Mizuno MP-5 Irons

The Mizuno MP-5 irons are a perfect blend of simplicity, elegance, and performance. While so much of the golf industry is trying to create space age advanced iron technology, the MP-5 is a classic muscle back iron with signature Mizuno feel.

First Impressions

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a lot of nice golf clubs throughout my career. Obviously some way better or worse than others. I can think of three times I’ve opened a club box and have been legitimately taken aback with how impressed I was. The Mizuno MP-5 irons easily find themselves in that group for me. A smooth chrome finish, soft lines, and subtle branding make quite a statement for such a simple club.

The MP-5’s head is compact with a thinner sole, but the topline isn’t exactly paper thin like an old MP-33. Its head shape behind the ball is a familiar Mizuno look with minimal offset.

How Does it Feel?

Is “perfect” an option here? In the interest of full disclosure, my first foray with the Mizuno MP-5 felt a lot different, but I chalk it up to the wrong shaft in it. Once I switched to the right shaft, the MP-5 had one of the best feels I’ve ever experienced. The sweet spot is very soft and active. Often times soft = dead, but in this case there’s still tons of response. No surprise here, mishits on this blade will be punishing. Mark my words, with the proper shaft, the MP-5 is one of the most perfect feeling irons on the market.

Another notable distinction in the MP-5’s feel is its turf interaction. Mizuno has always done a pretty good job in this area, but these are about as good as it gets. The strikes of the ball and divots feel nice and crisp.

How Does it Sound?

Crisp. The Mizuno MP-5 sounds crisp. Again, don’t get me wrong, you have to have the game for it. If you don’t, it might sound like you’re hitting rocks around while you fight for the sweet spot. I found the MP-5 to have a “whip-crack” sound whenever I hit it well. To my point earlier, I’ve experienced three irons in my time as an amateur golfer where I’ve taken one swing, heard the strike and was blown away. This was one of them. Pros are capable of these types of sounds every time, and though I’m not a pro, a well-struck shot with the Mizuno MP-5 makes me feel like one.

On-Course Performance

As much as I’ve already preached the Mizuno MP-5 isn’t forgiving, it deserves credit as a forgiving blade. Mizuno used a new “Channel Back” design to distribute the weight in the club so as to make it a bit more forgiving. I never really felt like this design saved me from terrible and off-center shots, but it did seem like there was a larger sweet spot and it was easier to launch the ball. Ease of launched mixed with playability make the MP-5 a shotmaker’s dream. The first task is to comfortably get the ball in the air and then manipulating the ball into different shots comes next. Fortunately the MP-5 does both very well for the better ball strikers out there. For the “medium” ball strikers like the majority of us, it may be worth considering a combo set to get something a little more forgiving like the MP-25 in the longer irons.

Final Thoughts

It’s funny, I used to be a big Mizuno fanboy many, many, many years ago. For some reason I drifted away at some point, and even got to the point I was turned off by their clubs (in retrospect, I have zero friggin’ idea why). Somehow, the Mizuno MP-5 got ahold of me and pulled me right back in. I haven’t found an iron (in this category) that does the total package as well as the MP-5 in recent history. I love how the MP-5 feels and I love how it sounds. Maybe most importantly, I love that I feel like I can hit literally any shot anytime I pick this club up.

Stock Mizuno MP-5 Irons Specs