Equipment
Mizuno’s 2013 Iron Lineup: Function and Feel
Mizuno makes a full line of golf equipment, but the company is best known in the golf world for its premium irons.
Most of the buzz comes from Mizuno’s compact forged irons that are popular with tour players and low-handicappers around the globe, but the company has also made several game improvement models in recent years that have been a hit with mid- and high-handicappers.
For 2013, Mizuno has released four different iron models that will cover everyone from tour players to high handicappers. The lineup includes two players irons, the MP-64 and JPX-825 Pro, which will appeal to low-to-mid handicappers, as well as the MP-H4 and JPX-825 — extremely long and easy to hit clubs that will work well for golfers of all abilities.
In typical Mizuno fashion, three out of four of the irons are made using the company’s “Grain Flow” forging process. The lone hold out, the JPX-825, is the longest and most forgiving iron Mizuno has ever made, and offers the clean looks golfers expect from a Mizuno game improvement club.
Check out our full breakdown of Mizuno’s 2013 iron lineup below.
MP-64 Irons
The Story: With the MP-64, Mizuno engineers set out to make the best-feeling iron possible. The result was a Diamond Muscle design that placed more weight behind the sweet spot, bringing back the soft, solid feel at impact that has made Mizuno the irons of choice for many serious golfers for decades.
The MP-64s are used on the PGA Tour by Mizuno Staffers Luke Donald and Charles Howell III, but you don’t need to be a tour player to game them. They have bigger, deeper cavities in the long irons that make those clubs easier to hit, as well as more meat behind the sweet spot in the shorter irons that gives shots a flatter, more controllable trajectory.
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Construction: Grain Flow Forged 1025E “Pure Select” Mild Carbon Steel
6 Iron Loft: 30 degrees
Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300
Handicap Range: +2 to 10
Price: $999
Click here to read the full MP-64 Iron review
Click here to read the full MP-64 Iron review
Mizuno JPX-825 Pro
The Story: The JPX-825 Pro irons have larger, deeper cavities than the MP-64, which are CNC milled to allow engineers as much as 17 grams of discretionary weight to move to the heel and toe sections of the club for more forgiveness, particularly in the long irons.
But these irons are stamped “Pro” for a reason. Mizuno returned much of the discretionary to the area behind the sweet spot in the short irons, providing better feel and workability. They also feature a “tour confirmed triple cut sole design” that Mizuno says creates ideal turf interaction from anywhere on the course.
Click here to read the full Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Review
Construction: Grain Flow Forged 1025E “Pure Select” Mild Carbon Steel
6 Iron Loft: 29 degrees
Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynalite Gold XP (R300, S300)
Handicap Range: 6 to 18
Price: $899
Click here to read the full Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Review
Click here to read the full Mizuno JPX-825 Pro Review
Mizuno MP-H4 Irons
The Story: The MP-H4 are actually three different types of irons — the 2 through 4 irons have a hybrid-like hollow construction, the 5 through 7 irons feature a smaller hollow area and the 8 through PW have no hollow area. This creates high-COR, high-launching long irons and more precise short irons that are bridged by the “half-hallow” mid irons.
The blend of feel and function has made the MP-H4’s a popular long-iron alternative for tour players, and a hit for golfers who don’t want to sacrifice feel, but need a wider sole and more forgiveness than the JPX-825 Pros can provide.
Construction: Grain Flow Forged 4315 Mild Carbon Steel
6 Iron Loft: 30 degrees
Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300
Handicap Range: 2 to 14
Price: $1099
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Mizuno JPX-825 Irons
The Story: The JPX-825 have extreme heel-toe weighting and extremely high-COR faces in the long and mid irons, making them the longest and most forgiving irons in Mizuno history. But the 8 iron, 9 iron and pitching wedge have slightly less hot faces to give golfers more control and workability.
6 Iron Loft: 28 degrees
Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynalite Gold XP (R300, S300)
Handicap Range: 10 to 28
Price: $699
Comparison Photos (all but MP-64)
Cavity Design. Top to bottom: JPX-825, MP-H4, JPX-825 Pro.
Sole design and width. From Left to right: JPX-825, MP-H4, JPX 825 Pro.
