Mizuno Swing DNA fitting for MP-25 irons

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What happens when you pick up one of the softest feeling and most forgiving player irons on the market, and then put it through its paces with Mizuno's Swing DNA system? Extraordinary things, that's what. 

Having already noted the sexy-looking Mizuno MP-25's soft, buttery forged feel and laser-like accuracy during our 2015 better player irons test, there was only ever one iron we set eyes on entering Mizuno's superb custom-fitting base at Bearwood Lakes in West Berkshire. 

Under the watchful eye of Mizuno’s European Tour fitter Simon Keeling, we began the Swing DNA process by looking at player background and handicap. By providing measurements such as height (5'10) and knuckle-to-floor (32 inches), the data in Mizuno's system revealed the correct length of the iron was to be standard.

GOLD: Mizuno MP 25 iron review

Next up, we looked at one of the most important aspects of a custom fitting - the shaft. To correctly identify a custom-fitted shaft, Mizuno's clever Swing DNA system requires the player to strike three shots with a 'Shaft Optimiser' - this is essentially an on-board computer bolted onto a shaft.

While it feels a little indifferent to swing, the system instantly registers five bits of information: clubhead speed, tempo, toe down, kick angle and release factor. 

"Amateurs tend to think they have a lot of different swings – but in my experience they just use a lot more of the club face," said Keeling. "The great thing about the Shaft Optimiser is that it only measures what happens to the shaft – so it works even if you're having a bad ball striking day."

While clubhead speed is self explanatory, tempo is determined by the quickness of the golfer's transition from the backswing to the downswing, toe down is the measure of the bowing of the shaft in a downward direction during the downswing, kick angle is the amount of shaft forward bending during the downward motion, and release factor is when the clubhead and shaft release during the downswing. 

FEATURE: Custom fitting - how can it help

With each aspect scored out of nine and the averages logged into the system, at the press of a button, Mizuno reveals the three shafts you should consider playing. However, these shafts are only a starting point, not the holy grail. The system also reveals what shaft flex you should be favouring, at the same time, explaining where you are in relation to some of Mizuno's Tour players - which is a nice touch.

In our case, the system flagged up an 87 mph clubhead speed (6-iron), which landed in the stiff flex area (just past Luke Donald) and Project X, Dynamic Gold and KBS shafts, of which we favoured the latter. For us, the KBS Tour 90 shaft seemed to deliver a little more precise distance control, a more consistent trajectory and overall feel throughout the swing.

The next key feature of custom fitting is lie angle. If a lie angle is too upright, the first bit of the club to hit the ground is the heel and you will pull more shots. If the lie angle is too flat, with the toe digging into the ground and causing the club face to open, you will block more shots to the right. 

TOUR REACTION: Chris Wood talks Mizuno MP 25 irons

To log in a player's correct lie angle, you attach some special tape to the sole of the iron and then strike balls off a lie board. From there, you simply look at where the strike comes by seeing the mark on the tape. For me, the strike mark developed a little more in the toe, and so we favoured irons that were tweaked one-degree upright. 

Once happy with that, we looked at grip size. If a grip is too small or too thin, the hands can release too much. If it's too thick, the hands can hold the club face open a little too much. For me, two layers of tape on the grip was suffice, and I favoured a black/white Golf Pride New Decade MultiCompound. 

Putting all that together, and the results were clear for all to see with very tight offline dispersion and above-average distance that bumped up some three yards on our current set. 

TEST: Best better player irons 2015

There are more than 400 Mizuno fitters spread across the UK, each one armed with the fitting carts, Swing DNA software and Shaft Optimiser technology.

So if you're in the market for one of Mizuno's hottest new irons, we thoroughly recommend you pay a visit. You will likely not be disappointed. 

For more information, head to the Mizuno website 

Played with the MP 25 irons yet? Ever been for a custom fitting with Mizuno? Share your thoughts in the forum thread below, on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or visit us on YouTube.