Equipment
Mizuno ST190, ST190G Drivers put woods front and center for “iron” company
Mizuno Golf is about more than just irons; that’s the message the company is keen to drive home with its launch of the Mizuno ST190 driver and the Mizuno ST 190G driver.
In announcing its lowest spinning, most technology-packed driver in company history, with the 2019 Mizuno driver, the company seeks to position itself as one that has quietly innovated in the driver space for years, highlighting milestone technologies in the Ti100, T-Zoid, MP-001, and MP-600 in discussions around the launch of its latest drivers.
With respect to the specifics of the Japanese company’s most recent weaponry, the ST190 and 190G feature a forged Sp700Ti face (10 percent stronger than 6-4 titanium) with the company’s ultra-light Cortech structure, as well as a carbon composite crown. As with the ST180 series, Mizuno applies its Amplified Wave soleplate, which deforms on impact for better energy transfer between club and ball.
The weight of the carbon composite crown, 12 grams, allowed engineers to redistribute some seven grams of weight throughout the body of the club.
The Amplified Wave Sole effectively expands the ST190’s COR area for improved balls speeds across the clubface, according to the company, and better ball speed on off-center strikes in particular.
Mizuno fine-tuned the driver’s sound via Harmonic Impact Technology, adding internal rids for a more solid sound at impact.
Getting into the differences between the two models.
Mizuno ST190
- designed for mid to low spin with maximum stability
- features a single, factory-fixed 6g backweight that adds 300gcm2 MOI
Mizuno ST190G
- Designed for low spin
- Features Fast Track adjustability: twin seven gram weights on external tracks
- Weights can reduce spin by an additional 200rpm and allow for draw/fade biases
“The ST190 marks a total change in how Mizuno approaches wood design,” says lead Mizuno golf designer Kei Tsjui. “We now start the development process with our tour players. The tour-tested molds then become our production molds. In the case of the ST190, this produced a high-speed driver with extreme low spin for the tour, but with the capability of increasing spin for lower swing speed players.”
The first PGA Tour player to game the ST190 was big hitter Keith Mitchell.
Says Mitchell: “Driving was my best category last year – I walked into testing to do ‘Cookie’ (Mizuno, PGA Tour Manager Jeff Cook) a favor, give him some numbers and leave. It turned out to be the easiest change I’ve ever made – on the one club I never thought I would switch.”
Specs and availability
The Mizuno ST190: driver will be available in 9.5 and 10.5 degree models, both adjustable by two degrees either way. 9.5 degree option only for left-handers.
The Mizuno ST190G: driver will be available in a 9-degree model only, adjustable by two degrees either way. Right hand only.
Shafts: Mizuno offers 26 shafts without upcharge. New options for 2019 include Fujikura Atmos Blue 5S, Atmos Red 5R, Atmos Red 5R2, Atmos Red 6R and Atmos Black TS 6S.
MSRP: ST190: $400. ST190G: $500
ST190 drivers will be available nationwide and in Canada in February.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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howie
Jan 8, 2019 at 5:53 pm
If you play these black mizunos you won’t go back… and your golfing buddies won’t turn their backs to you.
simms
Jan 7, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Another driver for future EBAY sellers….unless your a single digit or better 3 or 4 yards for $500 is a big step…almost any driver from the last 6 years or so is going to work for you.
gunmetal
Jan 8, 2019 at 12:13 am
Yup.
Looks nice, though.
joe
Jan 7, 2019 at 4:49 pm
More RH only from Mizuno. Darn righties….
