REVIEW: Mizuno JPX 850 Forged Irons
Mizuno Golf is renowned worldwide for building some of the highest quality golf clubs money can buy. I had the chance to test out a full set of the new Mizuno JPX 850 Forged irons this week, which have earned their way into my full-time golf bag. Let's talk about why.
Specifications
The Mizuno JPX 850 Forged irons are a different animal from other irons you have seen in the past. These are the first clubs to feature boron -- a metal that is 30 percent harder than steel -- aimed at giving players incredible distance gains across the set. Each iron's loft is slightly stronger than standard (by today's measurements, at least), giving you even more distance per club.
Mizuno works very closely with every customer to build the perfect custom fit set of irons to best suit your game. They even went so far as to send me a set with a lie angle 1-degree flat, which is my preferred set-up. The stock shaft option -- which my irons feature -- is the True Temper XP 115, which is available in regular and stiff flex. Stock grips are Mizuno's M-31 360 grip.
Appearance (5/5)
Readers of this site know I'm a sucker for traditional-looking golf clubs. I don't like a lot of frills, colors, or anything else that will distract me at address. The Mizuno JPX 850 Forged irons are the perfect mix of a traditional build without trying to hide the evident technology in every clubhead. In short, these clubs are hands-down some of the prettiest irons you'll ever lay your hands on.
Performance and Feel (4/5)
From a performance standpoint, the Mizuno JPX 850 Forged irons performed as well as expected. Fans of Mizuno clubs will appreciate the way their irons cut through the turf (or in my case, glide nicely over a driving range mat) without digging or scraping the hitting surface. These irons also delivered on their promise of greater distances. For example, I typically carry my 7-iron around 155 yards. I was able to increase my carry distance by an average of 4 yards on the JPX 850, which can mean the difference between hitting the green and leaving it short into a hazard.
The only factor that prevents me from rating these clubs a full 5/5 is how they felt on miss-hits. When hit pure, the JPX 850 Forged were as nice as anything I've ever tried. When hit off the toe or heel, however, the clubs felt very punitive and I lost a great deal of distance. I prefer a soft feel on all of my clubs, which these did provide when hit properly.
Cost and Value (4/5)
These clubs aren't cheap; there's no hiding that fact (retail is $999.99 before any customization). That being said, these clubs won't fit everyone's golf budget.
However, if you are in the market for a new set of irons, you will not find a better value than the Mizuno JPX 850 Forged irons. Just be ready to pay for that value.
