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Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons Review

The Mizuno JPX irons have long been an excellent option for players who want to combine forgiveness with forged feel. The latest JPX923 range brings three new Hot Metal models to the market that draw on this heritage and SGGT has them in stock for you to test.

Mizuno has redesigned the sole of each model using data from 175,000 swings on their Swing DNA shaft. This showed most players were swinging a little slower than average and that they created more shaft lean at impact from hitting down on the ball.

Therefore the new JPX923 Hot Metal models have a little more bounce in the sole and the range now includes a High Launch (HL) version for those who need help getting the ball in the air.

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Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons

The Hot Metal irons comprise three models that use a new 4335 Nickel Chromoly that is 35% stronger than the original Hot Metal material and creates an 8% thinner face. Using a vibration dampening V-Chassis and a head with a deep centre of gravity, the Hot Metal irons combine speed with a higher level of forgiveness.

The JPX923 Tour and Forged models are due out in early 2023, but the three Hot Metal irons are now in our Hogan Studio for fitting. The studio enables us to test 4, 6, 8 and PW with over 85 different steel and graphite shafts.

As you can see from the review below with our resident independent expert reviewer Martin Hopley, having four heads to fit with instead of a one highlights the differences between the models.

Expert Review

The JPX923 Hot Metal Pro iron is promoted as a player’s speed cavity for low to mid handicap golfers and the looks at address are confidence inspiring with generous sized heads and mid sized top lines.

The cavity is tucked away on the shorter irons, but as you move into the 6 and 4 iron it starts to appear, although Mizuno do a good job of blending it with the polished chrome trailing edge.

The Hot Metal and Hot Metal HL irons are aimed at mid to high handicappers and feature a wider sole for greater forgiveness. The top line is a little thicker at address with a touch more offset than the Pro model, but they could easily blend in with each other and the Pro irons if required.

One of the key benefits of the Hogan Studio at SGGT is the ability to be fitted through the set with the same shaft, so that is what I did with the JPX923 Hot Metal range to give you an insight into what these clubs offer and who they are aimed at.

4-Iron

There is no 4-iron in the Hot Metal HL set, which is probably a good thing as the Pro and Hot Metal 4-iron come in at 19°. This is very strong and closer to a 2-iron in old money and a 3 iron in most other sets. Both went about the same distance for me and it was a bit of an effort getting it into the air.

I have an above average swing speed, so I would expect the mid to low swing speed players these are aimed might struggle as they won’t have the speed to get them in the air.

The 5-iron at 22° is probably as far as most players should go and look for other options with a hybrid custom fitting. High swing speed players could consider the Hot Metal Pro 4-iron as a forgiving driving iron.

6-iron

Things get a little more sensible with the 6-iron, even if the lofts are still strong. All the models felt very good and starting at 25° they might be as strong as most players will want to go.

The Pro 6-iron was the longest for me by quite a margin as the thinner sole allowed me to get more under the ball at impact and make a better contact, but that might not be the same for everyone.

Hence why custom fitting across multiple heads is crucial to getting the right set make up. It was noticeable that all three new models were faster, longer and generated less spin than the previous JPX921, so it looks like JPX923 is a worthwhile upgrade.

8-iron

Usually I would expect the discrepancies between heads of the same loft to reduce as the loft increases and so it is in the 8-iron. The Pro and Hot Metal models produced pretty similar results and were lovely to hit, even if it felt like hitting a slightly shorter 7-iron.

The Hot Metal HL with its 2° weaker loft was a bit more off the space thanks to the higher level of spin, which is to be expected in this style of head. The shorter irons did feel slightly better than the longer irons where the wider cavity created a slightly more hollow sound.

Pitching Wedge

The Pro and Hot Metal PW are both still very strong at 42.5° and were matched for performance by the 45° HL so there is not much to choose.

Maybe dropping down a model in the short irons would be a good move to get a little more playability and less spin. Your SGGT fitter could advise on options here and how to fill the gap to the rest of your wedges with a custom wedge fitting.

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons Review Summary

The JPX923 Hot Metal range offers a good looking family of irons with a forged feel that combines ball speed and playability. As is the trend these days they have really cranked the lofts, so much so that most players should avoid the 4 and maybe even the 5-iron and look towards getting some specialist utility irons or hybrids at the top end.

For most players, the choice will be between the playability and forgiveness of Hot Metal Pro if you have enough swing speed, and Hot Metal HL if you have a lower swing speed and need more loft to get the right trajectory.

There are opportunities to blend in the standard Hot Metal into either set and that is where a through the bag fit, like that offered by SGGT, will be able to find the optimum combination for your Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal set.

Book An Iron Fitting At SGGT

Only the experience of the SGGT fitters working across every brand and shaft gives you these options to improve your scores and your game.

To find out which type of iron is right for you, book an iron custom fitting session with SGGT in the Hogan Studio and compare every iron on the market using 4, 6, 8, PW with a choice of over 80 graphite and steel shafts to get the best performing irons for your game.

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