Miizun’s goal with its new ST Series of metal woods, the ST-Z 220 and ST-X 220, is more consistent distance..
The ST-Z and ST-X drivers feature a 40 per cent expansion of the carbon-sole area and thinning out the Titanium portion, alongside a doubling of the stabilizing back weight.
“Any twisting or deflecting at impact due to an off-centre hit is an energy loss and varies launch conditions,” says Mizuno’s director of R&D David Llewellyn. “By working with the prior ST driver platform and familiar materials, we were able to find several adaptations to impact the internal weighting, creating far more stable tendencies in both the ST-Z and ST-X.”
Finding greater consistency and distance from off-centre strikes leads to improved overall performance.
“By early 2021, with the vast majority of tour players we tested, the ST Series drivers were able to improve on their current driver for ball speed, looks and feel,” sad Mizuno’s director of product Chris Voshall.
“The occasional barrier to getting a driver in play was the distance drop off from off-centre strikes. Our engineers isolated and tackled that last dimension with the new ST-Z and ST-X. We’re now seeing the results – ball speed drop-offs are negligible, and we’ve massively tightened the overall ranges of launch and spin.”
Mizuno ST-Z 220 Driver (Straight – Low spin)
With a balanced toe/heel carbon construction and central back weight, Mizuno’s ST-Z driver encourages a low spinning, efficient, straight ball flight. The 460 c.c. profile is both confidence-inspiring and appealing to elite players. A heavier, 20 g back weight creates a deeper centre of gravity.
“The ST-Z is the most played of all our drivers. It’s a modern driver for players who have grown up hitting long straight bombs rather than shaping the ball. The addition of a 20 g back weight also makes it an exceptionally forgiving option,” says Voshall.
The ST-Z driver features Mizuno’s Z-Axis design with weight evenly distributed across toe and heel, encouraging a low spinning stable straight flight. A highly resilient forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and multi-thickness CORTECH design is used for increased ball speeds.
Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design for vibration patterns elite players associate with a solid feel. The Wave Sole delivers an additional contribution to ball speeds, particularly from low on the clubface while four degrees of loft adjustability allows for fine-tuning of launch and trajectory.
It’s available in right hand, 9.5 and 10.5 degrees, and left hand, 9.5 degrees only.
Mizuno ST-X 220 Driver (Draw Bias – Mid Spin)
With its heel focused weight location, the ST-X is built for players seeking a higher, right to left ball flight.
With higher spin rates than its ST-Z counterpart, the ST-X, is for those with moderate swing speeds, needing help producing a more extended ball flight.
A new 20-gram heel biased back weight creates a deeper centre of gravity for more efficient, longer drives. The ST-X is also available as a J-Spec option, with ultra-lightweight HeLIUM NanoCore shaft for seniors and those with slower swing speeds.
“For a lot of golfers, the modern, low spinning driver design preferred by tour players is a serious distance killer,” says Voshall. “The ST-X’s extra spin, slight draw bias and a higher flight will add driving distance for a surprising number of players.”
The ST-X is built for stability from off-centre strikes through an expansion of the carbon sole area by 40 per cent and a thinning out the Titanium portion, alongside a near doubling of the stabilizing heel/back weight.
Featuring Mizuno’s X-Axis design, weight is focused deep in the heel, encouraging a higher draw bias flight. With a rounded 460 c.c. profile, the driver offers a higher launch and mid spin performance. A highly resilient forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and multi-thickness CORTECH design are used for increased ball speeds.
Also featuring a Wave Sole, it’s available in right hand only 10.5 and 12 degrees.
ST-X 220 Fairway Woods (Draw Bias – High Launch)
Featuring Mizuno’s X-Axis design, the ST-X fairway woods have been engineered to produce a higher, draw biased flight.
With deep internal weighting, the ST-X fairway woods are suitable for those with moderate swing speeds who need elevated launch to achieve improved distance and controlled landing angles.
The generously sized three wood boasts a full Ti construction with SAT2041 Beta face, as featured in Mizuno’s drivers and a Ti811 body and an Optimized Wave Sole,
With Maraging MAS1C steel face, the five and seven wood are significantly more compact than the three wood, for use from the fairways.
“There are a lot of forgiving looking fairways woods that don’t launch high enough for the average amateur,” said Voshall. “Size and footprint is only one part of the equation. Most of us need a little more spin and elevation to carry the ball to our full capability. The ST-X is designed to solve that issue.”
These fairway woods are available in right hand only, three wood (16 degrees), fivewood (18.5) and seven wood (21.5).
ST-X 220 Hybrids (Draw Bias – High Launch)
Produced for a higher, draw biased flight, the ST-X hybrids are suitable for moderate swing speed players who need elevated launch to achieve imprroved distance and controlled landing angles.
Mizuno’s X-Axis design features an ultra-light waffle crown, with deep internal weighting to encourage a high draw biased flight.
At 1.8 m.m., the high-speed MAS1C face is Mizuno’s thinnest hybrid face to date and it produces the highest recorded ball speeds from cente strikes (compared to previous ST-X and CLK) and feature an Optimized Wave Sole.
“The ST-X is a great hybrid option for players with moderate ball speeds,” said Voshall. “With the new thinner face and internal weighting, it’s a nice alternative that will suit a lot of amateur golfers.”
These hybrids are availabile in ight hand only, 4H (20 degrees), 5H (23) and 6H (26).
MSRPs
ST-Z 220 Driver: $599.99
ST-X 220 Driver: $5999.99
ST-X 220 Fairway Woods: $399.99
ST-X 220 Hybrids: $299.99
