About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the irons, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2023.

My take

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro irons work perfectly for high-handicap golfers prioritizing increased distance and launch. These irons will help players launch the ball higher to stop sooner and shoot lower scores.

About the club I own

• Model: 2023 Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro
• Loft setting: Standard
• Shaft type: Project X 6.5
• Shaft flex: X-stiff

About me

• Average score: 70
• Handicap: +2
• Experience: 5 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-high
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
• Club swing speed: 95mph-7 iron

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2023
• Days tested: 30+
• Where I’ve used it: TrackMan simulator and various golf courses
• Weather and wind conditions: High and low winds, rain, warm, and cold

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a set of irons that helps the players hit the ball higher and have better launch angles while also providing spin for players who do not create enough from their swing.

Why I chose this club

I chose the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro because I personally used the JPX921 Tour irons, and they are my favorite irons. As a result, it was an easy choice to try out the game-improvement version of my favorite irons and get the same feel and sound that I can expect with all Mizuno irons.

What I love about it

• Distance: I typically hit my blade 8 iron about 180 yards which is already pretty far compared to the average. However, I effortlessly hit the 8 iron 205 yards with this Hot Metal Pro set. The best part about the distance of these irons is the consistency I get with yardages. Most distance irons go extremely far when hit well, but on off-center strikes, they do not go nearly as far, which creates a lot of distance inconsistency. However, I didn't really notice that with these irons, and aside from really bad shots, the distance only varies about five yards.
• Forgiveness: The Mizuno Hot Metal Pro irons are extremely forgiving on all shots. This is due to the center of gravity being pulled away from the front of the face and closer to the bottom back side of the club’s sole. It creates a larger sweet spot on the center of the face while also launching the ball higher with better spin numbers.
• Feel: This is the best feeling game improvement set of irons I have tested. These irons feel smooth and soft at impact, similar to the feel players know and love with forged irons. I did not give the feel a 5 out of 5 stars because there is no better feeling iron than a one-piece forged set of irons, but this is top-of-the-line for a game-improvement feel.
• Shaft Feel: The Project X 6.5 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 6.5 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: Surprisingly, these irons look very good behind the ball. Most game improvement irons have a very thick sole and top line that is off-putting to some golfers. However, Mizuno worked hard this year to shave some size off the top line and angle the club's sole to create a better look and design while offering the same amount of forgiveness.
• Launch Angle: These irons launch really high, which is great for players struggling to get height with their golf shots. This is because of the low center of gravity, where most of the weight in these iron heads are close to the club's sole to promote higher launch angles so the ball will go higher, land softer, and help players lower scores.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: I have no problem with the sound of these irons on well-struck shots, but on mishits, I find the club sounds very firm and clanky, which is off-putting but not something that would stop me from purchasing this set.
• Workability: Due to the lower center of gravity and larger sweet spot, these irons really want to go very straight with minimal turn one way or another. I find it difficult to shape shots to hit big draws or fades when hitting around a tree or other obstacle.
• Adjustability: These irons do not have any adjustability, unlike most drivers and woods with an adjustable loft sleeve. The only adjustments would be using a machine to change the loft and lie.
• Grip Feel: I have the Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip on these irons. This grip is great when conditions are clear and for the first few months of use. However, this grip is not good in rainy weather and wears out fairly quickly.

Best shot with this club

The best shot I hit with these irons was on a par 5. I was playing my home course from the tips, and my second shot was 230 yards out with about 10-15 yards of wind into the face. This made the shot play closer to 240-45 yards, and I hit the 4-iron from this set. I started the ball just left of the pin and hit a small cut that started turning just back towards the pin, and the ball ended up just short of the pin leaving me 15 feet left for a birdie putt. The putt was straight uphill, so I gave it a good run at the hole but just missed and made the short comeback putt for birdie.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro irons cost roughly $970 with great performance and design. Other options are the Callaway Paradym X, Titleist T300, and TaylorMade Stealth. These irons provide similar distances and launch numbers, making them all very comparable. However, the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro has a much better feel and a beautiful, making them my choice for the best value game improvement iron set.

Final verdict

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro irons are best for players who struggle to get the ball in the air with their irons and want help to hit the ball further. In addition, these irons will increase distance and launch to help players shoot better scores.