About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf clubs, which I purchased with my own money in August of 2022.

My take

The Mizuno MP 221 Iron Set is great for players who are skilled ball strikers and like to shape their golf shots. These irons feel amazing and are extremely responsive, allowing players to hit any shots they desire.

About the club I own

• Model: 2022 Mizuno MP 221 (4-pw)
• Loft setting: Standard Lofts
• Shaft type: Project X 6.5 Rifle
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff

About me

• Average score: 70
• Handicap: +2
• Experience: 5 years playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-High
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
• Club swing speed: 180mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: August 2022
• Days tested: 100+
• Where I’ve used it: TrackMan and GC4 simulators, as well as various driving ranges and golf courses.
• Weather and wind conditions: High winds, low winds, no wind, warm, cold, rain, humid, dry.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a smaller iron head size that provided good spin to help hold greens as well as consistency with distance. I wanted to ensure that both good and bad golf shots went roughly the same distance. Additionally, I wanted more control to shape shots left and right and high and low.

Why I chose this club

I chose the Mizuno MP 221 irons because they felt better than any other club I have tested. The old saying holds true with these irons. Nothing feels better than a Mizuno. Additionally, I was very consistent with my yardages on pure and good golf shots for consistent distance control. Finally, these irons look beautiful, and the looks certainly had an impact on my decision.

What I love about it

• Feel: The saying “nothing feels like a Mizuno” is 100% true with these irons. They are the best-feeling irons I have ever tried. These irons feel so soft all over the face. The feeling is very similar to putting with putters that have a soft face insert.
• Sound: The sound of the MP 221 is so crisp that even poorly struck shots still sound really good. I feel like a professional golfer with how well these irons sound.
• Workability: The smaller clubhead shape and increased spin allow me to shape these irons in whichever way I want. Aside from my golfing ability, I never have a problem hitting draws and fades and controlling ball flight.
• Shaft Feel: The Project X rifle shaft feels great and just adds to the overall feel of the golf clubs. I love the shaft's feel so much because of the stronger tip section, which creates a solid, powerful feel at impact. Additionally, the weight of the shaft helps me feel where the clubhead is in relation to my swing path, which helps hit the center of the face more often.
• Shaft Performance: The Project X rifle shafts are my favorite golf shaft. The 6.5 is perfect for me because it provides lots of stiffness to swing aggressively without worrying about losing control.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The Mizuno MP 221 irons are some of the most beautiful irons on the market and find the perfect middle ground between adding forgiveness and being a small compact clubhead.
• Grip Feel: The Golf Pride Tour Velvet cord is my favorite grip ever because it has such a firm, grippy feeling allowing full confidence in my control over the golf club.
• Launch Angle: These irons help launch the golf ball so well, and talented ball strikers will feel they are really able to control and manipulate the launch angle in any way they choose.
• Spin: The MP 221 irons provide lots of spins to help all players control their distance and hold greens. With the spin of these irons provided, I can be very aggressive with my targets and trust the ball will spin and hold where it lands.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Distance: These irons are very consistent with how far they will go; however, compared to game improvement style irons, these clubs will not go nearly as far due to the more traditional lofts and less clubhead size.
• Forgiveness: The Mizuno MP 221 irons are surprisingly forgiving for a blade-style club head; however, they are not nearly as forgiving as game improvement irons.
• Adjustability: There is no adjustability with these irons aside from bringing them to a loft and lie machine to bend the clubs to their desired specs.

Best shot with this club

The best shot I hit with these Mizuno MP 221 irons was when I hit a very good drive on a 485-yard par 4 and was left with 173 yards to the pin. I attempted to hit a baby cut towards the pin with my 8-iron. I pulled the shot off exactly how I wanted, and it landed a few feet left of the pin, spun towards the hole, and ended up a foot from the hole for a tap-in birdie.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Mizuno MP 221 irons are roughly $1,500, as are TaylorMade’s P7MB irons. However, Titleist’s 620 MB blade irons are around $1,400. The Mizuno MP 221 is the best value for the money because of how well they feel compared to Titleist and TaylorMade options while still performing the same, if not better. However, the decision truly comes down to player preference with the look and design of each iron. Anyone of these irons is a great option and will provide lots of workability and control.

Final verdict

The Mizuno MP 221 Iron Set are great blade irons to help players work the ball in whichever direction they choose while providing an amazing feel and consistent distances.