New Mizuno drivers are hitting stores soon and we got a chance to put them to the test in the THP Tech Studio. The latest iteration represents the culmination of the company’s 3-year, rapid-fire driver development project.
Before jumping into the video and testing, we want to mention one of the more fascinating aspects of the drivers, the new SAT2041 Beta Ti face. What does that mean? SAT2041 stands for Super / Alloy / Titanium / 20% Vanadium / 4% Aluminium / 1% tin and it offers 17% more tensile strength and 8% more flexibility than traditional 6-4Ti. In other words, stronger and faster than previous offerings.
“Most of our ST200 tour feedback was on the sensory side, a desire for a sound our players generally described as solid or dense,” said Chris Voshall from Mizuno. “We spent the next year working on improving feedback, hand in hand with releasing the additional ball speed we knew was left in our SAT2041 Beta Ti face.”
Unlike many videos which feature us testing the equipment, we figured we would do something a bit different today. We brought Chris Voshall into the Tech Studio and had him put both heads to the test and discuss not only the differences between the new ST-X and ST-Z drivers, but also the changes made from the last release…all while he hits balls in our hitting bay so you can see the ball flight and hear the impact sound. Watch the Mizuno ST-X and ST-Z Driver Review below.
Mizuno ST-X and ST-Z Driver Review
Shaft options are aplenty for those looking for choices. The ST-Z standard shafts are Project X EvenFlow Riptide or HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX as well as a Fujikura Motore X. Switching to the ST-X the options are the same EvenFlow RipTide from Project X or Motore X as well as a light weight Mizuno option called MFusion. All of which will be available in the fitting matrix software called the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer 3D you can find at retailers.
The Details
In Stores: February 2021
Cost: $400
Shafts: See above
? price. Classy looks.
Vosh is really really good at explaining tech simply.
They look very nice, great price and awesome shaft options.
Those look very nice. Great tech talk by Vosh. The sound from the video really sounds nice. So many good options out!
Very nice review – like that action on the “X” head.
These drivers sound fantastic and what a great price!
I think I lean towards the X head but both are pretty darn good. They sound good. The price point is fantastic and having [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] take the swings was fun to watch.
They’ve made a good looking driver. The price is right and Voshall was getting some good numbers out of them as well. I’d be curious where the ball speeds are in relation to the others out there because based on the hits, he was getting it out there plenty.
[QUOTE=”mikeg_74, post: 9777452, member: 15992″]
They’ve made a good looking driver. The price is right and Voshall was getting some good numbers out of them as well. I’d be curious where the ball speeds are in relation to the others out there because based on the hits, he was getting it out there plenty.
[/QUOTE]
Speaking to him about this right when the camera went off, he was talking about getting a bit more speed out of this head. He didn’t give a number, but it hung with most we threw it up against this week.
Very fun Vid. Vosh has a solid swing..
Great review [USER=2320]@Canadan[/USER] and [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] ! Love the way Mizuno is pushing the envelope with their metallurgy to develop faster and stronger faces all while fine tuning the sound.
Nice looking drivers, the price should really allow them to get consideration where others might not have before. Like how they emphasize the metals used in there products just like in the irons.
Great video Dan and Vosh
That price!!! Wow.
Sound was great too – not that I’m a sound guy
Great video! [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] does a tremendous job explaining the designs and tech involved.
Sound isn’t that important to me. In any event, this looks like a very good Driver at very good price.
Have to watch this one tonight at home. Have never tried a Mizuno driver.
[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]Great video!! [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] did a great job (as expected) as breaking down the driver heads. I am really interested in the X, but I want to try both of them. They look great, the price is fantastic and the shaft offerings are amazing. The local fitter is a Mizuno top 100 and I am going to have to get in to see him and give these a test drive. [/COLOR]
I feel like we got absolutely spoiled having [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] hit the product and walk us through the lineup.
Not only does he have a great move, but you can also clearly see the performance aspects of the two heads go to work as he transitions.
will be watching this soon! and that price is amazing.
These drivers look great, well done Mizuno! Always love to see a lower price as well.
Caught it at the end of the video, may have missed it earlier, Vosh said that they have the lighter weight in and can swap with the heavier weight to help with fittings, as a tinkerer will they offer a weight kit or weights separately for purchase?
[QUOTE=”Canadan, post: 9777575, member: 2320″]
I feel like we got absolutely spoiled having [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] hit the product and walk us through the lineup.
Not only does he have a great move, but you can also clearly see the performance aspects of the two heads go to work as he transitions.
[/QUOTE]
Dan, would you say the X would be better for a slice swinger versus the “zed”? 😉
[QUOTE=”OITW, post: 9777585, member: 20929″]
Caught it at the end of the video, may have missed it earlier, Vosh said that they have the lighter weight in and can swap with the heavier weight to help with fittings, as a tinkerer will they offer a weight kit or weights separately for purchase?
[/QUOTE]
As of now I do not believe so.
[QUOTE=”Turtlerancher, post: 9777592, member: 54011″]
Dan, would you say the X would be better for a slice swinger versus the “zed”? 😉
[/QUOTE]
STx is your play. Slightly lower spin, slight change in the face to be less open.
Definitely the play.
These drivers really surprised me. Not only do they look and sound great that price is fantastic considering the competitors pricing. If the performance is there how can you not take a look at Mizuno?
