Each year golfers around the world are quick to buy the latest drivers to try anything to be longer and straighter off the tee than they were the year before. However the exact opposite is the case with golfers and their buying of iron sets. It seems that most players will purchase a set of irons and stick with them for quite some time. That can really lead to great things, because as you get more comfortable with irons and ball striking, scores will come down in most cases. I am no different than the average consumer because when it comes to testing irons, I have always struggled with the aspect of comparing them to my “broken in” set that I love so much.
When it comes to irons, no company has the overall respect it seems that Mizuno garners. The fans of their clubs and the people that play them regularly all say the same thing. “They feel better than anything else out on the market”. For years I have heard this very thing and for years I have struggled with Mizuno irons. It was never anything against the product, but they just did not work for me. I suppose for something like “feel” the golfer should have some kind of “touch”, and I have NONE or at least that is the way I describe my golf game. However recently The Hackers Paradise had the chance to review the Mizuno MX-700 driver and we were pretty happy with the results. As a person that had struggled with Mizuno irons, I struggled even more with their driver offerings. But one swing with the Mizuno MX-700 and I knew one thing was for sure. I could not wait to get a chance and try some of their new irons.
The Mizuno MX-200 irons arrived at our offices shortly after the completion of that review and as you can see from the picture above, they are extremely nice looking. I kept commenting to the others around the office that they are too nice looking to be played. Obviously it was my poor attempt at humor because the rest of the staff was just dying to try these out. Here is what Mizuno says about the MX-200 irons:
The new MX-200 irons with Y-tune technology are a quantum leap forward in forgiving, game improvement irons with the added benefit of unmistakeable Grain Flow Forged feel. Y-Tune technology successfully extends and expands the sweet area of the clubface out towards the toe to deliver amazing forgiveness on mis-hits. Through the use of a reengineered external power bar and inner Y-shaped cavity pad, the MX-200s are tuned for unbelievable forgiveness, great trajectory, and amazing feel. Further enhancing the forgiveness of the MX-200 is a slightly larger clubhead and the creation of a super-deep, milled pocket that creates a lower, deeper center of gravity, and delivers an easy, high launch. The MX-200 irons with Y-Tune Technology are unmatched in the industry for game improvement forgiveness and solid forged feel.
Armed with the new set of irons three of us THP’ers went out to the range and grabbed a few large bags of range balls. Each one of us warmed up with our normal clubs before making the switch to these irons. We found ourselves singing praise and not caring if we were talking in the middle of someone’s backswing. Our initial thoughts were consistent on three points about this set.
1. Softness and forgiving in the same club is very unique.
2. Confidence at setup of the club based on looks.
3. Feel at impact is not to be reckoned with. You almost feel NOTHING. (when struck well)
The next day I decided to give them a full round trial in my normal Wednesday morning group. Seeing them in the bag still is something to behold. I have never been one of those golfers that needs “thin this, or thick that” and appearance in irons has never really been my thing. But these were just different. Each time I pulled one out of the bag, confidence set in that I did not have before. But my love affair with the looks only goes so far, they still have to perform. On the course they performed even better than expected. They have a higher launch than I was used to and I liked it. The deep “pocket” in the cavity really brings down the center of gravity and it almost feels like the club swings itself. It took me about 3 holes to dial in the distance I was gaining from these clubs (about 5 yards per iron) and then it was as if a different golfer was out there playing.
Shot after shot the Mizuno MX-200 irons delivered. When I mishit a shot there was very little distance lost and the ball still flew straight. But more importantly than all that, was the fact that feedback was there as if I was playing a “Player’s Iron”. I knew why I mishit it and where I mishit it, without the bad shot dispersion I would have had with my normal iron set. More than any other feature, that was one that I was blown away by. The round concluded and I was even more impressed with the irons than from the range session. A 35 on the back nine did not hurt things that is for sure.
