Over the last four years, Mizuno has continued to grow its market share in irons, and that rests squarely on the evolution they have implemented through their JPX and Mizuno Pro lines. We all know Mizuno is a brand which prides itself on its lineage, and they are incredibly aware of staying true to what got them here, part of that is thanks to their willingness to do self-checks. Many times, that reflection leads to adjustments to the formula, and today is the debut of one of those tweaks. Introducing the Mizuno Pro S-3 Irons.
The Growth of Mizuno Pro
For many years we all knew the Mizuno Pro (MP here stateside) lineup as being driven by classic and clean cavity-back as well as muscle-back irons. It was a shift in JPX and the creation of the JPX Tour which provided the opportunity for a change in Mizuno Pro as well. This allowed Mizuno to expand beyond those classic designs with the implementation advanced materials and forgiveness across multiple designs within each cycle.
While that has been a smashing success for Mizuno, upon them taking a step back and surveying things, it led to the realization that perhaps in the arms race currently unfolding in irons, they had underserved a segment. In fact, it goes beyond that to the realization that the entire iron market has done the same to an extent. What group? Well, the elite amateur and Tour Staff type player.
Historically, no iron manufacturer has served those skillsets better than Mizuno Golf. Today marks a reminder to the world of that. No, the Mizuno Pro 24x style iron lineups are not going away, so rest easy there. Instead, a new family is coming under the Mizuno Pro umbrella, one that is built on purity and roots. A family designed not about forgiveness or volume, but instead built on classic Mizuno one-piece forged design and limited quantities with longer lifecycles.
Today marks the official debut of the Mizuno Pro S irons, also known going forward as the “Signature Series”. Is there a better way to kick it off a new series from Mizuno than a pure one-piece split cavity iron?
Say hello to the Mizuno Pro S-3 Irons.
Mizuno Pro S-3 Irons
This is truly an exciting release for Mizuno. As the first iron design under the Mizuno Pro S family, these might be the perfect mix of precision, nostalgia, and modern elegance ever. The move to create another true one-piece cavity design which will appeal to both Tour Staff as well as elite amateurs is about providing an option for those players, yes, but also as a starting point to building out the entire Signature Series. These irons will not be a mass produced one-cycle design, they will instead have a long lifespan and limited quantities.
Look, these types of irons are not for the masses, but for those of us who do prefer a one-piece forged players cavity back design, seeing a brand like Mizuno recognize a gap in their products and address that is a thrilling thing. The reality is that irons are not one-size fits all, so with the S family, Mizuno is looking to build in more options for those niche players over time.
The S-3 Package
The Mizuno Pro S-3 is kicking it off as a very straight line type of shaping that is built off of the JPX Tour chassis and worked into a showcase of Mizuno craftsmanship. These are small irons with minimal offset and a thin topline. At first glance, the split cavity look may make some think back to the MP20 CB’s, but these are notably more compact than those, especially from heel to toe. The split cavity is key in not only moving weight to the perimeter, but also impacting the sound and feel which Mizuno Pro is known for.
The Mizuno Pro S-3 irons are forged from a single billet of 1025E mild carbon steel in Hiroshima, Japan. Yes, they are Grain Flow Forged HD (high density) designs which feature a copper underlay between the carbon design and white satin brushed nickel chrome outer. When you bring these things together with the split-cavity shape and Mizuno’s HIT (Harmonic Impact Technology) testing, the result is a feedback which is lower and more dense to the ear than the 923 Tour irons, living up to the expectations of an extremely soft feel for Mizuno Pro.
Every curve and radius on the S-3 is intentional, and there has been significant work done on the sole. Obviously, these are very thin soled irons given their intended audience, but Mizuno has built into them a “Triple Cut Sole”. This features a hard-cut trailing edge which is wedge inspired to help improved turf exits, while the beveled leading edge has a higher bounce (1 degree more through set than 241 irons) to enter more cleanly while resisting digging. These traits along with the optimized geometry means an iron built for precision and accuracy without sacrificing workability.
Mizuno Pro S-3 Standard Specs
The Details
You can clearly see that the Mizuno Pro S-3 irons are nothing short of a work of art, and perhaps the perfect way to debut the Signature Series to the world. The irons will be available in 3-PW sets for both RH and LH golfers, and at standard they will come with Project X 6.0 steel shafts and Golf Pride MCC Black-Grey grips. They will be priced at $200.00 per club.
For more information head to their website at www.mizunogolf.com.
