Independant Review Mizuno JPX Ball

[mizuno_lover]

I was quite excited to be reviewing this ball because of the disappointment I experienced in trying to purchase a sleeve for the review and being told the shop only sold them by the dozen.  My club pro had been given a sleeve containing a mixture of the MP-S, MP-X and JPX and this was the last one he had and was good enough to give it to me after he accidently sent my Vokey 60 degree wedge out in one of his hire sets. (long story)  So it turned out that the ball I got was a freebie which is always nice especially when the budget is tight.

 

 

I couldn't have asked for a better day weather wise with clear skies and mild temperatures, very chilly initially.  I headed to the putting green and dropped the JPX alongside a Pro V1.  Mainly because that seems to be the standard all balls are measured against.  The JPX unlike the MP-S felt very similar to the Pro V1 off the putter face.  I wish I hit all my putts the way I hit that first putt because it was a down hill, left to right 20 foot bomb that went straight into the middle of the hole.  My first instinct was "Review over, a great ball that putts like a dream!".  No such luck though.  20 or 30 putts later though, it still felt very similar to the Pro V1 perhaps a shade firmer but only just perceptible.  Any trial really starts on the first tee though and that's where I headed to get my teeth into this extra dimpled techno marvel that Mizuno had produced I think to appeal to the 10-20 handicap range of golfer. 

 

 

I selected 3 wood to deal the Coup de grace off the tee and I'd like to say I saw the ball flight even. but our first tee heads directly east into the rising sun and if you don't pick up the ball flight straight away it's anyone's guess where it goes.  Thankfully my playing partner saw it.  It was a slight pull that felt sweet off the club and finished just short of the fairway bunkers about 225 yards down the fairway and flew about 200 yards of that distance.  The ensuing approach was an 150 yard shot to the pin.  The ball lay in the first cut and was sitting down a little.  I decided on a seven iron because it was still quite cool and the ball tends to not travel as far.  I caught it a shade fat but it still took off on a quite acceptable trajectory and landed roughly 10 yards short of the green and ran up onto the putting surface leaving about a 10 foot putt for birdie.  Two putts later I headed to the 2nd and looked forward to seeing the trajectory of my tee shot this time. 

 

I would say I tend to have a mid trajectory when I use the Pro V1 or Z Star ball.  I can confidently say I have a high trajectory with the JPX.  I hit 3 wood again off the 2nd tee.  You might say "well Greg everyone hits their 3 wood high.  Everyone probably except me.  I hit it pretty much with a mid trajectory too and to hit it high I have to tee it higher and risk getting underneath it.  Not the JPX.  I teed it low and hit that sucker so high it had ice on it coming down.  It had a beautiful 2-3 yard draw on it and pretty much stopped where it landed 230 yards down the fairway.  The feel off the club was crisp and sweet and the ball launched high straight off the club as opposed to Starting low and gradually climbing to an apex and then dropping.  I will add that I had a real sense of confidence at address knowing it would launch high and carry anything that could possibly require that carry.

 

The next shot that stands out in my mind was the tee shot and second shot on the Par 4 third.  The hole is a 325 yard slight dog leg right with a fairway bunker that requires a 240 yard carry that doesn't really give you an advantage if you carry it any way.  I hit a 4 iron off the tee that I didn't quite get, probably a groove or two low and a shade toward the toe but straight enough to be satisfied and it left me with a 137 yard 8 iron approach that I'm happy to report that I definitely got.  It flew high at the right hand edge of the green drawing gently back onto the flag.  It was the sort of shot that brings a smile to your face and one you file away for reminiscing purposes at the 19th.  It was with this shot that I noted that the ball was not going to stop as quickly as a Pro V1 or Z Star.  The pin was at the back of the green, a green that slopes down from back to front and while it was firm I would have expected the JPX to stop if it was a Z Star that I hit, especially with the height I got and a near vertical drop.  It finished in the fringe above the hole and left me with a downhill 15 footer for birdie.  I wasn't hugely disappointed just a little surprised that it hadn't stopped on the green and made the par anyway.

