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What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the Mizuno Pro 245 irons
In a day where brands are focused on more distance, Mizuno has done a fantastic job of staying true to their core and still remaining focused on a fantastic feel whilst adding technology to the head. The Mizuno Pro 245 iron is their latest hollow-bodied players’ iron offering in an ultra-competitive category, so how did we find it? Read on to find out.
Mizuno have been at the top of the game when it comes to player’s irons, so it should not be a surprise that these irons are fantastic.
These irons are incredibly powerful for such a wonderful feel; Mizuno have done a brilliant job frequency matching the vibrations to their small muscle back blade, so this doesn’t feel like a player’s distance iron.
They are confidence-inspiring behind the ball and playable for all different kinds of handicap level
These irons sit great in the bag. Easily confused with their brother, the Pro 241 iron has to be one of the most aesthetic hollow body construction irons out on the market right now, and it’s a competitive marketplace. They look powerful behind the ball with a confidence-inspiring top line and generous sole widths. I really like how the sole, the top line, and the offset get progressively smaller through the long and mid irons into quite a compact-looking scoring iron.
NCG Verdict
So many brands have their hollow-bodied player’s distance iron as their flagship iron that this has easily become the most competitive iron category in the marketplace at the moment. Even some lesser-known direct-to-consumer brands are having a go, so if you are a golfer looking at this type of club, you do have plenty of choice.
Mizuno being Mizuno, however, don’t release clubs if they are not better than what came before it, and they would never release an iron that wasn’t best in class, so it was exciting to unwrap the Mizuno Pro 245 irons and give them a go.
Like all of Mizuno’s irons, they are grain flow forged in Hiroshima, Japan, at an exclusive facility where only Mizuno irons have been built since the 60s. The 2 iron down to 8 iron are hollow body irons with a suspended tungsten weight to allow the face to flex and produce elevated ball speeds. The irons are also built with a multi-thickness face, which contributes to this. The 9 iron to gap wedge are only partially hollow with a much higher CoG to produce a more penetrating flight.
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Just like all of these pro series irons, they have a soft copper underlay, which produces the buttery feel from contact that we have come to expect from a Mizuno. Do not confuse a soft feel for a weak strike; however, look at how far I hit these irons.
Obviously, travelling further than the Pro 243 irons that I also tested, the ball rocketed off the face at ball speeds I haven’t seen for a long time out of iron; it is definitely the longest iron I have hit so far in 2024. Yes, the spin was a bit low, but these irons have in no way been custom fit for me, so with the right shaft and lie angle, this spin would come up to a more playable number.
I do like the new bounce angle Mizuno has put on the scoring irons in this model; the turf interaction was great, even on a soft, wet day at Sand Moor. I am also a huge fan of the harmonic impact technology, which makes these irons vibrate and feel like the muscle back blades do. This is incredible technology, which means golfers can no longer use ‘they don’t feel as good’ as an excuse not to use an iron with more help. I am not aware of any other brand doing this.
The only thing that stops me from giving these irons 5 stars is how low I hit the ball with them. I could only average 60 feet in the air with a 5 iron, which is HALF the trajectory McIlroy hits his irons and about 30 feet lower than I hit my current gamers. This will cause me issues hitting into greens, but is not a problem for everyone. If you want a powerful, beautiful iron that looks and feels like a blade, then look no further. You are going to love the Mizuno Pro 245 irons.
We always recommend getting a club fitting before purchasing new equipment. Did you know American Golf offers free fittings across its UK stores? Find your nearest store today!
