“Sizzling Metallic has turn out to be a monster,” says Mizuno’s Chris Voshall, Mizuno USA Golf Product and Advertising and marketing Supervisor.
It’s onerous to overstate what the introduction of the Sizzling Metallic franchise has meant to Mizuno however to place issues in perspective, it’s value stepping again in time.
For all its prowess within the participant’s iron class, there was a superb run the place Mizuno wasn’t thought of a critical participant in game-improvement house.
Exhibit A
That may be my earliest digression ever.
Anyway …
In 2017, Sizzling Metallic’s first yr available on the market, it accounted for 3.51 % of {dollars} spent on irons. Its share has grown steadily with every launch.
In 2020, Mizuno had bit greater than an 8.5 % share of the iron market. By 2023, that quantity had elevated to 12.5 % with 9.71 % coming from JPX product. Most of it (7.19 % of the market) was Sizzling Metallic.
In full context, Sizzling Metallic by itself is almost all of what the totality of Mizuno iron gross sales was.
Even with that success, I’d be inclined to explain the JPX Sizzling Metallic household as a little bit of an anomaly within the game-improvement house. Most of what you’ll discover within the class are loft-jacked, overtly tech-rich designs that leverage quite a lot of supplies and various cream fillings.
By comparability, Mizuno has usually been extra smart about lofts (the JPX 923 Sizzling Metallic HL was among the many first to supply weaker lofts) and, whereas Sizzling Metallic might maintain its personal performance-wise in opposition to almost something available on the market, Mizuno did what it did with out pulling any of the levers rivals use to juice their designs.
Whereas everybody else was utilizing multi-piece, multi-material designs, Mizuno’s JPX Sizzling Metallic relied fully on single-piece development.
With the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic, that adjustments.
Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic – 3 fashions
As with the JPX 923 line, Mizuno is providing three distinct flavors of Sizzling Metallic. You get the middle-of-the-road normal JPX Sizzling Metallic, the extra player-centric Sizzling Metallic Professional and the extra forgiving, slower swing-friendly Sizzling Metallic HL.
As was the case final time round, the three fashions share a standard platform and customary know-how. What’s true for one is true for all three. Solely the scale and specs (size, loft, and many others.) differ.
What JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic brings to the desk
The abstract of JPX 925 advantages contains extra consistency throughout the face (improved forgiveness), extra pace from the middle and better launch.
So, with that, let’s take a look at what Mizuno has completed to reinforce the efficiency of its best-selling iron household.
New CORETECH
Your briefest of refreshers: CORETECH is Mizuno’s face know-how that brings with it the industry-standard goal of preserving extra ball pace over extra of the face.
You may recall that JPX 923 Sizzling Metallic was the primary time Mizuno used Nickel Chromoly 4335+ as its materials of selection. The unwritten rule with any new materials is to take a conservative strategy to engineering. “We maximized efficiency with one foot within the ensure that it doesn’t break camp,” explains Voshall.
The precise space of concern was what Voshall calls the hinge piece within the decrease portion of the JPX 923 Sizzling Metallic face. Erring on the aspect of warning, Mizuno made the hinge a bit thicker than was maybe mandatory or perfect and, with that, it left some efficiency on the desk.
Two years faraway from JPX 923, Mizuno’s confidence in Chromoly 4335+ has grown and it feels it may be extra aggressive in the way it leverages the supplies.
That confidence manifests itself in a brand new strategy to a variable-thickness face design. The up to date topology contains areas Mizuno name flex zones which are simply 1.2 millimeters thick. Comparable areas of the face had been 1.9mm thick final time round. Areas across the perimeter have been thinned as properly.
The rule of thumb in face design is that thinner is quicker. By thinning each the candy space and the perimeter, Mizuno is ready to ship a bit extra pace.
The variable-thickness idea can be baked into the only real. Thicker areas present power the place it’s wanted whereas thinner areas work to enhance low-face efficiency in comparison with JPX 923 Sizzling Metallic.
All of that is a part of the bigger goal to offer peak COR (or not less than near it) over as a lot of the face as attainable. Mizuno’s information suggests the brand new Sizzling Metallic and Sizzling Metallic HL are among the many best possible within the {industry}. Warning letters from the USGA would appear to help the declare.
