Review: Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons
Published on 11/22/2023 · 3 min readCurated Golf Experts share their experience with using the Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Curated Experts
Jasper Price and Ryan Wegner
9 photos
The Curated Take
4.8/5
The Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons are designed for skilled and experienced golfers looking to enhance their game. These irons feature a compact muscle-back design with excellent shot control and shaping ability. The reduced offset helps players square up the clubface for straighter shots. The high-quality forging process from soft carbon steel delivers a buttery soft feel at impact, allowing golfers to fine-tune their swings. With customization options and a blade-like topline, these irons are ideal for low-handicap players seeking a blend of workability and forgiveness.
Ideal for
- Great workability with true lofts
- Tons of feel with more forgiveness than a true blade
- Compact design allows for precise shot shaping and reduced offset for straighter shots
- Thin, blade-like topline
- Wide range of customization options
Not ideal for
- Not for more moderate swing speeds
- Not for mid-high handicappers
Workability
The Mizuno JPX 923 Tour is a player's iron. It's ideal for someone who can work the ball from the left to the right and up and down. The leading...Read more
One of my main goals when buying these irons was to have more workability, especially around the greens. I was not disappointed. If I need to draw a ball or...Read more
Forgiveness
I give the Mizuno JPX923 Tour an average rating because it is forgiving but still a thin, standard lofted, muscle-back iron. I previously had the MP-20s with blades from 7-PW...Read more
At first, I was concerned I would lose distance on mishits significantly with this iron set. Although they look like a blade design, these irons have incredible forgiveness, especially when...Read more
Feel
Mizuno is famous for their feel, and these irons are remarkable in this area. The feel of the previous 921 Tour irons was about the same, but what made me...Read more
I have hit the JPX923s repeatedly and used other individuals' clubs, and I just can't get over the soft face on these irons. Even on mishits, golfers won't feel enough...Read more
Sound
It is a performance iron, so the spot to create that crisp iron strike is hard to find, but it is the finest sound. Blades have the best sound when...Read more
The sound matches the feel of these clubs. Golfers won't get a loud metallic sound with these irons, but they will hear that pure click they would when they hit...Read more
Launch
The center of gravity is up, and the lofts are standard, so a player can move the ball up and down. When a player attacks the ball how it is...Read more
These clubs can be tricky if someone isn't fitted for the proper shaft. Most people won't recognize that the degree of loft is weaker than some of the new stronger...Read more
Distance
I hit my 7-iron 195 yards but also swing a 7-iron 100mph with a Dynamic Gold X100 shaft. These are objectively long because I can hit the JPX923 HL 7-iron...Read more
When fitted for these irons, I expected to lose 5-10 yards off every club due to the lofts. I embraced that, which led me to be surprised when I found...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Ryan Wegner
About the irons
- Model: Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons
Test conditions
- When I bought these: 2023
- Days tested: 4
- Where I’ve used them: Western New York, North Carolina, and Boston.
- How many times I've used it: 200
Expert Reviews of the Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons
Ryan Wegner The Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons is a high-end set of golf clubs ideal for skilled and experienced players looking to advance their game. These irons have a compact muscle-back design, which helps golfers have greater control over their shots and better shaping ability. The reduced offset of these irons makes it easier for experienced golfers to square up the clubface at impact and hit straighter shots.
One of the standout features of the JPX923s is the high-quality forging process, which shapes the clubhead from a single billet of soft carbon steel. This process results in a buttery soft feel at impact. The feedback can help golfers adjust their swings and improve their overall game.
Mizuno also offers various customization options for the JPX923 irons, including different shafts, grips, and personalized stamping. This allows players to fine-tune the clubs to their individual preferences and create a set that feels genuinely unique to them.
Jasper Price I received the Mizuno JPX923 Tour irons (4-GW) in early February. I was fit using the Mizuno's Shaft Optimizer, where I took three swings with the tour heads. I was recommended the soft-stepped Dynamic Gold X100 shaft.
I've now been playing with these clubs for the last four months. Mizuno created a player's muscle-back iron with a much thinner topline than the previous tour model head. This model has more forgiveness than the Mizuno Pro (MP) 221 but a very similar set-up over the ball. As a low handicap golfer who has played the MP series in the past during my competitive days, these irons are a nice stepping stone moving into a game improvement iron. They still have the workability and feel at impact. I recommend these clubs to any low-handicap golfer who wants to move into a slightly more forgiving iron without compromising the feel and workability of a blade. These irons are the definition of "butter," and they've helped lower my handicap close to where I was in college.
Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Workability
5/5
Jasper Price gave 5 of 5 stars. The Mizuno JPX 923 Tour is a player's iron. It's ideal for someone who can work the ball from the left to the right and up and down. The leading edge and bounce do not use the turf to "improve" the impact of the iron on the ball.
Ryan Wegner gave 5 of 5 stars. One of my main goals when buying these irons was to have more workability, especially around the greens. I was not disappointed. If I need to draw a ball or cut it, I can. If I need to change my elevation on a ball, I can easily.Â
Forgiveness
4/5
Jasper Price gave 3 of 5 stars. I give the Mizuno JPX923 Tour an average rating because it is forgiving but still a thin, standard lofted, muscle-back iron. I previously had the MP-20s with blades from 7-PW and MMC from 4-6, and I was not a fan of the feel compared to the long irons from the MP-18 SC series iron. The JPX923 Tours were what I wished I had when I bought my MP-20 set. The forgiveness is more than the MP-20s, but the feel is still there, which is impressive, especially for long irons. The long irons don't look as intimidating as a true blade. Still, they don't have that hollow, foam feel of most performance irons in the market, including the MMC from the MP-20 series.
