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The Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons are undeniably long. Looks and feel stray from traditional Mizuno. Lower launch and spin produce a lot of distance but may not help players shoot lower scores.
Introduction
Since its inception, the Hot Metal line has offered the Mizuno irons for the rest of us. If you need more distance and forgiveness, they’ve delivered reliably. I tested the latest in the line, the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons, to see if they break new performance ground and live up to the brand’s reputation for stellar feel.
Looks
At address, the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons appear to have packed on some weight since their last iteration, the JPX923 Hot Metal [review HERE]. The top line is thick and the offset is more pronounced. This version retains the heavily rounded shape. To my eye, this only makes the iron look larger, which it doesn’t really need. This is game improvement that’s leaning toward super game improvement.
In the bag, the JPX925 Hot Metal is a step backward. While the Hot Metal irons have always been a little busier looking, I thought the JPX923 was very sharp. For me, the white panel underneath “Hot Metal” is a big miss, and the overall shaping is clunky and lacking in refinement.
Sound & Feel
Made of Nickel Chromoly, the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons are not the irons that will have you saying, “Nothing feels like a Mizuno.” Impact is medium-firm, and the face feels very thin.
Mizuno’s materials refer to a “solid, explosive impact sound” which I would rate as being halfway correct. The clicky impact sound does convey speed and power, but it’s miles from “solid.”
The feedback from these clubs is surprisingly clear given their size. I could feel the impact location with reasonable precision. When you miss the center, the impact sound becomes notably more dull.
Performance
While the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons did not wow me in the subjective categories, one thing can’t be denied: they are long. Mizuno states that they “completely re-engineered” the face profile, making it “30% thinner”. It’s unclear if that’s 30% thinner across the board, in the sweet spot, or in specific locations, but in any case, it produces a lot of ball speed. Smash factors were consistently in the mid 1.4s on anything resembling a good swing.
All that ball speed is paired with mid launch and mid-low spin to generate massive distance. The lofts are slightly stronger than the JPX923 Hot Metals which were, predictably, stronger than the JPX921 Hot Metal irons [review HERE]. For me, this creates landing angles that are too shallow as early as the 6I. Additionally, there are just three degrees between clubs from the 4I to 7I, which may create poor distance gapping for players without above average speed.
In terms of forgiveness and consistency, the JPX925 Hot Metal irons are solid. The head feels stable on mishits, and doesn’t let the ball stray too far from the target due to poor contact. Obviously, the club cannot correct a poor face angle at impact, but toe or heel strikes won’t have you searching the woods.
Finally, these irons are designed, per Mizuno, for the “mid to high handicapper” and are not meant for precision shot shaping. They want to produce a strong ball flight, and getting them to fly higher or lower takes some effort. The sole is quite wide which provides insurance against digging but can be an impediment to clean strikes for some players. Directionally, the JPX925 Hot Metals prefer a draw. I could hit it straight with some effort but more frequently saw neutral swings curving left.
Conclusion
On the objective measures, the Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons continue to be some of the best performing in their class. Unfortunately, I think they took a step backward on the finer points of looks, feel, and sound. Check them out for yourself at your next fitting to see if you agree or if these make it into your bag.