The arrival of new Mizuno irons is only slightly less predictable than Old Faithful. You can be all but certain that as the leaves are starting to turn, Mizuno will introduce 2 new sets of MP series irons. Sure, they threw us a curveball when the MP-H4s showed up instead of the MP-54, but otherwise, Mizuno releases run like clockwork.
The MP-59s came two years after the 58s, the MP-69s two years after the 68s, and as you might expect the MP-64s…yup…two years after the MP-63s.
Did anybody not see that coming?
Fortunately, where Mizuno is concerned, predictable is anything but boring. The company has a well-earned reputation for producing some of the best, if not the best feeling irons in golf, and year after year each release not only looks great, they perform.
Always.
For me, Mizuno releases are among the most anticipated of any golf season. That’s because year after year the never disappoint. The MP-64 is not the exception, it’s the predictable continuation of the proud Mizuno tradition.
Specifications
Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold
Stock Grip: GolfPride Mizuno M-31
While it’s absolute commonplace these days, we’d be remiss not to point out that not even Mizuno is immune from the plague that is strong lofts in clubs targeted at the better player. While Mizuno stays true to what’s traditional by the modern standard from the 3-6 iron, but the time we hit the 7 gaps start to widen, and like we so often do these days, we’re left with a 46° PW.
Before you get too worked up about it, it’s worth nothing that Mizuno’s custom department will bend the irons to your chosen specifications.
Key Features
- Flow Thickness Diamond Muscle Pad delivers optimized performance and perfect flow through the entire set.
- Scientifically designed to optimize sound and feel at impact utilizing Modal Analysis software and Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Technology (HIT).
- Patented Grain Flow Forged 1025E “Pure Select” mil carbon steel provides the ultimate in soft, solid and consistent feel.
- Tour confirmed sole and a compact head size allow for the ultimate ability to alter shots, delivering more control.
- Modified U-Grooves produce the ideal spin rate for maximum playability in all conditions.
Target Golfer
+2 to 10 handicaps
Make no mistake about it, the MP-64 isn’t an iron Mizuno has designed for the average golfer. It’s a better player’s iron slotted directly below the MP-69 (true muscleback) in the current Mizuno lineup. If forgiveness is a primary concern, you’ll want to look elsewhere – like the MP-59, MP-H4, JPX-825, or JPX-825 Pro.
Looks
Let’s start with the obvious; it’s a Mizuno, and that means clean lines and not much flare. The beauty is in the simplicity of the design. As we’ve come to expect from Mizuno MP-series irons, the MP-64s offer a no frill design that is pure class.
One little detail that is a bit different for Mizuno is that their running bird logo is actually forged into the cavity. Mizuno will tell you that it illustrates the precision of their forging process. While I can’t speak to that, I will admit that it’s a cool little detail that helps set the MP-64s apart from the pack.
With recent generations of the MP line the sole featured a visible C-Grind. With the MP-64s Mizuno worked closes with tour players to refine the design. The result is cleaner sole. While there is still plenty of relief the sole has been smoothed out substantially.
If there’s a knock on the MP-64s it’s that, not unlike the MP-69s, the irons feature a progressive design. While the 3-7 irons feature what I suppose you could call a classic blade shape, as you transition to the 8, 9, and ultimately the pitching wedge, the shape becomes more rounded, and the faces get taller.
Be sure to check out the pictures which are a mix of the 4, 7, and PW. You’ll notice that the pitching wedge has a distinctly different shape from the other irons pictured. The same is true of the 8 and 9 irons as well.
I’m sure the designers have their reasons, but for those looking for a consistently compact design throughout the entire set, the design is problematic.
Quite frankly I’m not a fan of the higher lofted clubs. Even with what appears to be consistent thickness of the topline, the short irons look ever-so-slightly game-improvement-like. They’re almost out of place when side by side with the long and middle irons. If I’m being brutally honest, whatever the reasons behind the design; I hate it.
I suspect most; however, most will be fine with the design. Even with what I’d call slightly bloated short irons, the MP-64s look all the part of a better players iron.
Feel
One of the more interesting things about the Mizuno MP-64 irons is that they were designed with feel in mind. Now I realize that rings of the obvious. Mizuno is pretty much known for outstanding feel – and feel is always going to be a priority with every Mizuno iron. Even with that said, the reality is that Mizuno engineers definitely took a different approach when designing the 64s.
