MX-300 irons

For most golfers, finding the right set of Mizuno irons should be relatively straightforward. The better players find themselves under the spell of the sleek lines of the bladed MP line, while game-improvers - the aspiring golfers - are fall for the MX range while harbouring dreams of one day becoming an MP player.

But what of the established player whose game neither fits the MX nor the MP range? This player strikes the ball better than an improver but maybe lacks the consistency of the low, single figure golfer drawn to the MP range. This players tends to shy away from the larger heads but still need some assistance when the centre of the clubface is proving somewhat elusive. This player's handicap says 13 but his head and heart define him as 7. In creating the MX-300 irons, Mizuno believes it has provided this poor lost soul with a refuge - and then some!

Straddling the gap between the MP and MX ranges, the 300s provide the perfect bridge - offering the looks and feel of a forged iron while delivering the benefits of an undercut cavity. The now-retired MX-23 did the job beautifully when it was launched in 2004 and the MX-300s are clearly an updated version of that classic set.

The key to achieving this balance is the make-up of the set. While each club is Grain Flow Forged from a single block of mild carbon steel and featurse a specially-configured 'Y-Tune' pad behind the face, the long and mid-irons, compared to the short irons are very different. Irons 3-7 have a pocket cavity on the rear of the club that moves 12 grams of weight lower and further back to encourage a higher launch and a tad more forgiveness.

As for the 'scoring' clubs - 8, 9, PW - they have a solid bar to allow the player to work the ball through the air. As a result Mizuno offers adaptability.

And it really works. For those stubborn souls who still favour a long iron over a hybrid, they will find the 3- or 4- iron far less intimidating than the butter-knives served up by the MP ranges. They're not wide-soled shovels by any means but there is certainly plenty of help on offer. Shots are crisp, with less of the gouging effect often seen with long irons, thanks to cambered sole.

At the other end of the spectrum, the short irons feel like specialist clubs rather than just the higher-lofted clubs of a game-improvement set. The lofts are a tad stronger throughout the set to generate more distance but with the tuning and weighting the ball flight is high where it's needed most and a little more penetrating when it comes to attacking the flagstick.

Predictably, the feel off the face is beautifully soft, yet solid; powerful yet yielding. Striking the ball is a joy with the MX-300s. They mean business, too. The topline is thinner but not intimidatingly so, while the brushed finish, the Y-Tune rear pad and the classy black decals give the MX-300s a look that quietly oozes quality.

With the dimensions of the MX-300s falling midway between the MX-200 and the MP-52, and a level of offset closer to the MP line, these clubs lean closer to the better player market but retain enough of their MX DNA to remain eminently playable. If you want MP performance but don't quite have the game, this is perfect option.