Since the Mizuno ST-230 drivers hit the market earlier this year they have found a new level of success for the brand when it comes to metalwoods. Both the ST-Z and ST-X have found play on Tour’s across the globe as well as in the hands of amateurs. However, we here at THP noted upon the release of those two drivers that there was something missing, both offer power and forgiveness, but they also bring a fair amount of spin to the table, Mizuno was missing that low spin behemoth.
We all should have known that the answer to that was coming. The 2023 Mizuno ST-G is here, and it might just be the lowest spinning driver we see this cycle.
The 2023 Mizuno ST-G Driver
Whether or not Mizuno always waiting to bring the ST-G drivers to market after the rest of their driver releases is a good idea or not is something that one could absolutely a conversation starter. However, you have to give credit where it is due, it always allows the brand to showcase their “mainstream” driver release that is absolutely designed for the majority of golfers. The ST-G though? It is a different animal.
If you were able to give the previous ST-G a try, then you know it was absolutely one of the lowest spinning drivers out there, and though it was lethal in the right hands, there were things that Mizuno knew they could do better. That is where this newest iteration comes into play.
The ST-G is a 440cc driver head that has a very traditional and Tour preferred “pear” shaping to it while also showcasing a very deep face. This profile is aimed at maximizing the ability for the different tech features that Mizuno has implemented to offer real performance while also differentiating the ST-G in this specific segment of less than 460cc player driven drivers.
Visually, the ST-G looks like a Mizuno driver. Starting at address, the company’s two-tone crown visual is present, showcasing the Run Bird as an alignment aid on a solid black finish that fades towards the rear of the crown in order show off the carbon composite. A notable change here with the ST-G is that the crown now wraps around the toe onto the sole to make one solid piece as opposed to a separate toe patch. This brought a weight savings of about 16g in all, making the weight tracks on the sole not only possible, but more efficient too.
The FAST TRACK system is indeed back on the ST-G, although this time around things are back to a two track system, removing the middle back channel that was in the last version. This change had much to do with efficiency that is now possible with just two tracks thanks to maximizing the length of the heel and toe side channels creating even more options. Each head comes standard with two 7g weights, and there will be other weights available for fitting purposes. Also worth noting, the Mizuno track system does still allow the weights to be removed entirely, and for multiple weights to be placed on each track, so if you want to get wild with it, you definitely could.
Mizuno’s CORTECH is also implemented here on the ST-G, though at first glance you will notice the shaping is different than in the ST-X and ST-Z 230 heads. There is no blue here, this look is all business. The chamber remains integral to Mizuno being able to produce heads which their testing indicates stands toe to toe with any other out there in terms of ball speed. The through slot filled with TPU allows more flexion while the floating weight controls stability and energy efficiency. This means a bigger COR area, in fact, Mizuno’s testing shows it to be bigger than all the other low spin driver heads on the market.
Perhaps the biggest tech story in the ST-G, is in the face. Where the other 230 drivers use SAT-2041 Beta Ti for the faces, this head is implementing an all new material for Mizuno, Forged Beta Rich Ti-LFS. As you might expect, this material is lighter, faster, and stronger than any titanium Mizuno has ever used before, it has less density while offering more tensile strength, and that means speed. Their Tour testing actually showed an average increase in ball speed of 1.5 MPH compared to the SAT-2041.
The face also utilizes a CORTECH Multi-Thickness design which is all about maximizing ball speed retention and spin consistency across the surface. This is also a piece of the puzzle for Mizuno’s focus on Harmonic Impact. That is one of the major reasons golfers talk about the feel of Mizuno irons and revere it so much, so the implementation of that and understanding how frequencies effect our perception of feel in drivers has been key to getting this version of the ST-G to a place where the previous model fell short. According to Mizuno, the new ST-G gets the sound/feel right.
The Details
The ST-G driver will be available in 9.5 and 10.5 degree versions with the lower lofted head also having a LH option. Each also utilizes Mizuno’s Quick Switch adapter that gives a 4-degree range of adjustability and allowing each head to get down to 7.5 or 8.5 degrees respectively. The standard shaft options are the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 60 (S/X) and Mitsubishi Chemical Kai’Li Blue 60 (R/S).
Release date for the ST-G driver is 10/5/23 with pre-sale beginning on 9/25/23. Price at retail for this release will come in at $599.95.
