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
Do you have any familiarity with the more recent Ping offerings(ie G400 Max, 410, 425)?
If so, how does the forgiveness of the X compare?
Im think we might just get lucky enough for that to happen here in about 50-some days
I hope. Hahaha
As another fan and early user of the ST-X, I can’t say I was blown away by the 425 Max as far as performance or forgiveness compared to this. I know all the MOI numbers are hyped like crazy, but since I got the 425 on a deal, I’ll probably sell it off just to get the coin back since it didn’t prove to be a must-have. I’m not one to really care about sound either, but the ST drivers are sure nice, whereas with the new PING line, it’s like an aluminum baseball bat. Definitely digging the ‘X’ in all areas for sure, and all the guys I know that have picked up these or the ‘Z’ really like them as well.
I hit some beautiful drives today that just looked smooth. Can’t wait to get out and really swing the driver tomorrow.
Welcome to the party! It’s excellent.
On the shaft side, I have the LinQ Blue regular flex and find the shaft has help keep the ball in a better launch angle. It has a lower launch profile, not as low as the Black, but comes in nicely for us non 100+ swing types. Gets the ball up in the air, but not too much.
What was you deciding factor between X and Z?
I’m loving the Blue so far. It’s still a little low launching for me as my natural driver swing is hitting down., but when I do hit up it has a great launch, fairly low spin, and with the ST-Z is launching bombs!
@DannyLe thought the Z wasn’t getting the numbers on my mishits as well as the X.
All about putting you in the best place no matter what swing shows up. Forgiveness is golden with this one.
It does look to be a solid head option.
The hype is real.
This head feels and sounds so good…especially in comparison to the ZX-5.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the stock Hzrdus RDX Smoke black shaft also. I thought it might feel boardy but not at all. Seems to fit my swing very well.
Hit all fairways except the 1st hole which was literally my first swing with the club.
Just for fun I hit my friend’s Epic Max LS on a hole and then hit mine. For my taste the sound and feel was better on the Mizuno.
I’m also striking it very consistently, I assume because it’s a little shorter shaft. Middle height, slightly of center to the toe, probably also because of the length. But I’m happy with the resulting flight, and how often I got the same strike point.
It goes straight in the bag.
Do it and bring you credit card…
Also had a great round today that added distance to drives and kept it in short stuff… yeah i was three feet off the fwy here and there so the number of FWY hit does not do the club justice today, but never in trouble or OB. That is huge for me my miss is left and only one time did I end up on the right hand side of the fairway…. SLICE/FADE ELIMINATOR!
Carry was averaging around 220 with a decent amount of roll in the fairway shots.
Each was looking at the Mizuno and liking what they saw.
It’s so good. So so so good.
If the Mizuno iron lineup is anything like the driver and wood setup, those in the Mizuno Experience are just going to be in heaven.
If I didn’t already order a new set of Sim2 irons, I would have to look at the Mizuno setup.
Can’t wait to try it again on the course. Only a few hours until tomorrow.
Going to be a fun range session and round tomorrow.
Of course it wasn’t just the driver that got me that score but I was in scoring position on every hole. My FIR was 67% but the ones I missed were 1st cut.
I played a mountain course in Park City and just hoping this can translate back to my home course when I return.
In the meantime, here’s a photo of me waiting for the group in front of me, relaxing with my ST-Z, like 250 feet above the fairway.View attachment 9012862
That is awesome! Great round, great views, great driver ?
Maybe just a little baby swing to hold you over
The thought crossed my mind but little baby swings turn in to 2 hour range sessions swinging hard for me quick fast and in a hurry haha
The ST-X definitely has more addictive power than Pringles… and you know what they say about those things.
Yeah on Sunday I was striping it at first and got to swinging too hard and it went downhill. Swung smoother last night and hit some good drives. The smooth swing caught on the screws launches it off the ST-Z though.
Man, just loving the consistency with this head. It’s a fairway machine.
Welcome to THP
Next, is it getting old if I talk about how excellent the ST-X was today on course? Not to me it isn’t. This driver head is awesome. The deep face support smy high-on-the-face tendencies so nicely. Ripper.
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Black tees… distance from tee:
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Great driving all day, hit fairways on 6, 10, 11, 13, and 18 for 4/7 on the “official” round. Two misses 2 yds off the fairway, one right, one left. Blocked my first swing of the day on 1st hole right, but the hole curves that way so no harm no foul.
Drives today with the Mizuno STX and LinQ Blue shaft- 230, 237, 232, 230, 234, 260, 225, 225, 241, 197 (horrible swing), 220, 226
Average: 233 if you remove the bad 197 drive. 230 if you leave it. I will take that every day.
I’ve got the ST-Z but I agree that the sound is not muted. I have a Cobra Speedzone that I’m letting a buddy hit. He hits it good but doesn’t like the muted sound. The Mizuno to me has a nice pop that isn’t too loud but sounds like you piped it when you hit it good. It inspires confidence without hurting eardrums. My previous 2007ish Cobra Speed LD sounded like an old little league TPX baseball bat. I loved the sound but everyone else hated it. They are all happy with the sound of the Mizuno though lol.
Awesome man. So glad that a THP Experience has changed your game so much. That is a ton of fun.
That Ka-Pow feeling people. If you know, you know. So, so good! ?
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Awesome!! Is that golf ball blood & guts dripping down the clubface?
Yep, pretty much! ? ?