 

The big surprise with this ball was how high I could hit my long irons with it.  Having said that, add my 3 wood off the deck to that.  I had several occasions today where I hit my 4 iron happily knowing that I could 1.stop it and, 2. hit it high enough to carry obstacles such as trees.  That included mid irons and some short iron shots too.  Pitching I would only rate it at about 6 out of ten because I struggled to get it to spin enough to hop and stop it, maybe it was just one of those days.  I noted I hit some bunker shots that certainly hopped and stopped for me, one of those being for a clutch par on 17.  It hopped and stopped about 6 foot from the flag and the putt duly rolled in.  Chipping was as expected and hitting a chip that released and ran up to the flag was bread and butter with this ball.  I'll also say I now intend to buy a dozen of these guys and really give them a good work out now I know what to expect because that high ball flight adds a real dimension to my game that I haven't had for some time.

 

In Summary I'd have to say if you are a high ball hitter already you may struggle with this ball.  It stays plenty straight but can be worked either way.  I did struggle a little with the fade but I specialise in the double cross anyway If you are a low ball hitter and want to hit it higher it may help you too.  My understanding is that dimples give the ball lift and this ball has dimples around its dimples and I hit some shots today that I didn't think would come down and my playing partner even remarked on how high I hit the ball.  So yes, it does fly high   I don't think I was any longer with it but I wasn't any shorter either so I wouldn't expect any help on that front if you are a short hitter except you may get more carry.  I forgot to add that the cover is brilliant white and tends to stay that way for the entire round, making it easy to find and see in flight except when the sun is burning out your retinas.  When I buy some more of these I will add to this review.  In the mean time thanks for reading and I hope it helps.  These bad boys retail for $35.00 Australian here, that equates to about $26.00 US which is pretty bloody good.

[ZenGolfer]

Good review.  I wish that these balls were available here in the states.  Until they are, Im more than happy to give my money to Taylormade and Bridgestone.

[mizuno_lover]

I used the same ball again today to test how it holds up over a couple of rounds, because I know there's guys out there that love their value for money and like to get at least 2 or 3 rounds out of a ball.  Personally 2 is the max I like to get out of a ball and I struggle with that being superstitious I tend to think most of the good luck is worn off after the first round especially if it's a good round You'll see from the photos that this ball is a dead set combat veteran and earned its pension, it hit trees, skidded through sandy patches hit fairways and greens from great heights, landed in bunkers and generally had the gizzards hit out of it.  I wouldn't use it again but that's me!

[fozcycle]

Thanks mizzy....nice review....I guess the extra air is due to the tiny little dimples?

 

What does Mizuno say about them?

 

 

1. Dimple-cluster designMicro-dimples activate in descent.
2. Added airtime through aerodynamic design.
3. 3 piece constructionSoft, responsive playability.

[Kenny B]

I used the same ball again today to test how it holds up over a couple of rounds, because I know there's guys out there that love their value for money and like to get at least 2 or 3 rounds out of a ball.  Personally 2 is the max I like to get out of a ball and I struggle with that being superstitious I tend to think most of the good luck is worn off after the first round especially if it's a good round You'll see from the photos that this ball is a dead set combat veteran and earned its pension, it hit trees, skidded through sandy patches hit fairways and greens from great heights, landed in bunkers and generally had the gizzards hit out of it.  I wouldn't use it again but that's me!

 

Nice review!  I'd give them a try if they were available here.  I can always use extra height.

 

Hit 'em 'till you lose 'em!  I always say.  For me that can be the very first tee shot, or it can be 2 weeks later!  

[ZenGolfer]

 

Thanks mizzy....nice review....I guess the extra air is due to the tiny little dimples?

 

What does Mizuno say about them?

 

 

1. Dimple-cluster designMicro-dimples activate in descent.
2. Added airtime through aerodynamic design.
3. 3 piece constructionSoft, responsive playability.

 

Supposedly the design is supposed to increase lift.  Bridgestone did something similar a few years back.

 

Nice review!  I'd give them a try if they were available here.  I can always use extra height.

 

Hit 'em 'till you lose 'em!  I always say.  For me that can be the very first tee shot, or it can be 2 weeks later!  

Same here.  Unless the cover is cut to where the ball doesnt roll true anymore, I use 'em until I lose 'em!

[mizuno_lover]

I wound up buying a dozen of these guys.  I've really taken a liking to the high ball flight they give me, especially on our greens that are running at about 11 or 12 on the stimp and are quite firm.  And they feel so nice and crisp off the clubs.

[Fireinthehole]

Nice review! I haven't seen any around here, but I remember reading a preview of these. That high flight would be useful right now, our greens are rolling hard and firm.