Equipment
Mizuno JPX-900 Hot Metal and JPX-900 Forged irons
Along with the company’s new JPX-900 Tour irons, Mizuno will also launch its new JPX-900 Hot Metal and JPX-900 Forged irons, which will replace the JPX-850 and JPX-850 Forged irons.
Unlike Mizuno’s MP irons, which are blade and blade-like irons designed for better players, the JPX line of irons are designed to offer golfers more forgiveness and distance, packaged into slightly larger head sizes. Think of them as “tweener irons,” according to David Llewellyn, Mizuno’s Director of R&D.
As is expected from the JPX line, the new crop of JPX-900 Forged and Hot Metal irons focuses on playability and distance, but doesn’t ignore feel and sound in the design process. To accomplish the feat, each of the new offerings use special materials. The JPX-900 Forged irons are made with a special 1025E Grain Flow Forged steel that is infused with boron. The JPX-900 Hot Metal irons are cast from a metal called Chromoly 4140M, which you can learn more about below.
JPX-900 Forged irons
Along with being larger than Mizuno’s new JPX-900 Tour irons, the JPX-900 Forged irons have a chemical trick up their sleeves to offer greater forgiveness and more distance — a material called boron.
The company began using boron with its JPX-850 Forged irons, although two years after their release there is still lingering confusion among golfers as to how and why boron is actually used. Contrary to popular belief, boron is not used as a replacement for traditional steel in the design. Rather, a small amount of boron (30 parts per million, according to Mizuno) is mixed with the company’s Grain Flow Flowed 1025E steel to increase strength. This allows Mizuno to forge the faces of boron-infused thinner, leading to faster ball speeds without sacrificing durability.
Mizuno started experimenting with boron after seeing its success in the auto industry, where the material helped create auto parts with a higher strength-to-weight ratio to make stronger, more more fuel-efficient structures. Mizuno found that it translated well into iron making, helping them offer better distance and consistency. The difficult part about using boron, according to Llewelyn, was getting the mixture right so that the company’s irons would maintain their signature sound and feel.
“It took 5 years to figure out how to do it,” Llewelyn said.
The JPX-900 Forged irons, therefore, are the second-generation of JPX irons to use boron. To make the irons longer and more forgiving than their predecessors, Mizuno reshaped the pocket cavity of the irons to create a larger rebound area, giving them faster ball speeds on off-center hits.
Head sizing throughout the set has also changed; the longer irons have a longer blade length, while the shorter irons have a more compact look, with the “crossover” being at the 6-iron.
The JPX-900 Forged ($1200) come stock with True Temper’s Project X LZ shaft, and will hit stores Sept. 16.
JPX-900 Hot Metal irons
In the new age of iron design, companies search for ways to make the faces thinner in order to produce faster, more consistent ball speeds. That’s how Mizuno stumbled upon 4140M Chromoly, a common scientific name for the mixture of chromium and molybdenum. Mizuno found that the material, which is used in aircraft tubing, firearm parts, bicycle frames and race car roll cages, had a two-fold benefit in iron design.
The way Mizuno heat treats the Chromoly allows the irons to be built with thinner and stronger faces, while still maintaining their bendable, loft-and-lie adjustable hosels. If you’ve equipment articles on GolfWRX in the past few years, we’re quite keen on the benefits of custom-fitting when making a club purchase, so this puts a smile on our face.
The Hot Metal irons also have a “cup face,” which makes the faces thinner and more flexible. What’s unique about Mizuno’s cup-face design is that it is created without the usual face weld. That works to raise coefficient of restitution (COR) to 0.828, according to Mizuno, just shy of the USGA’s legal limit.
The JPX-900 irons are also equipped with a triple-cut sole for better turf interaction from a variety of lies and “sound ribs” behind the top cavity for improved acoustics. The ribs are similar to what are used in metal woods, where they quiet the vibrations to improve the feel of the hollow, thin-faced clubs.
For golfers who prefer to purchase wedges that match their irons, Mizuno redesigned the JPX-900 Hot Metal wedges to maximize performance around their greens. The set’s gap, sand and lob wedges are made from X30 Stainless Steel — a soft and bendable material, according to Mizuno — with head shapes that are inspired by the company’s S5 wedges. Like Mizuno’s premium S5 and T7 wedges, the Hot metal uses the company’s Quad-Cut grooves for improve spin control, and the sole grinds are progressively shaped to suit the respective purposes of each loft.
Related: Click to See photos of Mizuno’s new wedges
JPX-900 Hot Metal sets (4-PW, GW) will come stock with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 steel shafts, and will hit stores on Sept. 16 for $900.