[QUOTE=”Canadan, post: 9777610, member: 2320″]
STx is your play. Slightly lower spin, slight change in the face to be less open.
Definitely the play.
[/QUOTE]
Which model would you recommend I look at first?
[QUOTE=”jdtox, post: 9777614, member: 5944″]
These drivers really surprised me. Not only do they look and sound great that price is fantastic considering the competitors pricing. If the performance is there how can you not take a look at Mizuno?
[/QUOTE]
I still can’t believe the $400 price tag, $130 less than some of the other OEMs is mind bottling
[QUOTE=”Canadan, post: 9777610, member: 2320″]
STx is your play. Slightly lower spin, slight change in the face to be less open.
Definitely the play.
[/QUOTE]
Hmm, now starts the 3 month battle in my head of BB21 or ST-X this spring? ?
[QUOTE=”OITW, post: 9777615, member: 20929″]
Which model would you recommend I look at first?
[/QUOTE]
The beauty of these heads is how much they will perform for each individual is a fit based discussion.
You saw how comfy Vosh was in the video hitting the STz, and when he switched to the x, his starting point changed with it. Not because it’s a bad head, it’s just a personal preference on look I bet.
STx – Slightly less spin. Weight pushed into the heel a bit will support that face angle driving in neutral or a bit closed.
STz – Supporting that slight fade. Weight dead neutral in the back.
[QUOTE=”Canadan, post: 9777628, member: 2320″]
The beauty of these heads is how much they will perform for each individual is a fit based discussion.
[B]You saw how comfy Vosh was in the video hitting the STz, and when he switched to the x, his starting point changed with it. Not because it’s a bad head, it’s just a personal preference on look I bet.[/B]
STx – Slightly less spin. Weight pushed into the heel a bit will support that face angle driving in neutral or a bit closed.
STz – Supporting that slight fade. Weight dead neutral in the back.
[/QUOTE]
Yup, I chalked that up to him being a superior swinger of the golf club than my hack self hahaha
Promising sound and excellent pricing.
Haven’t gamed a Mizuno driver since the MP-001 around 2005. I will demo this one – the non-draw biased.
Very interesting. Havent had a Mizuno driver since the “Mighty Big”…
Ok just aged myself!
I played the ST190 driver for over a year until the B21 took its spot. Mizuno has great drivers, truthfully every manufacturer has good drivers these days.
Really looking for a driver with more of a fade bias. That STZ looks like a winner!
wonder if these will be shafted up soon. :unsure:
Really like the looks of these, gotta stay out of this thread though and trust the b21. If I had to choose I’d go with the X and put it against what I got. I may stop out to the country club since they have mizuno stuff and give it a try for grins.
I really want an X
Very cool. I loved the ST190. Gonna really try to get out and hit these when they hit my local store.
Great review and I agree – Vosh really does a good job of clearly breaking down club tech.
Really good video and descriptions between the two. How one would get zed out of Z is beyond my visual ears. Well done fellas.
Looks like he was using Ventus instead of one of the stock offerings? I’m amazed at how that shaft has kinda’ taken over golf at this point. Seems everyone and their mother is using it these days. I have played Miz irons for years and would love to put the driver in as well. Thanks for the great vid keep it up!!
[QUOTE=”golfandpuff, post: 9777966, member: 4609″]
Looks like he was using Ventus instead of one of the stock offerings? I’m amazed at how that shaft has kinda’ taken over golf at this point. Seems everyone and their mother is using it these days. I have played Miz irons for years and would love to put the driver in as well. Thanks for the great vid keep it up!!
[/QUOTE]
A number of shafts were used this week during the THP Showcase. Graphite Design AD HD was one that was well enjoyed in this head by just about everybody that tried it.
I’m really eager to try one or both of these during my fitting next month.
Price has my attention in a big way. ST-Z. I avoid draw bias like the plague, so no to the the X. I know the RDX smoke black can be a good shaft for me. Will have to see what kind of ball speeds, launch, and spin I get.
Fun to watch [USER=54609]@Vosh68[/USER] hit these drivers and give his take on them. Sound was reasonable via my laptop with the video.
I’m taking the X for some play tomorrow.
It’s nice to see a driver at this price point. It sounds like a great option if a person isn’t looking to break the bank.
[QUOTE=”JB, post: 9778259, member: 3″]
I’m taking the X for some play tomorrow.
[/QUOTE]
Oh this has me jealous. This one is on my must hit list, big time. Listening to Chris talk about this in person was very cool, they’re definitely really passionate about this release.
One thing I wish I had asked about while Vosh was at HQ was the Mizuno ball line.. I didn’t see it come up and I would be interested in hearing where they are going. The mizuno ball has been around for a bit, but it was only introduced in the US a couple years ago..
the price is definitely hard to ignore. based on vosh hitting the x left so consistently, i’d be interested in hitting the z.
Good looking drivers. Sound was good, too. The X he hit first was the club for him for sure. That neutral setup would work well for me.
Very interested in the X. Not often you get more draw bias in a driver that isn’t made to also produce more spin.
Great video, love the pricing, and Vosh has a beautiful swing and an easy way of explaining the tech. I played a couple different Mizuno drivers from their MP series for a few years long ago and look forward to hitting theses once spring is here. I love putting clubs in my bag that are less commonly used and a Mizuno driver would fit the bill.