About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf club, which I tested for one day in December of 2022.

My take

The Mizuno ST-G Driver offers great distance while maintaining consistency and feel. I was pleased with the results I had off the tee. The low to mid-handicap golfer would benefit from adding this club to their bag.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2021 Mizuno ST-G Driver
• Loft setting: 9°
• Shaft type: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 60
• Shaft flex: Regular

About me

• Average score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Left-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High
• Golf ball used: Titleist Practice Ball
• Club swing speed: 97mph

Test conditions

• When I tested the club: December 2022
• Days tested: 1
• Where I’ve used it: Simulator/range
• Weather and wind conditions: Inside and outdoor heated range in winter

How it performs

What I was looking for

I currently play with a Callaway XR16 and was looking for a driver with a lower launch angle. I tend to have a higher ball flight and wanted something with a lower launch angle to create more opportunities for rollouts.

Why I chose to test this club

I decided to test this club because I have heard a lot of positive feedback about its performance. I heard it was forgiving and had a lower launch, but I wanted to see how the draw and fade bias settings worked and complimented my game. I didn’t buy the driver as I didn’t have the $500 at the time to pull the trigger, but I believe it’s one of the better clubs on the market.

What I love about it

• Distance: The distance on this driver is consistent, averaging around 275-280 on average, roughly 5-10 yards further than my current solid driver.
• Sound: The sound on contact is pretty typical. It offers nothing flashy, which is what I prefer. It has a normal pinging sound that isn’t too loud where it's annoying, nor is it a dull thud that sounds monotonous.
• Grip Feel: The grip on this driver is a standard Lamkin ST Hybrid. It has a nice feel to it because it is tacky. I normally customize my grips to a standard golf pride, but this club doesn’t need a new grip.
• Spin: The spin is lower than my current driver and creates more rollout. This consistently creates more distance and allows me to get closer approach shots into greens—which is a highlight for everyone looking to lower their scores.
• Forgiveness: The forgiveness was better than I hoped with how much distance it offered. It has a larger face that allows off-centered struck shots to still carry its distance and direction within 15-20 yards of centered struck shots.
• Feel: The face is large, and its Wave Sole Technology allows each shot to be felt and can easily be determined without looking where the ball flight will end up.
• Workability: With the 9° loft, I could work the ball as much as I needed. The ball flight came out low and rose to a point where it could fade or draw on command.
• Adjustability: It has an adjustability feature that can set the driver to either a draw or fade bias which is key depending on what fits one’s game best.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Shaft Performance: The 60g shaft is lighter than I normally play with (65g). I believe it was a little lighter than I would have liked and created some inconsistency within my swings. I would like to test it again with a 65g shaft.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The aesthetics are pretty boring. The design is all-black and features nothing that pops off the club.

Best shot with this club

My best shot was on my third swing. I could carry the ball 265 yards, which rolled out to 289 yards right down the middle of the fairway.

Value for the money vs. other options

If someone is going to spend money on a new state-of-the-art driver, the Mizuno ST-G is the way to go due to its power and forgiveness. However, other good options exist, like the Callaway Mavrik or the TaylorMade Stealth.

Final verdict

The Mizuno ST-G is a great option for its value. The low to mid-handicapper would benefit from adding this driver to their bag. It creates a good distance off the tee while not sacrificing consistency and feel.