Review: Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons
By Golf Expert
Bobby Funkhouser
Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons
See Price and Details
15 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are well-suited for mid-to-high handicap golfers seeking a forgiving set with an attractive design. These irons offer exceptional distance and forgiveness. They provide a high launch for longer carries and softer landings on greens, making them suitable for golfers looking to improve their iron play. While they lack workability, their feel and sound at impact are remarkable, enhancing the overall experience. Mizuno's attention to detail and the option for free customization add to their excellent value for money, making them an ideal choice in the game improvement iron category.
Ideal for
- High launch for maximum carry distance
- Great amount of forgiveness
- Excellent blend of distance and control
- Noticeable spin for game improvement irons
- Ability to mix with other Hot Metal models
Not ideal for
- Do not work well for shaping shots
- Slightly thicker sole than some may like
- Strong lofts might cause larger gaps between each iron
Workability
The JPX923s are designed to help mid-to-high handicap golfers hit straighter and longer golf shots. I tried hitting fades and draws with these irons, and I could work the ball...Read more
These can be made to work. The JPX923s are best on either extreme of the workability range. I could make them hook or slice, and I could make them gently...Read more
The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metals are not workable clubs. They are not forged like the more advanced irons are, but they are not meant to be. These are meant to...Read more
Forgiveness
I gave the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons a 4-star rating for forgiveness based on how they played for me. Multiple times throughout my round with them, I had shots...Read more
These irons are for a mid-handicapped player with a good handle on their swing but need some guard rails to protect against occasional erratic contact. I found them very comfortable...Read more
The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are one of the most forgiving irons. They are pretty thick and have cavity-backs. The weighting is distributed evenly to help put the ball...Read more
Feel
I was pleased with how the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons felt at impact, but it was nothing to call home about. They felt pretty good, but I would not...Read more
Crisp, defined, but distinctly airy—everything I have come to expect from a Mizuno iron. They don't have an entirely forged feeling but are smooth enough to pass muster. I hit...Read more
Mizuno has always been known to have the best-feeling clubs on the market, which is not lost here. These feel smooth off the face and effortlessly glide through the turf....Read more
Sound
These irons have more feel than they have sound. It is certainly there if you care to notice, a nice audible resound somewhere between a whip and far off cracking...Read more
The JPX923 Hot Metal is a bigger and thicker club, which is exactly how it sounds, too. It has a low but powerful sound. I think it is a great-sounding...Read more
Launch
While using these irons, I was very impressed by how easy it was to get the ball up and in the air. I could swing easily and steeply down through...Read more
I could not have been more impressed with the launch of these irons. I enjoyed the novelty of how high they went without losing distance for longer than I probably...Read more
Distance
I expected to gain a lot of distance with the JPX923s due to the stronger lofts compared to my irons. The lofts on these irons are 2° stronger than those...Read more
Towering shots. Shots so high I would lose them and then find them again at the apex full seconds later. Five irons that look akin to lob wedges as they...Read more
For maximum distance, look no further than the JPX923 Hot Metal. These clubs hit the ball far due to the flexible face technology that enhances the ball speed and gives...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Calvin Max
Nico M.
About the irons
- Model: Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons
Test conditions
- Days tested: 3
- Where I’ve used them: Around Phoenix, Arizona, during the spring and summer
- Terrain: Mostly flat with occasional variances. The courses here are either former orchards or current mountains, with very little between.
- How many times I've used it: 6
Expert Reviews of the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons
Jess P. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons might be one of the best-feeling irons I have ever held in my hands. They are a distance-packed iron that doesn't sacrifice sound, feel, or playability. They are very forgiving and easy to hit. In fact, the first time I hit these irons, I thought they practically hit themselves. The first shot with a 7-iron towering shot carried 150 yards easily. I've hit them with graphite shafts and lighter 95g Nippon steel shafts. Both perform beautifully. The lofts are very strong compared to most irons I've played or demoed, so it might take some golfers a little while to recalculate their distances. That isn't a bad thing. The added distance can help golfers hit those shorter irons into the greens. It's easier to hit an 8- or 9-iron into a green than a longer 5- or 6-iron. These irons can do that for every golfer. The launch is excellent. The higher launch means longer carries and also softer landings on the greens. That should appeal to every golfer out there.
Bobby Funkhouser The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are great for any mid-to-high handicap golfer who wants a forgiving set of irons that look very attractive in the bag. The first thing I noticed about these irons was that the look was great compared to other game improvement irons. The all-metal finish with no color anywhere is very attractive to me because I am used to playing with forged irons.
During testing, I was really impressed with the feel off of the face once I started swinging them. I started with the gap wedge and slowly moved my way throughout the entire set all the way to the 4-iron. I was very happy with the amount of forgiveness from these irons. Mishits out on the toe or in on the heel still went a decent amount of distance and near my target. I was very pleased by how easy it was to launch the ball as well. The ball jumped off the club.
