The Mizuno MP18 Irons - MP-18, SC and MMC Review

MIZUNO MP-18 IRONS – TURBO’S HANDIWORK

Mizuno blades and good ball strikers are the golfing equivalent of Gin and Tonic: they always seem to go better together.

For those ball strikers who consistently find the sweet spot, the stunning new  Mizuno MP-18 muscleback blades are set to continue that long and successful partnership.

But thankfully Mizuno have also released three variants of the  MP-18 that give golfers who aren’t quite as consistent in finding the sweet spot the Mizuno iron experience: the Mizuno MP-18 MMC, Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi and Mizuno MP-18 SC.
Although they are still irons for better players, the Mizuno MP-18 MMC and MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi are designed for forgiveness and ease, while the Mizuno MP-18 SC combines elements of both the MP-18 MMC and  MP-18 muscleback blades for a workable iron that is still kind to off-centre strikes.

And importantly, all four variants of the  MP-18 can be mixed and matched seamlessly into one set, according to a player’s individual preferences.

MIZUNO MP-18 BLADE - FALDO AND TURBO WIND BACK THE CLOCK

When Nick Faldo was on his career-defining hot streak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Mizuno blades he was using to great effect were handcrafted by Mizuno’s master craftsman, a bloke called Turbo.

The good news is that Turbo was called in to refine the MP-18 muscleback blade to make it aesthetically pleasing; to give it the X-factor when sitting behind the ball.

And Turbo’s done a great job, according to six-time major winner Faldo.

"You can sense Turbo's signature on the  MP-18s," Faldo said. "They remind me of the blades we worked on together all those years ago."

What Sir Nick is referring to is the  MP-18's short blade length, low heel profile and thin topline, characteristics that give the MP-18 an unashamedly traditional feel and appearance that blade aficionados will be rapt with.

The timeless design and minimalist appearance draws inspiration from Mizuno blades of the past and when the sweet spot of the  Mizuno MP-18 blade is found, the pure strike is unparalleled.

But the  Mizuno MP-18 blade won’t be every golfer’s cup of tea. Featuring the smallest head size and lowest MOI of the MP-18 iron range, the blade is the most workable but least forgiving, and has minimal offset.

The  Mizuno MP-18 blades quickly taper off through the set to an even crisper and more compact appearance through the short irons and wedges.

Available in 3-PW, RH only.

MIZUNO MP-18 MMC – MULTI METAL CAVITY FOR FORGIVENESS

At the other end of the spectrum is the Mizuno MP-18 MMC (Multi Metal Cavity), which is the first ever Mizuno MP iron to feature multi-metal construction.

The Mizuno MP-18 MMC is crafted using lightweight Titanium, denser Tungsten and 1025E mild carbon steel that works in unison to provide more stability and forgiveness.

Constructing an iron from an array of different metals comes with its headaches and it took Mizuno three years to work out how to combine all that multi-metal goodness into a workable and aesthetically pleasing iron.

Mizuno’s vision of the entire  MP-18 iron range being able to be mixed and matched into one consistent set meant that maintaining the tour-type iron shape and appearance in the MMC model was vitally important.

Mizuno have pulled it off spectacularly, with the MP-18 MMC remarkably similar in profile to the other Mizuno MP irons in the range.

The only visible difference is the MP-18 MMC’s clubhead, while still compact compared to other irons, is slightly bigger and has more offset than the  MP-18 blade to enhance forgiveness.

The extra forgiveness of the MP-18 MMC is achieved through 8g of Titanium forged behind the impact zone in the back cavity and 20g of Tungsten that arcs up towards the toe, effectively expanding the sweet spot.

The MP-18 MMC offers forgiveness and playability but importantly it still delivers a solid feel at impact.

The Tungsten toe weight has been omitted from the MP-18 MMC short irons to make them more workable.

Available in 4-PW, RH only.

MIZUNO MP-18 MMC FLI-HI – LONG IRONS THAT ACTUALLY FLY

A spin-off of the MP-18 MMC is the Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi and will appeal to golfers who prefer hitting long irons to hybrids.

The Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli-Hi is available in irons 2-6 and is designed to produce a higher ball flight and a steeper angle on descent.

Boasting all the technology contained in the MP-18 MMC irons and the same compact appearance, the MMC Fli-Hi irons are constructed with a hollow body and an internal pocket to maximise ball speed for an effortless launch.

The Mizuno MP MMC-Fli Hi is a perfect fit for players who don’t have the required clubhead speed or angle of attack to be able to launch long irons high and far.

Available in 2-6, RH only.

MIZUNO MP-18 SC – SPLIT CAVITY IRON FOR WORK AND PLAY

The Mizuno MP-18 SC iron has been named after its split cavity (SC) that sits halfway up the back of the clubhead and provides a greater level of playability than the  muscleback MP-18.

The MP-18 SC still possesses tour-ready characteristics with its compact profile being only 0.5mm taller than the MP-18 blade, and its thin topline is a mere 1mm thicker than the blade.

With a slightly wider, cambered sole the Mizuno MP-18 SC is a more practical and stable iron than the  MP-18 blade, but offers more workability than the slightly bigger MP-18 MMC irons.

Known as the “Player’s Cavity Back”, the SC doesn’t taper off as dramatically in clubhead size through the set and is designed to blend seamlessly into a customised set alongside the other  MP-18 irons.

Available 3-PW, RH and LH.

MIX AND MATCH YOUR MP-18 SET

At the centre of  Mizuno’s MP-18 strategy is the ability to mix and match the entire range into one customised set for consistent feel, appearance and performance.

It is all about golfers’ individual preferences: if the look of a long iron  MP-18 muscleback blade is the stuff of nightmares then drop a more forgiving MP-18 MMC or MP-18 SC iron into the set.

But if a cavity back iron like the MP18-SC suits your mid iron mojo but the appearance of a crisp muscleback wedge inspires Jordan Spieth-like levels of confidence, make the change: you call the shots as to how your set of  MP-18s is blended.

Mizuno have put an emphasis on consistency of form throughout the MP-18 range. Offsets have been calibrated so there isn’t a massive variance between the different models while lofts can be bent to maintain distance gaps through a mixed set.

GRAIN FLOW FORGING

Mizuno have improved the feel of the  MP-18 irons by using a process called Grain Flow Forging.

Similar to grain found in wood, the 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel used in MP-18 irons also has an inherent grain structure.

The forging process concentrates the steel’s grain tightly behind the iron’s impact area to offer a softer feeling at impact, superior feedback and an improved sound off the clubface.

MIZUNO S18 WEDGES

Also new to the Mizuno range are the Mizuno S18 wedges, which sport a more rounded shape than previous Mizuno wedges.

Mizuno made the topline thicker on the S18 to shift the centre of gravity up the clubface. This move not only increases spin rates, but also improves consistency after Mizuno noted the majority of mis-hits with more lofted clubs occur higher up the clubface.

Each loft in the S18 wedge range has a specific profile, sole grind and groove depth that is designed to be the most efficient for their expected use.

Higher bounce S18 wedges have some bounce taken off the heel and toe in order to get the wedge through the turf efficiently, to suit players who get steep on the downswing, while lower bounce S18 wedges have a straighter grind around the heel and toe for more versatility.

The S18 wedges can be custom stamped with up to six characters in one of 12 colours.

Available in 46-62 degrees, RH and LH.

MIZUNO CLK HYBRID

The Mizuno CLK hybrid is designed to fill the gap between the longest iron and shortest fairway wood in the bag.

An ultra-thin face and “Amplified Shockwave” sole creates greater ball speeds at impact and a higher, low-spinning ball flight, perfect for off the tee or fairway.

Four different CLK heads are available and the hosel can be adjusted up to eight ways for 32 different options, meaning there’s a flight and set-up available for every golfer.

Available 2,3,4,5 RH, 3,4 LH.