Mizuno

What it does: Knowing what you want is easy. Figuring out how to achieve it is a different matter – like deciphering how to increase ball speed while making the clubhead smaller, or untangling the mystery of how to strengthen lofts by 2 degrees without sacrificing launch and peak trajectory. This successor to the MP-20 HMB (Hot Metal Blade) solved these issues by shifting 28.5 grams of tungsten low and back to achieve a lower, deeper centre of gravity. This increases shot height through the 7-iron. Furthermore, a new face design is just 1.8 millimetres in the thinnest area, and the low part of the face was reinforced to improve feel and performance on shots hit a touch thin. Positioning the sweet spot slightly higher was a smart method of gaining launch without adding spin.

Why we like it: Mizuno always seems to get the details right when it comes to its irons. The thin copper underlay, a process that dates back to a set of Mizuno irons made for Tommy Nakajima in the 1980s, is a nice enhancement to the club’s feel. But what we really dig is a sole design that helps the clubhead move effortlessly through the turf like it has ski wax on it. 

7-iron loft 30 degrees pw loft 44 degrees