REVIEW: Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood

Mizuno Makes Outstanding Woods Too
Every time Mizuno comes out with new irons, people gush over how great they look and how awesome they feel; and rightly so. Mizuno has built an amazing arsenal of irons over the years. While the irons are great with nearly every release, it seems that the Mizuno wood line gets overlooked, even though recently they are just as good. It might be because some of their PGA staffers play different woods or it might be that people just don’t associate Mizuno and woods. The new JPX 900 3-wood really deserved a shot at winning the fairway wood slot in your bag.
The new Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood has a bold look with its matte blue crown.   The club world has been back and forth on colors so I don’t know if that really plays a role in acceptance of clubs any more.  No matter what you think of the color, the shape is really nice.  The thinner face and wide body give the golfer confidence with it behind the ball.  It has a decent size front to back, but seems to hide it well.  I’d put this middle of the road for over all size, but near the top of the list as appealing head shape.
 
Mizuno offers one of the most adjustable 3-woods you can buy in the JPX 900 model.  The hosel has a +/- 2* adjustablity and the sliding weight goes front to back for more flight/spin adjustment.  I stuck with the 15* setting for the hosel and settled on the middle weight position.  The lower one offered a little more distance and a little less spin, but I wanted more height and more stopping power to dial in my distance better.  I could push the extremes with this club and get it to go close to driver distance, but that doesn’t do me any good off the tee when I need it go shorter on purpose.  I also didn’t go with the other extreme because most of the desert courses I play in AZ are exposed to the wind and I don’t want it floating around too much either.  The middle settings really seemed ideal for my game.
#NothingFeelsLikeAMizuno has been a long standing hashtag of theirs.  The Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood continues with a tradition of great feel.  There is just a slight hollowness to it, but muted and very solid feeling.  The feel does change if the sliding weight is moved, but still very crisp at impact.  I would put it on the softer more muted side of 3-woods, yet plenty hot as the ball springs off the face.
One key to the Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood is the excellent stock shaft.   Sure everyone offers custom options, but I love not having to figure out what might be good combo.  The Fujikura Speeder 661 Evo II is an excellent shaft.  The smooth feel and kick of this shaft make it a favorite aftermarket shaft so having it as the stock shaft makes this club even better.  It is easy to launch and keeps the spin in a nice lowish range, while looking super cool in the copper iridescent paint.
 
I’ve had the Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood in the bag now for the last 7 rounds and it has really been an impressive club.  I’ve had multiple eagle looks on par 5s and whenever I’m doubt with the driver or ARCCOS Caddies says I should play the 3-wood it has performed very well.  If I get really quick with my swing, I can get it to go left, but for the most part it hits the ball very straight.  The distance is up near the top of the class for 3-woods.  It certainly does depend on how the weight is set too.  The Shockwave sole and waffle crown all add to great ball speed, easy to launch and a forgiving 3-wood.
 

FlightScope Xi Tour Launch Monitor

Mizuno JPX 900 3-wood

  • Spin: 3021 rpms
  • Launch Angle: 14.7*
  • Dispersion: 3.9 yds
  • Club Head Speed: 99.7 mph
  • Ball Speed: 147.0 mph
  • Total Distance:  245.1 yds
  • Carry Distance:  230.9 yds

Mizuno has been making good woods for a number of generations now and they just keep getting better.  I really like the JPX 900 3-wood.  It has hit some amazing shots on the course and fits the gap nicely.  The adjustability and feel along with a great stock shaft make this a really good choice for the 3-wood slot in your bag.  I know usually you hear about Mizuno Irons like the MP-62’s, but don’t miss out on trying a really good 3-wood.

For more information: www.mizunousa.com/category/sports/golf.do

Quick Hits:
+Excellent head shape
+Solid feel
+Plenty of adjustability
+Great stock shaft
+Long and forgiving

–Blue color isn’t for everyone