Mizuno

What it does: Mizuno uses a steel alloy called chromoly in a single-piece casting to create the thinnest, fastest face in company history – 2.2 millimetres at the centre and as thin as 1.9 millimeters at the extremes. The result is an iron that can produce ball speeds normally only seen in irons with cupfaces, sole slots or face-insert designs. As with virtually every Mizuno iron, the sensation at impact is impressive. The Hot Metal has a perimeter undercut cavity with updated ribs designed to support the frame for improved sound and feel. A degree stronger loft (29 degrees in the 7-iron) helps with distance. 

Why we like it: There are not many companies, if any, that can introduce four sets of irons with the same basic nomenclature and have you believe each has an audience. But that’s what Mizuno has done with its JPX921 lineup. In this instance, the Hot Metal model has a slightly expanded footprint compared with its affiliated Tour and Forged models. It’s also on the compact side of the game-improvement category. A strong proponent of fitting, Mizuno continues to enhance its Shaft Optimiser, first introduced in 2010 to allow golfers to narrow their shaft choices in just a few swings.

7-iron loft 29 degrees pw loft 44 degrees