Mizuno MP-64's?

If you hit them well then it doesn't matter but on paper the MP 64's are not for a 22 handicap.  I'd look into the JPX line, much more forgiving on mishits.

 

Also make sure to check out our Bag Drop Blog 

 

http://thesandtrap.com/b/bag_drop/new_irons_from_mizuno

It's unfair to make the correlation between handicap and the "playability" of an iron. For all we know, you may hit 14/18 greens when you play, but have 50 putts per round. In that example, you would clearly be a solid ball striker, so the 64s wouldn't be a problem. As mvmac said, if you hit them well, it doesn't matter what the "recommended" handicap is.

 

FWIW, my father plays the Mizuno JPX 800 Pro irons. They are still solid, but don't have the same feel as MP line irons. If you believe you can hit the MP64s solidly on a consistent basis, then go for it. I also believe it's better to play a club that is more challenging to hit. Game improvement clubs can hide a lot of swing flaws. If your aim is to improve your ball striking, a more challenging club might just be the ticket.

 

Could have 50 putts but it isn't likely.  I'm not speaking for the the first posters but as a general rule what separates the low handicapper from the high handicapper is ball striking, stats bear that out.  High handicappers hit it fat, thin, hit over curves way more often than low handicappers.  Misses for better players are much more playable than misses for poorer player.  Better players hit it better, hit more greens in regulation. 

I was exaggerating a bit, but I think you understand my point.

If it's mizuno I would want them.  They make great playable clubs, if you hit them well then you hit them well.

I've demoed the MP-64's, and found that they will give you a much lower ballflight than the MP-69, or MP-59. My trajectory flattened out far to much for my tastes when I hit these with the same shaft, but the feel was excellent. They also were slightly more forgiving than the MP-69, but I wouldn't recommend them unless you are confident that you can hit the ball cleanly and in the center of the face probably at least on 80% of your shots. When you catch a club like this (a blade, or variations thereof of most players irons) on the heel or toe, it will reduce the distance and accuracy of your shot much more than any more forgiving iron. Personally, I found a small mishit to give me about 5 yards of reduced distance (compared to very little with the 59, and around 7-10 with the 69) and anything larger than that would exponentially reduce distance and accuracy. I would say you might want to look at the MP-59 or MP-53, as well as the JPX line if you want to stay with Mizuno. Above all, though, you should try hitting any iron you wish to purchase (including these) before you buy it to avoid a mistake and irons that will only frustrate you.

I agree with this.  Mizuno's are great, IMO.  I'd go hit the entire line no matter what your handicap is.  And have the shop pro there to discuss them.  I'd pick what matches your handicap (the JPXs).  and also try at least the next two levels up (the 53's and the 63/64's).  And one level lower too.  You just don't know what's most compatible with your swing until you hit a bunch.

 

 

 

 

That said, I just bought a new set of Mizuno Irons a couple months ago.  I was about a 16 at the time (since have dropped significantly as I started to remember how to hit again  - just passed into 10.x before the season is ending - snow today so I'm likely done for the year).  I thought the JPX-Pros would be just the thing after talking to a friend (about an 8 who hits GI clubs and loves it).  But I went and hit the JPXs and the 53's just to be sure.

 

The MP-63 and 64's's look a lot like my old set.  (Shallow cavity only).  I suspect they'd be a fine fit for me in retrospect.  But, don't make this mistake, I didn't try them at the time, I thought they were out of my handicap range.  I don't see much diff other than the diamond back on the 63s vs the 64 has more straight weighting look to it.  Need a real techie here to explain that.

 

The MP-53's long irons (I think from the 3 to the 7) have a cut in half cavity (on the bottom, shallow cav at the top) and the 8-PW look much like the 63's (IMO) - no cut, just the shallow cavity all around

 

Tried the JPX Pro's (full cut cavity all around - fat top line - clearly a Game Imp design all the way).

 

 

I hated the JPX's actually.  And I thought those would be just the thing.  I'm not super serious and felt GI irons would help with the mishits.  They just 'felt' funny and I don't like that fat top line - not one bit

 

You know what helps with mishits?  A better swing......

