Mizuno is recognized far and wide for its great irons. They are so good, in fact, that players have played them without being compensated. That doesn’t happen very often.
But the company has always struggled to gain an audience for products outside of its irons. That’s starting to change, and its new ST series of drivers is another example of the company’s ingenuity and incredible engineering crafting a product that golfers should pay attention to. “We are really making gains with the drivers,” says Chris Caldwell, business unit manager for Mizuno Golf in Canada. “This is about modifying materials to give golfers extra yards.
SAT2041 Beta Ti face
SAT2041 stands for Super-Alloy-Titanium, a Nippon steel product developed over five years. It is a high-strength material used in the automotive industry for complex parts, and because it can withstand strong forces and the result is faster ball speeds.
Carbon
Like most manufacturers, Mizuno is using carbon to create a pleasing sound and allow engineers to move discretionary weight to increase forgiveness.
Three no upcharge premium shafts
One of the keys to Mizuno’s driver offering is providing three premium branded shafts that should fit a majority of golfers. There’s also a “J Spec” version aimed at slower swinging golfers.
ST-Z
A relatively low-spin driver that’s designed to be very stable, it has carbon composite construction with a deep central weight to ensure straight-flying tee balls. Carbon composite is used on the sole and the central weight is biased to a straight flight and low spin. The driver heads set up in a neutral visual angle and four degrees of adjustability.
Who is it for
This is for the golfer who loves the traditional approach Mizuno brings to everything it does. Finely crafted, timeless in appearance, this is a club that warrants consideration for anyone looking at a driver this spring.
ST-X
A draw-biased driver that uses a carbon composite construction and is aided by a heel side sole weight. The result is a driver that will keep you from slicing the ball, but doesn’t look like the toe is turned in. It offers a slightly smaller profile than the ST-Z, and Mizuno suggests this isn’t what you might initially expect from a draw-bias driver.
Who is it for
Yes, this is for those who struggle with a left-to-right ball flight, but the appearance of the ST-X might surprise some and the smaller head shape opens its appeal to a broader audience.