The Legend of Mizuno’s MP Irons Continues

The MP-5 and MP-25 enhance the company’s formidable reputation.

In recent weeks, we’ve featured a trio of the very finest irons money can buy— the Ben Hogan Company’s Ft. Worth 15, Scott Golf’s SG-02, and Miura’s CB57 – forged works of art (and science), and the sort of clubs connoisseurs of the game get very excited about.

There’s a dozen other equipment categories from which we could choose one of a hundred worthy products for this week’s blog, and there is also a danger that by focusing on one type of product we could miss an item from which readers might benefit greatly. 

But when the subject up for discussion is forged players’ clubs, you can’t really move on until you’ve mentioned Mizuno.

The Osaka, Japan-based sports giant, which launched its first set of golf clubs in 1933—27 years after the company was founded, last week introduced two new irons that will be available in September when, like so many of their predecessors, each will likely be labelled instant classics.

Just as the Hogan Ft. Worth 15 is an astonishingly attractive club but not quite the definitive blade, so the Mizuno MP-5 has the look of a timeless, traditional iron but with a nuance all its own.

It’s not a blade. Nor is it a familiar muscle-back design. It is in fact a “channel-back” with a curved furrow or groove stretched across the back of the clubhead. This allows plenty of weight to be retained behind the central impact zone, but the weight released from the groove to be relocated to parts of the club that improve its stability and make it more forgiving.

The MP-5 has a slightly larger head than most blades, and is similar in concept, shape and performance to the MP-64 which appeared three years ago. The channel is positioned to give long irons a higher launch angle, and shot irons a more penetrating flight, while Mizuno’s Grain-Flow forging process assures great consistency throughout the set. The top-line is slightly thicker than that of the quintessential blade, giving the MP-5 a slightly chunkier, more powerful look.

The MP-25 appears to be a marriage between the look and shape of the MP-54 with the advanced ‘boron-fueled’ technology of the successful JPX-850 which was introduced this time last year. The face of the MP-25 is forged using boron which is both lighter and stronger than steel and should technically produce greater ball speed. It also features a concealed slot behind the hitting area which thins the face increasing the COR.

The MP-25 therefore offers improved performance over the MP-54, and will appeal to more mid/low-handicap players than the JPX-850 which, let’s face it, was never meant to be Mizuno’s most attractive iron.

Some might say there isn’t an awful lot of difference between the new MP-5 and MP-25. Indeed, both are grain-flow forged and aren’t hugely dissimilar in shape and size. Good golfers seeking feel, satisfying sound, and consistency will surely enjoy hitting them both. The pro and low-handicap player who appreciates style and sophistication will likely opt for the MP-5, however.

Whichever he chooses though, the Mizuno regular will surely be more than pleased while the Mizuno newbie might discover a look and feel several notches higher than what he is currently used to.

Look for both sets to appear on mizunousa.com/golf around the launch date of September 18th.
Both sets priced at $999 for steel, $1099 for graphite. MP-5 in right-hand only, MP-25 left and right-hand.

Related Reviews:

Ben Hogan Company’s Ft. Worth 15

Scott Golf’s SG-02,

Miura’s CB57

2015 Buyer’s Guide to Irons

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