Equipment
One post, many questions: New Mizuno irons on the way?
Let me start with this: I’m a massive Mizuno fan. So, when out of the blue (Mizuno Blue?), but close to “that time of year,” when new shiny things start to show up around the tours, all it took was an Instagram and Twitter post to set me into a frenzy and down a big rabbit hole. It also left me with a lot of questions, which in turn lead me to what I think are some answers.
Around 10 A.M. on June 28, two pictures appeared all over Mizuno’s social media platforms, both showing a TN87 alongside a completely blank iron head that.
- Looked brand new (it also has a new shorter Mizuno MP-style ferrule on it)
- Has zero branding or model number on it
The two clubs look almost identical in the shape, so we have that, but then a little tease in the form of a single cryptic hashtag (#Layersoffeel) had me looking and thinking deeper into what might be coming down the line.
They look very close but the one on the left appears to have different angles
The MP-18s were a huge hit for Mizuno and again cemented its place in the blade world after the ginormous success of the JPX-900 series. This was also the first time Mizuno globally branded an MP series; they used to reserve different models for the JDM market.
What made the MP-18s interesting from a technology standpoint was the introduction of the Grain Flow Forging HD process. Mizuno already had the patented Grain Flow Forging process in the bag but after years of refinement, they along with their forging partner Chuo (Chuo only forges Mizuno irons) introduced the HD (High Density) technique that gets the grain structure of the 1025 E Pure Select carbon steel tighter at the bottom of the head and in turn creates an even more solid feel. But even with the 18’s popularity, it’s time for a refresh and update of the MP line.
OK. OK, let’s hold our horses for a second, we haven’t talked about the TN-87s yet. The TN-87s are named after Tommy Nakajima, who at one point was the number one player on the Japanese PGA Tour, and if you didn’t already figure it out, was a popular Mizuno staff player. The TN-87 originally came out in 1988 and even to this day are still considered one of the best Mizuno irons of all time. Beyond Tommy, another very famous Mizuno staff player, Nick Faldo, played a set of custom blank TN-87s in 1990 to win both the Masters and Open Championship. This alone made them a popular and more sought after set.
Just how sought after you might ask?
So sought after, that in 2014 Mizuno did something that few golf companies ever do: a full re-release (no custom orders) of the TN-87s from 3-PW, AW, SW. Honestly, how freakin’ cool are these?
This is why people love blades, because a set of these in a golf bag look unreal!
So now that we are this far we have to ask, beyond that fact that Tommy and Sir Nick played them why were the TN-87s so popular? We have a couple reasons and some theories
- First off the players that used them were in their prime: This will always lead to a demand in the market regardless of it being a blade or not.
- Shape and sole: For a lot of players the TN87 represented the perfectly shaped iron head, from blade length to toe profile it was just “one of those clubs” that kept peoples attention. This along with the sole shape, which was considered quite modern in this era, meant a lot of people trying them out and falling in love.
- Copper (Wait, what? Copper?): I thought there were made from carbon steel? Yes, the raw heads are made from carbon steel, but you still need to chrome them through the electroplating process, and at the time, that also meant a copper layer between the raw steel and the chrome. This extra layer helped the chrome stick to the head during the plating process and also became a thing of legend in golf circles. Golfers clamoured for irons with copper underlay to help soften the feel and give better feedback — it’s all about frequency and sound. Even to this day there are some Japanese OEMs that talk about their copper underlay and how it improves the overall feel of the club.
Here’s what’s (maybe) going to happen…
Let’s sum this up. Now that we are inching closer to the Open Championship (the usual spot to see new Mizunos), we have these “BLANK” irons just magically show up on their social channels. They look like updated TN-87’s but they also closely resemble my personal favorite MP-37s, with the notched toe muscle (like I said I’m a fan, and collector, this gives me an excuse to show these off).
The MP-20s (blades) will closely resemble the look of the TN-87 in a modern package with the notch toe, simple muscle design, and gradually decreasing blade length into the shorter irons ala the MP-18s. Alongside this muscle shape, Mizuno will take another step back to their roots (since they now have the HD forging process) and talk more enhanced feel with the addition of a copper underlay to the new series of irons (hence the #Layersoffeel).
