GolfWRX Launch Report: Mizuno ST

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What you need to know: The product of Mizuno’s Speed Technology (ST) Metalwood Project — four years of rapid-fire metalwoods development — 2023 Mizuno ST-Z 230, ST-X 230, and ST-PLTNM feature the centerpiece Cortech Chamber, within which a steel weight is positioned for increased ball speed and spin reduction. The technology extends to the ST-Z 230 fairway wood and hybrid as well.

Cortech Chamber: Through slot provides additional COR area by providing sole flex filled with elastomeric TPU material for additional flexure and face stress reduction. Inside the TPU is a stainless steel weight, which is positioned close to the clubface for increased speed and spin reduction. Also contributes to a solid feeling at impact.

SAT 2041 Forged Beta Titanium Face: More flexible and stronger than 6-4 titanium.

“Our player testing over the years shows that placing extra weight close to the face results in faster ball speeds and low spin rates,” says David Llewellyn, Director of R&D for Mizuno. “We’ve been steadily working towards the CORTECH Chamber, which is incredibly effective at that job. Encasing the steel weight within the TPU Chamber means that we’re moving weight close to the face at the same time as creating an additional source of energy. Steel is twice the density of Titanium but won’t weld directly, which is where the TPU has a second role.”

Drivers

ST-Z

Availability: Right Hand – 9.5 and 10.5 degreesLeft hand – 9.5 degrees only

ST-X

Availability: Right Hand – 9.5, 10.5, and 12 degreesLeft hand – 9.5 degrees only

Fairway wood

Right Hand – 3 wood (15) and 5 wood (18)Left hand – 3 wood (15)

Hybrid

Availability: Right Hand – 2H (16), 3H (19), 4H (22) and 5H (25)Left Hand – 3H (19) and 4H (22)

Pricing

ST-Z 230 Driver / ST-X 230 Driver: $499.95ST-Z 230 PLTNM Driver: $549.95ST-Z 230 Fairway Woods: $299.95

At retail: February

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GolfWRX Editor-in-Chief

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Scott

Jan 20, 2023 at 9:53 am

Fairways & hybrids are looking good. Shaft options are super limited – I guess that’s a payoff for a less than premium price point. Heads up to anybody that plans on building a separate shaft – Mizuno’s adapter has an off-center bore. If you find an adapter, it will look defective – that’s the design.

Justin

Jan 19, 2023 at 8:02 pm

Maybe the best looking hybrid I’ve ever seen

Tom K

Jan 19, 2023 at 1:43 pm

Drivers from the different manufacturers all have similar designs.

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My first interaction with Titleist’s new 2023 T-Series irons was at the 2023 Memorial Tournament, where PGA Tour players began testing out the new family of irons. The new irons included an updated T100 model, a brand new T150, a redesigned T200, and a brand new T350.

In the first week, 13 players switched into at least one of the new T-Series irons, and more names got added to that list as the weeks went on. And, as more players switched, my intrigue about the irons only grew.

Then, I wrote about the new irons, covering all of the design changes and technological improvements within the lineup.

That’s all great, but, am I ever gonna get to hit the irons for myself?!

Well, earlier this month, my number was finally called, and I traveled to Oceanside, California, to go through a full iron fitting at the Titleist Performance Institute with expert fitter Chris Baingo.

As one of the most knowledgeable club fitters in the industry, Baingo took me through each of the new T-Series iron models, making adjustments along the way. I was excited to finally hit everything, especially after the months-long hype and anticipation.

I also needed some of my questions answered…

Are the T100’s really any better? Or different? Prior T100’s have looked a little small to me, so are these any more forgiving? And, did they make any changes to the feel/sound of the T-200?

I was especially curious about the new T150 models.

How much more distance/forgiveness will the new T150’s provide, compared to the T100? Will these be my next irons?

In the video at the top of the page, as you’ll see, all of my questions were answered.

However, more than just testing the new iron designs out, I came away with an education about the importance of yardage gapping, general rules for iron fitting, and how to setup my bag with a mixed set.

I won’t spoil everything that Baingo preached in the video, but I do want to highlight one of the most impactful lessons I learned from him during the fitting: As irons progress throughout the set, there should be a 5 mph ball speed difference between irons, and peak heights should generally match through the set.

This means if your ball speed with a 7-iron is 130 mph and has a peak height of 110 feet, then your 6-iron should be 135 mph with the same peak height. If there’s a gap between irons that’s either less than or more than 5 mph with the irons, then an adjustment needs to be made.

Typically, the most noticeable and impactful gap, or “breaking point,” will be between the 5 and 6-irons, or the 4 and 5-irons. In these pockets, the ball speed difference may drop to less than 5 mph, and produce a lower ball flight. This indicates that it’s probably time to look at a 4 or 5-iron that offers more forgiving technology.

For example, in my case, I found the T150’s to have proper speed gapping through the set, until I got to the 3-iron. The ball speed difference between the T150 4-iron and T150 3-iron was dropping below the 5 mph ball speed guidance, thus indicating it was time for me to try out a T200, T350, or U505 iron option. Eventually, I landed on a T200 2-iron, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus HB Black 10 TX shaft (whereas the T150 irons 4-PW were shafted up with Project X 6.5 steel shafts).

To the point about long-iron fitting, Titleist offers long-iron fitting packages that allow consumers to do this exercise for themselves, under the supervision of a professional fitter. As I learned from Baingo, getting an iron fitting is about way more than just hitting a bunch of 7-irons against each other until you find the right one.

While you should absolutely test a bunch of 7-irons to find the right fit for your set, you should also be testing long irons in order to figure out proper gapping, and where the “breaking point” is so that you can get what you need where you need it.

A true full fitting allows the golfer to figure out the gaps in their set, especially at the top end of the bag.

OK, the fitting is lecture over. Enjoy the T-Series testing video above, and click here to see what GolfWRX forum members are saying about the full iron lineup.

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Driver: Titleist TSi2 (9 degrees)Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 5 S

3-wood: Titleist TS2 (13.5 degrees)Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution II S

5-wood: Titleist TS2 (16.5 degrees)Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 661 Evolution II S

Irons: Titleist U-500 (3-5), Titleist 620 CB (6-PW)Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 90 (3, 4), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300 (6-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-08F, 54-10S, 60-04L)Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: TaylorMade Spider OS CB

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10.7)Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15 degrees)Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TX

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 TX

Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (4), Callaway Apex CB (5-9)Shafts: Project X LZ 125 6.5

Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (46-10S @47, 50-10S @51), Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M), WedgeWorks (60-T)Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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