Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Review
GolfMagic test out the Mizuno Pro 243 Irons.
- Significant improvements to previous iteration
- Fantastic shelf appeal
- Easy to combo set with the other irons in the 24-family
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Key Features:
- Grain Flow forging from Japan
- Soft Copper Underlay
- 4120 Chromoly with Flow Microslot for 4-7 iron
- 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel for the 8-to-gap wedge
Titled the “Tour Speed” model in the 2024 “Pro 24” series, The Mizuno Pro 243 is a forged cavity back iron that sits right in the middle between the 241 and the 245.
I’ve been fortunate to test these irons out for the last 6 months, with quite a custom build, and boy have they impressed me.
When golfers think of pure forged irons, Mizuno is usually the first name that comes to mind, and the 243s continue that fine legacy of premium performance Japanese irons.
Following on from the 223, some tech savvy golfers may have been inclined to believe not be a lot has changed from the previous iteration. They would be wrong.
A thinner face coupled up with a microslot on the longer irons has made these irons as fast and as enjoyable to hit as any competitors in 2024
As previously mentioned, I have tested these irons over an extensive period of time, and the results and performance I've been fortunate enough to receive have really impressed me.
Let's get into it.
Player Level
These irons are primarily targeted at a low handicap golfers, however with slightly stronger lofts and a healthy amount of forgiveness on offer, you could push the handicap level into the low teens for this beautiful set of irons.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Looks and Feel
Mizuno irons are historically top performers in the looks and feel department, and are always in our best irons of 2024 guide due to their forging process getting the golf medal from GolfMagic year-on-year.
As for looks, you can see that these sit very much in the middle of the pack for the new Mizuno range. The new satin finish is a big plus, with the 243’s reminding me of the new TaylorMade P7CB’s, with perhaps a little bit more weight behind the ball.
Mizuno's classic timeless styling once again shines through, with a single step cavity on the back, complimented by minimal branding.
From address, the refined blade length and topline will undoubtedly suit the eye of the better player, while minimal offset and a nicely rounded toe once again hit all the right notes from a visual perspective.
Premium feel has been at the core of what Mizuno does for as long as we've been alive. These irons produce a smooth, buttery response from the middle of the face, which really left me striving to replicate it time after time.
The turf interaction also seemed to be more optimal than the previous 223 range. Feedback was still received on off centre hits, with the toe strikes feeling very dull compared to other irons in the market. A good feature for some golfers.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Performance and Forgiveness
When I put these irons in the bag, I had been struggling for quite some time with striking it out of the toe. Unfortunately, the Mizuno Pro 243’s were no exception (user error!).
What did shock me during these rounds of sub-par ball striking was my playing partners didn’t notice my poor strikes. I would strike a 4 iron, hand off the grip, leading to jibes from my playing partners due to the ball flying right down the fairway. The forgiveness on offer is certainly an improvement compared to previous iterations, and a touch better than other competitors in 2024. These irons pack a punch too.
The spin was a touch low, which I could attribute to the lofts being 2 degrees lower than a traditional muscle back, but I still saw a high descent angle for mid irons which allowed me to attack greens from a lot of different positions.
The Mizuno Pro 243 will easily rival any irons in 2024 for an all around package, Mizuno seem to nail the iron category time and time again, and the 243s are no exception. If you are in the market for an iron that has that tour speed, whilst offering a healthy amount of forgiveness, the 243 could be the one for you.
Should you buy a set of Mizuno Pro 243 Irons?
When it comes to forged irons, there are few brands that can hold a candle to Mizuno. The feel, performance, looks and shelf appeal are all five star, so if you're serious about your golf and want the best of the best, these irons should certainly be high on your chritmas list.