 

 

The MP-53's?  I like them alot.  I hit a BIG improvement ramp in the last few rounds and it's mostly due to the approach game - 6i to my SW - as I said the shorter clubs of the 53's look like the 63's (they might just be the same clubs).  The other day at the range I did try to control the ball take off a bit on the higher irons (with that extra cavity pocket) and found I had that ability, the half cavity does seem to help me, but not so much that it keeps me from being able to hit it up or down a bit.

 

I suspect the 63 or 64's would be fine now, but I didn't try them.  I'm happy with the 53's and think they'll do the job for a very LONG time.

 

YMMV - hit them, hit them, and hit some other models before you put down any money

Mizy makes excellent irons!  Before you just go with the MP-64's... I'd go to a Mizuno Dynamic fitting.  They are free - at least here at the local guy I used (I game the MP-59).  I went into the fitting thinking I was going to go with a totally different iron (Titleist AP2)... And ended up getting talked into doing the full Dynamic fitting with Mizy.  And was pleasantly surprised how much I liked their clubs.  I was looking at the MP-53/59/69's... This was last year at this time.  

You may also want to look at the MP-H4s if you can find them... in Mizuno's new line going from players clubs to game improvement clubs it'd go the MP-64s, MP-H4s, JPX-825 pro, and JPX-825... The H4s have a very similar look to the 64s with some more forgiveness...

 

Check out the bag drop I wrote here for more information.

I love Mizuno irons as well.  If the 64's are too much club but you really like the clean look of the clubs you should def check out the 59's.   I game the 59's and they are excellent clubs and have virtually identical foot print looking down at address as the 63/64's very forgiving for a bladey MP style club with that sweet mizuno feel as well.   

 

I have demo'd the the 64's.  After about 15 shots with the 6 iron and I can say they are a little lower flight than my 59's but ony by like a couple feet on peak height so no big deal, but this was probably because they seemed to spin a little less based on the stats.  

 

Mishits didnt seem too terrible but then I hit my irons pretty well.  If you arent too confident with your irons these will more than likely hurt your game.  You really need to be striking it well to get everything out of the long irons...if not you may find your 3,4 & 5 irons all going the same distance

I have a friend who plays of 18. He plays Callaway RaxrX  Forged. A players iron. Now, how hits his irons great. Gone from a 26 to 18 handicap, but he cant chip for sh!t. This is where he loses most of his shots..I hate the fact that people put an iron in a handicap category. Its total BS..if you can hit an iron regardless of its nature or your handicap, use it...if you like it, use it. If putting, chipping or driving is costing you shots, fix it. But if you like an iron on the range, use it...even if its designed for a player better than your handicap suggests...

Hey stolpioni, I have just purchased a set of MP-59's, now I'm not good enough to use them to there full capabilities,I love the feel of them when I do hit one flush. I tried about 3 or 4 types of new irons before I chose the mizuno's and they felt the best( just remember I can't play for shite, but I meh whatever, I loved them)I'm sure with 1 or 10 years I should be able to almost hit them great at a regular basis lol 😝

The 64s are great irons and I honestly wouldnt worry about whether or not you could hit them at any handicap.  If yours wing is flawed, there isnt an iron in the world that is going to fix it.  Im not a believer in the notion that if you are x-handicap you cant play this iron or that iron.  Im a 20 handicap playing MP-60s and have absolutely no problems with them.  My problem is that I suck with the driver, 3-wood and hybrid.

Shortylook, thats the key.  Use this feedback the club is giving you when you practice.  It will help you improve along with other work.

Sounds like you're plenty capable of hitting them. They may be a little more punishing on an off day but clearly you have the ability to hit them and hit them well.

 

I'm no expert but I've always kinda figured that if you are able to consistently hit down and through your shots it doesn't really matter what handicap the clubs are "aimed" at. 

The thing is that high handicappers are usually such for a reason... in general they don't strike the ball as well as a lower handicap player. That isn't to say that it's true for ALL high handicap players but for the most part it is. Putting irons in categories like this helps golfers to figure out what fits there game and what doesn't. If you are a high handicap that looses their strokes in other places, that's cool, and you can adjust accordingly and buy more of a "player's" irons.