Why are people loyal to specific brands?
In golf, one brand stands out when it comes to loyal customers, and part of the reason for that loyalty has been incorporated into its tagline - “Nothing feels like a Mizuno.”
When we think of Mizuno, we immediately think of the stellar range of forged irons they have produced, forming the bedrock of that famous tagline.
From tour pro to serious amateur to aspiring single-figure handicapper, Mizuno’s forged irons not only offer a feel unmatched by any other manufacturer, but they also deliver workability and performance in equal measure.
The golfing world pays attention when Mizuno launches a new series of irons, and late last year, Mizuno introduced the updated and fabulous Pro Series irons.
If you’re currently in the market for a new set of irons, there are few better ones on the market, so to help you understand more about the Pro Series, we’ll guide you through the following:
- What’s Available in the Pro Series Range
- The Technology Story Behind the Pro Series
- What Pro Series Iron Is Right For Me?
- Maximising the Pro Series Through Custom Fitting
What’s Available in the Pro Series Range
For many golfers, Mizuno irons have been aimed consistently towards better players. But that’s not strictly true, with Mizuno offering their best technology and grain flow forging process throughout their iron ranges.
The Pro series follows this pattern with three models, which are:
- Pro 241
- Pro 243
- Pro 245
- Pro S-1
- Pro S-3
- Pro Wedges
Pro 241
If you are in the market for a no-compromise, small-headed pure blade, you should consider the Pro 241.
Mizuno makes no apologies for the fact that this blade is designed for the best ball strikers who want the ability to shape shots at will.
At address, the compact head shape is married to a thin top line, which, to many golfers, will make this set an intimidating proposition.
Pro 243
The previous generation Pro 223 model was popular, with many golfers looking for a player cavity iron. The Pro 243 model follows in a similar vein and enters a robust segment in the iron market with competition from TaylorMade’s P7 MC, Titleist T100/150, and Callaway’s Apex CB irons.
One thing to note with the Pro 243 iron is that Mizuno has opted for a more aggressive look, shortening the blade length and making the top line thinner, giving it a closer resemblance to the muscle-back bladed Pro 241 model.
Pro 245
The Pro 245 joins the increasingly competitive player’s performance iron, where models like PXG’s Gen 6 0311 P, Titleist T200, and TaylorMade P790S are already situated.
Mizuno combines its skill and knowledge of forging steel with cutting-edge technology to create an iron that has classic Mizuno features down at the ball and the performance that will help higher-handicap golfers get the most out of their iron game.
Pro S-1
Similar to the Pro 241, the Pro S-1 is an achingly beautiful traditional muscleback blade aimed at the better player.
The Pro S-1 is a pure tour-inspired design featuring an even more compact head than the Pro 241, a customary thin top line for this type of iron, and a square toe design to give the Pro S-1 a very purposeful look behind the ball.
The Pro S-1’s looks are enhanced further by the soft white satin finish, which helps to reduce glare at address.
Pro S-3
The Pro S-3 takes the looks and dimensions of the Pro S-1 but adds a small cavity to the back of the iron to give it more forgiveness.
Even though there is a cavity, the Pro S-3 would definitely sit at the better players' end of the spectrum, which means it could work in the mid to long irons for the really consistent ball strikers before switching into the Pro S-1s in the short irons.
Pro Wedges
Mizuno’s new wedges complement the Pro Series irons with two models.
The Pro T-1 wedge is a sleek, compact teardrop shape and matches up nicely with the Pro S-1 irons.
The Pro T-3 wedge provides a little more flexibility on off-centre hits thanks to the small cavity in the rear, which mimics the Pro S-3 irons.
The Pro T-1 and T-3 wedges are available in soft white satin or black ion finishes. The Pro T-1 is also offered with a stunning blue ion finish for more individualistic flair in the golf bag.
The Technology Story Behind the Pro Series
Looking at the Pro 241 and Pro S-1 first, we see a forged blade design in the classic Mizuno fashion.
Mizuno’s process for creating its forged blades is unique. To start with, Mizuno has built its forged irons in the same factory in Hiroshima since 1968.
You will see on the hosels of each Pro Series iron “Grain Flow Forged,” which helps Mizuno irons feel the way they do. When Mizuno forges its irons, it works with the grain in the carbon steel, keeping it consistent throughout the iron head and eliminating any inconsistencies in the build process.
In the Pro 241, we see the same forging process outlined above, with the engineers concentrating as much mass as they can directly behind the hitting area.
Pro S-1
The Pro S-1 features to same grain flow forged steel but has a different look to the Pro 241 thanks to the inclusion of Mizuno’s Channel Back design, which helps redistribute mass behind the face to create consistent launch angles through each iron.
The leading edge of the Mizuno Pro S-1 iron is sharper with a flatter camber and one degree more bounce in the sole compared to its Pro 241 cousin to further enhance turf interaction.
