First Look! – Mizuno JPX-EZ Lineup

Mizuno’s First Adjustable Driver

This is a Mizuno story, and I’m leading with the driver. You can file this under It’s about F’n time.

The guys at Mizuno have finally gotten around to creating an adjustable driver; joining the ranks of…well…everyone…accept maybe Wilson who, by the way, will also be releasing an adjustable driver this season.

I believe that’s everyone.

We can argue all day about whether or not anybody really needs an adjustable driver (I know…just get properly fit). We can argue over whether or not they actually do what they say (does loft really change). And we can certainly argue about whether or not it’s all pointless anyway because the average guy simply doesn’t understand what the various adjustments actually do.

We can argue all day and it won’t matter. When you’re the odd man out – one of the last…if not the last…golf company of sizable consequence not to offer an adjustable driver you could be seen by the average golfer as lagging behind.

Even if the average golfer doesn’t need it, you still have to offer it…at least when you’re playing at Mizuno’s level.

How Does It Work?

While we don’t have details yet, I’m not expecting anything revolutionary from an adjustment standpoint. Past Mizuno releases also suggest that retail options will be limited (I doubt we’ll see an 8.5° model for example). In case it matters to you, Mizuno is calling their adjustment technology “Quick Switch”.

One of the more important aspects of Mizuno’s new driver is what I’m willing to bet is a replaceable weight screw. Unlike some others, I don’t expect Mizuno will be telling any sort of associated ball flight story. Instead, the replaceable weight is for swing weighting purposes, which again, while lost on the average golfer should allow the experimental gearhead types to try shafts of different lengths and weights…assuming they have the proper plug.

The JPX-EZ Woods lineup also includes fairway woods and hybrids. I’m just spit-balling here since it’s not clear from the images, but my guess is they’re not adjustable. Unlike drivers, adjustable fairways and hybrids, while more common, haven’t evolved to the point where not offering adjustability stinks of antiquation.

And Yes . . . There are Irons Too

It’s Mizuno, so of course the JPX-EZ line includes irons.

The photos released so far suggest a game-improvement iron (a given for all irons in the JPX series). Like the newly announced MP-54, the EZs feature a pocket cavity design, so you can expect a story about the repositioning of discretionary weight, and perimeter weighting for maximum forgiveness.

As with the driver, I’m not expecting anything ground-breaking in terms of the technology, but we’re still talking about a Mizuno iron…a grain flow forged Mizuno iron. While there’s still a segment of golfers who believe that forged irons…any forged irons are more difficult to hit than basically any cast iron, Mizuno’s commitment to offering forged irons for what most of the industry still regards as a non-forged audience.

Mizuno almost never misses when it comes to irons, so my guess is the JPX-EZ irons will continue what Mizuno started with the JPX-800 series. While it’s not easy to shake the reputation of producing irons exclusively for better players, the EZ irons are clear evidence that Mizuno is serious about game improvement.