In many ways Mizuno looks like Nike’s little brother (a multi-national, sporting goods power house, whose product lineups extend well beyond the white stakes of your home course). In the US anyway, the Nike name is more well known, but let’s face it, big brother is still relatively new to the game. In contrast, Mizuno has been doing this golf thing for quite sometime now. Mizuno manufactured their first golf clubs way back in 1933. That’s a few years before my mother was born, and let me tell you, she’s old.

It was also Mizuno who first introduced the Titanium driver in 1990 (that’s about 10 years before Nike made its first golf club). Even if you don’t own any Mizuno clubs, you owe a great deal of the innovation that’s taken place in the industry over the last 20 years, to the engineers at the Japanese sporting goods maker.

Mizuno is one of a handful of companies whose products I really enjoy writing about. They’re not going to bog you down with an over-abundance of acronyms, abbreviations, and marketing jibber-jabber. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of technology built into Mizuno clubs, and god knows they’ve got more than their fair share of patents and trademarks, but unlike some others, the company line is 100% all about the clubs.

Drivers

While not technically new for 2008 (Mizuno releases new products in September), the MP-600 driver is the latest offering (and the first new driver in a couple of years) from Mizuno. One of the things that really stands out about the MP-600 is it’s shape. It’s as traditional as it gets. No squares, no triangles, no sloping crowns, no elongated soles…none of that. If you want a truly conventionally shaped driver (and lots of us still do), the MP-600 is absolutely one of a small handful (I’m talking about a shop teachers hands; one of those guys who lost a finger to a bandsaw), of drivers you should look at.

The MP-600 also represents Mizuno’s first foray into a movable weight design. While companies like Callaway and Titleist have (for now anyway), decided to produce internally weighted drivers, companies like TaylorMade (and others) and now Mizuno have decided to allow the golfer the flexibility to modifying the positioning of the weights within the clubhead.

I ‘m guessing that since we’re rapidly approaching a 4th generation of TaylorMade clubheads with MWT (Movable Weight Technology) you’re pretty familiar with the concept. You can screw, unscrew, and screw in again different sized weight cartridges to alter your ball flight; in most cases to avoid a slice. Mizuno’s approach is a little different. The MP-600 incorporates what Mizuno calls “FastTrack” Control Technology.

The FastTrack system is comprised of 2, 8 gram, weights fitted in a curved track on the sole of the club. The weights can be loosened and repositioned within the track to produce up to 15 different trajectories. The result is a head that can produce an extreme fade, an extreme draw, and everything in between.

The MP-600 is available in lofts of 8.5°, 9.5°,and 10.5°. It comes stock with a Exar DS3 shaft. Upgrade options include popular choices from Aldila, Graffaloy, and UST.

Retail price for the MP-600 is $399.99

Fairway Woods

Also announced in September was the Mizuno F-60 fairway wood. As most, if not all, modern fairway clubs do, the F-60 features a deep and low center of gravity. Mizuno’s particular implementation was achieved by using ultra-light titanium in the crown, which freed up some of that discretionary weight we hear so much about. Mizuno was then able to place that weight, low and to the back of the clubhead. Mizuno also increased perimeter weighting to promote a higher launch, and increase forgiveness.

The Mizuno F-60 retails for $199.99

Hybrids

There’s really nothing exciting to report from Mizuno on the hybrid front. The CLK FLI-HI remains the current model. A new for 2008 hybrid does exist, however; at this time, it can only be purchased as part of the MX-950 iron set.

Irons

Mizuno blades are the irons I aspire to play. The new Grain Flow Forged, MP-37 isn’t just a golf club, it’s a precision instrument, not unlike a surgeon’s scalpel. Unfortunately the MP-37, like that same surgeon’s scalpel would be a liability in my hands. As much as I dream of the day when I can skillfully wield such an instrument with the degree of precision required for the MP-37s, today, I’m less a surgeon, and more of an incompetent carpenter with a Sawz-All kind of guy. So I’ll hold of on the blade discussion, and instead allocate my time where it’s more safely spent.

The MX-950 is Mizuno’s first crack at a mixed hybrid set, and perhaps it’s beginners luck, but as first attempts go the MX-950 looks like a real winner. In reality that fact that the MX-950 looks like a game-improvement superstar should come as a surprise to no one. Mizuno, as much, if not more than anybody else in the industry, knows irons and the MX-950 reflects that.

The MX-950 features all the technological bells and whistles standard to all Mizuno game improvement irons. The soft feel of a forged club is a bit of a rarity in the game-improvement category, but it’s a staple of the Mizuno lineup, so yup, the 950 irons in the MX-950 set are forged. They also feature Mizuno’s H.E.M.I.COG technology, which as fancy as it sounds, is the company’s way of increasing MOI and lowering the center of gravity. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all really good stuff, but here’s what I really love about the new MX-950…

The MX-950 is a mixed hybrid set that features three unique clubhead designs. The 3 and 4 irons are shaped similarly to the majority of hybrids on the market. The tungsten weighted clubs features, what Mizuno calls, a drop down crown, which closely resembles the Cleveland HiBore, or new Ping G10. It’s a totally new hybrid club for Mizuno. It’s not the CLK FLI-HI from last year.

