Mizuno launch new MP-18 irons

Mizuno has launched its new MP-18 irons for “better players”.

The forged irons come in three models, allowing players to mix and match sets.

Grain Flow Forged by the Japanese brand’s master craftsmen YORO, the new irons are inspired by “every great player to pure a Mizuno iron since 1933”.

The MP-18 is a throwback to the muscle-backs of Mizuno’s past. A shorter blade length, cambered top line and steep progression into sharp, compact wedges are all hallmarks of Mizuno’s master clubmakers, who have honed their skills on the irons of countless major winners over the years.

“We significantly shifted the balance of science and art with the MP-18s,” says Chris Voshall, Senior Club Engineer. “You can instantly notice a greater input from the master craftsmen in that the MP-18 is more like the blades that made Mizuno famous - just more precise in its flow and manufacturing. At impact, this is just about perfection.”

Mizuno’s most experienced, skilled craftsmen have put their finishing grinds and touches to every iron from 3-PW. Grain Flow Forged from a single billet of 1025 E Pure Select mild carbon steel, MP-18 irons have a softer feel thanks to an evolved Grain Flow Forged HD (High Density) process that concentrates the grain in those billets more tightly for incredible, precise feedback.

The shorter blade length and low heel profile carry over from previous models, while a thin topline has been further refined with an additional camber. The scoring clubs from #7 to pitching wedge then boast a progressively smaller, more sharply refined head.

“You can sense Turbo’s signature on the MP-18s,” says Nick Faldo, Mizuno staff player and six-time major winner. “They remind me of the blades we worked on together all those years ago.”

The SC (Split Cavity) model is a compact cavity back. The slightly wider, cambered sole brings a greater degree of playability than the muscle-back, although thin, tapered top lines, short head lengths and smaller wedges mean this is still very much a tour-ready iron. MP-18 SC irons are again the handiwork of Mizuno’s most experienced, skilled YORO craftsmen and are Grain Flow Forged from a single billet of 1025 E Pure Select mild carbon steel via the same HD process as the muscle-back for the same precise feedback.

Compared to the MP-18 muscle-back, the heads are just 0.5mm taller - with the YORO signature low heel design - and the top lines just 1mm thicker, again with a refined camber. The pitching wedge is also smaller than the other irons in the set.

“The MP-18 SC is an iron that combines a lot of practical needs – stability, workability and softness at impact - with our craftsmen’s desire for immaculate looks over the ball,” says Voshall. “Although the sole is a little wider than the muscle-back, from every playing position, the two models blend beautifully

as a mixed set. The MP-18 SC wedges don’t taper off as dramatically in size as the muscle-back, so between the two models better players will find something that suits their eye.”

The final member of the new MP-18 iron family is the MMC, the fruits of a three-year project lead by Mizuno’s YORO master craftsmen to develop a highly stable, forgiving multi-metal construction iron, which also satisfied their aesthetic desires and demands at address.

Even with both lightweight titanium and heavier tungsten components sealed within its 1025E mild carbon steel head, the MP-18 MMC maintains a similar; our ready profile and size to the MP-18 SC.

The MMC’s multi-material stability design uses lightweight Titanium (8g) and heavier Tungsten (20g) to deliver surprising off-centre performance, with the same High Density (HD) feel as the other two models. The short irons feature a dual-metal design, with the absence of the tungsten toe weight found in the longer irons keeping the scoring irons more workable. The MP-18 MMC model features a players’ compact profile, which is similar in size to the MP-18 SC but with the added forgiveness of multi-material construction.

“The MP-18 MMC is the first multi-material MP iron built in the vision of our master clubmakers, which sets standards for looks and aesthetics that this kind of multi-metal construction typically prohibits,” says Voshall. “It extended our normal two-year development cycle by a full year - but raising the bar that little bit higher delivered a landmark iron.”

The MMC model will flow into any MP-18 split set, with the degree of offset carefully calculated to work equally well with a custom-built mixed set of either MP-18 and MP-18 SC, once lofts have been weakened to match either set.

The long iron replacement now used by every Mizuno tour player that offers a higher-flying option from long range with steeper landing angles. The latest Fli-Hi’s sleek new profile now envelopes a Maraging steel face, a Tungsten toe weight and an internal pocket for enhanced ball speed and ease of use.

The Fli-Hi’s Multi-Material stability design uses that Lightweight Maraging steel face and Tungsten toe weight (20g) to generate a high, stable ball flight, with the topline again only 1mm thicker than in the corresponding MP-18 muscle-back.

“The Fli-Hi is very much a fixture now on tour,” says Voshall. “Even the most classically minded players have converted to the #2 and #3 iron replacements. These are a far cry from heavily offset game improvement hybrids - but much easier than a traditional long iron to flight and land in firm conditions.

Available: September 2017