Sizzling Metallic Professional is a little bit of an exception among the many three. Whereas it nonetheless affords loads of pace, the candy space isn’t fairly as giant due to the smaller face.
An even bigger face means an even bigger trampoline.
(Secret) tungsten
Regardless that I’m all however obligated to say it, tungsten itself shouldn’t be usually all that notable. Moreover, producers are more than pleased to notice it for me. Seldom is a chance missed to stamp “tungsten” on a head. I swear, it looks like a licensing problem the place should you use tungsten it needs to be credited the place everybody can see it.
Getty’s picture guidelines are much less restrictive.
Anyway …
Mizuno’s strategy is totally different in that, within the curiosity of conserving issues as clear as attainable, it determined to forgo denoting the tungsten anyplace on the pinnacle, however I swear it’s there.
That is all simply the actually lengthy technique to inform you that the JPX 925 4-7 irons function inside tungsten weights.
The ripple in Mizuno’s implementation is that the burden is explicitly low-ish and ahead as a substitute of low and again. True to the Sizzling Metallic philosophy, Mizuno is in search of to extend launch with out dropping spin under smart ranges.
Playability remains to be the objective.
With the addition of tungsten, Mizuno is realizing a few different advantages. The primary is elevated inertia (MOI). The tungsten weight additionally works to tug the CG nearer to the hosel (nearer to heart) which helps make the brand new Sizzling Metallic simpler to show over.
If you wish to name {that a} little bit of relative draw bias, that’s in all probability high-quality.
Improved really feel
Even with its solid fashions, Mizuno emphasizes really feel. So whereas Nothing Feels Like a Mizuno is usually the stuff of its cast lineup, JPX Sizzling Metallic shouldn’t really feel clangy. On the similar time, Mizuno doesn’t need to fill Sizzling Metallic with goo to dampen really feel fully.
Very like Marky Mark, Mizuno needs to you are feeling the vibrations, however in a great way (and with a correct pair of pants on).
In the case of really feel, a superb little bit of what we expertise comes right down to geometry. Within the case of the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic, its in regards to the placement of help constructions that work to tune sound. Particularly, Mizuno has leveraged a sequence of ribs to offer rigidity alongside the topline and a soundbar that runs by means of the middle of the again cavity.
We’ve coated the science of really feel earlier than however the normal thought is that should you can efficiently goal the fascinating frequencies for the appropriate length, golfers are prone to say your irons sound and really feel good.
In the event you’re in search of the precise enchancment, it’s that Mizuno has lessened sound strain within the frequency vary from 6,000-9,000 Hz .
And whereas that feels just like the type of factor that must be on a take a look at, the one factor that issues is that Mizuno says the brand new JPX Sizzling Metallic feels extra stable and scorching and fewer tingy than earlier than.
Seems
All three Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic fashions provide clear strains. You gained’t discover any ornate multi-color cavity badges. There’s minimal stamping and the one notable change is a small splash of coloration within the nook of the cavity badge.
The usual Sizzling Metallic has white. Sizzling Metallic Professional is black and Sizzling Metallic HL has blue accents.
The intent isn’t to bling something out. Mizuno simply needed to make it a bit simpler for fitters to seek out and pull heads throughout the becoming course of.
Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic – Spec adjustments
With the 2025 fashions, Mizuno has made a couple of spec adjustments all through the Sizzling Metallic lineup.
Stronger lofts
With the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic, the 9-iron and pitching wedge are half a level stronger. Sizzling Metallic Professional is half a level stronger within the 7 to hole wedge. And whereas I suppose it’s technically not a loft change, Mizuno has added a 4-iron to the Sizzling Metallic HL providing and dropped the lob wedge.
It’s a small change meant to convey Sizzling Metallic nearer to what loosely passes for industry-standard lofts.
Extra upright
Equally, Mizuno has made its inventory lie angles .5 levels extra upright throughout the board. Likewise, irons are .5 extra upright. They’re nonetheless a bit flatter than most.
