Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal Irons – Hot Metal, Hot Metal Pro and Hot Metal HL

[Tywithay]

Hit the JPX 925 Hot Metals alongside my previous set of Maltby TS3 today. Figured out my swing a little compared to Briggs. Still really struggling to square the face on the 925s. They were 10-20 yards right of the Maltbys on what felt like good strikes. Maltbys flew significantly higher too, but they also have 4 degrees more loft. I added lead weight to the heel on the 8 iron just to see and it did seem to help me turn them over. That will be tonight's project before putting them in play tomorrow. One huge positive with the JPX, despite being out to the right, they kept landing in the same area no matter where I hit the face. If I can figure out the direction, I could see a huge improvement in proximity. I'll also be interested how they play on a course I'm very familiar with.

 

[bsbmike]

Hit the JPX 925 Hot Metals alongside my previous set of Maltby TS3 today. Figured out my swing a little compared to Briggs. Still really struggling to square the face on the 925s. They were 10-20 yards right of the Maltbys on what felt like good strikes. Maltbys flew significantly higher too, but they also have 4 degrees more loft. I added lead weight to the heel on the 8 iron just to see and it did seem to help me turn them over. That will be tonight's project before putting them in play tomorrow. One huge positive with the JPX, despite being out to the right, they kept landing in the same area no matter where I hit the face. If I can figure out the direction, I could see a huge improvement in proximity. I'll also be interested how they play on a course I'm very familiar with.

Do you think there’s a difference in offset between the two that’s playing into the miss to the right or do you think it more comes down to the swing weight of it?

 

[Tywithay]

Do you think there’s a difference in offset between the two that’s playing into the miss to the right or do you think it more comes down to the swing weight of it?

The JPX have more offset, so ot should be the other way around on paper. I think overall weight plays some part. JPX are a good bit longer heel to toe, so there may just be more mass out there that I'm struggling to turn over as well. I think adding some weight will help a bunch and looked promising on the one iron I tried it.

 

[bsbmike]

The JPX have more offset, so ot should be the other way around on paper. I think overall weight plays some part. JPX are a good bit longer heel to toe, so there may just be more mass out there that I'm struggling to turn over as well. I think adding some weight will help a bunch and looked promising on the one iron I tried it.

I’m glad to hear that worked on the iron You tried it on. Be curious if it works on the rest too.

 

[BriMac]

First round on the home course today. I had fewer full iron shots than normal (driver was either exceptional to put me within 100 yards, or terrible where I would have to hit punch shots to get within 100 yards). A few highlights:
- 4i helped me reach a par 5 in 2. 225 after roll out to about 15 feet (missed put ). I just wanted to hit something straight over 200 yards, and was pleasantly surprised it went that far. I feel like this is going to be a great hybrid replacement for me.
- hit 2 of the 3 par 3s. 7i and PW hit, 6i missed left as I tried to nuke it.
- 3/4 GW from 100 and in is a reliable shot.

No noticeable issues with turf interaction. Feel is great. Generally they just want to go straight - no wild misses left/right (other than the pulled 6i noted above) or big draws/fades.

In an earlier post, I mentioned distance wise that the 9i-GW was about 1/2 club longer than my previous set. I feel like in the 4-8i there will be greater distance gains - just need to get a better sample size after a few more rounds to confirm.

Can’t wait to continue to work with these.

 

[jonnys009]

Got into some side by side with my old irons this AM. Just the 9i for now. Really interesting comparison. These irons really are crazy efficient and hot. The best part - even with the stronger lofts, launch is high and spin keeps pace. Off a mat with Pro V1 RCT.

 

[bsbmike]

Got into some side by side with my old irons this AM. Just the 9i for now. Really interesting comparison. These irons really are crazy efficient and hot. The best part - even with the stronger lofts, launch is high and spin keeps pace. Off a mat with Pro V1 RCT.

View attachment 9300408

Big time smash factor gains wow!

Nice to see spin so close...do you know the difference in launch angles?

Also...nice 12 yard carry gain!

 

[Tywithay]

Got into some side by side with my old irons this AM. Just the 9i for now. Really interesting comparison. These irons really are crazy efficient and hot. The best part - even with the stronger lofts, launch is high and spin keeps pace. Off a mat with Pro V1 RCT.

View attachment 9300408

A full club. Granted the loft is stronger, but if you're still seeing height and the spin is comparable, that's a huge gain.

 

[bsbmike]

A full club. Granted the loft is stronger, but if you're still seeing height and the spin is comparable, that's a huge gain.

Same spin and only 5-6 feet of height difference for 12 yards is so awesome

 

[JDax]

Got into some side by side with my old irons this AM. Just the 9i for now. Really interesting comparison. These irons really are crazy efficient and hot. The best part - even with the stronger lofts, launch is high and spin keeps pace. Off a mat with Pro V1 RCT.

View attachment 9300408

This is stout gains, awesome looks like you picked up a full club.

