Cobra 3DP X Irons vs Mizuno M-15 Irons: Read Our Head-To-Head Verdict

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The compact distance irons market is always one of the most important because want an iron that offers good distance and forgiveness, but we don’t want to sacrifice too much in the way of looks and feel to get it. From an engineering standpoint, it’s a real test for the manufacturers to accomplish that with the limited size and materials available when designing an iron.

Fortunately, Cobra and Mizuno have smashed it out the park with their 3DP X and M-15 models. Both are crammed full of technology that boosts performance and forgiveness more than ever before, and they’ve been able to achieve that by barely compromising on looks and feel.

The reality is that these clubs aren’t just for game improvers. There’s a huge number of golfers – many of whom might consider themselves too good for irons in this category – who could benefit from playing with these clubs. The negatives and compromises that used to exist to get this level of performance simply don’t anymore. They’re both brilliant, but which one is best for you?

Technology

The Cobra 3DP X is stacked with about as much technology as it’s possible to squeeze into an iron head. The key is that while many irons in this category feature glued face inserts, the 3DP X is a one-piece construction made of 316L stainless steel. The big breakthrough is an internal lattice structure that saves a lot of weight and enables the weight that is there to be distributed for optimal performance.

That lattice is also able to support a thin face, which aims to provide feel that you wouldn’t normally expect from a mid-to-low handicap iron, while maintaining the performance and forgiveness we desire. This has all been achieved using advanced 3D-printing technology, specifically a ‘Direct Metal Laser Sintering’ (DMLS) process. Plus, there’s tungsten weighting in the hosel and toe that is designed to boost stability and forgiveness on off-centre strikes, making them one of the most forgiving irons we've tested so far this season.

The composition of the Mizuno M-15 focusses on a unique progressive construction that uses different materials to hone and optimize the performance as you move through the set. The 4 to 8-irons are built to optimize ball speed and consistency. The Contoured Ellipse Face is made from Grain Flow Forged 4135+ Chromoly and has a multi-thickness forged construction. That is joined to a stainless-steel back piece, with a hollow body for maximum rebound. Mizuno has also used tungsten weighting to further boost the launch and stability – 51g in the long irons and 50.3g in the mid-irons.

The 9-iron and gap wedge are created to accentuate control and precision with a partially hollow 1025E Grain Flow Forged HD body with a stainless-steel back. Every club features Harmonic Impact Technology and copper underlay work that helps reduce sound pressure and create a soft but solid feel at impact.

Looks

It’s fair to say that both these irons set the standard and break new ground in terms of making an iron head that has a lot crammed into it to boost performance look sleek, sophisticated and premium. You could very easily think they were players irons if you picked them up without knowing what’s under the hood.

In terms of the best golf irons, Mizuno has set the standards for aesthetics for a long time now, and the M-15s continue this trend with a classic and familiar profile that belies the technology hidden within, and a bucket load of shelf appeal. It looks great at address with a reasonably narrow top-line and an overall head size that looks more compact than you might expect from this model.

Cobra hasn’t been as revered for the visuals of their irons, but the 3DP X looks cracking and isn’t far off the profile of a blade, which is remarkable given all the tech - in fact, they look almost identical to their bladed counterpart, the Cobra 3DP MB. When you look at them up close, the design is clean and the exposed lattice at the back looks fantastic. Of course, it’s at address that really matters, and they frame the ball really well with a slightly thicker topline and a touch of offset that hints to their forgiving roots without straying from the premium package.

Feel

It’s no exaggeration to say that the Cobra 3DP X is the best feeling iron of 2026. In fact, it feels better than plenty of clubs that are designed to value feel over raw performance and forgiveness. You get a buttery soft feel wherever you hit it on the clubface! Some golfers may argue that compromises feedback, but I would urge you to park any reservations you may have because you won’t care about that once you’ve actually tried and felt these clubs.

Given all that, you might expect a drop-off in this area from the Mizuno M-15s given that hollow, multi-piece heads don’t usually excel in terms of feel. But these do. They deliver the soft and responsive feel that players love and expect from the best Mizuno irons. Importantly, that excellent feel is consistent through the set. They feel good through the turf as well, thanks to refined sole geometry with added bounce.

Performance

When you boil it down to the numbers on the Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, the M-15 irons launch the ball a little faster and higher than the 3DP X irons, but the Cobra’s spin more and fly a bit higher. Ultimately, the Mizuno’s go a good club longer.

The great news about the Cobra 3DP X is that the forgiveness you feel translates through to the performance, as well. While the spin and distance does obviously drop off a little on off-center strikes, the overall consistency of the results from all over the clubface is very impressive. By Cobra’s own admission, the forgiveness of this iron exceeds that of its current ‘super game improvement’ model, the King Max iron.

They have strong lofts (the 7-iron is 29° in both sets) but the 3DP X launches the ball pretty easily and with good ball speeds and carry distances. I certainly wouldn’t get hung up on the loft numbers because the truth is in how the ball flies – and there’s plenty to love about the quality and consistency of the flight with these clubs. The only real negative is the price, with a six-piece set from 5-PW setting you back a hefty $1,980.

The most impressive things about the M-15s is that you get the performance you want through the set. The long and mid-irons launch well and generate fantastic carry distances with impressive consistency, while the short irons and wedges offer really good control and the ability to knock the flight down a bit thanks to the progressive CG moving the center of gravity higher in the those clubs.

In conclusion, these are two of the best sets of irons we’ve seen in a long time. They each offer looks and feel that you normally wouldn’t expect from more distance-orientated irons that also provide so much help in terms of distance, stability and forgiveness. But it’s those latter traits that are the most important when you’re shopping in this category, and there’s just enough of a difference in their performance to steer you in one direction or another. If you are on a budget though, you may have to look elsewhere - neither of these sets are going to be cheap enough to be included in our best budget irons guide any time soon.

If distance is a decisive factor for you, the Mizuno M-15s are the longer of the two. That extra little bit of control and ability to knock the flight down in the shorter irons and wedges might also sway lower handicappers towards the Mizuno. But the Cobra 3DP Xs are probably the ones for you if you’re looking for a bit more height from your shots and you want to feel like a proper ball-striker no matter where you hit it on the face. It feels like the Cobra’s are everything you would want and expect from a players iron on steroids, while the Mizuno’s are a slightly more refined aesthetic with surprising distance. Whichever you choose, you’re onto a winner.

Which club should you choose?

Choose Cobra 3DP X irons if…

- You want incredible feel and forgiveness all over the clubface.
- You need performance-boosting technology but like a sophisticated look.
- You crave optimum performance no matter the cost.

Choose Mizuno M-15 irons if…

- You want to maximize distance without compromising looks and feel.
- You need a bit more control in your short irons and wedges.
- You require a bit more help to launch your long irons.

For more iron buying advice, be sure to have a read of our guides on the most forgiving irons, the best compact mid-handicapper irons and the best distance irons.