My only gripe with these irons was that I was not impressed with the distance overall. I was getting about the same distance with these irons as with my current ones. My irons are around 2° weaker in loft, so it surprised me. I should have been getting five yards more out of the irons, at least.
Ryan Hernandez Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are the best feeling and performing game improvement irons on the market. Though the construction is different from their forged line, they still have that Mizuno feel. They have loads of distance and forgiveness to them. What is crazy is anyone can play them regardless of their handicap, though a lower handicap may want a smaller club.
Calvin Max When I first grabbed the Mizuno JPX923s, I liked the face most. The logo and the styling were all nice, but the way the face stood out struck me as "cool." When I hit them, I was surprised at the numbers. They feel and sound like a player's iron. The weight is concentrated in a small package, and when put down at address, it’s compact. They perform like game improvement irons. I didn’t see a distance increase over my gamers, but I saw a significantly higher launch for stock shots and a narrower dispersion. I recommend these irons to anyone looking to bridge the gap between blades and game improvement irons. They are fit for a wide variety of games and are a set that can grow with a player as their skill increases.
Nico M. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metals are one of the greatest game-improvement iron sets created. It is a highly forgiving iron that pairs with very long distances. These clubs are ideal for someone who needs some help keeping the ball in play and wants some extra distance in their game. These irons have a seamless cup face, which helps deliver a high launch and a great descent angle to help increase stopping power (aka "check" or spin) on the greens. These are top-selling irons for good reason. All around, it is a phenomenal club from Mizuno.
Product Specs
| Iron Set Type | Iron Set |
| Player type | Game improvement |
| Used (Y/N) | No |
| Club Type | Irons |
| Gender | Men's |
| Grip name | Golf Pride Tour Velvet |
| Item | Club length | Lie angle | Loft degrees | Offset degrees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Iron | 38.5'' | 60° | 19° | 5.92mm |
| 5 Iron | 38'' | 60.5° | 22° | 5.59mm |
| 6 Iron | 37.5'' | 61° | 25° | 5.28mm |
| 7 Iron | 37'' | 61.5° | 28.5° | 4.98mm |
| 8 Iron | 36.5'' | 62° | 33° | 4.57mm |
| 9 Iron | 36'' | 62.5° | 37.5° | 4.04mm |
| PW | 35.5'' | 63° | 42.5° | 3.43mm |
| GW | 35.25'' | 63° | 48° | 2.49mm |
| SW | 35.25'' | 63° | 54° | 2.08mm |
| LW | 35.25'' | 63° | 60° | 1.65mm |
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Workability
3/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 2 of 5 stars. The JPX923s are designed to help mid-to-high handicap golfers hit straighter and longer golf shots. I tried hitting fades and draws with these irons, and I could work the ball just a little bit. The JPX923s were not workable compared to forged irons, which is good for people who want forgiving irons.
Calvin Max gave 4 of 5 stars. These can be made to work. The JPX923s are best on either extreme of the workability range. I could make them hook or slice, and I could make them gently draw and (sort of) fade, but I could not get them to perform some of the mid-flight shots I could with other thinner profiles. Ultimately, I want to minimize my frustration, not maximize the potential for one great shot amid a round of bad ones.
Nico M. gave 2 of 5 stars. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metals are not workable clubs. They are not forged like the more advanced irons are, but they are not meant to be. These are meant to be a forgiving and long club that will send the ball as straight as possible.
Forgiveness
4/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. I gave the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons a 4-star rating for forgiveness based on how they played for me. Multiple times throughout my round with them, I had shots that I mishit out on the toe or in on the heel, and they still produced great distance and went towards my target line. I did not give them 5 stars because there are more forgiving irons on the market (oversized irons and hybrid irons).
Calvin Max gave 4 of 5 stars. These irons are for a mid-handicapped player with a good handle on their swing but need some guard rails to protect against occasional erratic contact. I found them very comfortable off the face on mishits, and the results were similar in flight shape but far poorer distance than their flushed counterparts.
Nico M. gave 5 of 5 stars. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are one of the most forgiving irons. They are pretty thick and have cavity-backs. The weighting is distributed evenly to help put the ball on the right path even after off-center hits. Everything about this club was made precisely to be forgiving.
Feel
4/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 3 of 5 stars. I was pleased with how the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons felt at impact, but it was nothing to call home about. They felt pretty good, but I would not compare the feel on these to a higher-quality forged set of irons.
Calvin Max gave 5 of 5 stars. Crisp, defined, but distinctly airy—everything I have come to expect from a Mizuno iron. They don't have an entirely forged feeling but are smooth enough to pass muster. I hit these back to back with the forged variant in testing, and while the forged certainly felt softer, it wasn’t like they were far and away better feeling. Plus, the JPX923s offer far more forgiveness than the others.
