Mizuno makes great irons. That statement will not be a surprise to any of you reading this review, but in my mind at least, that statement has always been more applicable to the best blade or best low-handicap style iron market. In more recent times the JPX franchise has made Mizuno irons more accessible to a wider market, and I have been testing one of the latest iterations of that family. Looking to sit amongst the best irons on the market, let's take a look at the JPX925 Hot Metal HL irons.
With regard to the technology behind the new HL irons, I would refer you to my review of the standard Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons, as it is very much the same story. Essentially the HL is offering all of the same design elements as the standard model, just presented in a more user-friendly package.
In terms of the looks, this package translates to a much longer blade length, significantly thicker top line, and a fair amount more offset than the standard model which is exactly what a higher handicap player is likely to want to see. As someone who games some of the best low handicap irons in the Callaway Apex CB, these irons are obviously a little chunkier in the playing position than I am used to but I must say that Mizuno has pulled this off well. Nothing too offensive, and they really do give you full confidence that a good shot might be imminent.
As with the other two models in the range, they are not my favorites from a shelf appeal point of view. I find them somewhat busy from that angle, and I am just not keen on the blend of chrome and satin finishes. I feel they would have benefitted from choosing one or the other rather than combining two looks. However, that is just a personal preference and obviously has no bearing on the performance of these irons.
I tested the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal Pro irons at Saunton Golf Club using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls. I very much enjoyed what was on offer from a data point of view, with some good launch, spin, and carry numbers achieving exactly what I would have hoped for, and more importantly what they were designed for. This, coupled with the confidence-inspiring looks make them well worth testing for the mid-high handicap player looking for a premium iron that is not too tricky to handle.
Interestingly, when testing the standard and Pro models from this range, I noted a couple of ‘flier’ style ball flights that I would certainly not want to see on the golf course, however, I am pleased to report that I didn’t see any such issues in the HL model. I can’t reconcile why, as essentially they are the same product in terms of design, but maybe it has something to do with the base loft as the HL 7-iron sits at 31˚ as opposed to the other two which are 28˚. Either way, it's good news for the HL.
The less measurable parameters stacked up well too with the sound and feel really standing out to me, just like all of the best Mizuno irons. They were lively without being firm, and there was absolutely no sense of clickiness at impact. The turf interaction was excellent also, with the contoured sole sliding beautifully through the links turf that I was testing on.
The Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal HL irons will be available in 4-SW but only for right-handers, with a stock shaft offering of Nippon NS Pro 950 NEO in steel and a UST Recoil Dart ESX in graphite. The stock grip is a Lamkin UT+ and they are being sold at an RRP of $150/£150 per iron.
