EQUIPMENT: Mizuno ST Series Metal Woods and New M.CRAFT Putters

Mizuno is known for their irons, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less committed to making top performing metal woods and putters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The new ST-Z and ST-X further deploy Mizuno’s high strength, Forged Beta SAT2041 Ti face and complex carbon construction to deliver potent ball speeds and a dense, satisfying sensation at impact. The Forged Beta SAT2041 TI maintains its characteristics and resists micro fractures for longer than the commonly used 6-4, Alpha Beta Ti.

“We asked for feedback from our tour players on the ST200, to which most was on the sensory side with a desire for a sound generally described as solid or dense,” said Chris Voshall from Mizuno. “We then spent the next year working on feedback hand in hand with releasing the additional ball speed we knew was left in our SAT2041 Beta Ti face.”

ST-Z on the Left, ST-X on the Right

The ST Series offers a choice between two different head designs in the driver with characteristics to suit different playing requirements and deliver different ball flights.

The ST-Z Driver is designed to be ultra-stable and to offer low-spin efficiency. The balanced toe/heel carbon composite construction and deep central back weight promote a spin efficient, straight-line ball flight. Further improved with the help of the 2nd generation Forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face for potent ball speeds and consistent performance over time, the ST-Z driver has a wide, low footprint, with a neutral visual lie angle. Ball flight and visual appearance can be quickly be adjusted up to 4 degrees.

“The ST-Z’s predecessor – the ST200 – had a reputation for being a straight-line bomber favored by our longer hitting tour players, and the ST-Z profile is no different,” said Chris Voshall. “But with an extra year’s extra experience engineering the Forged Beta SAT2041 Ti, we were able to release a little extra ball speed and a much more satisfying experience off the clubface.”

The ST-X Driver features an expanded toe-located carbon composite window and a heel-located sole weight that combine to produce a reliable draw bias. Equipped with 4 degrees of quick-switch adjustability, the ST-X driver offers a more compact profile, a slightly deeper back portion and a more upright visual lie angle.

Similar to the ST-Z, the ST-X features the 2nd generation Forged SAT2041 Beta Ti and offers more dense feedback through impact and a more muted, powerful tone.

“In testing, a lot of our tour players preferred the ST-X over the ST-Z for its deeper shape and slightly smaller profile,” said Chris Voshall. “I recommend starting with an open mind and dropping the ST-X alongside the ST-Z in the address position. For a draw bias driver, it’s not going to be what most players expect.”

Further complementing the new driver release, the ST-Z Fairway Woods provide high levels of stability and low spin efficiency and feature Mizuno’s 3rd generation MAS1C face – the most powerful to date. The ultra-lightweight carbon crown lowers the COG for better spin vs MOI performance, while re-engineered WAVE Technology, delivers a compact wave design that lowers the mass. Both the 3 and 5 woods have an adjustable, quick-switch hosel offering 4 degrees of loft and face angle adjustability.

“Knowing the fairway wood is the least changed club in any bag, we spent time looking at older models that our tour players preferred,” said Chris Voshall. “Rather than a massive overhaul, we implemented subtle tweaks to the ST-Z such as a leading edge and transition into the hosel. There’s a lot to like at address.”

On the other end of the bag, Mizuno is also releasing 3 new forged and precision-milled M.CRAFT putters. Similar to the current offerings, the three new shapes—M.CRAFT IV, M.CRAFT V and M.CRAFT VI—are forged from premium 1025 mild carbon steel then CNC milled to create the most precise shape and alignment.

Diving deeper into the three new variants, the M.CRAFT IV is a slant neck deep square back putter with moderate toe-hang to suit players with a moderate putting arc. The M.CRAFT V is a slant neck toe-heel deep mallet with maximum toe-hang to suit a strongly arcing stroke. And finally, the M.CRAFT VI is a face-balanced wing mallet offering slightly more weight and stability for players with a straight back and through stroke.

Each putter head promotes a fluid, rhythmical putting stroke and, thanks to the deep face milling, offers a softer feel and purer roll.

The M.CRAFT putters weigh in at 355 grams with the exception of the M.CRAFT VI that weighs slightly more at 371 grams. However, players can adjust each M.CRAFT putter to a variety of putting conditions with the additional weight kit that includes two 3 gram weights and two 13 gram weights, which can be interchanged with the 8 gram fitted weights.

Additionally, M.CRAFT head styles are available in three stunning finishes: Classic White Satin, bold Blue ION and intense Black ION.

The new ST Series Metal Woods and M.CRAFT Putters ALL go on sale starting February, and can be purchased directly from Mizuno.

Cover Image via Instagram