SPOTTED: Mizuno’s ES21 Wedges are Perfectly Balanced

Wedges are, arguably, the most important clubs in an amateur golfer’s bag. It’s the piece of equipment that will help save par and generate birdie opportunities or, instead, throw a tee shot to waste.

Mizuno has sought to develop a wedge that will promote the former by designing a super stable design and more central sweet spot with the ES21 wedges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mizuno Golf North America (@mizunogolfnorthamerica) on Aug 13, 2020 at 6:08am PDT

Traditional wedges have a sweet spot that is slightly to the heel side, making it hard for many players to find consistency. But Mizuno doesn’t compromise, so the ES21 wedges were developed to feature a higher, more central sweet spot which, combined with a super stable design, delivers a squarer strike and greater levels of more controllable spin.

The multi-piece stainless steel construction features a hollow body for a higher and deeper center-of-gravity, while the high toe and low heel keep the wedges extremely stable when the face is opened. It goes without saying that stability is invaluable with wedges, since a face that’s unstable and could open or close by just a few degrees could be the difference between a birdie look and being in a bunker.

To further complement the structural changes, the ES21 wedges feature Quad-Cut Grooves: ultra-precise CNC milled grooves cut into durable Grain Flow Forged Boron infused steel. In addition, Hydroflow Micro Grooves, which are vertically etched, help release moisture and maintain spin even in damp conditions. This is a huge asset for anyone who goes dew sweeping or plays in damp conditions, as independent studies have shown that wet grooves can drastically reduce spin numbers but, fortunately, Mizuno’s groove Hydroflow Micro Grooves has found a way to keep spin up even in the wet.

In order to ensure there is a wedge for all skill levels and playing conditions, the ES21 wedges are available with either a standard or wide sole option, each model featuring a surprisingly narrow top line to give the confidence-inspiring look of a players’ wedge at address.

“We’ve taken a very Mizuno type approach to the ES21 by keeping the top line very sleek – despite the technology inside. Our testing showed that there’s a lot of good golfers out there who will be surprised at the gains they could make by having more predictable spin numbers,” said Mizuno’s Director of R&D David Llewellyn.

It goes without saying that Mizuno’s forging expertise is revered for its consistency of manufacture, distance control and incredible feedback. While this reputation is commonly associated with Mizuno’s irons, the ES21 wedges are afforded the same precision and feel of Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged HD process and offers even more payback in wedges, where touch and feel are most critical.

Everyone can use a little help with their wedges, so hopefully we’ll get a chance to test the ES21s (which look incredible in the black-ion finish). But in the event we can’t, pre-sale for the ES21s starts on August 31st, with public availability on September 17th, and at a retail price of $199.95.