When it comes to metalwoods, Mizuno Golf has been on a four year journey which began with the company’s realization that in order to truly stand toe-to-toe with the segment leaders they needed one thing first and foremost, Speed.
That is where “Speed Technology” began, hence the ST moniker which has been attached to each and every release since the ST-190 in 2019. Just how far has the brand come since then? If you have hit the last two releases, then you know it is leaps and bounds as opposed to incremental gains as the company is demanding attention now, both among amateurs and Tour players.
According to Mizuno Golf, however, we haven’t seen anything like the new ST-230’s.
Mizuno Golf ST-230 Drivers
When first looking at images of the new ST-230 offerings you might be asking yourself, what is so different? That might be the one place where there isn’t an eye-catching change. You see, for the third release in a row, Mizuno is sticking with the black crown which fades from a solid finish that fades to the center which showcases the carbon crown. Frankly, it is a look that not only works for them, but it has become recognizable, especially when the RunBird is showcased as the alignment aid.
So, what is the difference? While the initial inclination is for me to tell you “Everything”, a deeper dive than that is necessary.
While “Speed Technology” has been the driving force, Mizuno has been meticulous at ensuring stability remains part of that equation. With the ST-230 series of drivers there has been a more strategic implementation of carbon, particularly on the singular solid sole plate which they are calling the Unified Sole Composite. That design has allowed considerable shifting to the perimeter as well as more strategic placement of the weight port. Additionally, the faces are constructed of forged SAT 2041 Beta-Ti which have been intricately designed to optimize speed and spin retention in places where golfers tend to battle common misses.
The face also benefits from the marquee tech story of the ST-230 lineup which they are calling CORTECH. Looking at the sole of the club, Mizuno is showcasing this new technology with a powerful and aggressive blue finish that absolutely stands out in the best way possible. That section is the actual CORTECH Chamber itself, an elastomeric TPU material, but with a secret. You see, there is a stainless-steel weight suspended within the TPU.
Design wise, according to Mizuno, this has multiple purposes. First, steel is more dense than titanium so using a weight gets more mass closer to the face for both spin and speed impacts when it comes to CG and energy transfer. Second, while the TPU not only has a dampening effect for sound (feel) and absorbing stress from the clubface, with the suspended weight it also serves as an additional source of energy. As the TPU material compresses and rebounds through impact it also allows the weight to move rearward, and then back forward contributing to energy being transferred back to the ball at impact.
In my many years of doing this, CORTECH, on paper, is one of the most unique outside the box ideas I have seen. According to Mizuno this has dramatically increased the size of area on the clubface which spin and speed is positively impacted as well as retained. Not only that, the company is also touting that the material and design changes have allowed them to find a sound (feel) feedback that is much more in line with the current trends than their previous models.
There are three initial drivers in the ST-230 lineup this year: The ST-Z 230, ST-X 230, and ST-X PLTNM 230.
Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver
In the 230 release, the ST-Z remains much of what the model has been known for. It is a nice, subtle, pair shape which sits square to slightly open. Interestingly, the head is not as tall in the X which aids in the drivers low-mid spin profile. The head also has a balanced sole composite shape which allows for very neutral weight placement in the head that also encourages stability. Compared to the 220, Mizuno’s testing has shown up to 3 MPH more speed while dropping spin rate around 200 RPM.
The ST-Z 230 will be available in 9.5 and 10.5 degree heads with the 9.5 also being available in LH. Mizuno’s Quick Switch adapter will also allow for 4 degrees of total adjustability.
Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver
The X is perhaps the most misunderstood driver in Mizuno’s lineup. Because the head uses a sole composite shaping which lends it to placing weight slightly more towards the hosel, it does have a natural draw tendency to it. That said, Mizuno is adamant that they are seeing many elite players who enjoy working the golf ball fit into the ST-X as the weight nearer the shaft axis has shown to allow for workability as much as it can also offer some draw bias. A big lynchpin to that is which loft is being selected.
The X also has a more rounded look to it as well as a taller overall face that makes the club sit extremely neutral. The ST-X 230 drivers will be available in 9.5, 10.5, and 12.0 degree options with the 10.5 also being available in LH. Like the ST-Z, the X also uses the Quick Switch adapter for 4 degrees of adjustment options.
Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver
The PLTNM is Mizuno’s answer to the super lightweight segment, essentially bringing their J-Spec model over to have something for everyone, including those with moderate to slower swing speeds. Design wise, the PLTNM is identical to the ST-X 230 with the exception that Mizuno has managed to make it 30 grams lighter than any possible custom option on the standard version. Utilizing a UST Mamiya Helium Platinum shaft ultra-light grip, this is the setup focused on maximizing speed and launch.
