When Mizuno announced the JPX 925 Forged irons this week, the absence of a JPX925 Tour iron was a notable omission. But it turns out the company had another option in the pipeline as today they announced the new Mizuno Pro S-3 irons, which start a completely new family within the Mizuno Pro line.
Since its introduction in 2017 with the JPX 900 series, the JPX Tour line of irons has served as the elite-level ball striker’s iron in a family of irons typically designed for players who need a technology boost for performance. Brooks Koepka even won his first four majors with JPX Tour 900 and JPX Tour 919 in the bag despite not being contracted, a real testament to how well they felt and performed.
Back in 2017 the JPX line was only about a third of the company’s sales, the rest were predominately the Mizuno Pro line (then known as MP), which had and still has a cult-like following for being so pure and aspirational. Mizuno was known as a company for better players, not necessarily a company focused on the types of players the new JPX line caters to.
Mizuno’s head of product, Chris Voshall said the company looked at how they can bring exposure to the JPX family through the Tour. “We were paying good money to PGA Tour players who were playing something that doesn’t really speak to the masses,” Voshall said. “So that’s where the idea became, let’s give some more visibility to the JPX family by giving it a model that could be promoted on Tour.” Thus the JPX Tour line was born by taking a club that could have been a shallow cavity iron in the Miznuo Pro line — thin topline, thin soul, compact head, one-piece grain flow forging — and branding it as JPX.
Fast forward eight years later and Mizuno has nearly doubled its irons market share and the JPX family makes up nearly three-quarters of the company’s irons sales, said Voshall. The JPX Hot Metal line has performed so well for middle-handicappers, Voshall said it essentially lives on its own. “We saw that as an opportunity that we don’t necessarily need that [Tour] model to help bring visibility to JPX because it’s there,” he said. “It’s just established now.”
With that opportunity, Mizuno sought the chance to establish a new Mizuno Pro Signature family that lives within the Mizuno Pro line. The first release is todays unveiling of the Mizuno Pro S-3 shallow cavity iron.
The new Mizuno Pro Signature series irons are designed to cater to the most elite ballstrikers and live on for about a four-year life cycle. The Mizuno Pro 24X line isn’t going away either, and the new Mizuno Pro S-3 will slot into the lineup somewhere between the current 241 blades and the 243 cavity-back irons.
The Mizuno Pro S-3 uses Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forging process from 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel and features a copper underlay that has been present since the Mizuno MP-20 to further soften the feel. As this is an iron designed for elite players, shaping was carefully considered to ensure a thin topline and sole in a short blade length to increase workability for shot shapers. Straight lines were also a priority to give the iron a modern look.
A thin topline reduces visual bulk, providing a classic, tour-preferred aesthetic, while a thin sole enhances versatility, making the club effective across various lies and turf conditions. The compact head length adds to the precision and workability, allowing players to shape their shots with confidence. Meanwhile, straighter lines introduce a clean, modern appearance, striking a balance between traditional elegance and contemporary style.
To enhance its performance further, Mizuno has integrated Triple Cut Sole technology into the Mizuno Pro S-3. This innovative feature optimises turf interaction, ensuring consistency and adaptability in every scenario.
A bevelled leading edge glides effortlessly through the turf for cleaner ball strikes, while a hard-cut trailing edge facilitates smooth turf exit, enhancing control during impact.
The optimised sole geometry is carefully balanced to deliver superior playability, allowing golfers to maintain precision and consistency in varying conditions.
The Mizuno Pro S-3 irons are a testament to Mizuno’s legacy of blending timeless craftsmanship with modern performance enhancements. With their legendary feel, refined shaping, and advanced versatility, these irons are perfect for players who demand a compact, responsive club that performs effortlessly across all aspects of the game.
For golfers who appreciate the art of precision and elegant design, the Mizuno Pro S-3 is the ultimate choice—a modern reinvention of a storied legacy that continues to inspire excellence.
“The Mizuno Pro S-3 irons embody the heritage of why so many professionals and accomplished players have fallen in love with Mizuno,” Voshall said. “Designed with only two objectives, feel and control, the Mizuno Pro S-3 will raise the bar for those demanding the ultimate in precision and feedback.”
Price and availability
Mizuno Pro S-3 irons will be available for preorder on January 24th and be available at retail two weeks later on February 6th. They will have an RRP of €265 per club.
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