This is what drives me crazy about Mizuno

[eric61]

7 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

I have to admit the wood offering doesn't bug me as much as when they came out with the 921 forged.  They made a 3 and 4 iron but it was too much effort to make them at least down to a PW. That's just stupid. 

 

I'm being very pedantic here but the 3 and 4 iron was in the MP-20 HMB. They made a 4 and 5 iron for lefties in the JPX 921 Forged. Both were parts of blended "SEL" sets. 

 

I'm with you, though. I would've loved to get the 921 Forged. Instead I went with 921 SEL and they worked out -- but if they hadn't, I'd have had to spend new-iron money to buy a used 919 Forged set and get them reshafted and bent to my specs.

[braincramp52]

46 minutes ago, eric61 said:

 

I'm being very pedantic here but the 3 and 4 iron was in the MP-20 HMB. They made a 4 and 5 iron for lefties in the JPX 921 Forged. Both were parts of blended "SEL" sets. 

 

I'm with you, though. I would've loved to get the 921 Forged. Instead I went with 921 SEL and they worked out -- but if they hadn't, I'd have had to spend new-iron money to buy a used 919 Forged set and get them reshafted and bent to my specs.

My bad. You're right. 

[jholz]

I have a lot of sympathy for you lefty folks. It has to suck.

 

But, I think questioning Mizuno is a fools errand. They clearly don't act like other companies and have an agenda that is difficult to suss out. My only guess is that they really only care about the Asian and European markets. Anything they happen to sell in the US is just a bonus. 

 

For woods in particular, it's a total mystery. I mean, Mizuno has been making great woods for years - virtually no one plays them. They barely market them. I wonder why they bother. 

 

If they wanted to make a big splash they could. For some reason they decide not to. Perhaps they know something about business that escapes the other OEMs. 

Edited December 6, 2021 by jholz

[braincramp52]

13 minutes ago, jholz said:

I have a lot of sympathy for you lefty folks. It has to suck.

 

But, I think questioning Mizuno is a fools errand. They clearly don't act like other companies and have an agenda that is difficult to suss out. My only guess is that they really only care about the Asian and European markets. Anything they happen to sell in the US is just a bonus. 

 

For woods in particular, it's a total mystery. I mean, Mizuno has been making great woods for years - virtually no one plays them. They barely market them. I wonder why they bother. 

 

If they wanted to make a big splash they could. For some reason they decide not to. Perhaps they know something about business that escapes the other OEMs. 

Well said. 

[B-Man]

Well honestly it could be worse. We could be right-handed. Then I wouldn't know what to choose. Those poor buggers.

[bobfoster]

7 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

Well then it's like someone else said, just don't make ANY. Mizuno overall is a billion dollar company that acts small. 

7 hours ago, PEI_Golfer said:

Mizuno is, as I said, a TINY player in the woods department compared to TM, Cally, Ping and Titleist...

 

You're only seeing what you want to see rather than reality at this point...

This ^^^

 

It is a large company, but it is in a lot of sports, and also makes sports clothes and shoes (and BTW, I think something like 2/3s of it's income comes from the Japanese market, the other 1/3 from the rest of the world). The piece of its business that is golf is certainly much smaller than the TM and Callys of the world. And it is largely known for irons. While they make them, I see very, very few Drivers or FWs on golf courses. In fact, they even make balls - I'm not certain I've ever seen a Mizzy golf ball being gamed.

 

In terms of the golf industry, Mizuno is not really a big player in terms of sales (outside of Japan). Their marketing and advertising budget (for golf) is a fraction of those of the big guys, and they sponsor (at best) a handful of pros. They don't make any cheap clubs, and don't even pretend to make clubs for beginners or the average weekender that plays a couple times a year. In golf, they aren't a giant, they are a niche OEM that mostly makes expensive irons for better than average players. 

 

Further, since a considerable part of their market is Japan, consider this - Japan has the second to lowest percentage of lefties in the world (only China is lower) - 4.70% of the population (In America it is 13.10% - almost three times as many.) Part of this is cultural (in both China and Japan - for many years lefties in those cultures were actually looked down on. It was considered bad manners to hold chopsticks in the left hand. This still exists (as a subtle undercurrent) today. Being a lefty is considered a bit "abnormal" - there's almost a stigma attached to it. Many parents will deliberately force young children that are naturally left handed to learn to become right handed.