The ST-X PLTNM 230 will be available in RH only in 10.5 and 12.0 degree options which will still use the Quick Switch adapter system.
The Details
Mizuno’s new ST-230 lineup of drivers will be available in February 2023. The ST-X and ST-Z will be priced at $499.95 and the PLTNM at $549.99. Standard shaft offerings in the main two models will be the Mitsubishi Kai’Li Blue, Project X HZRDUS Smoke RDX Green and UST Mamiya LIN-Q Red. As always, Mizuno will have a number of shafts available in fitting carts to go along with their Shaft Optimizer.
Is Mizuno poised to hit all the marks with the new ST-230 drivers? Is this the year you try one? Jump in and discuss with us in the comments below or on the THP Community!
[QUOTE=”ArmyGolf, post: 11272555, member: 11776″]
Yeah great point.
In that sense Mizuno seems to have something pretty unique here.
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Depends on how its viewed. Not speaking specifically to this driver, as its very good, but many drivers can set up neutral and have more weight in the heel. Be it with a sliding mechanism or moveable weights with heavier options.
[QUOTE=”templeton80, post: 11283782, member: 53139″]
Is that your custom project x shaft?
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It is indeed. The 1 of a kind legend itself. Hahaha
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 11283786, member: 10545″]
That’s a strong statement for stability, considering how good everything seems to be across all the brands this year.
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It really is, and with the four I have in my bag right now (yes, four drivers lmao) they all do it different, but so damn well.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 11283788, member: 1579″]
It really is, and with the four I have in my bag right now (yes, four drivers lmao) they all do it different, but so damn well.
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Love it. Last I checked, the stores here don’t have the 230 line, which is too bad because I’m wanting to test it out.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 11283783, member: 1579″]
It is indeed. The 1 of a kind legend itself. Hahaha
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What a great and special thing to have..
[QUOTE=”Jeff Spicoli, post: 11283805, member: 10545″]
Love it. Last I checked, the stores here don’t have the 230 line, which is too bad because I’m wanting to test it out.
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I’m really curious for people to hit them. The sound is…excellent. I will say though, you miss heel side, you know audibly, at least that’s what I’m told hahaha
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 11283814, member: 1193″]
That looks really, really good.
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I think you would really dig this one Hawk, for a lot of reasons.
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 11283817, member: 1579″]
I think you would really dig this one Hawk, for a lot of reasons.
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I think I would too. Too many of the forgiving heads have draw bias built into them.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 11283818, member: 1193″]
I think I would too. Too many of the forgiving heads have draw bias built into them.
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Agreed, and I’m going to loft this one down today and really try to see what [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] was talking about with it, put that workability to the test!
[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 11283828, member: 1579″]
Agreed, and I’m going to loft this one down today and really try to see what [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] was talking about with it, put that workability to the test!
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Snap a pic at address after you do that. I love a slightly flared toe with driver.
I know you’ll get there eventually [USER=1579]@Jman[/USER] , but curious to see numbers for you compared to the other 3 you have in the bag. Still haven’t seen these in the wild yet, but was told sometime mid to late month they’ll be in for swings.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 11283831, member: 1193″]
Snap a pic at address after you do that. I love a slightly flared toe with driver.
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Just because I love you.
[QUOTE=”jlew2144, post: 11283833, member: 40346″]
I know you’ll get there eventually [USER=1579]@Jman[/USER] , but curious to see numbers for you compared to the other 3 you have in the bag. Still haven’t seen these in the wild yet, but was told sometime mid to late month they’ll be in for swings.
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I don’t know that I’ll do a head to head charted comparison because I’m not a huge fan of it when doing a review. That said, I can tell you that for spin rates from low to high it is TD, TSR4, Aero LS, then this, BUT, the span is only about 350-400 RPM on average.
That span between 4 drivers is really something. Wonder where a TM driver would rate in spin, only due to different materials.
I assume 350 ish spin rate differences are negligible?
[QUOTE=”JW Smoove, post: 11283870, member: 63219″]
That span between 4 drivers is really something. Wonder where a TM driver would rate in spin, only due to different materials.
I assume 350 ish spin rate differences are negligible?
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It just depends. The 230X has a higher baseline for me so far but also the ceiling is really low. Meaning it doesn’t spin up much and also won’t bottom out, that means MASSIVE consistency. The launch with the 2500 range spin is pretty freaking excellent, this week I’m diving in hard on SPEED though. I think it’ll hang, and then some.
