Mizuno has staked its reputation on the iconic forged feel of their irons produced in Japan. With its new M.Craft City Series putters, the company is leaning into that heritage with four new forged putter models, each representing a specific Japanese city.
“There are very few forged putters in the market, and even fewer forged in Japan,” said Mizuno Director of Golf Chris Voshall . “That’s something we’re really proud of, and we wanted the naming, the design, and the feel to reflect that.”
The four models, two blades and two mallets, each come with two neck configurations and two finishes: grey ion or nickel. The new M.Craft City Series line features many of the technologies known for making Mizuno’s irons so soft-feeling. “There’s a ton of our Mizuno Pro and MP iron technology baked into these putters,” Voshall said. “From the forging process to the materials to the copper underlay, those are all feel levers we pull to make sure the putter feels as soft and as consistent as possible.”
Baking Mizuno Pro feel into putters
The putters are forged from one piece of Pure Select 1025E Mild Carbon Steel, the same material used in the Mizuno Pro S-Series irons and recently announced M-Series short irons. They also feature the same copper underlay of Mizuno’s forged irons, refining vibration for a softer, more rewarding feedback. A deep-milled putter face reduces contact points with the ball, further softening the feel.
Call-outs to Japanese cities
The heart of the City Series line is Mizuno’s nod to the company’s Japanese history. The model names are specifically chosen to match the city’s history with the characteristics of the putter head. For instance, the Kyoto model, a classic cavity blade shape, is named for Japan’s ancient capital, which is also famous for the numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens. On the flip side, the winged-mallet, Tokyo, represents the most modern shape in the lineup and its namesake reflects that as the current capital and technology hub of Japan.
Plenty of options to find a fit
With four different head shapes and two neck options for each model — plumbers and slant for the blades and slant and double bend for the mallets — there are no shortage of fitting options for the new line.
“For a one-piece forged putter, you still need options,” Voshall said. “Neck configurations and weight adjustments let us dial in performance without sacrificing feel.” Additionally, all the putters feature adjustable weights on the sole, allowing players to fine-tune swingweight, CG placement and by extension even toe flow.
Each of the four M.Craft City Series models is available in both grey ion or nickel finishes and with two neck options.
Kyoto P/S (Blade)
What is it: Taking the name of Japan’s historic capital city, the Kyoto is an answer-style blade available with either a plumber’s neck or slant.
Who is for: Those seeking the most traditional look at address and moderate to high toe flow, depending on the neck.
Osaka P/S (Wide-body blade)
What is it: Osaka is Japan’s cultural hub and is where Mizuno’s headquarters are. The wide-body blade embodies the city with the combination of both traditional looks and modern forgiveness. It has a slightly shorter heel-to-toe length than the Kyoto and is also available with both a plumber’s and a slant neck.
Who is for: Players searching for a traditional look at address with a bit of added forgiveness thanks to the higher MOI of a wide-body blade.
Nagoya S/B (Round mid-mallet)
What is it: The city of Nagoya is somewhat of an underrated tech city, Voshall said. The headquarters of the automobile giant Toyota is nearby, and the namesake putter features a round mid-mallet shape that blends classic looks with forgiveness. The mallet models have either a slant neck or double bend shaft.
Who is for: Players who want a mallet shape without all the bells and whistles.
Tokyo S/B (Winged mallet)
What is it: Tokyo is Japan’s modern capital and one of the most modern cities in the world and so the Tokyo model is the highest MOI shape of the line. Like the Nagoya, the Tokyo is available with either a mid-toe flow slant neck or a face-balance double bend.
Who is for: The player who wants maximum forgiveness and has no issues with a wing shape.
Our take: A solid feel at a great price
Taking 1025 carbon steel and forging single-piece putters in Japan? As someone who loves soft-feeling putters, that’s the kind of sentence that makes me dance. Mizuno nails the feel box with these putters and, perhaps more importantly, keeps them at a price point where the only comparable feel putters are synthetic-insert models.
If you have played Mizuno irons before, the putters have that same feel with a solid, but at the same time soft sensation when you strike them. These putters roll beautifully and have the feel of a much more expensive putter. Mizuno have done a great job offering four different heads, but essentially 16 different putters when you consider the options of the two finishes and two necks for each model. M.Craft City Series is a putter line with a compelling story and will be a fantastic, affordable option for players seeking a soft feel.
Mizuno M.Craft City Series putters are available for pre-orders starting Jan. 26 and will arrive at retail locations on Feb. 12. Each putter will cost €349. All putters are stock at either 34″ or 35″ length, 3˚ of loft, and 70˚ lie angle. Each model is available with either a nickel or grey ion finish and with two neck configurations.
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