Could I be way off base? Potentially.
But if I know one thing it’s Mizuno iron history, and what do we know about history? It often repeats itself…
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Raymond
Aug 8, 2019 at 9:04 am
Love these clubs 1st set I had were MP 37s then 4 years ago up graded to the MP 4s.
S
Jul 8, 2019 at 5:39 am
Can’t believe Mizuno has actually picked the notched toe muscleback design for their new release. I always fantasized about MP-14 or MP-29 being returned from their glorious past and they are now making it a reality! I wonder how I would be feeling when I see them in person… The reason I got my MP-37 back in 2006 was because there were no brand-new MP-14 or MP-29 available, and they stayed in my bag ever since.
Mike
Jul 6, 2019 at 2:03 pm
Matt Kuchar is a dbag
Scott H
Jul 5, 2019 at 11:59 am
Looks like you were spot on. Mizuno Golf North Maerican has another #LayersOfFeel Post today showing a copper plated iron head.
Z
Jul 5, 2019 at 2:10 am
All we ask is that it be shiny. Not this queer brushed junk, please. It ain’t Mizuno if it ain’t shiny. Leave the dull look to the Pings of the world
Joe Duffer
Jul 1, 2019 at 12:05 pm
Tiger played a split set of Mizuno irons in 1997…
Mizuno MP-29 (2-4; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts), MP-14 (5-PW; True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 shafts).
eric
Jul 1, 2019 at 11:08 am
They’ve been using copper underlayer on their Mizuno Pro line for a long time, even the current Pro 118s have them. Just that they’re JDM only, I’m sure that layersoffeel hashtag just means they’re going to be releasing copper underlayer construction on their MP lines worldwide now and not just JDM.
Z
Jun 30, 2019 at 10:47 pm
Can we get the 33’s a comeback? Best irons ever. Played the 4’s can’t stand them and hit the 18’s, no thanks. Still playing my trusty 33’s
Mower
Jul 25, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Yelp. Still playing mine from 2000. 19 years of pure joy!
JP
Jun 30, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Why is that? Just because you think so?
jagger
Jun 30, 2019 at 8:56 am
Take a look at the Hogan Precision blades from ’53 and ’54. Very similar designs. Love the look!
Pig
Jun 30, 2019 at 2:33 am
I own a few sets of Mizuno’s that I absolutely love (32’s, 33’s, and 60’s). As much as I wanted to game the MP-18’s, I never could get comfortable with their thicker top line. I sure hope these new ones truly go back to their roots and have a thinner top line.
rex 235
Jun 30, 2019 at 12:50 am
Ryan-
At this point, let me agree with Stump.
Actually have a LH Tsuneyuki (Tommy) Nakajima TN-87 2 iron from 30+ years ago- You can see it on a Classic Clubs thread.
With no MP-18 MBs or 919 Tours, one doubts Mizuno will ever remake the LH TN-87 iron
model.
Manufacturer Remake Rule #1- NO LH forged blade models-because..”tiny”
fifteenclubs
Jun 29, 2019 at 10:39 pm
Great article Ryan… but now if these are released I have another set of irons to buy!! Never hit the TN-87s but if they can improve on the feel of the MP-18s I’d be very impressed!
Ted
Jun 29, 2019 at 9:00 pm
That is true, but what does this have to do with Mizuno iron releases?
Saul Carrera
Jun 29, 2019 at 8:37 pm
Wow those are beautiful even completely blank. I have played Mizuno since the early 1990s MP14’s and now MP4’s. Was thinking of buying the MP18’s but may habe to wait to see these new models.. WOW.. ??????????????
chad
Jun 29, 2019 at 7:55 pm
already talked to my rep. he confirmed they have new stuff coming but couldn’t comment further. They usually release in the fall.
Joe Hendricks
Jun 29, 2019 at 7:44 pm
I believe the TN-87 is closer in design to the Mizuno MP-29’s. I played this club in the 90’s and it was a hand forged club with a fantastic feel. I still have these in my golf room and they look identical to this proposed Mizuno Model.