Good stuff James. I know it’s not a left favorable club (?) but, if one’s miss is left is this likely to amplify that miss?
[QUOTE=”JW Smoove, post: 11283879, member: 63219″]
Good stuff James. I know it’s not a left favorable club (?) but, if one’s miss is left is this likely to amplify that miss?
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No more than any other driver imo. It’s got some internal bias, but it’s not as much as people think, it’s why I’m really happy to see Mizuno try to get that message across this year.
Saw a note that these should be out around the 23rd of this month. Believe that gets me to a point where everything I want to hit will be out and I look forward to getting a chance to go hit them.
Got some more swings on this before two straight days of nothing but depressing to my core, rain.
This is much more in line with what made me blown away by Mizuno and the ST line two cycles ago, enough so that I played the first ST-X for a full season. I went for the 220 Z last year and it was just not the same, the pop wasn’t there for me and the spin was up as well, by a solid amount.
Back to the X for this 230 review I’m working on and thusfar, things are as I hoped they would be. The setup at address on the X is dead neutral, and I do mean neutral. More than that, even in the 10.5 head the spin is in a good spot, back close to where the original ST-X was for me. But speed, this one was true speed potential, and that has impressed me most about CORTECH, not only is it a more solid feel/sound now because of it, but thus far the data is showing it does what Mizuno claims it to. The speed is on par with everything else ive hit so far for 2023.
Just ordered a 230 Z in 9.5 degrees. The Downs Driving Range in Tampa was having Golfest today with many vendors present. Dan the rep from Mizuno spent over a hour fitting me and was a true professional. Now the hard part of waiting 2 to 3 weeks before it arrives begins.
[QUOTE=”LeftJeffTampa, post: 11298292, member: 70682″]
Just ordered a 230 Z in 9.5 degrees. The Downs Driving Range in Tampa was having Golfest today with many vendors present. Dan the rep from Mizuno spent over a hour fitting me and was a true professional. Now the hard part of waiting 2 to 3 weeks before it arrives begins.
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How did it compare to your gamer and any other drivers your may have test driven?
[QUOTE=”JW Smoove, post: 11298787, member: 63219″]
How did it compare to your gamer and any other drivers your may have test driven?
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Coming from a ST-Z 220. Was impressed by reviews on You Tube, etc. Did not try other clubs.
[QUOTE=”LeftJeffTampa, post: 11305364, member: 70682″]
Coming from a ST-Z 220. Was impressed by reviews on You Tube, etc. Did not try other clubs.
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Even better, as I’m currenly gaming the z220, so was it strictly distance or accuracy or both… Big gains?
[QUOTE=”JW Smoove, post: 11305373, member: 63219″]
Even better, as I’m currenly gaming the z220, so was it strictly distance or accuracy or both… Big gains?
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Both, longer and straighter.
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[QUOTE=”Jman, post: 11307913, member: 1579″]
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Low spin and long, right there:love:
[QUOTE=”Golfever, post: 11307964, member: 11044″]
Low spin and long, right there:love:
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It was well struck, the head launches really well at standard loft, I need to turn it down and see what I can get up to.
This is however the driver line I’ve hoped to see from Mizuno, they want to go, and go pretty easily.
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Actually got to put some swings on this one today. They look so much better in person, and I was one who thought the stock images looked great already.
Now my swing is a dumpster fire having not swung a club in 4 months, but I saw some really really good ball speed with this. They didn’t have the shaft I wanted to try, so had something a little too light for my taste in the 10 head. On well struck shots I was seeing ball speeds in the low 150’s on average and poorly struck were still playable and in the high 140’s. I think with a proper fitting this thing could be deadly. (If memory serves my SZ properly fitted maxed out around 148-149)
Going to try to find another store this weekend with these in stock to try to get a couple swings in.
I should be swinging both models at my fitting tomorrow.
[QUOTE=”AuzzieMatt, post: 11395709, member: 54652″]
I should be swinging both models at my fitting tomorrow.
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Looking forward to your review if you have one. Mine should ship (according to the retailer) tomorrow (which they claim was given to them by Mizuno).
I blame THP on several levels for the fact that I feel like I probably need to buy one since I have Mizuno tees.
IT’S HERE!!! Mine just arrived this AM. Am very happy and eager to hit it. Maybe visit a range Sunday – Saturday is explore SC with my wife day, and today is work and gym.
HAPPY FRIDAY!!