One Day At A Time
Jan 7, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Trying like Hell to be honest and transparent in 2019… so take this fwiw…
I handle a lot of donated clubs. Always trying to get clubs to kids, and often get 10 Adult clubs for every USKG/TourEdge/XYZ junior club. In 2016, one of the younger outside staff guys swung my 905r w/o asking and w/o knowing you don’t do that, it hit the pavement, so now I’m needing a new stick and a week later a Callaway fti 6 w/ a real fuji speeder walked in. Yeah, square headed, TINGY, and if my ST180 launched at 11 spun at 24, the cally launched at 14 spun at 31. But, in early 2017 I needed to knock out my pat, and from January 1 to April 4 I hit 90% (+/-2%) of my fwys over a 120 shot sample size. On April 4 2017 I’m plotting along and the wind kicks up to 20, gusts 27. On side by side holes I hit it 205 v 330. I was educated enough to be dangerous regarding spin OTT and about a month after the only time guys say “Now you never have to play golf again!” , the ST180 was showing up ahead of time for reasons unknown. I volunteer to be the guinea pig for a driver fitting in our Teach The Teacher program and in short time the youngest assistant pro I’ve worked with had made the most INCREDIBLE W.O.O.D. adjustment to my lead hand @ address and I see 160 ball 11.5 launch and 2224 spin. Deuces to the launch monitor , I want to watch it fly outside. It’s 253 to the net, and generally speaking your apex has to be high and if you carry the net you carry it 280. I’m swinging it at 107, so I don’t need to tell you how unlikely I was to do that, and how immediately I scribbled ST-180 tensei blue gp tv full cord on the DOG’s Christmas list. And in the entire year of 2018, I struggled off the tee so much that I would give it away to the first person that wanted it. I’m absolutely the guilty party, the Mizuno ST-180 is and was a truly best kept secret for for guys that can’t hit it left to save their lives, and admittedly I did hit the best drive of my post-arthrodesis life to date with it on the nastiest par 5 I know of in DFW, but I will NEVER ever EVER ditch a fairway finding four cylinder for a driving range heat seeking missile ever again.
Until someone asks me to hit the stick that Ping is dropping in March.
And unless the Titleist TS starts curving off the face of the Earth, I am looking forward to seeing it in my bag in 2028, just like the 905r was a welcome sight for an entire decade of golf.
Mower
Jan 7, 2019 at 8:38 pm
Can’t believe he didn’t even do the courtesy of a TLDR summation!? No internet etiquette.
BAR
Jan 7, 2019 at 9:41 pm
Honestly. I had to skip read and have no idea what he’s on about.
HeyJude
Jan 8, 2019 at 12:36 am
Didn’t know hieroglyphics was a thing again.
joro
Jan 7, 2019 at 3:03 pm
Looks a lot like the 180 kept it is Black. Love the 180, and even like the Blue.
jonas
Jan 7, 2019 at 2:25 pm
I hear they are working on an even better driver called the S&X69oo prototype model… it’s a beast !!!
smz
Jan 7, 2019 at 2:22 pm
I’m still shopping for 2018 drives at vastly reduced prices. If I can’t make last years models give me fantastic performance, then there is something rotten in the state of Denmark. 2017 models are okay too.
dat
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Look really good, finally ditched the blue! Excellent array of shaft options and adjustments for a reasonable price! Unheard of so far this year!
JP
Jan 7, 2019 at 11:37 am
Mizuno going with a cortech face is too similar to Wilson’s new Cortex driver.
Forged MB
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Except for the fact that Mizuno had the Cortech face well before the Wilson Cortex was even a thought and the Mizuno is actually getting your play. Don’t see any CORrelation at all.
See what I did there? 😉
JP
Jan 7, 2019 at 1:30 pm
Wilson the guilty party then. Copy that.
Scheiss
Jan 7, 2019 at 8:26 pm
It is a stupid name for a driver. Wilson really didn’t think it thru (see what I did there, about Cortex?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortex
Benjamin Kaiser
Jan 7, 2019 at 11:22 am
They look really nice!
Max
Jan 7, 2019 at 11:20 am
So, at first I thought Mizuno waiting to release this driver at the same time as Taylormade, Callaway and PING was a mistake and that it would be overshadowed by the big boy offerings. But, after seeing the lackluster new releases from Taylormade and Callawy, I think it might work out for Mizuno. These drivers look soooo good and the stock shaft offerings are far far superior to the other’s.