Related: See what GolfWRX members are saying about the clubs in our forums
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- Chris Gotterup what’s in the bag accurate as of the 3M Open.
Driver: TaylorMade SIM2 (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 70 TX
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (13.5 degrees @15)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Driving iron: TaylorMade P790 UDI (2)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG3 (52-09SB, 56-12SB, 60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider X Tour
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B X
More photos of Chris Gotterup’s WITB in the forums.
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- Bo Hoag what’s in the bag accurate as of the Utah Championship.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 75 TX
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen6 (19 degrees)
Shaft: KBS Prototype 105 X
Irons: PXG 0317X (X), Mizuno JPX 921 Hot Metal Pro (4), PXG 0211 ST (5-9)
Shafts: KBS Prototype 105 X (X), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X (4-9)
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy (46-10, 52-10), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130 X (46, 52), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T11.5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Traxion Tour 2.0XL
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Bo Hoag’s WITB in the forums.
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Product: Spoiler OG putter
Pitch: Spoiler OG’s patented Lead Edge Roll Technology creates more forward roll (topspin) on the golf ball versus traditional “flat face” putters, while reducing backspin and sidespin. Improving both distance control and start-line accuracy. Spoiler OG is designed with slight toe hang, sports a double bend steel shaft, and is equipped with a midsize pistol grip. The Spoiler OG is USGA conforming and is currently available in right-hand only.
About Spoiler Golf
Spoiler Golf officially launched in 2024 and is founded by father and son duo, Jeff and Dan Landman. The idea for Spoiler Golf stemmed from Jeff putting with a wedge, and learning how well he putted with it vs. a traditional “flat face” putter. Spoiler believes a better roll unlocks a better putting experience.
“Why can’t we put a leading edge from a wedge on the face of a putter and make it easier for golfers to experience a better roll?” – Jeff Landman, Founder
Our take on the Spoiler OG putter
The Spoiler OG putter has, of course, a non-traditional look to it, but in our testing, it seems to work as intended. The Lead Edge Roll technology puts a good forward roll on the ball that starts immediately and doesn’t produce hopping and skidding you sometimes get from some traditional putters.
The feel off the face is crisp and responsive, letting you know exactly where you made contact on the face. While the look of the putter is a little different, from address, it actually looks pretty close to some of the mallet-type designs we’ve seen in the marketplace. From address, the overall shape is something golfers will be comfortable seeing with a small window to the turf, as you can see below.
If you struggle with getting the ball to roll consistently, and smoothly, online then the Spoiler OG could be a good option to try.
We have five GolfWRX forum members currently testing the Spoiler OG Putter. In fact, one member sunk a 20 footer on his first roll with the Spoiler OG! Read their reviews, and if it has unlocked a better roll (and better putting) here. Learn more about Spoiler Golf and the Spoiler OG Putter here.
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RAT
Sep 15, 2016 at 8:10 pm
I LIKE THE LOOKS AND WOULD CONSIDER BUYING THEM . BUT THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH !! THAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH GOLF IT’S NOT REASONABLE PRICED !! THE FEWER THAT PLAY, THE COST GOES UP.THAT’S NOT THE WAY TO BRING IN NEW GOLFERS. DROP THE PRICE OF EQUIPMENT ,PLEASE,PLEASE… YOU WILL SEE MORE GETTING INTO GOLF. IT COST TOO MUCH!!!!!
Dutzow
Aug 30, 2016 at 2:05 am
Have the callway x2hots which I really enjoy. I don’t love the look however, and most of their recent offerings have looked even worse. Really enjoy the look of these though! Glad someone made an iron that wasn’t obnoxious!!
Bert
Aug 19, 2016 at 7:49 pm
Development may create costs but excessive cost create loss of sales. The industry needs a better price point. I just passed on Callaway Apex irons, yes like I them, but just can’t justify the extra cost for a “distance” change.
mr b
Aug 18, 2016 at 12:09 pm
did someone from mizuno beat your a$$ or something? you sure do have an inferiority complex for them
mr b
Aug 18, 2016 at 4:16 pm
same here. inferiority complex it is.
5kywalker
Aug 19, 2016 at 1:46 am
Smizzle, you seem to be the only one here with such a harsh view on these clubs. In essence, you just sound mental.
So please pipe down whilst the adults talk.
There’s a good lad.
Brian
Aug 17, 2016 at 1:53 pm
You have to be the least capable internet troll I’ve ever run across.
Mark Walgren
Aug 22, 2016 at 2:07 am
Oh come on. A very bold statement such as your original comment is bait. Explain yourself. Why do you say they steal so much?