Pro 243
The big technology story behind the Mizuno Pro 243 irons is the use of thinner steel (4120 chromoly steel) in the faces of the 4-iron down to the 7-iron. This thinner face, along with improved micro slots in the cavity, creates a bigger spring-like effect at impact, resulting in faster ball speeds from these irons.
Mizuno reverts to its traditional 1025E carbon steel from the 8-iron down, where feel and playability are more important in scoring clubs.
The Pro 243 also has a new sole design, which, on the surface, makes the sole seem a little narrower than on the previous 223 model. This visual effect is caused by Mizuno’s new wrap-around sole grind, which introduces a little more bounce to improve turf interaction.
Pro S-3
The main talking point of the Pro S-3 is the triple cut sole design to maximise turf interaction for purer strikes.
The leading edge is bevelled to prevent it from digging into the turf, while the trailing edge is cut sharper to get the sole out of the ground more cleanly.
The last element is how Mizuno’s engineers have optimised the sole geometry to further improve turf interaction, leading to more consistent and precise ball-striking.
Pro 245
The Pro 245 irons are Mizuno’s technical tour de force.
From 2-iron to 8-iron, Mizuno employs grain-flow-forged 4135 Chromoly steel in the face and neck. Using this steel in the face helps to create a spring-like effect similar to what we see on the Pro 243 irons to increase ball speeds and help keep overall head weight down.
A 46-gram tungsten weight is strategically positioned low behind the face to help create higher launching shots. A 431 stainless steel section laser-welded to the back of the head holds it in place.
From 9-iron down, Mizuno reverts to their 1025E carbon steel with a smaller, 17-4 stainless steel section laser-welded behind the hitting area to create a lower ball flight.
Following the Pro 243, Mizuno has also incorporated its new wrap-around sole grind to aid better turf interaction.
Pro T-1 And Pro T-3 Wedges
The big story with wedges is creating consistent spin regardless of the weather or course conditions we play in.
Mizuno’s way of tackling this issue is through its Quad Cut+ grooves and Hydroflow Micro grooves, which provide a tighter groove pattern on the face along with moisture management technology that helps deliver the desired consistent spin levels.
The Mizuno Pro T-1 wedge offers six different sole designs to manage bounce and grind for more targeted fitting for course conditions and player profile, while the Mizuno Pro T-3 offers three sole designs.
What Pro Series Iron Is Right For Me?
On paper, this looks simple enough. The Pro 241 irons and Pro S-1 irons are those beautiful-looking blades we would all love to hit, and a set of these irons would look really cool in our golf bags.
But, with their small head profiles and thin top lines, the Pro 241 and Pro S-1 fit into that rarified category of golfer who don’t need assistance with ball striking but are focused on shot-shaping and feedback from their irons.
The Pro 243 and Pro S-3 will also end up in the bags of professionals and elite amateurs who will also appreciate the compact look of these irons at address. But we have discovered that there is more to these irons than meets the eye, meaning single-digit handicap golfers could be fitted for either model.
The Pro 245 will appeal to a wider variety of golfers. Their multi-material construction means they pack a powerful punch wrapped up in a classic Mizuno head profile.
We can see the massive potential to build a set of combo irons with the Pro series.
The head profiles at address and the lofting in each Pro Series iron don’t vary too drastically. We wouldn’t anticipate managing significant distance gaps as you transition from one type of iron to another.
We could easily see a golfer fitted with the 245s in the longer irons blending into the 243s or Pro S-3s, with the option of adding 241s or Pro S-1s in the short irons.
How do we get into a situation where we could recommend a set makeup like this for a golfer? The answer is simple: custom-fitting.
Crafted by Mizuno, Built by Nine by Nine Golf
If you are interested in the new Pro Series heads, the best place to start is by choosing the setup that matches your game.
At Nine by Nine Golf, you can order with confidence knowing we hold a 4.9 Trustpilot rating from more than 600 reviews.
Our PGA-trained team is on hand if you need guidance before you buy, and every order is built in-house by our tour-level technicians to the same standard trusted by the best players in the world.
We stock a wide range of steel shafts from True Temper, KBS, and Project X, as well as graphite options from Mitsubishi Chemical, Fujikura, and Nippon.
Getting the right shaft weight and flex can add distance and improve trajectory, while also tightening dispersion across your approach shots.
The correct lie angle is just as important, helping keep your ball flight on target and avoiding recurring misses left or right of the pin.
A custom-fitting session can confirm your setup, but many players will find everything they need within our Mizuno Pro Series range online.
Mizuno’s heritage in forging continues with the Pro Series.
From the classic muscle-back Pro 241 and Pro S-1 to the powerful Pro 245, and through to the precision of the Pro T-1 and T-3 wedges, the line-up combines craftsmanship, consistency, and feel from your longest iron to your shortest.
For players looking to improve their iron play, the Mizuno Pro Series is one of the most complete families in golf.
Explore and shop the full range online today with Nine by Nine Golf, where expertise and build quality are part of every order.