The 5-7 irons are comprised of what Mizuno is calling hollow technology hyrbids. They more closely resemble irons than hybrids, but still feature a high density tungsten weight (low and deep) to help the improving golfer get the ball airborne.

Finally, the 8 iron through LW, which are forged from pure carbon steel, are built for scoring. They have a more traditional shape, including a thinner topline, which better golfers will find appealing.

I’ve never, in good conscience, been able to recommend a complete hybrid set (like the TourEdge JMax Bazooka, Cleveland HiBore, and new Callaway I-Brid). The staggered MX-950, however; looks like a near-ideal compromise that can provide the beginning to intermediate golfer with absolute forgiveness, which still providing an opportunity for that same golfer to learn to work the ball a bit.

If you want to go out and hit the ball straight a few times a year, and have no real aspirations of improving your game, then a complete hybrid set probably makes a lot of sense. For golfer looking to improve, and eventually become a single digit handicapper, the Mizuno MX-950 is almost certainly a better choice.

Retail price for the Mizuno MX-950 is $899.

Wedges

While Mizuno doesn’t have quite the notoriety in the wedge word as Cleveland, or the Vokey designs from Titleist, it doesn’t mean that their wedges aren’t worthy of consideration by both beginning and more advanced players.

New for 2008 (September 07) is the MP-T Series wedge. The “T” stands for teardrop, which as you should pretty be able to piece together on your own, describes the shape of the clubhead.

The T series wedges are forged from the same carbon steel as Mizuno’s premium irons, and feature a CNC milled, square groove design to help promote extreme spin around the greens.

In 2008 we’re seeing a number of new wedges that feature a “tour-inspired” C-Grind sole. In case you missed my Callaway post, the C-Grind refers to the shape of the sole. A fair about of material is removed from the sole (between the heel and the toe), producing a club whose bottom is somewhat “C” shaped. The C-Grind allows manufacturers to reduce a portion of the leading edge of the wedge, without eliminating bounce.

The Mizuno MP-T Series wedge is available in lofts from 47°-60° in a variety of bounce options. It is available in your choice of chrome or black nickel finish.

No 64° option exists at this time. I’m bummed but I’m not going to hold it against Mizuno.

Retail price for a MP-T Series wedge is an extremely reasonable $99.

Putters

Two words for you: Bob Bettinardi. All of the putters in the Mizuno lineup are designed by putter guru Bob Bettinardi himself. While for reasons I’ll never understand, Bettinardi doesn’t command the attention of Scotty Cameron, his putters are every bit the equal of Cameron’s in both design and function.

This year, Mizuno and Bettinardi are rolling out the newly designed BC (Black Carbon) series. The BC series is just as refined as previous Bettinardi designs, and feature the trademark honeycomb milling pattern that’s familiar to all Bettinardi fans.

What’s really exciting about the BC series is the inclusion of FIT face technology. The acronym (ok, so Mizuno’s not perfect at avoiding such things) stands for Feel Impact Technology. What it means is that the sweet spot of the putter is milled differently than the rest of the club (reduced surface area at the point of contact). The result a putter that feels like it has an insert, but that’s milled from a single block of 100% carbon steel. Let’s see Odyssey do that!

The BC Series is available in 3 models.

• The BC1 is a traditional blade model with squared edges and flat sole
• The BC2 is rocked-back flange, with rounded edges and a plumbers neck
• The BC3 is a a wide mallet with a double-bend shaft

I’m loving the BC2 myself. At $249 it’s a bit of an indulgence, but one I’m sure you wouldn’t regret.

Bag

Mizuno is one of a handful of companies putting serious effort into their golf bags. The GTX stand bag is the result of that effort. This stand bag, which functions equally as well strapped to a riding cart, features an abundance of Mizuno bag technology.

• 6-way 9.5″ Kabuki top to keep you clubs organized and prevent damage
• CartCuff stand placement system, which helps the bag stay in place against a cradle
• A padded IZZO Aerostrap for comfortable carrying
• A Hydro Sleeve for easy access to water
• Waterproof zippers on padded valuables pockets
• Beavertail pedal to keep the base of the bag firm and steady

I like the look and the features of this bag, but a 6-way divider is probably a deal breaker for me. For those of you with less of an “every club in it’s place” mentality, at $149.99, the Mizuno GTX is one of the more compelling bags in its price range.

For those keeping score at home,my 2008 Mizuno dream bag runs just pennies under $2300.

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