Mizuno MP-S Balls Review

[mizuno_lover]

I have to admit there was a bit of a drama getting these balls for trial.  I rang two potential suppliers the other day, one was a shop here in Perth called Golf Box and the other was another "pro shop" called On Course Golf.  Both said they had stock.  I went to Golf Box because it was on the way to my game yesterday (Wednesday) and said to the guy behind the counter I wanted a sleeve of MP-S, a sleeve of the JPX and a sleeve of the other MP model as I was going to do a review.  "We only sell them by the dozen" was his prompt reply.  Needless to say he didn't sell me any and made his excuses to my back as I walked out of the shop.

 

I went to the on course shop today and purchased a dozen MP-S balls for 50 clams and headed to the course for my regular Thursday game.  The packaging is of course quite impressive, a white box with the square vivid blue and silver Mizuno logo as would befit a premium golf ball aimed at attracting the better player.

 

I broke one out and dropped it on the putting green along side a Titleist Pro V1 X.  This was where the first surprise surfaced.  Having played a Titleist for so long and more recently the Srixon Z Star I expected a similar feel off the putter face.  Not the case with the Mizuno. It felt and sounded a lot more clickie off the face.  I think the MP is a slightly harder compression than both the Z Star and the Pro V1 and that translates to the firmer feel off the putter face and the distinctly crisper sounding click.  I have to say that being used to the others I found it a bit off putting but having paid for a dozen of these things I wasn't going to be put off by that. 

 

I hit the first tee and am always excited when I'm hitting my first shot with a brand new pill, especially with one I'm going to analyse to within an inch of its life.  I was hitting 3 wood, funnily enough a Mizuno JPX 850 itself and I thought if ever I'm going to hit a Mizuno ball well, it's going to be with Mizuno clubs.  I was right and smacked my tee shot with a mid trajectory that seemed to compress nicely off the face and it took off with a gentle 5 yard draw finishing 225 yards up the fairway leaving me a nice yardage (130) for a nine iron to the pin.  I'm still getting used to my MP 54 irons which have dynamic gold S300 shafts in them and if I don't focus I have a tendency to leave them out to the right.  I put a good swing on this one and watched it start just right of target and gently draw back towards the pin leaving me a six footer for birdie to start the day.  The putt was right to left with about 3 inches of break.  Good stroke, that positive click off the putter and I was away with a birdie and heading to the par five second.  So far so good and I was pumped and feeling confident with the new ball.  I won't bore you with my good and bad shots but suffice to say that the most impressive thing that struck me throughout the round was the consistent length and control I was able to get with this ball as well as the ability to work it both ways.  So many balls these days almost seem to have a self correcting flight and are really difficult to work both ways.  This balls workability and length was most apparent on the 16th hole another long par 5.  I pulled my drive into the trees on the left and had to chip out side ways. My tee shot travelled about 170 yards towards the green and once on the fairway I had a loooooong way to go.  I pulled out the trusty 3 wood to hit my third, I needed to hit it straight and long because death awaited me if I went right or left.  I executed but still finished a little too far right and still had 165 yards to the flag.  My fourth required a slight fade and I selected a 6 iron and hit one of the most pure iron shots I have hit since buying the MP 54's.  It was a baby fade that bounced once and finished 3 and a half feet from the pin and if I sank the putt, a par, when I was thinking double bogey after my tee shot.  I made the putt and finished the round 3 over my index.

 

In summary I was impressed with the ball.  Will I game it?  Not too sure about that but I will until the box is used up.  The only reason I wouldn't game it is that whilst I like a harder ball it is perhaps that touch too firm for me.  I didn't do much chipping with the ball I used today so I'm not to sure how you might find them control wise around the green.  More to follow on that score as I use them a bit more.  It stopped as well as a Pro V1/Z Star on full wedges into the green and even shorter pitch shots and I found it easy to work it either way as required.  At 50 clams they are cheaper than Titleists here but I'm pretty sure Golf Box sells them for 69 so they aren't that cheap. They are certainly durable and I would be happy to use them for a couple of rounds before relegating them to the practise bag.  The other issues you might have is the availability of them in the US.  The comments about that on the Secret photos forum seemed fairly negative as to their availability in stores. Keep a look out for a review of the JPX balls when I can afford to buy a dozen of them and some more comments about their general playability as I work my way through the dozen.  Cheers and thanks for reading.

[Kanoito]

Good stuff, mate!

I just can't see myself buying new balls... I lose them waaay too fast

[BK in TEXAS]

Good review.  How much is 50 clams in US dollars?

[bumpandrun]

Good review.  How much is 50 clams in US dollars?

 

A good sized Lobster.

[ZenGolfer]

Nice review.  I believe they go for about $80 U.S.  A little pricey and the fact that they arent exactly easy to get to the U.S. makes it a deal breaker for me.

[mizuno_lover]

Apologies men, $50 Australian = about $38 US.  The exchange rate is about $1.30 Per US dollar.

[BK in TEXAS]

A good sized Lobster.

I'll take 1 lobster over 50 clams anyday :-))

[ZenGolfer]

Apologies men, $50 Australian = about $38 US.  The exchange rate is about $1.30 Per US dollar.

Thats actually not bad.  I saw them last year for $70-$80 and with shipping it was over $100 a dozen.

[fozcycle]

Thanks for the review.....I have not seen these anywhere in the US thus far....but maybe someon from Mizuno will read your review then set us up....LOL

[ZenGolfer]

Thanks for the review.....I have not seen these anywhere in the US thus far....but maybe someon from Mizuno will read your review then set us up....LOL

Yeah...good luck with that. LOL

[BK in TEXAS]

Thanks for the review.....I have not seen these anywhere in the US thus far....but maybe someon from Mizuno will read your review then set us up....LOL

 

 

Yeah...good luck with that. LOL

 

I'd like a sleeve too please :-))