Comparing Mizuno JPX-919 and MP-20 irons

By Drew Mahowald -- 2nd Swing Staff Writer

It’s no secret that Mizuno has been very successful in the golf equipment marketplace, specifically when it comes to producing players iron sets.

Several of the best players in the world have employed Mizuno’s classic performance and feel en route to finding success on tour. Look no further than world No. 1 player Brooks Koepka, who has used a set of Mizuno irons for all four of the major championships he has won in the last few years.

Prior to 2019, Koepka added the Mizuno JPX-919 Tour irons to his bag after using the JPX-900 Tours during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Unsurprisingly, his success carried into 2019, as he finished fourth or better in all four major championships, including a win at the PGA Championship, and also trumped one of the best fields in golf at the WGC-Fedex St. Jude Invitational.

Koepka’s success has certainly brought more attention to the JPX line over the past couple of years. However, prior to Koepka’s rise, it was the MP line that garnered the most attention in the players iron category. Luke Donald, a longtime member of Mizuno’s tour staff, rose to the world No. 1 ranking in 2011 while playing Mizuno MP irons.

Mizuno recently added to its MP line with the MP-20 irons, which were made available to the public in September. The MP-20 Blades represent Mizuno’s newest set of traditional muscleback irons, while the JPX-919 Tour irons represent the company’s most recent set of “modern” blades.

I recently had the chance to take out a 7-iron of each model to a local driving range and test them out for myself. I’ve played Mizuno players irons for nearly 10 years now, so I was very eager to hit some shots with the latest Mizuno offerings.

Setting each club down at address, it’s clear that both irons are built for elite ball strikers. Both clubheads are compact with little offset and thin toplines, with the blade length of the JPX-919 appearing slightly longer than the MP-20. Additionally, the chrome finish of the MP-20s seems to shine a bit more than the JPX-919 finish.

In terms of performance, both models were excellent in all the required areas for players irons, although the shallow cavity design of the JPX-919 irons did produce slightly different characteristics than the muscle back construction of the MP-20s.

The differences were minute, but the JPX-919 Tour seemed to perform better on my mis-hits. The feel was obviously compromised when contact was made outside of the center of the clubface, but the drop off in performance wasn’t nearly as drastic as it is with other players irons, including the MP-20s. The ball also maintained distance better when I didn’t make contact with the sweet spot.

When I did make solid contact, the MP-20 presented a softer, more buttery feel and a more muted sound than the JPX-919 Tours. This is likely in large part due to the layer of soft copper plating that Mizuno included beneath the nickel-chrome finish. This design was a major success in some of the most popular Mizuno MP models of the past and engineers have implemented it into the MP line once again.

This isn’t to say that the feel of the JPX-919 Tour was bad by any means. The Grain Flow forging process Mizuno uses to build its players irons has always yielded exceptional feel. The JPX-919 Tours just offered a bit more pop than the MP-20s.

The last minor difference I noted was in the trajectory of my shots. Again, the difference was small, but the MP-20 produced a lower flight with a little bit less spin than the JPX-919 Tour.

Both models were very workable, and I was able to hit a variety of different shot types and shapes. They also both performed well from the rough and from bunkers, with smooth turf interaction from any lie.

Talented ball strikers will be well-suited for either of these models. Golfers will get slightly more forgiveness and a higher ball flight from the more modern players shape of the JPX-919 Tours. Meanwhile, those who prefer the MP-20s will get a classic, traditional shape that produces a lower flight and unmatched feel.

Mizuno’s success in the players iron category has been recognized for decades, and it doesn’t appear to be ending soon thanks to the JPX-919 Tours and the MP-20s.