Over the next two weeks I played these irons for 6 rounds and each day I came away more and more impressed. I felt like for the first time since playing golf I found the perfect harmony between forgiveness and feel. Some may have an issue with the slightly bigger club head and slightly thicker top line than that of a “Players Club” but I had no issue with that whatsoever. It was as if these clubs were created to be “the wife” to my golf swing. Using clubs like these became effortless with each swing and I finally “got it”. For years golfers have been telling me that Mizuno Irons “just feel different than other clubs”. But as I mentioned previously, they just did not work for me. Until Now. It clicked and I understood exactly what everybody had been telling me all this time.
Over the next two weeks we brought these irons out to a large public range to have players of all skill levels hit them. It is one thing to get my opinion but here at THP we like to get the opinions of others as well. We were able to get 16 people to give the MX-200’s a test drive. Each golfer was able to hit 20 balls with the Mizunos and compare them to their current setup. 14 of the 16 golfers preferred the Mizuno irons to what they were currently playing. The quotes we were getting were similar to our experience as well.
“Distance wise they are longer than my current setup”
“The club seems to swing itself and at impact its effortless”
“The ball gets up and I like the ball flight”
Overall the Mizuno MX-200 irons were better than advertised. As a golfer I am constantly searching for that feel that I remember getting with my first great shot I had ever hit about 20 years ago. The first time I struck these irons well it brought me back to that day. To find a game improvement iron that feels this good is something special and does not come around very often in the eyes of this reviewer. These irons are not perfect for every golfer out there, however if you are in the market for new irons, I strongly urge that you give the Mizuno MX-200 irons a try.
The set we reviewed came in 4-GW with S300 steel shafts and has a “street price” of $699. For more information on these irons such as shaft offerings, grips, and even a short video explaining much more, check out their website at Mizuno MX-200 Irons.
Till Next Time
Josh B
Mizuno has always made beautiful irons. These stick sound great. Nice review JB.
I’m glad I am set for my irons for a while or I would want to try these out. (So is my wife, because she wouldn’t want me to spend the money!)
Very cool. I just bought this set of irons a couple of weeks ago and wanted to see what others thought about them because I love them so much.
Great review! I have never really been one to say a club “looks nice” but these really are sharp looking! This was a great read JB!
Excellent review, this iron set is at the top of my list when it is time to replace my irons. The plan is to wait until after this season, if I can. Thanks THP for making that decision much harder.
very nice review. thank you. i love the looks of these irons and i really like ths grind on the soles. i would love to game a set of these
I am going to find the first demo day I can find and hit these.
Really like the look of these. I use older Mizuno clubs but may have to find some of these to try out.
Love everything I read here. Like the reviewer I have never seen the fascination with Mizuno irons. But I will give these a try.
Nice work! I play the MX 23s, and instantly fell in love with them the first time I tried them. Glad to here the Mizuno magic came through for you with these.
I play them with nippon nspro 950 shafts and they are one of the best playing and feeling irons for my game. From a cosmetic point of view I removed the blue stickers and they look much better.
Awesome reading. I have been eyeing these for quite some time now and this might have put me over the edge.
I loved the review!! Now you know why I love my MP-57s so much. I would really really like to try out the new Mizuno line sometime as well. I am with you JB, before I tested and ultimately decided on my Mizuno irons I wasn’t completely sold like those other die hard Mizuno guys.
So are the MX-200s going to find their way into your bag permanently at some point?!?
I would love to try these! I’ll keep my eyes open for an opportunity to do so in my area. That’s so much for your very detailed review.
I hit these when you first put the pics out before the review. Oh goodness. I need to hit the X-22’s it’ll be these or those.
Good review JB.
I just orderd my custom set of MX200, very excited. I went for 3 hrs today to try all different irons out. Started out with the X22, Burners, Cobra SZ, Ping G10, Cleaveland hi bore. Well i broke it down to the Taylor Made Burners and MX200, after another 50 balls for each the mx200 felt alot better and more consistant.
