Mizuno Drivers/Fairway Metals, Particularly the JPX-800s

Alright, so I'm in the market for a new 3-wood. I'm actually giving this purchase as much care as most probably give their Driver purchases, because I end up hitting my 3-wood much more often as I suck with the driver. So, being that I'm partial to Mizuno irons, I thought I might see what Mizuno has to offer in the way of fairway metals. Lo and behold, the clubs themselves are blue, my favorite color. A match made in heaven, no? Alas, it seems like Mizuno metals are not popular in the domestic U.S. Not every retailer carries them, and I haven't had an opportunity to hit one. How about you guys? Have any of you had experience with the JPX-800 driver or fairway metals? Just looking for some feedback. Brandon

Ive got a JPX-800 15* fairway wood and I love it.  Its an easy club to hit well and it has a really nice sound at impact.  I love it.  Mizuno's hybrids and woods are some of the most underrated clubs on the market.

Do you typically hit it more off the deck (fairway) or off the tee? Or are they about even? Brandon

Thanks for asking what I also want to know Brandon. I am also in the market for a 3 wood, and like you, because of my Mizzie irons, am also thinking of the JPX-800. And I've been to Golf Galaxy and Golfsmith and they do not carry Mizuno woods. Nor their golf bags, since I want to get the new cart bag. My local pro shop might, not sure, carry the woods, yet they charge $100 for woods fitting and it is not deducted from the price of the wood. I would do this for a driver, not for a 3 wood. So Mizuno will be at a local driving range this coming weekend, and I will be there to get fitted for and buy the 3 wood. What a shame no one carries their woods.

I hit the JPX-800 driver over the weekend. Overall it is a very nice club. Too much of a "game improvement" driver for me though. I ended up going with the Titleist 910 D3. The issue I had was hitting a controlled cut with the JPX. It would go skyward in a hurry. No matter what shaft I tried. I was also not a huge fan of the blue head...I enjoy the classic black. But it is a very nice club and had a nice feel to it. I thought it was very forgiving, but also due to it being so forgiving it was hard to shape your shots. I would definitely go and give it a try and I do not think you would be disappointed.

No problem.  I figured there had to be at least some interest in these stateside, but all searches for JPX-800 come up with talk about the irons.  Try and post some feedback here after you get a chance to try them out this weekend.

Thanks.  Perhaps something that forgiving would be good for a 'capper in my range if I consider replacing my driver.  At this point though, I'm content with just never hitting the darn thing, playing from the white tees, and hitting 3-wood or 3-iron off of most holes.

Were you able to test out the stock Mizuno staffs, or did you not care for them?

Brandon

I tried the JPX-800 3-wood at a demo day.  Mid-flight with a great feel.  I tried a bunch of 3 woods that day and I would rate it #2 behind the Adams F11.

The stock Mizuno shafts were not for me. I load the club quite a bit on the down swing and the stock shaft just had too high a ball flight. I love not in love with the look of the driver so I did not persue any other shafts. I ended up with a Project X 6.0 7C3 shaft. Heavier than the stock shaft and even a little heavier than the Project X that Mizuno offers.

Thanks for the tip on the F11.  I found a local pro shop that carries the JPX-800, so I will compare it with the F11 if I get the chance.

That was my impression as well when trying one of the stock Mizuno shafts on one of last year's driver models.  It had too high of a ball flight for me, and I tested a Nike 3 wood that had a Project X 6.0 shaft that felt a lot better.  I wasn't aware there are different versions though, so I'll have to look more into that.

Thanks,

Brandon

If I were you I would try the F11. I have last years model the F10 and it is a very easy club to hit.

I use my FW in both situations.  I find the JPX to be a little bit better off the deck because it has a low center of gravity and a pretty low profile, but it would work equally well off a tee as long as you tee it low.

Ive always absolutely sucked hitting a 3-wood off the deck, but I find the JPX to be VERY easy to hit off the deck.  I dont even fear hitting this club off of a tight lie, which is something Id never even attempt in the past with a FW.

Well, I got a chance to try out the JPX and the Adams F11. I seemed to hit both fairly well, but I much prefer the look of the JPX at address. Other than that, there wasn't too much I could tell about the differences since they had different shafts and neither is the one I prefer. Brandon

I went to my local driving range because Mizuno was there. Until they showed up. I hit balls as usual with my driver, 6 and 9 irons. Then I met with the Mizzie rep. I wanted to try the JPX-800, using different shafts, and with my grip size, which is smaller than stock. He said their fairway woods do not have interchangeable heads, therefore I only had the option of flexes, using their stock shafts. I hit some with the regular flex and totally embarrased myself. Hitting off those rubber tees, as with my old, MG 3 wood, I would whiff and miss or top the ball. Don't know why, considering all morning my drives were awesome. Perhaps the tees are too high for faiway woods. YET, using this wood off the deck, it did perform great, which is what I am looking for. My other 3 wood I can't hit of the deck for crap. I liked the feel, look, everything. I was petty impressed. The JPX-800 hybrids are pretty good looking also. Maybe I'll  test them and replace my Cobras with them. So I told the rep I really need to practice first and walked away still embarrassed. IF this is true, about being stuck with one shaft, I might as well buy it online or something. I did however, Email my pro shop, where I got fitted for my current Mizuno irons and my Cobra Hybrids for their opinion. I wonder if they will try let me hit using different shafts. I am perplexed why they told me that.

Eddie, where was this at?  Mizuno was at a demo day here in Sacramento, and I asked the rep if they had other shafts for me to test out, and the rep said no because the woods don't have interchangeable heads.

However, I DID have the option to special order the fairway wood with a different shaft directly from Mizuno.  It just happened to be way too expensive for me (an extra $150).

Brandon

This was in New Hyde Park, NY,  I would order it from TGW, yet other than Ping, which stock grip is my size, I would have to have it re-gripped. So I will go to my pro shop to order it. As I said, am not at that game where I need a custom shaft, although it could help. I will see what the owners say.

If they can fit me with a different shaft at no extra cost, other than the $60 they charge, I will get it there. I even Emailed Mizuno about this to be sure the rep was actually on the level. I will also see what Ping does with their woods.

First, let me say that I love my Mizuno irons.  I can't imagine hitting another brand right now.  With that being said, I was not enamored with the JPX fairway woods.  I used to play the G15 4 wood, but have recently switched to the RAZR 3 wood.   What a club!  What a rocket!   i would absolutely test drive the RAZR.   Love my 3 wood.

I'll look into the Razr.  Huge demo day coming up here at Haggin Oaks Friday-Sunday (one of the biggest in the country, I've heard), so I'll have plenty to test out.  Having a Ping, Nike, Mizuno and Adams so far this year, I like the Mizuno the best.

I will admit though, I didn't like the JPX-800 driver at all.

Brandon

After reading tons of reviews, next week I am going to demo the Ping G15 3 wood. Their fitting truck will be at another driving range/golf course. Although  their fairway woods do not have interchangeable heads, they at least come each have 2 shaft types. I am dissapointed in Mizuno and  their woods. I was told not only do their woods have only 1 shaft, anything else is "custom", which costs extra, but their drive falls under this catagory too. To my this is sort of unacceptable. You would figure any driver, from any company would have different shaft options. Oh well, I will always use their irons, and hybrids, but I am going with Ping for my 3 wood. Can't get more forgiving than  them. Hey, I finally broke in my G10 driver, I bought on sale last year and it smokes.