To an extent, none of that is notably necessary since you may bend Sizzling Metallic anyway you need them.
Longer lengths*
On paper, the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic iron household is ¼” longer than the earlier fashions. The precise size is similar.
One of many goofy issues within the golf tools {industry} is proprietary rulers will not be unusual and wi,th that, not all people agrees on measure. Beforehand, Mizuno used its personal ruler. With JPX 925, its measuring the USGA manner so whereas precise lengths are the identical, the printed numbers have modified.
The exception is the wedges which are literally barely shorter with JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic.
Talking of wedges …
In prior iterations of Sizzling Metallic, Mizuno took a common strategy to wedges. There was a single Sizzling Metallic wedge design that break up the distinction (kind of) between the person fashions.
This time round, Sizzling Metallic and Sizzling Metallic HL have distinct wedge choices. It ought to make issues a bit extra seamless for the man who prefers set-matched wedges
JPX 925 Fli-Hello hybrids
For golfers who want a bit further assist, notably on the lengthy finish of the set, Mizuno will once more provide Fli-Hello hybrids as direct long-iron replacements. And similar to final time, they’re priced the identical because the irons they change.
Designed to be a like-for-like swap, Fli-Hello hybrids will usually be outfitted with the identical shaft as the remainder of your Sizzling Metallic iron set (although be happy to go in a special course should you’re so inclined).
Progressive shapes
Essentially the most noticeable change from prior fashions is the footprint of the JPX 925 Fli-Hello hybrids. The 925 fashions are designed to move higher which finally signifies that they get progressively extra compact from entrance to again as you progress up in loft. With that, not solely do you keep away from bigger shapes the place they’re not mandatory however the spin profiles of the Fli-His are actually nearer to that of the irons they change.
Pace Bevel sole
JPX 925 Fli-Hello hybrids provide what Mizuno calls “Pace Bevel.” What we’re speaking about is a tweak to the modern geometry that creates a bounce floor that helps the membership transfer by means of the turf. Stated one other manner, Pace Bevel makes Fli-Hello hybrid a bit extra pleasant to adverse assault angle swings related to iron play.
Improved Wave Sole
On metalwoods, each producer has know-how designed to enhance pace on low-face impression. On Fli-Hello, it’s Wave Sole. With the JPX 925 Fli-Hello, Mizuno has improved Wave Sole efficiency to protect extra pace on low impression.
Lastly, Mizuno has made a small beauty change to the rating strains to higher body the ball at handle.
JPX 925 Fli-Hello choices
JPX 925 Fli-Hello hybrids can be found in 4 lofts: 19, 22, 25 and 28 levels. The precise iron every replaces will depend on which Sizzling Metallic set you’re sliding it into however, broadly, consider Fli-Hello as an choice to interchange something from a 4- to 7-iron. That provides you loads of flexibility to take Fli-Hello deep into your set and never pay by means of the nostril for the privilege.
Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic and Fli-Hello specs, pricing and availability
The inventory shafts for the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic are the Nippon NS Professional 950 NEO (metal) and UST Recoil Dart ESX (graphite). The inventory grip is the Lamkin UT+.
Inventory shaft choices for the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic Professional are the Dynamic Gold 105 (metal) and Mitsubishi MMT (graphite). The inventory grip is the Lamkin UTX+ (twine).
The inventory shaft choices for the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic HL are the Dynamic Gold 95 (metal) and UST Recoil Dart ESX (graphite). The inventory grip is the Lamkin UT+.
The inventory shaft for the JPX Fli-Hello is the UST Recoil Dart ESX, although the expectation is that almost all golfers will select to match their iron shafts. The inventory grip is the Lamkin UT+.
Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic irons can be found in right- and left-handed. Left-handed choices within the JPX 925 Fli-Hello hybrid are restricted to 19 and 22 levels
Retail worth for the every little thing within the JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic household (together with Fli-Hello) is $150 per membership.
Pre-sale for the Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic begins Sept. 5. Full retail out there begins Sept. 19.
For extra info, go to Mizunogolf.com.
The put up First Look: 2025 Mizuno JPX 925 Sizzling Metallic Irons appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