Nolanski
Aug 22, 2016 at 12:31 pm
He’s been trolling hard for awhile now. Its best to just ignore him.
James Bond
Aug 17, 2016 at 9:17 am
Just stop.
Pub
Aug 17, 2016 at 10:38 pm
He was talking to you, varmint
Uncle Buck
Aug 17, 2016 at 4:24 am
Chromoly?? In the 70’s I had a bmx bike frame made of that! Next we’ll be wearing Angels Flight golf clothing and platform Farmalari’s!!
Pub
Aug 17, 2016 at 3:20 am
You didn’t. Nobody cares what you say, you’re just a pathetic varmint
KK
Aug 16, 2016 at 11:21 pm
Seems like great tech but I’m not sure anyone can match what Titleist has done with AP2, T-Mb and C16.
Leon
Aug 16, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Nothing particular innovative here. Just appearance change and minor tuning. The JPX 800 and 850 are all have 0.83 COR already, so no distance increase at all.
The only good part is the stock Project LZ shafts, which are better shafts than the crap DG S300, but they add the up charge into the total price. $1200 for a new set? Give me a break (it was $799, then $899, then $999, and now we have $1200, good for everybody)
Tom
Aug 16, 2016 at 11:23 pm
“Mizuno started experimenting with boron after seeing its success in the auto industry, where the material helped create auto parts with a higher strength-to-weight ratio to make stronger, more more fuel-efficient structures. Mizuno found that it translated well into iron making, helping them offer better distance and consistency. The difficult part about using boron, according to Llewelyn, was getting the mixture right so that the company’s irons would maintain their signature sound and feel.” That type of research and technology cost’s money.
Leon
Aug 17, 2016 at 10:55 am
The “boron” thing is more like minor tuning. The JPX 800 and later 850 (not pro version) cast steel iron have all reached the 0.83 COR upper limit with “ultra thin face”. The boron may make the face thinner but the elasticity is constrained to the 0.83 limit, so whether the face is thinner or thicker, as long as the COR is 0.83, the overall distance will be pretty much the same, no matter what materials they are using.
I like Mizuno’s club and am playing the MP 69 blades. The new irons look good, but performance wise, as long as you have been properly fitted, there is really no difference between newer or elder models.
Pub
Aug 17, 2016 at 3:17 am
They’re only matching everybody else’s prices. Not a big deal. It’s the state of things now.
doesnotno
Aug 17, 2016 at 8:43 am
“the crap DG S300”
Yup, there’s a shaft that will never catch on.
Brian
Aug 17, 2016 at 1:52 pm
Too bad the DG S300 wasn’t the stock shaft in the 850s.
Justin
Aug 16, 2016 at 5:55 pm
Is it just me or is does the new price for a set of irons seem to be around $1,200??? $999 was bad enough but now it’ll cost the average golfer about $2,640 for a full set excluding putter ($1200 irons, $500 driver, $300 3-wood, $250 hybrid, $130 wedge x3). I guess very few people go out and buy brand new everything all at once, but this pricing seems more and more outrageous each year.
Pub
Aug 17, 2016 at 3:19 am
Yeah it’s because they’re all offering so many kinds of shafts included in the price now, unlike 2 years ago when most of those were all uncharged to this price from the basic shaft option price. We’ve come a long way in getting so many shafts included in the one price
Steve
Aug 16, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Looks like the OEM’s are catching onto Hi-COR irons like Wishon did years ago.
golfraven
Aug 16, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Mizuno are building some great looking sets in recent seasons – worth considering.
Tom
Aug 16, 2016 at 1:33 pm
chromoly I like the sound of that. Sir 138 carries..you have 145 to the center ….Hand me my chromoly 9 iron……
Ryan
Aug 16, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Does this mean that Mizuno will no longer offer no up charge custom shafts? That was a big selling point for them this year.
Brian
Aug 16, 2016 at 3:06 pm
It seems that they’re hiding the upcharge in the base price
Chris
Aug 16, 2016 at 6:28 pm
Right. Still no upcharge shafts, but they included Recoil Graphite in at $900 as well as the steel prices so no more Orochi. It’s Recoil and PX Loading Zone for graphite. Chromoly’s are stupid long, too.
sumsum
Aug 17, 2016 at 7:37 am
Except they were the first to offer no upcharge shafts, so they aren’t baking it into the price, this is just the market now. At least Mizuno technology is reflective of actual innovative work that takes time and resources to develop new constructions and usage, like chromoly and boron. Development creates cost.