Mizuno Pro 221, 223, 225 Irons
Mizuno has long been famous for creating iconic irons that are so attractive and sculptural they are practically works of art.
Mizuno blades are also renowned for delivering exceptional feel at impact.
And this feel can lead to exceptional performance.
For instance, 13 of the 24 players who have reached #1 in the world golf rankings have played Mizuno irons at one point during their careers.
We are talking elite clubs for elite players.
And building on the great looks and feel of their predecessors, the new Mizuno Pro series irons feature technology and design refinements that enhance their performance.
Mizuno Pro Irons: Beloved In Japan
The Mizuno Pro brand is not new. It has been a signature franchise in Japan for a number of years, to the point of exclusivity.
It features Mizuno’s most forward thinking clubs—with cutting edge technology concealed within precise playing profiles, preferred by the game’s best players.
As the Mizuno Pro brand has gone global with its distinct script logo, the Pro series arrives in America, offering better players three new irons to consider for their games.
All feature grain flow forging HD and a soft copper underlay for exceptional feel—and each has a bit of new rocket fuel added as well.
The Mizuno Pro 221 is a new muscle back iron inspired by the iconic Mizuno blades of the past.
The Mizuno Pro 223 is an elite players’ cavity iron.
And the Mizuno Pro 225 is a hot metal blade design.
Let’s examine them all and see which might be the best match for you.
Mizuno Pro 221 Irons
The Mizuno Pro 221 is a blade, which means it’s inherently light on technology—forged from a single piece of grain-flow forged 1025E.
But that doesn’t mean it lacks innovation from its predecessor MP iron line.
The most notable design change is that Mizuno stole a bit of mass from the heel areas to thicken the muscle pad behind the impact zone.
This helps make it more playable.
Progressive CG Design
The Mizuno Pro 221 irons also leverage a new (for Mizuno) progressive center of gravity design.
This creates more penetrating trajectories as the lofts increase—to suit better players who typically prefer flatter flights in their scoring clubs.
The 221’s also feature a soft copper underlay to provide a classic, smooth Mizuno feel at impact.
Reshaped Look
Mizuno has done a bit of reshaping with the 221 Pro irons, which have a shorter heel to toe and are generally more compact than the MP-20.
The beveling on the topline is also a bit more aggressive, which makes it appear less blunt at address.
A low-glare satin mirror finish completes the attractive look.
Traditional Lofts
We would characterize the Mizuno Pro 221 lofts as ‘traditional’ because by modern standards a 34-degree 7-iron and a 46-degree pitching wedge qualify as weak lofted.
The Mizuno Pro 221 is offered only for right-handed players—but don’t worry, lefties, because the 223 irons are an excellent option for you.
Mizuno Pro 223 Irons
From an engineering perspective, the Mizuno Pro 223 is probably the biggest step forward of all three new irons.
Mizuno describes the Mizuno Pro 223 as the iron that PGA Tour players need but would never ask for.
That is to say, an iron with a compact footprint that delivers distance-boosting technology and forgiveness.
The Target: 12-Handicap or Better Players
That forgiveness requires a bit of context, since Mizuno is aiming the new Pro 223 iron at golfers with a 12-handicap or lower.
But these above average recreational golfers are sure to welcome the added forgiveness, while they appreciate the shape and size of the new Mizuno Pro 223 irons—with their precisely beveled back edge.
A Change In Materials
The greatest departure from Mizuno tradition in the new Pro 223’s is the use of different material in different lofts.
The 8-iron to PW are made with grain-flow forged from 1025E, while the 4- to 7-irons are forged from Chromoly steel and outfitted with microslots.
Clearly, Mizuno is ready for a wider base of buyers!
The upside of forged chromoly is that allows Mizuno to thin the faces of the Pro 223, which adds speed—something Mizuno hasn’t really done before.
This is a welcome transition.
Stronger, More Modern Lofts
Compared to the Pro 221 irons, the Mizuno Pro 223 irons have more ‘modern’ lofts that are two degrees stronger in the long and middle irons.
The stronger lofts work with the speed benefits of chromoly to produce more distance while still keeping the trajectories well within playable range.
Think of the Mizuno Pro 223 as a player’s distance iron that favors the player side of the equation.
And with Pro 223 irons, the good news is that those players include lefties, with a full lefty set available.
Mizuno Pro 225 Irons
The new Mizuno Pro 225 iron is the second generation of what was formerly the Mizuno HMB iron and are the most playable of the Mizuno Pro Series irons.
Smaller and faster than its predecessor, the new Pro 225 has a more compact, Tour-like profile, which is especially noticeable in the mid and short irons.
Meanwhile, the hollow-body construction has been slimmed down enough to almost pass for a blade.
Multi-Material Construction
Like the HMB, the new Mizuno Pro 225 iron features a grain-flow forged chromoly construction on the face and neck.
One can debate whether multi-material construction qualifies as forged, but Mizuno’s point of view is that if you’re going to mix cast and forged pieces, it should be a forged piece that makes contact with the ball.
Tungsten Triumphs
The new Mizuno Pro 225 irons also incorporate tungsten weighting in the 2- through 7-irons. (There is no practical benefit to tungsten in the scoring clubs.)
The additional mass of the tungsten allows Mizuno to drive the center of gravity lower and deeper, which results in higher launching long and middle irons.
This makes the Pro 225 irons easier to hit in a way that works well with the stronger lofts.
Thinner Faces, More Speed
The Mizuno Pro 225 irons also feature thinner faces than the HMB, which bumps up the COR (read: more speed).
Strongest Lofts of All
The Mizuno Pro 225 irons also feature thinner faces than the HMB, which bumps up the COR (read: more speed).
No Longer ‘Tech-Less’
Mizuno is at its best when it’s getting more out of smaller irons. And the evolution of the more compact 223 and 225 irons should allow the Mizuno brand to modernize without betraying its roots.
The company is using technology in ways that are consistent with its traditional mission of making great looking, great feeling players’ irons.
And these refinements are delivering greater playability.
Swing By & Swing Away
Stop by one of our four stores today and test swing the new Mizuno Pro family of irons in our state-of-the-art indoor fitting bays.
Our stores feature TrackMan 4 and GCQuad indoor simulators to provide invaluable high-tech feedback as a key part of our expert custom club fitting process.
You‘ll see all the performance data right on the screen as we provide you with an expert custom fit. It’s the best way to play your best golf with the Mizuno Pro 221, 223 or 225 irons.