Nico M. gave 4 of 5 stars. Mizuno has always been known to have the best-feeling clubs on the market, which is not lost here. These feel smooth off the face and effortlessly glide through the turf. Since these are thicker clubs, they still feel great, even on the off-center hits.
Sound
4/5
Calvin Max gave 4 of 5 stars. These irons have more feel than they have sound. It is certainly there if you care to notice, a nice audible resound somewhere between a whip and far off cracking ice. I was really struggling to recall the sound though because they are certainly quiet, which is something I really appreciate in an iron.
Nico M. gave 4 of 5 stars. The JPX923 Hot Metal is a bigger and thicker club, which is exactly how it sounds, too. It has a low but powerful sound. I think it is a great-sounding iron, especially when I get to the lower irons like the 4- and the 5-iron.
Launch
5/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 4 of 5 stars. While using these irons, I was very impressed by how easy it was to get the ball up and in the air. I could swing easily and steeply down through the ball and still get a flight I was pretty happy with. These irons would be great for anyone struggling with a low ball flight with their irons.
Calvin Max gave 5 of 5 stars. I could not have been more impressed with the launch of these irons. I enjoyed the novelty of how high they went without losing distance for longer than I probably should have. But I have a lot of swing speed and typically hit the ball high anyway. I think these could be great for a player who struggles with launch because they want to send the ball high.
Distance
4/5
Bobby Funkhouser gave 3 of 5 stars. I expected to gain a lot of distance with the JPX923s due to the stronger lofts compared to my irons. The lofts on these irons are 2° stronger than those in my bag (TM P790). I was pretty confident I would hit the 923s 4-6 yards further than my irons, but that was not the case. The distances ended up being about the same as mine.
Calvin Max gave 5 of 5 stars. Towering shots. Shots so high I would lose them and then find them again at the apex full seconds later. Five irons that look akin to lob wedges as they fly up, up, and away. The weird thing is these irons went almost exactly the distances I was used to seeing, just impossibly high. I would say these aren’t a distance iron so much as they are a cheat code.
Nico M. gave 5 of 5 stars. For maximum distance, look no further than the JPX923 Hot Metal. These clubs hit the ball far due to the flexible face technology that enhances the ball speed and gives more distance.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Calvin Max While testing these irons, someone walked by the bay I was swinging in and said, "Hey, nice swing kid," before walking away. I am 30 years old, and for about 24 hours after, I may as well have been 14 again. I felt so young. The irons have a distinct and confidence-inspiring address, which made it easy to start my takeaway and power through the ball.
Why did you choose this product?
Bobby Funkhouser I chose the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons because they provide a great amount of forgiveness and distance. I am also a big fan of the all-metal look.
Calvin Max There are several excellent reasons why I chose these clubs, but it needs to be said what first brought me to them was that I was afraid of anything other than blades sitting in my bag. Pure, unadulterated vanity, but still, these worked for me in no small part because they look less forgiving than they actually are. I chose the Mizuno JPX923 because I needed an iron that would allow me the occasional workability I desire to get out of trouble, with a little more forgiveness and guard rails built into my set for everyday play. I need to work the ball less and hit it straight a little more, or at least try to. I ultimately decided on the JPX923 line because of its feel and excellent combination of forgiveness and workability.
Nico M. I tested this product because they were one of the best-selling clubs last year, and they definitely were for a reason: they can fit anyone's game.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Bobby Funkhouser The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons are a great value for the money compared to other similar iron sets from other brands. They are about $55 cheaper than most other new 2023 game improvement style irons. They are a great value mainly because of the free customization. Mizuno does not charge for upgraded grips, which can quickly save golfers another $100. Mizuno also does not change the price of the irons when getting graphite shafts, whereas other brands usually tack on an extra $100+ for those.
Calvin Max The value for money here is incredibly high. Not only are the irons finished and fitted with the same extreme care and attention to detail I expect from Mizuno, but they are surprisingly economically priced. Furthermore, options that are hundreds of dollars in up-charges, like premium shafts and grips, through other manufacturers, are offered at no cost in this lineup.
What do you love about this product?
Bobby Funkhouser What I love the most about the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons is the all-metal finish. They are very attractive irons in and out of the bag.
Calvin Max What I love most about the JPX923 Hot Metal Irons is the feel and the fact that I don’t have to hit them perfectly to get it. Even the worst irons I have ever encountered feel okay if I hit them perfectly, whereas only the best feel great if I mishit them. These fall into the latter category for sure.
Nico M. The JPX923 Hot Metals are one of the most forgiving irons that also provide a ton of distance.