 

[Hawk]

Got into some side by side with my old irons this AM. Just the 9i for now. Really interesting comparison. These irons really are crazy efficient and hot. The best part - even with the stronger lofts, launch is high and spin keeps pace. Off a mat with Pro V1 RCT.

View attachment 9300408

That's pretty amazing. Not just the performance, but that you have an iron with a face like that performing so well when it comes to height/spin.

Doesn't begin to factor in the forgiveness either.

 

[jonnys009]

Big time smash factor gains wow!

Nice to see spin so close...do you know the difference in launch angles?

Also...nice 12 yard carry gain!

Looks like 18.9 vs 22.7

 

[jdtox]

I've loved hearing the positivity around the GW...first time going into a set GW in a long time and it seems like a real winner

It really was the perfect gap club between the PW and 54 and I can't say that about all GW's I've played

 

[jonnys009]

This is stout gains, awesome looks like you picked up a full club.

That's pretty amazing. Not just the performance, but that you have an iron with a face like that performing so well when it comes to height/spin.

Doesn't begin to factor in the forgiveness either.

Agreed. Really impressed with these. Shows both the quality of these clubs along with the benefit of getting fit vs off the rack.

 

[erock9174]

My 6-9i HLs finally came in Tues and was able to take them out for a spin for 9 holes. I didn't play for score really as my driver has been acting up and wanted to dial it in before my two outings this weekend.

Got that sorted out and then after each drive would just place the ball at certain increments and hit the various irons. Course was backed up and nobody was behind me so I hit several irons and wedges into each green.

Good news is for a cooler, wet day (temps were high 50's when I played) I expected a drop off in yardage, but I was still hitting my normal carry numbers with them.
7i on down to GW really like them. Nice high flight and pretty much a straight to baby draw shape (which is my preferred shot shape). I hit several shots with the 6i from 150 out. My season avg GIR with 6i is 48% which is probably a little higher than my norm for a season. I was definitely below that. My ball would start out on my intended line, a little right of target but I could not turn it over for the life of me. It would either stay straight (push) or slightly tail off and fade on me. So I kept missing the green to the right.

I decided to have the lie angle adjusted to 2* upright from stock on just the 6i. The club fitter measured it just to make sure it was on spec. They have a digital gauge now and it was bang on 28* loft and 61.5* lie angle. He adjusted it to 63.5* and I went to the range last night and hit a few shag balls. With one minor swing tweak plus the upright lie it seemed to help and was now hitting the same straight to gentle draw with it.

Wanted to shake the entire set down at the range today but work was busy so my outing tomorrow will be my first real test.

 

[bsbmike]

My 6-9i HLs finally came in Tues and was able to take them out for a spin for 9 holes. I didn't play for score really as my driver has been acting up and wanted to dial it in before my two outings this weekend.

Got that sorted out and then after each drive would just place the ball at certain increments and hit the various irons. Course was backed up and nobody was behind me so I hit several irons and wedges into each green.

Good news is for a cooler, wet day (temps were high 50's when I played) I expected a drop off in yardage, but I was still hitting my normal carry numbers with them.
7i on down to GW really like them. Nice high flight and pretty much a straight to baby draw shape (which is my preferred shot shape). I hit several shots with the 6i from 150 out. My season avg GIR with 6i is 48% which is probably a little higher than my norm for a season. I was definitely below that. My ball would start out on my intended line, a little right of target but I could not turn it over for the life of me. It would either stay straight (push) or slightly tail off and fade on me. So I kept missing the green to the right.

I decided to have the lie angle adjusted to 2* upright from stock on just the 6i. The club fitter measured it just to make sure it was on spec. They have a digital gauge now and it was bang on 28* loft and 61.5* lie angle. He adjusted it to 63.5* and I went to the range last night and hit a few shag balls. With one minor swing tweak plus the upright lie it seemed to help and was now hitting the same straight to gentle draw with it.

Wanted to shake the entire set down at the range today but work was busy so my outing tomorrow will be my first real test.

Can't wait to see how the full test goes...interesting you had a tough time turning it over at first. Feel like that's been a common thing for new users here

But happy it was just a lie angle adjustment

 

[erock9174]

Can't wait to see how the full test goes...interesting you had a tough time turning it over at first. Feel like that's been a common thing for new users here

But happy it was just a lie angle adjustment

to be fair the only 3 iron sets with a 6i that I could turn over on the regular was i200s (yellow dot 1.5* upright), a set of Smoke HLs which were 3* upright and then my Altitude which is like 2* upright compared to most 6 irons. so the 925 being bent 2* has no excuse now, lol

 

[Iceman!]

My 6-9i HLs finally came in Tues and was able to take them out for a spin for 9 holes. I didn't play for score really as my driver has been acting up and wanted to dial it in before my two outings this weekend.

