Global Golf Post - February 1, 2010

There are two sets for low handicappers, two sets for high handicappers and a Shaft Optimizer for everyone

BY JOHN STEINBREDER

features of that new development as they were touting their latest clubs, asserting that it takes the trial and error out of shaft fitting.

Perhaps the most compelling of Mizuno’s new iron models is the MP-58. What it has done here is forge a piece of titanium into the outer muscle of steel on the back of the clubhead to increase perimeter weighting for better playability as it maintains the solid and consistent feel players expect from its game enhancement irons.

“The titanium is not welded
onto the club,” says Dick Lyons, vice
president and general manager of
Mizuno’s U.S. golf division. “Rather,
there is a mechanical lock when the
titanium is forged onto the steel.
That provides an ideal amount of
thickness behind the hitting area for
great feel, while the discretionary
Irons have long been Mizuno’s
métier, which is why golfers take note
whenever the Japanese equipment
maker rolls out new clubs. This year,
the company is pushing four lines,
including two so-called game enhanc-
ers for better players — the MP-58
and MP-68 — and two that are geared
toward higher handicappers — the

weighting around the perimeter adds a lot of forgiveness to the product.” Price per set with True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 and R300 shafts is $1,200, retail.

Higher handicappers likely will prefer the forged MX-300, which offers game-improvement technology in a very traditional look with a compact head size, modest sole width and minimal progressive offset. The key features are a milled pocket cavity in the 3-to- 7 irons that redistributes 17 grams of weight low and deep for a high, penetrating launch and a solid power bar in clubs from 8-iron through gap wedge to maximize feel and accuracy. Suggested retail cost for a standard set (4-GW) with True Temper Dynalite Gold XP shafts is $900, with multiple grip and shaft options also available.

Golfers of that same skill level
also might want to consider the cast
MX-1000 irons. Lyons calls those
“rocket launchers,” thanks to what
he describes as “hot metal technol-
ogy.” The clubs boast a thin, marag-
ing-steel face that is plasma-welded
to a stainless steel body, resulting
in high COR numbers and a formi-
dable MOI for better distance and
forgiveness.“The MX-1000s go a
club farther than other irons, and
that’s not because we are doing
anything funny with the lofts,” he
says. “They are just that hot.” At a
suggested retail price of $1,200, they
should be.