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

My take

The Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway Wood is made for lower-handicapped golfers who want a more neutral balanced head and less spin. The head is sleek black with a carbon design on the top and a Mizuno Logo aim point. This club is made for fairway and tee shots but not so much out of the rough unless it sits up.

About the club I own

• Model: Mizuno ST-Z 230 2023
• Loft setting: 18°
• Shaft type: Ventus TR Black
• Shaft flex: 7X

About me

• Average score: 76
• Handicap: 2.2
• Experience: 8 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High Draw
• Golf ball used: Bridgestone Tour XS
• Club swing speed: 117mph (Driver)

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: May 2023
• Days tested: 30
• Where I’ve used it: Harbor Club on Lake Oconee
• Weather and wind conditions: Rain, light and heavy wind, and calm/sunny conditions (typically warm)

How it performs

What I was looking for

I had a TaylorMade M3 5 wood and just about wore the face down on that from a little over three years of use. I also had started to make some swing changes that were physically demanding with an 83g x-stiff shaft, so I was looking to get a little lighter but also easier to keep low.

Why I chose this club

Mizuno is a quality brand. The company has a unique fitting process and many tour-quality shaft options in its stock. I did purchase this wood because it was the “lightest,” “fastest,” or “hottest MOI.” I got it for the quality of the product I would receive. I don’t know of another brand with that reputation with as much of the market they own.

I considered buying other options. Each brand has its own individual competitive advantage to the product they put out, and Mizuno has a quality and feel advantage that sold me.

What I love about it

• Distance: I hit it further than most 5 woods I have tested. Nothing crazy about the numbers aspect; however, I could get the numbers that I was looking for spin-wise.
• Feel: The feel is unique because of the MAS1C steel face boosted by Mizuno’s CORTECH Chamber, which creates a solid sensation at impact.
• Sound: The sound has a little bit of that mid-2000s woods sound, the type that Golf Channel inserts into their broadcast but just a little bit more hollow, creating a unique and satisfying ball-striking sound.
• Shaft Feel: It’s amazing. The Velocore technology in the Ventus TR Black makes the head feel stable. It has a tip-stiff feel that keeps the ball and spin to a minimum.
• Shaft Performance: It is very apparent why this shaft is the most gamed shaft on tour right now. The stability, launch, and feel make this shaft the best one I have ever gamed.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The black shaft with the black head creates a very sleek look, making it one of the best-looking clubs on the market.
• Grip Feel: It is available to order with the Golf Pride Z-Cord grip, which is my personal favorite grip. I like it because of the aesthetic and the coarseness. I am not a fan of soft grips.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle is what I would expect out of a new 18° head. It launches higher and lands softer than a 3-wood, which is good.
• Spin: Perfect for what I demand from a 5-wood, right around 4200rpm, which is optimal at the tour level.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: It seems a tad bit fade-biased. I feel that if I lose a shot, it will be left. It has a smaller head which makes the sweet spot smaller. The smaller head makes it harder to make solid contact and easier to work the ball.
• Workability: I have to try harder than usual to fade it due to it not having adjustable weights, but that is not my typical shot shape.

Best shot with this club

I am standing at the middle tees on the dogleg left par 5 11th hole at the club I work with a couple of members. From these tees, I am blocked out by a big oak tree, which I would need to snap hook my driver (Mizuno ST-Z 230) around, and if I didn’t, I would go out-of-bounds dead ahead. So my only option to have a shot in at the green is to draw my 5 wood over the corner of the tree. I hit my standard high draw, got up and over the tree, and left myself 265 in, which I used the same club for and hit the green with, leaving myself with an easy two-putt for birdie.

Value for the money vs. other options

These are approximately $50 cheaper than the Callaway Paradym, TaylorMade Stealth 2, Ping G430 Max, and Titleist TSR series. I have a $350 upgraded shaft, which all comparable companies would charge. So I think that Mizuno is the best bang for someone’s buck.

Final verdict

This club unlocks a mixture of distance and feel. The new face and chamber create a unique feel and sound while also being able to keep up with its higher-cost competitors.