2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“This stuff is gorgeous.”
Tour-van test of the new players cavity in Mizuno's modern series; gorgeous compact looks with a tiny top line, buttery quiet feel, and solid consistent numbers, with just one odd low-spin flyer to watch.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Stunning aesthetics; clean black badging and a tiny top line smaller than the 243 it replaces
- +Sounds like butter, almost no auditory response on pure strikes
- +Progressive construction: chromoly long irons for speed, forged soft steel scoring clubs
- −One unexplained low-spin flyer during testing
- −Slightly wider dispersion than the M-15, as expected from the smaller head
For: Low to mid single-digit handicappers who want a compact, thin-topline players iron with a little extra jump over a muscle back
Alex Etches
Custom fitter, gear deep-dives
“I think this is an early contender for iron of the year.”
Alex came in disappointed by recent Mizuno releases and walked out calling the M13 outstanding and an early contender for iron of the year: sleek proper Mizuno shaping, three seamlessly blended constructions, easy 190-yard 7-irons and forgiveness that held nearly identical carry on off-center hits.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Beautiful anti-glare brushed satin finish and perfect sleek Mizuno shaping despite all the tech
- +Three different constructions (5-iron to wedge) that blend visually and perform seamlessly
- +Strong distance (easy 190-yard 7-iron carries) without sacrificing spin, ~6,400 rpm and up
- −Expensive: 240 pounds per iron, about 1,680 pounds for a 5-PW set
For: A huge range, from low handicappers through consistent-striking high handicappers who want workability plus assistance
Michael Newton Golf
On-course, season-long club tests
“This is going to be a real winner.”
Predicted to be the most popular iron in Mizuno's players category: a bladey, compact look with unbelievable feel plus enough hidden tech to add ball speed and forgiveness.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Thinner, more chamfered top line and a more compact head than M15, looks like a true players iron
- +Softest feel and best sound of the two, buttery off the face
- +Grain flow forged chromoly face, top line and neck with stainless back
- −Heel strikes cost noticeable ball speed and about 10 yards
- −Less forgiving than the M15
For: Better players who want the S-series look and feel but with some forgiveness and ball speed blended in.
Today's Golfer
UK magazine, robot + human testing
“Mizuno do just get it right time after time.”
A gorgeous multi-construction set that is effectively a combo set in one model, carrying the untouchable Mizuno feel with added ball speed and forgiveness.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Different construction per iron (long, mid, scoring) acts like a built-in combo set
- +Classic Mizuno feel and feedback, tells you exactly where you struck it
- +Triple cut sole works for a variety of swing types
- −Not enough of a performance gain to upgrade from the 243s
- −Premium price around 1200 quid
For: Better ball strikers (roughly scratch to 12) who don't need the extra help of the M15 and love traditional Mizuno DNA.
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“you need to be on your game if you're going to game these guys”
Possibly the best-looking iron head he's ever seen with classic Mizuno feel and control, but they're very expensive, punish bad strikes (15 yards lost front-to-back), and the strong-lofted scoring irons flew inconsistently long.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 4 cons− the facts
- +One of the best-looking iron heads he's ever seen, very MP-32-like
- +Classic soft-but-not-too-soft Mizuno grain flow forged feel
- +Strong spin and control; shots land and stop nicely for a strong-lofted iron
- −Very expensive, and he questions whether golfers will pay it
- −Not forgiving: a bad strike cost 15 yards front-to-back
- −Distance gapping inconsistent in the scoring irons (9 iron flying 158 one swing, 137 the next)
For: Better players who want a gorgeous forged Mizuno that's slightly more forgiving than a blade
MyGolfSpy
Data-driven independent testing
“Mizuno overcooked the crème brûlée a little bit is what happened here”
A genuinely good players-distance iron undone by faces caving in on the 6-7-8 irons; Mizuno has fixed the cause and is offering replacements, but a fix could take months.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Real players looks and aesthetics with pushed ball speed over the 243 it replaced
- +Mizuno identified the root cause and says it's remedied; new orders ship with corrected heads
- +Multiple remedies offered including a free swap into a different set with no card charged until the old set ships
- −Faces in the 6, 7 and 8 irons are deforming into concavity from a too-thin face and material choice
- −Head-only replacement could take weeks into months, costing you most of a season
- −Inventory started from a deficit since recalls aren't forecast
For: Players who wanted a player's-cavity iron pushed toward distance, if they can tolerate the replacement wait
