41 pm
All of Mizuno’s blade models over the last two and a half decades have been sauce! I could bag the MP-14s just as quickly as my current irons. TN87, MP9, MP11, MP14, MP29, MP33, MP37, MP68, MP4, MP5, MP18…they’re all great!!!
s
Jan 14, 2019 at 8:09 pm
Couldnt agree more. i would pick MP-14 first too. Personally not a huge fan of those pseudo cavities and the new run bird(?) logo though…
The dude
Jan 5, 2019 at 9:39 pm
MP 11……if yer good enough……TN 87 2nd….
smz
Jan 4, 2019 at 8:19 pm
The magic is in the metallurgy and grain flow forging method that forges the complete clubhead, hosel included…. no ‘spin welding’ the hosel to the blade like miura foists on gullible golfers.
Forged MB
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:11 pm
He ain’t lying! ????
37
Jan 4, 2019 at 4:55 pm
37
Not as rounded as the 33, a bit sharper and boxier and a tad more sexier
TigerFan91
Jan 4, 2019 at 3:08 pm
I like my MP69s. They don’t even have a fancy shaft on them…just your standard X100s. They’re not that intimidating at address and they feel great.
toyzrx
Jan 4, 2019 at 7:31 pm
Yes I agree. Just the stock DGS300 in them and they are as good as any new ones on the market.
Mick
Jun 30, 2019 at 6:19 pm
MP69 are great irons. Still using them, just great, one of Mizunos best ever.
Cleve Dixon
Jul 23, 2020 at 4:40 pm
I agree try different irons but always come back 69s. Beautiful looking blade I’m going back and forth on upgrading to MP 20 muscle backs ..