Review: Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver
By Golf Expert
Paul Bancroft
Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver
$299.99
$549.95
45% off
6 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver is a powerful and technologically advanced club that offers exceptional distance, adjustability, and striking aesthetics. With its explosive power, adjustable features, and sleek design, this driver is designed to help golfers unlock their full potential off the tee. While forgiveness on off-center hits may be limited, and the price point is higher, the ST-X PLTNM 230 driver appeals to golfers who prioritize distance and customization. If you're seeking a high-performance driver that combines power, precision, and a premium finish, the Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 is a driver that will elevate your game and make a statement on the fairways.
Ideal for
- Excellent distance
- Mizuno buttery feel
- Classic design and top-quality craftsmanship
Not ideal for
- Not the best sound
- Limited forgiveness for higher handicappers
- Not as many shaft options as competitors
Workability
I started testing by trying to hit it and bomb it straight. With a comfortable tempo swing, I am impressed with the distance but it isn't crazy long. When I...Read more
Forgiveness
I have hit this driver quite a bit. It stands out to me in terms of its forgiveness. It is not the most forgiving driver on the market. Still, given...Read more
Feel
Like all Mizuno products, the feel separates this club from other drivers in its class for me. The feel is exceptional. I can feel immediately on mishits. The feel on...Read more
Sound
Compared to how it feels when hit perfectly, the sound is a little bit of a letdown. There is nothing unpleasant about the sound. It isn't hollow or rattling or...Read more
Launch
When I flush the ball with this driver, I expect to feel it from the clubhead through my hands. There is a pleasant sound, not explosive, harsh, or tin-like. From...Read more
Distance
The distance on this club is tricky to judge. It does not generate extra distance or ball speed when the clubhead speed is compared to other clubs, like the Stealth...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver
Paul Bancroft The Mizuno ST-X PLTNM 230 Driver is a powerful and technologically advanced club that offers exceptional distance, adjustability, and striking aesthetics. With its explosive power, adjustable features, and sleek design, this driver is designed to help golfers unlock their full potential off the tee. While forgiveness on off-center hits may be limited, and the price point is higher, this driver appeals to golfers who prioritize distance and customization. Overall, the ST-X 230 is a high-performance driver that combines power, precision, and a premium finish.
Product Specs
| Gender | Men's |
| Club Type | Drivers |
| Used (Y/N) | No |
| Player type | Super game improvement |
| Shaft launch | High |
| Shaft spin | High |
Review Ratings
Workability
5/5
Paul Bancroft gave 5 of 5 stars. I started testing by trying to hit it and bomb it straight. With a comfortable tempo swing, I am impressed with the distance but it isn't crazy long. When I really give it 110%, I can get distances that are within my maximum range, but not at the top of that dispersion. When I start to hit some gentle fades, which often miss and borderline slice, I have no problem going left to right. Finally, after hitting some draws after a bit of practice, I can get the ball going right to left consistently.
Forgiveness
4/5
Paul Bancroft gave 4 of 5 stars. I have hit this driver quite a bit. It stands out to me in terms of its forgiveness. It is not the most forgiving driver on the market. Still, given that I am extremely limited in my shaft choices for the club, I am impressed with how much I can feel the technology in the club wanting to keep the ball straight and minimize spin on off-center hits.
Feel
5/5
Paul Bancroft gave 5 of 5 stars. Like all Mizuno products, the feel separates this club from other drivers in its class for me. The feel is exceptional. I can feel immediately on mishits. The feel on the center of the clubface shots is extremely smooth and pleasant. The ball pops off the face, and it feels almost like nothing. Shots from the toe or heel, and shots low or high, provide enough feedback to let me know it is a mishit; however, it is not a rough unpleasant feeling.
Sound
3/5
Paul Bancroft gave 3 of 5 stars. Compared to how it feels when hit perfectly, the sound is a little bit of a letdown. There is nothing unpleasant about the sound. It isn't hollow or rattling or aluminum-sounding like some drivers. But the sound on mishits is where my rating went from 4 to 3 stars. Some competing drivers minimize the sound difference on mishits, but the difference between center face and off-center is drastic.
Launch
4/5
Paul Bancroft gave 4 of 5 stars. When I flush the ball with this driver, I expect to feel it from the clubhead through my hands. There is a pleasant sound, not explosive, harsh, or tin-like. From there, the ball takes what is a very traditional flight. It isn't cutting or explosive and lands with a nice bounce or two and rolls to a slow stop. The ball flight and launch are incredibly consistent when flushed, including the bounce and roll.
Distance
3/5
Paul Bancroft gave 3 of 5 stars. The distance on this club is tricky to judge. It does not generate extra distance or ball speed when the clubhead speed is compared to other clubs, like the Stealth 2+ or G430 LST. Still, it is longer than previous Mizuno drivers, and it is by no means disappointing.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Paul Bancroft My favorite moment with this product was discovering what swing adjustments I needed to make to get the appropriate ball flights. Once that happened, I felt extremely confident with this driver as I felt I could play at least five shots to a decent degree. The first was just a straight drive, usually about five yards off my target line (easy to adjust for finding the best spots of the fairways). The second was a gentle fade, about 15 yards of slow uprising curve from right to left with a good roll. The third was attempting to bomb it, which usually ended up about 15 yards right of the center line, and I got a good ball flight to get that distance I was trying for. The fourth was a basic draw, usually shorter than the fade by 10 yards but similarly 10-15 yards right to left with a good roll. Finally, there was the ability of this driver to hit a consistent bomb that fades heavily. This isn't a common shot and was more of a consistent miss. Still, when there was no danger right, I could unload on the ball and not be worried about losing it 20-30 yards right of the target line (adjust my line at tee off to land where I want), which was nice.
Why did you choose this product?
Paul Bancroft I chose this as I tested most of the drivers in its class. I was excited as I am a big fan of Mizuno but felt slightly disappointed overall, maybe only because I had very high expectations.
What do you love about this product?
Paul Bancroft My favorite thing about this driver is its classic look. It is simple and beautiful at address, and the bottom of the club has a classic aesthetic with a nice touch of color.
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