Got that sorted out and then after each drive would just place the ball at certain increments and hit the various irons. Course was backed up and nobody was behind me so I hit several irons and wedges into each green.

Good news is for a cooler, wet day (temps were high 50's when I played) I expected a drop off in yardage, but I was still hitting my normal carry numbers with them.
7i on down to GW really like them. Nice high flight and pretty much a straight to baby draw shape (which is my preferred shot shape). I hit several shots with the 6i from 150 out. My season avg GIR with 6i is 48% which is probably a little higher than my norm for a season. I was definitely below that. My ball would start out on my intended line, a little right of target but I could not turn it over for the life of me. It would either stay straight (push) or slightly tail off and fade on me. So I kept missing the green to the right.

I decided to have the lie angle adjusted to 2* upright from stock on just the 6i. The club fitter measured it just to make sure it was on spec. They have a digital gauge now and it was bang on 28* loft and 61.5* lie angle. He adjusted it to 63.5* and I went to the range last night and hit a few shag balls. With one minor swing tweak plus the upright lie it seemed to help and was now hitting the same straight to gentle draw with it.

Wanted to shake the entire set down at the range today but work was busy so my outing tomorrow will be my first real test.

Adjusting the lie angle is/was a great idea. Might not have thought of that

 

[mikewohlwend]

What are ya'll thoughts on going split set of HM/HMP? Maybe the split is after the 7????

I think I would make the split at a 6. HM 4-6 and HMP 7-PW/GW if I were going that route.

I'd love to know how different the swingweight is

Do you think a difference in offset plays a factor for you too?

I am going to measure mine sometime in the next couple days. Need to get on my BLP this weekend and get some numbers to compare the 925 HM to my 921 Forged.

Anyone out there with these irons that can grab a swing weight? and shaft length measurement for me?

My HL's came in today and from 6i to GW they all measure roughly D3.5 which is getting pretty heavy feeling for me with the DG 95G Reg shaft. I typically do better in that D0-D2 range.

My buddy asked if I checked the lengths and I recall Mizuno saying they changed their way of measuring from end of shaft to end of grip now.. so they claimed the irons were the same length as last years 923's. I owned the 923 HL 6i and specs awas 37.5 and it measured 37.75" with grip on it. My 925 HL (ordered to stock length) is supposed to be 37.75 (should be to the end of the grip) and its measuring 38.0". So I am definitely seeing a 1/4" increase in the lengths between the old and new models. Blast you Mizuno !!!! lol

shortening them to last year's model (so a 1/4") would take off about 1.5 SW pts if my math is correct and would make them D2.

I was thinking they changed to measure them to the end of the shaft now and not the end of the grip.

 

[mikewohlwend]

Here are some pics of my old 921 Forged on the left and the 925 HM on the right. I need to find a new set of ferrules for the 925's

 

[Tywithay]

First round at home is in the books. Irons actually came to play today. Distance is still quite a bit down versus my previous set and I don’t know why, but I allowed for that and hit some really good shots today. Driver was a mess so I started hitting 5i off the tee on the back and only missed one fairway. Had two birdies on the back as well after great approach shots. I added 3g of lead to the heel on every club last night . I think it helped me out a ton. I hate the course we played and still managed a decent score after cleaning it up on the back. Might try to sneak in a morning round Saturday, but we'll see. I'll at least get on the range again.

 

[JB]

For those hitting the Hot Metal, can you discuss initial ball flight? I was seeing a nice high launch angle and curious if it’s just me

 

[erock9174]

I was thinking they changed to measure them to the end of the shaft now and not the end of the grip.

They did not specify what the change was, they only stated that they changed their way of measuring. Last year, I know that they measured to the end of the shaft and then the grip would add about a quarter inch depending on which type of grip you installed. so I assumed that they started measuring to the end of the grip and that’s what they changed their specs to, but I am still seeing it where you have to add a quarter of an inch to the specs to get the finish length of the club. Which makes them a quarter inch longer than last year‘s model. And Mizuno said that they kept them the same finished length which I am not seeing.

It’s only a quarter of an inch so it’s nothing too crazy but it does make a six iron play at a finish length of 38 inches compared to last year‘s models which were 37.75 inches

I am Just more sensitive to shaft length as I am only 5‘4“

 

[erock9174]

For those hitting the Hot Metal, can you discuss initial ball flight? I was seeing a nice high launch angle and curious if it’s just me

I am definitely seeing a high initial launch, and high overall peak height. But then again, I am also playing the HL model.

Just based off of the eye test, though, I believe they are actually flying higher than my old altitude irons

 

[Tywithay]

For those hitting the Hot Metal, can you discuss initial ball flight? I was seeing a nice high launch angle and curious if it’s just me

I was seeing a fairly high launch today when I struck it higher on the face. I usually live a groove or two low and it comes out lower, but was still peaking high. Of the handful that I landed on the green, everything stopped within a few feet. It's impressive to see the spin they can achieve with such strong lofts.