Given the number of more forgiving irons in the current Mizuno lineup – the entire JPX Series, the MP-59s, and even the MP-H4s, Mizuno didn’t need to place as much focus on perimeter weighting and forgiveness. Instead, they put the metal directly behind the sweet spot, which they will tell you, leads to an iron that’s incredibly soft on perfectly struck balls, but still gives you plenty of feedback on those less than perfect shots.
Truth be told, hitting the MP-64s side by side with other Mizuno offerings, as well as some competing product, I’m inclined to suggest that the Mizuno irons do have a slightly softer feel on pure contact, but I don’t find any significant difference between the 64s and other Mizuno irons. Our primary tester for this project feels differently:
Performance
Just because we like to mix it up a little bit in these club reports we did something a little bit different. First we had our tester play a few rounds with his gamers, then we sent him out on the course with the Mizuno MP-64s, and just when he started to get used to them, we made him give them back. Back to his gamers he went.
So how did it go?
His initial impression was that, as an 8 handicap, he wasn’t good enough to play blades. By the letter, the MP-64s aren’t technically blades, but as cavity backs go, they’re certainly closer to muscleback than they are game-improvement iron. There’s no arguing that the 64s are a better players iron, and in basically every respect they’re more of a player’s club than what’s usually in his bag.
Once out on the course he quickly found himself pleasantly surprised. Despite the emphasis on feel and muscle, the MP-64s are more forgiving than one might expect. You’ll notice that recommended handicap ranges for anything other than true blades is slowly creeping higher (even the 64s are recommended for up to a 10 HCP). That’s because manufacturers have figured out how to do more (forgiveness) with less (overtly placed perimeter weighting), and the result is a better player’s iron that’s much more forgiving than similar designs from even a few years ago.
Surprisingly the MP-64s were nearly a club longer for our tester. While that’s noteworthy it’s quite possible the distance gains can be attributed to the shaft rather than the heads themselves, but it’s something you could potentially need to account for.
Control was outstanding, and our tester found that he quickly developed the confidence to go pin seeking rather than constantly aiming for the center of the green. Trajectory was higher than expected across long, middle, and short irons, but shaping shots (draws and cuts, as well as keeping the ball down when needed) is easily accomplished.
After several range sessions and plenty of time on the course, our tester shot his 3 best rounds of the season.
Since switching back to his gamers, outside of a couple of solid tournament scores he hasn’t been able to match the scores he posted with the MP-64s in his bag. Needless to say he’s not thrilled.
The Takeaway
While not quite as punishing as the MP-69s, the MP-64s, while more forgiving than you might expect, hardly fall into the category of a forgiving iron. What perimeter weighting there is used sparingly as most of the mass has been stacked directly behind the sweet spot. The result is textbook Mizuno; an iron that offers outstanding feel, in a no nonsense package that’s at once simple and stunningly beautiful.
The majority of MP-type golfers, even better ballstrikers will still likely be better off in the MP-59 (the gold standard for blending forgiveness with the characteristics that many better players prefer), but that’s not to say that the MP-64s don’t have their place. They’re ideally suited for the golfer who finds the MP-59s too bulky, but who also isn’t ready to jump into a true muscleback….guys like Luke Donald.
The Good
+ Topline width appears consistent even in more rounded short irons
+ Outstanding feel in classic Mizuno packaging
+ Compact design is ideal for better ballstrikers and shotmakers
The Bad
– Short irons have visibly different shape
– Not a significant upgrade from the MP-63
Mizuno MP-64 Gallery
hklam
11 years ago
Recently I just bought a set of MP64 and my handicap index is 15.4. Practiced hitting the MP64 couple of times at the range, and on my first day out on course with the MP64, I shot my first sub 80 round. Started with a birdie on the first hole from a nice flush hit with the 7 iron to about 6 feet, and at the end of the round, I had 4 birdies, 8 pars, 3 bogeys, 2 double bogeys and 1 triplebogey for a 78 score (Par 72 course). That was the best round of the year for me so far.
I have my set of MP64 on the standard Dynamic Gold R300 shafts which suit my swing speed.