Ted
Jun 29, 2019 at 9:56 pm
I agree. I got my first set of Mizuno irons in 1995 (MP 29s, 1-PW) and they are in immaculate
condition (since I use iron covers). I also still have my 33s, 58s, 4s, 5s, JPX 900 Tours, and
MP 18s. Sold my 37s, 67s, 68s and 69s. Wish I kept them all. It’s fun to go back and play the older
models.
I look forward to the next evolution !
Darrell Taylor
Jun 29, 2019 at 11:49 pm
Remember: Tiger played MP29’s in High School and College. When he turned pro, he signed with Titleist, who made him several sets of proto types. He hated them so Titleist went to Mizuno and bought “blanks”, stamped “Titleist” on the back and that is what he played until he signed with Nike. If you notice, to this day the clubs he plays closely resemble the MP29’s he grew up with.
Dan
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:21 pm
I always believed that but it wasn’t true. There was never a Mizuno iron stamped Titleist.
Dan
Jul 2, 2019 at 9:29 pm
Woods never played a Mizuno w a Titleist Stamp. That was a myth. There’s a podcast about that topic somewhere in golfWRX
NRJyzr
Jul 5, 2019 at 10:01 am
Not the Titleist / Mizuno myth again, good Lord…
The myth should have been put to bed by the podcast with Larry Bobka; he revealed Tiger’s irons with Titleist were based on old Titleist box blades, not Mizunos.
Scott Hill
Jul 1, 2019 at 2:19 pm
They look very much like the MP-29’s and are being called MP-20’s this time around… look amazing… back to a chrome finish… thinner top line…
Everyone who loves Mizuno blades will be extremely happy I believe they are out in September
Bladeguru
Jul 5, 2019 at 7:07 pm
That’s because the 29s were the USA release of the tn87. Same head but no copper underlay
DaveyD
Jun 29, 2019 at 7:18 pm
My MP-18 Split Cavity clubs were true game changers for me. Should be interesting to see if Mizuno keeps the SC in the next iteration.
Ivan
Jun 29, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Think you will find that the legendary japanese golfer you refer to in your article is actually called Tommy Nakajima. No idea who Tommy Nakashima is. First rule of journalism – check your facts and check again. Another poster has already noticed this.
Ben Alberstadt
Jun 29, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Thank you for pointing this out. The name has been corrected. As the editor, this falls on me, and I apologize for the error.
Gunter Eisenberg
Jun 30, 2019 at 10:18 am
Silly millennial…will you people ever learn?
Kyle
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Been saying this for the last month or so. Titleist and absolutely no knock on them or anyone else for that matter have been posting their new stuff for pre release which is fine. I knew mizuno was crafting something tremendous for release soon and bang. Buckle your chin straps. From what I’ve been told if you thought MP 18 was tremendous what they are about to drop is simply off the charts.
Josh
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Great work and speculation on this Ryan…although I’m suddenly a bit sad I sold my MP37’s to get a new set of MP57’s a while back.
A.R. Perez jr.
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:24 pm
I played Mizunos back in the 70’s and loved them. The only problem I had was that because of the soft metal I was constantly adjusting the loft and lie. But that was ok because they are the best blades made today.Period!
Jack Nash
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:06 pm
And here I just bought some 919’s. Good thing I can’t hit blades anymore. Pheeeewwww. That was close.
Wally S.
Jun 29, 2019 at 8:04 pm
Beat me to it!!
Travis
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:05 pm
Definitely a throw back design with multi-material layers. If they basically do a complete copy of the old TN-87’s with updated branding that alone would be a huge success. Companies don’t need to always reinvent the wheel, just bring back their best designs.
Carrera
Jun 29, 2019 at 4:00 pm
It is Tommy Nakajima, not Nakashima.
nick
Jun 29, 2019 at 2:29 pm
I hope you’re right. Those are beautiful.
Stump
Jun 29, 2019 at 12:59 pm
I HOPE Mizuno gives some blade love to us lefties this time around. They give us some nice selections, but never give us the ones I want…like the MP-18 MB and the 919 Tour.
John
Jun 29, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Based on cryptic comments on social media by mizuno, these will be available in LH. A Japanese publication also confirmed this is a prototype new iron based on the TN-87 being tested by pros in japan already. Lots to get excited about for a lefty mizuno fan like me!