[QUOTE=”JW Smoove, post: 11396336, member: 63219″]
IT’S HERE!!! Mine just arrived this AM. Am very happy and eager to hit it. Maybe visit a range Sunday – Saturday is explore SC with my wife day, and today is work and gym.
HAPPY FRIDAY!!
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Appreciate the feedback you provided in the other thread. Glad to hear that this thing produced solid results for you.
What shaft did you end up going with?
I’m going to try to get to a store this weekend to hit, I’m just leery about pulling the trigger this early in my season where the swing is a dumpster fire. I got a chance to hit the Z a few weekends back, but they didn’t have the smoke green to test so wasn’t really a fair test at all.
I went with the Lin-Q Red 60 Regular. I still have a tendency to pull drives – so the slightly heavier shaft may help in the regard. This was the reason the X head did not work – it’s NOT hook machine by any means, but if you already struggle with left side, it may not be a great fit.
I see that the the Mizuno driver specification for length is 45” vs the 45.75” of say Paradym and Stealth.
Are you folks ordering it with a longer shaft? Does that shaft length difference really matter? How would it play with say a 45.5” length shaft? Mess up the swingweight?
[QUOTE=”vintagebob, post: 11415960, member: 63125″]
I see that the the Mizuno driver specification for length is 45” vs the 45.75” of say Paradym and Stealth.
Are you folks ordering it with a longer shaft? Does that shaft length difference really matter? How would it play with say a 45.5” length shaft? Mess up the swingweight?
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Every 1/2 longer the swing weight should go up 3 points by rule of thumb. Likely more club head speed from longer lever as well.
As much as I love the hybrid from this line, the driver would be getting some strong consideration if my driver wasn’t new.
I ordered at stock length, as my fitting used the Mizuno stock length shaft. The data showed it to have more ball speed (however small it may have been), and maintained the same accuracy level compared to the old driver (also Mizuno). I may at some point put a longer shaft in to see what happens – but not racing or worrying about that yet.
I wonder how spin may be affected with longer shafts – any discernible changes when one goes to a longer shaft?
The 2H flat out works. I can’t wait till the 4H arrives.
First hole yesterday was a very well protected short par 4: 310 yards with OB 10 yards left of green up a bank into a long but narrow green with water on the right and a huge oak tree protecting front right of the green. Higher branches. 2H off tee left me 40 yards into a really poorly kept green, wedged to 5 feet and it was not really puttable.
I hit this club just about as far as my driver.
I need to try this one out… everything about the ST-Z 230 is what I look for in a driver…while I like the E722…my eyes have started to wander this season ? ????
[QUOTE=”The Dave, post: 11491566, member: 19474″]
I need to try this one out… everything about the ST-Z 230 is what I look for in a driver…while I like the E722…my eyes have started to wander this season ? ????
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That’s crazy talk…repent! ?
[QUOTE=”The Dave, post: 11491566, member: 19474″]
I need to try this one out… everything about the ST-Z 230 is what I look for in a driver…while I like the E722…my eyes have started to wander this season ? ????
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[USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] and the rest of the Mizuno staff knocked it out of the park with these.
Joined the club today as I found a pretty good steal locally on a used one with the shaft I would have ordered myself. Not sure when it will get out, hopefully this weekend, but for sure Tuesday.
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First round for the STZ and at least initially we are getting along.
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I will say that I let off the gas a bit on quite a few of these where 240 and in the fairway was better than 265 and in the rough, so I grooved a nice light swing.
Coming from my Cobra this one is similar distance wise but if I hit 10/14 fairways every round I will gladly give up a few yards here and there.
League night on Tuesday and then another round Saturday – hopefully this trend continues.
Finally going to get the Z out of today too. Have had other priorities but testing it back when was good. Should be fun.
Hit this one in the bay over the weekend. The sound was really good and the X allowed me to square the face well.
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[QUOTE=”JB, post: 11510017, member: 3″]
[MEDIA=instagram]CsTnMvbvAbi[/MEDIA]
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I’ve not tried the hulk shaft personally, but profile wise I’d say it would allow me to be much more aggressive than what I really need to be. ??
The blue that I’m playing right now has been nice thus far- Out of curiosity are you going to try it out this week?
League night tonight and found a bit of the rights but still hit 3/6 fairways that I used it- again I will take 50% of my fairways. What I found though was some distance that I hadn’t seen in the previous round. Averaged 275 over the course of the round, which while a small sample size is about 15 yards longer than my smart average with SZ.
May be able to sneak out for another 9 this week, but will be back in play Saturday for my weekend round. So far so good with the STZ.