Burners went alot further but spread out more with less feel. I got them custom fix add 1/2 inch length and 1 degree up with a mid grip on the steel shaft. Very impressed , i won’t hessitate to recommend them.
Great review! After 10 years of searching for a replacement set of irons for my beloved Ping Eye 2 Beryllium Irons I finally found it with the MX-200’s. I just could not find a set that was as nice looking, feeling, consistent and gave me as much confidence as my old school Pings. These Mizuno’s are the real deal. They feel like butter when hit and make you feel like you own the course. Best all around irons every hit – and I have tried a lot.
I was custom fit for the MX 200 irons with the Dynalite XP Stiff shaft, but when I received my clubs they were Regular shafts, rather than stiff. I am having one heck of a time hitting these irons, compared to my Titleist 990 Muscle Backs with Dynamic Gold Stiff shafts.
Even took a lesson. These irons are very difficult for me to hit. Going to see a Professional Cub Maker to see if these shafts are wrong for me. Something is obviously wrong.
I hit at least a hundred golf balls during the fitting and they felt great with a terrific shot pattern with a 6 iron. So far can’t figure out what is wrong. I just assumed it was me, but now I’m not sure.
I just got custom fitted for the MX 200 a few weeks ago. 4 degrees flat with 2 degree strong on the loft with Dynamic Gold R300 for the shaft. What a great club. I came in to have my Taylor Made LT’s bent 4 degrees flat and the golf shop was a little afraid to bend cast clubs that much so they suggested the MX 200 irons and I am glad I made the decision to buy them. I have such a better trajectory with these clubs bent to the right fitting and they are sweet to feel. I really have to screw up to mis-hit a ball. I like to work my 7 through PW a little and this club gives me the opportunity to do that. That’s why I went to the LT’s to start with. I wanted workability with forgiveness and now I have found just as much workability with even more forgiveness.
For a beginning golfer shooting low to mid 90’s, would these be better than the Mx-100’s?
Drop me a line, hcp 22 same issue, want clubs for midterm improvement and dislike these hxbrid irons 950. So, who knows how these works?
I was in the market for some irons I could grow into. I am about a 12 handicap and wanted some irons that would still work for me as my game improved. I think that these are the irons. I tried about 6 different brands at a local golf shop with an outdoor range and kept coming back to the MX 200’s. They felt like butter every time! Hopefully these sticks will get me to single digits!
Have tried a number of irons recently Callaway x 22, Nike full Cavity VR ,Mizuno MX 200 ,Burner,narrowed it down to first three went back and hit 5 and 6 irons of the three and have just ordered Mizunos 1/4 longer 2deg up and mid size grip sweet contact consistant hit and very forgiving
Just picked up my set of MX-200s on Saturday after being fit with the new Mizuno system. Got them in men’s Dynamic Gold Superlite steel shaft, regular flex (I play men’s senior flex in my driver, fairway woods and hybrid.) Went to my home course on Sunday and shot the round of my life. The control was unreal, even when I mishit, and the feel was incredible. Never thought I’d play Mizunos but now I understand their rabid fans. Someone is going to have to rip these things from my cold, dead hand before I’d switch to anything else.
I just bought my MIZ 200s ..tense tense , going to play soon
Have about 15 rounds on these irons and they are great to play with. If you’re looking for a game improvement iron that is also forged you should put these on your short list to try.
When hit flush you simply don’t even feel the ball, the feedback is immediate and the trajectory is perfect. I simply try to hit my irons straight and when struck well the ball doesn’t move off of its line an inch. The 50* gap wedge is very flexible around the greens for high pitches or bump n runs.
Classy looking irons that have made the game more enjoyable for me. Now I know what the famous Mizuno “feel” is all about. It’s legit.
I game these now, and have never been happier with irons, I don’t see these going anywhere for awhile. U nailed the review JB