JPX EZ iron 2016 review

If you require added assistance to your ball striking and fancy unlocking some hidden yards this season, you will want to take a look at the updated Mizuno JPX EZ iron.

NEW: best game improvement irons 2016 test

The iron heads are infused with Boron to facilitate a wider cavity from the 4- to 7-iron, promoting increased ball speed and forgiveness, which is further increased by perimeter weighting.

When we recently caught up with Mizuno's club designer Chris Voshall, he explained how the new JPX EZ iron is as forgiving as it gets for the game improver in 2016. 

"We know for a fact this iron is beyond anything else currently on the market in terms of the highest MOI and COR," said Voshall. 

Feature: 'Day in a Life' with Mizuno's Chris Voshall

From the 8-iron to pitching wedge, the heads become a little more compact, allowing for improved control.

The irons boast a fresh anti-glare Black Nickel finish that Mizuno claims will "wear and soften over time."

Looks

While we had no real issues with the vibrant orange finish of the former JPX-EZ iron, something very different for Mizuno, we much prefer the darkened styling of the new model. It looks superb in the bag and will no doubt glisten on the rack in pro shops this year. 

Placing the clubhead in the palm of the glove, and we instantly noted Mizuno has thinned out the sole, making it much more streamlined than before. Another nice touch. 

Mizuno has also increased the rebound area of the face and thinned out the topline to make the rebound area even larger for greater ball speed.

The topline is moderate to large, but will likely prove appealing enough for the higher handicap player - which is who this iron is aimed at after all. 

We also liked the clear white scorelines on the face, aiding greater confidence over the ball, as too its straighter leading edge and squared off toe which aided superb ball striking. 

Feel

Mizuno is one of the masters of feel, and although the JPX EZ irons come some way off the feel generated out of the new better-player MP-25 iron, there is enough here for the game improver to get excited about. You can sense when you've caught one out the middle. 

Its sound at impact was not the most appealing in all honesty, but given we have been raving about the soft, buttery feel of Mizuno's MP 25 and MP 5 irons for some time now, pretty much every iron we test these days is up against it from the word go. 

Performance

One of the longest and most forgiving game-improvement irons on the market right now. 

Testing out the 6-iron in a respectable 28 degrees, we received an additional five-yard gain against the former JPX EZ iron of 2014. 

The trajectory was also coming out as one of the highest we've seen for a 6-iron, and we weren't sacrificing any distance. If you can stomach the sound at impact, you will likely appreciate the flight of this one. 

We also found there was not a lot of distance lost on off-centre hits, very strong accuracy across the board and a real ease of ball striking aided by the 360-degree Dual Pockets. 

You honestly have to be a very poor golfer to miss the sweetspot. It's large to say the least. 

Verdict

If you can stomach a little chunk in appearance and indifferent 'clank' in sound, you will likely fall in love with the added forgiveness and distance received out of the new JPX EZ iron.

By no means cheap at £700, but you cannot put a price on improved ball striking and added firepower, especially with your irons.