Ryan Wegner gave 4 of 5 stars. At first, I was concerned I would lose distance on mishits significantly with this iron set. Although they look like a blade design, these irons have incredible forgiveness, especially when hitting them fat and thin. Players will notice some distance loss with toe hits; however, they won't find themselves spraying these irons all over the course.
Feel
5/5
Jasper Price gave 5 of 5 stars. Mizuno is famous for their feel, and these irons are remarkable in this area. The feel of the previous 921 Tour irons was about the same, but what made me play the MP-20 was Mizuno's topline in the Pro series and not in the JPX. The new chamber reinforcement development to the 923 makes the topline much more similar to an MP. People like me who need a little bit more forgiveness but are a sub-5 handicap with high ball speed now have a club with all the feel and features of a blade but just a hint of forgiveness.
Ryan Wegner gave 5 of 5 stars. I have hit the JPX923s repeatedly and used other individuals' clubs, and I just can't get over the soft face on these irons. Even on mishits, golfers won't feel enough to make their hands rattle, just enough to know it was a mishit, which is great for the lower handicappers trying to learn more about their swing.
Sound
5/5
Jasper Price gave 5 of 5 stars. It is a performance iron, so the spot to create that crisp iron strike is hard to find, but it is the finest sound. Blades have the best sound when hit well; these are no different because of their design. The JPX923 Tour creates the flush iron strike that Mizuno blades are known for.
Ryan Wegner gave 5 of 5 stars. The sound matches the feel of these clubs. Golfers won't get a loud metallic sound with these irons, but they will hear that pure click they would when they hit the ball on the center face. I went to the PGA Championship at Oak Hill not too long after getting them, and I found myself hearing the same click with my irons that some of the pros make.
Launch
5/5
Jasper Price gave 5 of 5 stars. The center of gravity is up, and the lofts are standard, so a player can move the ball up and down. When a player attacks the ball how it is supposed to with the right swing speed, they should get the desired launch.
Ryan Wegner gave 4 of 5 stars. These clubs can be tricky if someone isn't fitted for the proper shaft. Most people won't recognize that the degree of loft is weaker than some of the new stronger degree irons, such as game improvement irons or the Titleist T100s. However, players skilled enough to change the dynamic loft on their shots won't notice a difference.
Distance
5/5
Jasper Price gave 4 of 5 stars. I hit my 7-iron 195 yards but also swing a 7-iron 100mph with a Dynamic Gold X100 shaft. These are objectively long because I can hit the JPX923 HL 7-iron over 215 yards. The JPX923s are traditional lofts, so distance is given up for feel and workability; however, the face is hot and does not feel quite dull like a mishit standard blade.
Ryan Wegner gave 5 of 5 stars. When fitted for these irons, I expected to lose 5-10 yards off every club due to the lofts. I embraced that, which led me to be surprised when I found myself hitting these clubs the same distance as my old, stronger, lofted irons. It may have been the best surprise, so I didn't have to reorganize my entire bag to fit different distances.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Jasper Price I was sitting in the trees on a par 4 blocked out by a branch and needed to hit a low cut around a tree trunk and still keep it low enough not to clip the branch. With the 923 tour irons, I worked the ball under the branch and around the tree with my 6-iron to put the ball safely on the green with an opportunity to putt for birdie.
Ryan Wegner I have been playing the JPX Tour 923s for less than a year now and have hit some shots that surprise me. One of the best shots I hit came at the district qualifier, where I had to hit a high snapping push draw with OB right and a tree directly in front of me to get near the green. Not only did I pull it off, but the soft feel of the iron and its workability allowed me to get within 15 feet of the whole. With a lie so tight, my old thicker-soled irons would've bounced right into the ball.
Why did you choose this product?
Jasper Price I chose the JPX923 Tour irons because they were slightly easier to hit than the 221s while still holding to the traditional Mizuno feel.
Ryan Wegner I chose this product because I had been initially using the JPX 919 Hot Metal Pro Irons right around when I started taking the game seriously. Over time, I improved my skill, and my goal was always to get a smaller, thinner, compact iron head. I tested out several, and this was the winning choice. For a slightly less forgiving iron, it is forgiving, and the feel is beyond comfortable.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Ryan Wegner I have tested other irons from other brands, and to this day, I still can't find an iron that is cost-effective with the performance and feel of the JPX923s. I tested mainly against the T100s, and the Mizunos were cheaper and, I still believe, more forgiving, not to mention they have such a sleek design.
What do you love about this product?
Jasper Price I love the feel of the Mizuno JPX923 Tour irons. They have the workability and feel of blades with just a bit of forgiveness for the type of player that used to be a scratch or plus handicap but doesn't get to play the same amount anymore.
Ryan Wegner To this day, I can't find myself ever hitting a different brand of irons besides Mizuno. The JPX line has been my favorite since I started taking golf seriously with lessons and playing weekly. From the Hot Metal Pros I started with to the JPX 923 Tours I am playing now, they have been nothing short of pure. These JPX 923 Tours are as blade as one can get without all the cons of having a blade. I match them up with friends who play the CBs and MBs, and the size difference is not much, but the ease of hitting them is significant.
Jasper Price
Golf ExpertRyan Wegner
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