In September, Mizuno released the ST-G 200 driver, one of the most technologically advanced drivers on the market. It features a carbon-fiber crown, three moveable weight tracks, a thin titanium face, and an adjustable hosel to allow players and fitters to fine-tune the center of gravity and find the ideal launch angle and spin rates.
Now they have released two more drivers that may seem less sophisticated. However, the ST-Z 200 and ST-X 200 were designed to offer golfers more ball speed with extra forgiveness and stability. The next generation of Mizuno’s ST Series are engineered to produce the most efficient drives and highest ball speeds…more often.
The ST-Z and ST-X drivers offer exceptional stability and consistency from off-centre strikes. This is facilitated by a 40% 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 delivers improved 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,” says 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 – 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 modern, ground-hugging 460cc profile is both confidence-inspiring and appealing to elite players. A heavier, 20g back weight creates a deeper centre of gravity for more efficient performance, more often.
“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 20g back weight also makes it an exceptionally forgiving option,” says Chris 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 produce increased ball speeds.
Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design, delivering vibration patterns elite players associate with a ‘solid’ feel. The optimized Wave Sole delivers an additional contribution to ball speeds, particularly from low on the clubface while 4 degrees of loft adjustability allows for fine-tuning of launch and trajectory.
Availability: Right hand – 9.5 and 10.5 degrees.
Left hand – 9.5 degrees only.
Mizuno ST-X 220 – Draw Bias – Mid Spin
A confidence-inspiring, draw-biased driver with heel focused weight location, the ST-X will appeal to players seeking a higher, right to left ball
flight. With higher spin rates than its ST-Z counterpart, the ST-X, will suit 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 Chris 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 delivers exceptional stability from off-centre strikes via an expansion of the carbon sole area by 40% and 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 460cc profile, the driver offers a higher launch and mid spin performance. A highly resilient forged SAT2041 Beta Ti face and multi-thickness CORTECH design produce increased ball speeds.
Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design, delivering vibration patterns players associate with a ‘solid’ feel. The optimized Wave Sole delivers an additional contribution to ball speeds, particularly from low on the clubface while 4 degrees of loft adjustability allows for fine-tuning of launch and trajectory.
Availability: Right hand – 10.5 and 12 degrees.
ST-X 220 Fairway Woods – Draw Bias – High Launch
A confidence-inspiring sequence of fairway woods 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 their optimal distance and controlled landing angles.
The generously sized 3 wood boasts a full Ti construction with high ball speed SAT2041 Beta face – as featured in Mizuno’s drivers. Combined with a Ti811 body, it produces the highest ever ball speeds from a Mizuno fairway wood. With Maraging MAS1C steel face, the 5 and 7 wood are significantly more compact than the 3 wood, for use from the fairways.
Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design, delivering vibration patterns elite players associate with a ‘solid’ feel. The Optimized Wave Sole is a fairway-specific design to help create higher ball speeds from low on the face – suited to strikes directly from the turf.
“There are a lot of forgiving looking fairways woods that don’t launch high enough for the average amateur,” says Chris 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.”
Availability: Right hand only – 3 wood (16), 5 wood (18.5), 7 wood (21.5) degrees
ST-X 220 Hybrids – Draw Bias – High Launch
A confidence inspiring hybrid engineered to produce a higher, draw biased flight, the ST-X hybrids are suitable for moderate swing speed players who need elevated launch to achieve both their optimal 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 1.8mm, the high-speed MAS1C face is Mizuno’s thinnest hybrid face to date, and it produces the highest recorded ball speeds from centre strikes (compared to previous ST-X and CLK).
Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact Research has built sound into the design, delivering vibration patterns elite players associate with a ‘solid’ feel. The Optimized Wave Sole is a hybrid-specific design that helps create higher ball speeds from low on the face – suited to strikes directly from the turf. “The ST-X is a great hybrid option for players with moderate ball speeds,” says Chris Voshall. “With the new thinner face and internal weighting, it’s a nice alternative that will suit a lot of amateur golfers.”
Availability: Right hand only – 4H (20), 5H (23) and 6H (26) degrees.
Pricing and Availability
Test the ST-Z and ST-X drivers and ST-X 220 metal woods at a Mizuno Swing DNA Fitters from March 2022
ST-Z 220 Driver: £399 / €499
ST-X 220 Driver: £399 / €499
ST-X 220 Fairway Woods: £279 / €339
ST-X 220 Hybrids: £249 / €259
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