Name: Mizuno ST-X Driver
Brand: Mizuno

Golf Monthly Verdict

With the ST range, Mizuno has created two excellent drivers, but the draw-biased flight of the ST-X will arguably have broader appeal. This is the longest Mizuno driver we've tested to date, so is certainly worthy of consideration.

Reasons to buy

+
The modern aesthetics and classic shape combine with a great feel and solid all round performance.

Reasons to avoid

-
Minimal gains over the previous generation. Some may find the compact profile at address intimidating.

By Neil Tappin

published 1 February 21

In this Mizuno ST-X driver review article and video, Neil Tappin tests and compares the new ST-X model to see if the performance improves on the impressive ST200

Mizuno ST-X Driver Review

We were very impressed with last year's ST200 models, which became some of the most underrated drivers given the performance and appealing price point.

For 2021, its driver designs have been refined but how did the Mizuno ST-X driver perform and should you consider putting one of these in the bag?

Mizuno ST drivers at address — How the Mizuno ST-X driver (left) and ST-Z driver look at address

The ST-X drivers looks great behind the ball, sits nice and square and has a smaller profile than the ST-Z driver that the better player will enjoy looking down on.

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Putting the differences between generations to one side, these Mizuno drivers look superb and strike a fine balance between modern, cutting-edge aesthetics and classic shaping.

The feel of the ST-X driver is fantastic - solid and explosive from a wide area, it really does encourage feelings of power and the distance we created backs this up.

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In terms of the SkyTrak launch monitor data, as the numbers below show, there really wasn’t much to choose between the two new models and the ST200 G from 2020.

Of the three drivers we tested, the new Mizuno ST-X was our favourite. Whether this was down to the more compact shape (which we preferred) or the draw bias is hard to say. What was clear during our testing however was that it delivered the most consistent results with short after shot finding the fairway. This added consistency also translated to a few extra yards.

We found the ST-X driver a little easier to turn over from right-to-left, which will certainly please golfers that struggle with a miss to the right and should help eliminated one side of the golf course.

The ST-X driver might not represent a huge year-on-year leap forward for Mizuno but they build on what was already a very strong, and arguably underrated, offering. The overall combination of looks, feel and performance make them a worthy contender for anyone on the search for a new driver.

Neil Tappin

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."

Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points.

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSi2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X