FlexMan Reviews

Published July 17, 2008 on February 11, 2019

Mizuno JPX919 – Preferred Irons for The Non-Sponsored Professionals

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First of all, I would like to apologize for the long silence since I was caught up with work. The Chinese New Year break did offer me an opportunity to review the Mizuno JPX919s, which have become the most sought after irons after they were launched late last year. Mizuno has a long history when it comes to producing irons that can help the golfers perform.

Tiger Woods, the former world number 1, during his amateur days was also using Mizuno irons and even at present, the former number 1, Brooks Koepka, who was recently overtaken by Justin Rose for the top spot in the World Golf Ranking, is also using Mizuno Irons. A survey was carried out by an independent researcher to find out which brand of irons professionals would play if they were not sponsored? A majority indicated that Mizuno was their preference.

First Impression: Mizuno does hold a special place in my heart since I started golf and having played 4 to 5 models throughout the years, I have always remembered it as an iron for serious golfers. The blades always come to mind maybe because of the limited technology in those days, and Mizuno has always been famous for their forged irons. The forged iron head is crafted from a single metal billet and Mizuno refined it with the Grain Flow Forged (GFF) forging process, which was patented in 1998. We will go deeper into the understanding of the GFF process further down the article.

 

JPX919 Hot Metal

The JPX Hot Metal series has always been a popular model compared to the Forged and Tour mainly due to the forgiveness and distance it produces. Made from Chromoly, which is a highly resilient material, engineers are able to design a multi-thickness face for faster ball speed and feel. From the top, the head looks kind of large, which gives a majority of golfers a sense of confidence at address.

The JPX919 now has a slimmer top line compared to the previous JPX900, which might attract some golfers who were previously turned off by the previous model. The Hot Metal comes with a 30⁰ loft for the 7 irons, which places it in the game improvement category. Golfers looking for more distance and forgiveness will find this suitable. With a shallower centre of gravity, engineers are able to knock some loft off the head so that flight height will remain while improving carry distance. As we can compare, the Hot Metal out carry the forged and Tour in term of distance. Shot dispersion is also quite tight but misses to the right, which is quite peculiar as these offset heads are supposed to prevent you from slicing. I guess extending the sweet spot as close as possible to the centre of the face does affect the distribution of the weight. More weight to the toe delays the closing of the clubface. This is purely my own judgement and shouldn’t be taken out of context.

 

 

JPX919 Forged

The Forged are for golfers demanding distance but with more feel and workability. The Forged iron has a narrower sole compared to the Hot Metal to allow golfers to shape their shots when the situation calls for it. On the hosel, one can notice the word Boron etched on it. Boron in a very tiny amount is infused in the production of the metal, which boasts a 30% increase in strength to the metal and this allows engineers to work with the design to enhance the performance. CNC milling is worked from the sole to the back of the face to thin out the face and to concentrate more weight deep and low for easy flight when using the mid to long irons. The Forged 7 iron that I tested is 2⁰ weaker in loft compared to the Hot Metal and it’s evident in carry and total distance if compared. Nonetheless, the distance recorded with the Forged is somewhat impressive if I may add, coupled with the softness of the forging, which you can experience on each of the shot you take.

 

 

JPX919 Tour

The 919 Tour is made from high density forging with 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel, which claims to be the softest Mizuno feel yet. This 919 Tour is indeed one of the softest feeling forged irons you will find in the market. It can be too soft for some as the impact feels effortless. The Tour incorporates the signature Grain Flow Forged (GFF) like the 919 Forged but feels totally different due to the difference in material. In the GFF process, the iron head is crafted through multiple forging stages from a single billet of steel. The method uses the metal’s natural grain to enhance the head’s integrity, consistency and durability. It is also understood that Mizuno is the only company to arrange and control the flow to pass on a performance benefit to the golfer. The Tour that I used comes with a Dynamic Gold 120 S300 shaft, which is slightly heavier compared to the NS Pro 950 HT on the Hot Metal and forged.

 

Verdict: I can summarise that the JPX919 is able to cater to almost every type of golfers, but it is best to find a Mizuno fitting centre near you to test it out or get fitted. I believe they will be fitted with the new Shaft Optimiser 3D, which is quite precise in recommending a shaft that suits you. I will do a review on that if the opportunity arises so that you will know exactly what entails when you go for a Mizuno fitting session.

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