WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Mizuno returns to its roots with a single-piece forged iron aimed at better players. The Mizuno Pro S3 is a compact club that packs just enough power while delivering on the distance control and soft-feel needs of its target audience.
AVAILABILITY & PRICE: The Mizuno Pro S3 irons cost $369 ($NZ399) per iron in steel and will be available for pre-sale from January 24 and at retail across Australia from February 7.
3 Cool Things
1. Filling a void. “The better amateur player has been underserved in recent years, and we wanted to address that,” said David Llewellyn, director of research and development for Mizuno. “The S3 is a high-performing, one-piece iron that does that. We paid a lot of attention to the details this player type requires.”
That starts with a split cavity-muscle design with a thin topline and compact head shape that appeals to the eye. Those familiar with the company’s JPX923 Tour head shape will notice similarities.
As this player prefers to be familiar with how their irons perform rather than chase an extra metre or two, don’t expect a follow-up to this iron for some time. The targeted lifecycle for this club is four years instead of the typical two years.
2. It’s all about sole. Although Mizuno utilises its “triple cut” sole design, it is not the exact same sole as with the JPX925 line.
“We mined our shaft-optimiser data to determine typical better-player attack angles and shaft lean,” Llewellyn said. “That led to a sole design with a beveled leading edge and relief on the trailing edge for optimal turf interaction.” Additionally, there is one degree more bounce than the Mizuno Pro 241 in the 5-iron through pitching wedge to better match up with elite player swings. Says Llewellyn: “It’s the deepest dive in sole design we’ve done in a long time.”
3. An old way of creating feel. Mizuno habitually gets the details right in its irons, particularly when it comes to feel. The grain-flow forging process used on the soft 1025E carbon steel (which tightens the grain structure) produces a pleasant enough feel on its own, yet Mizuno went back to the 1980s to add an extra layer – literally.
A copper underlay delivers a soft material beneath the surface for a muscle-back blade-like feel. The process dates back four decades to when Mizuno used to produce irons for Japanese legend Tommy Nakajima using the technique.
