PLAYERS IRONS

By E. Michael Johnson

Photos by Jim Herity

February 2011

CALLAWAY RAZR X TOUR

STREET PRICE: $800 (set of eight, steel)
WEBSITE: callawaygolf.com
LOFTS: 6-iron: 29 degrees, PW: 45 degrees
TECH TALK: The center of gravity (CG) has been moved lower and deeper than last year's similarly shaped X-22 Tour. The face technology varies the thickness in specific areas on each iron to optimize the sweet spot. True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts are standard.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
L: "The best iron I've hit. The results were amazing on off-center strikes, and you could feel the club cut the turf with a nice clip." ... "You need the skilled hands of a diamond cutter to get these to move left or right. They're built for a straight and high ball flight."

HOT: Ever since introducing its forged X-Tour model in 2005, Callaway has tried to surpass that design, but the results have been mixed. We have no such reservations about the RAZR X Tour. It has the right amount of forgiveness with a look that still says you're a player.
NOT: No matter how good you make a cast club, some better players aren't going to be swayed.

MIZUNO MP-53

STREET PRICE: $900
WEBSITE: mizunousa.com
LOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46
TECH TALK: A milling technique was used to create a pocket cavity in the 3- through 7-irons. The purpose was to redistribute 14 grams along the perimeter for stability on mis-hits. The topline looks thinner at address than it actually is because of a 45-degree grind.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
L: "I've been waiting for this set. Whatever sole grind this is, it makes a perfect divot." ... "I felt like I could detect the weight in every sequence of my swing. Mis-hits weren't as painful as I probably deserved, and that's just what you want to see."

HOT: The company continues to take classic designs and make them more versatile without compromising the feel it's known for. The MP-53 is the more forgiving of Mizuno's two players irons, and there are plenty of custom options available to help you find what you're looking for.
NOT: This is a players club, so we'd like to see the Project X stock shaft be the 6.0 version -- not the 5.5.

MIZUNO MP-63

STREET PRICE: $900
WEBSITE: mizunousa.com
LOFTS: 6-iron: 30, PW: 46
TECH TALK: The diamond-muscle design on the back cavity allows for incremental heel-toe weighting (more in long irons, less in short irons). Mizuno's Shaft Optimizer fitting system remains the one by which others are judged.

PLAYER COMMENTS:
L: "I thought the best synergy of sod and steel was in the MP-62s, but these beat that. I caught a couple heavy, and the impact and flight were barely affected."
M: "You feel like you're a pro when you're looking down at these. Coming down from the handle, they're very pretty: a chrome, satin finish with clean lines."

HOT: Mizuno's sound research led to one of the company's sweetest-sounding irons yet. The MP-63 doesn't wow you with technological features, and it's not going to overcome mis-hits as much as a larger clubhead might, but if you've got game, these irons do, too.
NOT: Wannabes will flock to this club but shouldn't. Your misses are going to be misses.