View at address. From Left to right: JPX-825, MP-H4, JPX 825 Pro.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups 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.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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PMonty
Dec 15, 2013 at 12:16 pm
A bit late with this response; in the past two months I’ve hit almost every Mizuno and Titleist trying to find the perfect feel and distance as I’m getting older; I’m 65 with a 3 handicap and had to give up my 210 AP2’s due to loss of distance with Project X reg shafts. Not strong enough to flex the shaft. The shaft is the key and the head to me is secondary. I found the Mizuno jpx 825’s to have a great feel and great distance with the NS 950 shaft; 10 to 15 yds longer than my old Ap2’s and 5-7 yds longer than the 825 pros. I found the AP1’s with the DG Reg shaft to be heavy and clunky; lacking feel. The Adams CB2’s with the NS 850 gh shaft were sweet; great distance and high ball flight with a sweet feel.
DMC
Dec 28, 2013 at 10:36 pm
I don’t like to rain on anyone’s parade, but the reason you picked up 10-15 yards on the 710 AP2s is because the JPX-825s are 3 degrees stronger loft, unless either set is being customized. Folks should be aware that this is the common reason “new” iron sets are longer than old ones, not major design improvements.
golfa8
Jul 18, 2013 at 9:18 am
Had a set of 825’s with graphite shafts. They are 1″ longer than standard which is how Mizuno does it with graphite. Just be aware of that and stand tall or choke down.
gary
May 16, 2013 at 7:00 am
i have mx900 irons now what new irons would compare to them
Nutinpa
May 13, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Has anyone tried and compared the current JPX 825 Pros…vs. the MPH4s? I have a 6-7 year old set of MX 23s and looking to upgrade and stay in the Mizuno “family”…while seeking a hint of more forgiveness. In other words, stay with what I enjoy playing while finding a club that is a bit easier to hit. I an not worrying about “working the ball” directinally – just to hit it on the green! Thanks for any input you may offer!
Upinthismufu
May 23, 2013 at 10:54 am
I recently purchased a set of MP H4s (4-PW) with the Nippon NS Pro 950s. I am a Mizuno ‘homer’ as my last four sets have been MP 14s (DG S300), MP 32/60s Combo Set (Project X 6.0), & MP 68s w/ (KBS Tour S). The MP 4s are definitely not your typical Mizuno iron, but they are a great choice for those who are ready to sacrifice a little of that ‘buttery’ feel for MUCH better mishit results. Looking down at the 4-iron it’s a little clunky but it also provides peace of mind that you don’t have to make that ‘perfect’ swing that a lot of the MP long irons require. In fact, I would say that looking down at my H4 4-iron provides me the same level of confidence that I would have over my MP 68 6-iron. Mis-hits are unbelievable with these clubs, and the ball is so easy to get in the air with the longer irons. Even high toe shots that were dead off of my 68s aren’t that bad off of the H4s. So to sum it up, don’t look at the H4s unless you are willing to sacrifice the ‘tuning fork’ feel for MUCH better mis-hits. BTW I did demo the JPX 825 Pros (KBS Pro S) and didn’t find them any easier to hit than any of my previous MPs.
weem
Jul 18, 2013 at 7:11 am
I have both sets and play off 12. first observation is that the MPH4s are 2 degrees more loft so they are higher but shorter. My sense is that the JPX’s are easier to hit through the whole range because the attacking irons with the MPH’s ( 8 onwards ) are very hard to hit by comparison. Id rather have stuck with the pro series and moved directly into the MP range with the 50’s ranges ( 53 or 59 )and have consistent feel through the clubs the MPH’s are a bit all over the place
good luck
Erik
Jul 5, 2014 at 11:14 pm
I now have the 825 pros (1″ long) and absolutely love them. I was previously hitting the titleist 695cb forged irons. I am a 18 handicapper and I have been piping these irons down the fairways. I am hitting my 5 iron longer than my uncle hits his 3 wood. I’m hitting the pw about 140. I would highly recommend these to any golfer.
tbone
May 10, 2013 at 8:18 am
Any chance of a review on the JPX 825 non pros?
James
May 7, 2013 at 2:06 pm
So the only club options for left handed players are game improvement irons!?!?
Give us at least one option.
Ron MH
Jun 25, 2013 at 12:56 am
I feel your pain, man. I resorted to buying used Mizunos for my lefty fix. I was hoping the MP-64 would show up for lefties – no love from Mizuno. So, I bought some MP-57’s. They’d get my money if they offered the product.
J.A.
Aug 11, 2013 at 1:28 am
I REALLY wish they made left handed irons that weren’t for high handicappers. LOVE LOVE LOVE my MP-52’s but I’m looking to get new ones because mine are so used. Bought them brand new, they’ve gotten the use!!