 

It is complicated, and at least partially cultural - but it does not surprise me at all that Mizzy doesn't put much emphasis on lefty clubs. Don't have the stats, but I'd expect half the clubs they make don't have a left version. 

 

Just throwing out some thoughts here ...

[braincramp52]

7 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

This ^^^

 

It is a large company, but it is in a lot of sports, and also makes sports clothes and shoes (and BTW, I think something like 2/3s of it's income comes from the Japanese market, the other 1/3 from the rest of the world). The piece of its business that is golf is certainly much smaller than the TM and Callys of the world. And it is largely known for irons. While they make them, I see very, very few Drivers or FWs on golf courses. In fact, they even make balls - I'm not certain I've ever seen a Mizzy golf ball being gamed.

 

In terms of the golf industry, Mizuno is not really a big player in terms of sales (outside of Japan). Their marketing and advertising budget (for golf) is a fraction of those of the big guys, and they sponsor (at best) a handful of pros. They don't make any cheap clubs, and don't even pretend to make clubs for beginners or the average weekender that plays a couple times a year. In golf, they aren't a giant, they are a niche OEM that mostly makes expensive irons for better than average players. 

 

Further, since a considerable part of their market is Japan, consider this - Japan has the second to lowest percentage of lefties in the world (only China is lower) - 4.70% of the population (In America it is 13.10% - almost three times as many.) Part of this is cultural (in both China and Japan - for many years lefties in those cultures were actually looked down on. It was considered bad manners to hold chopsticks in the left hand. This still exists (as a subtle undercurrent) today. Being a lefty is considered a bit "abnormal" - there's almost a stigma attached to it. Many parents will deliberately force young children that are naturally left handed to learn to become right handed.

 

It is complicated, and at least partially cultural - but it does not surprise me at all that Mizzy doesn't put much emphasis on lefty clubs. Don't have the stats, but I'd expect half the clubs they make don't have a left version. 

 

Just throwing out some thoughts here ...

I understand totally Bob, but it's still frustrating and about once every 2 years I need to rant about it.😄

[mokedaddy]

I personally love the split set of the 921 sel.  They made the forged in the 919 and 900.  Nice of them to switch it up.  Also it’s the 4 and 5 iron.  They don’t make any 3 irons in the 921 series.

[Nixhex524]

I can understand you OP.  Speaking from a right handed perspective, I can see why you lefties would feel the way you do.  You want to give your money to a company you have had great experience with and trust and they make it difficult.  While I can sort of understand why they do it, I can also totally support why lefties want to be heard, I do not think it's too much to ask honestly and anyone who is right handed and has something to say.. check yourself.  LOL  We are quite fortunate!!!  

 

Though, your used lefty stuff does come at much better prices!  😂

[lefthack]

47 minutes ago, Nixhex524 said:

Though, your used lefty stuff does come at much better prices!  😂

 

This is true, sometimes. But if you get 3 or more lefties on ebay, the price can get stupid quick. But also because it's not always available to find, you could pay a premium if you really want it.

 

You could also be the only dude around who even cares and get it for a dime. 🤣

[TwistedSister]

You Righties realize that Lefties are the ones that play on the right side of the ball.  Righties play on the left side!

[braincramp52]

1 hour ago, Nixhex524 said:

I can understand you OP.  Speaking from a right handed perspective, I can see why you lefties would feel the way you do.  You want to give your money to a company you have had great experience with and trust and they make it difficult.  While I can sort of understand why they do it, I can also totally support why lefties want to be heard, I do not think it's too much to ask honestly and anyone who is right handed and has something to say.. check yourself.  LOL  We are quite fortunate!!!  

 

Though, your used lefty stuff does come at much better prices!  😂

Thanks for understanding our dilemma!!😅 It is 1000 times better than when I started playing 35 years ago, thank god!

[lefthack]

2 hours ago, braincramp52 said:

Thanks for understanding our dilemma!!😅 It is 1000 times better than when I started playing 35 years ago, thank god!

 

I'm right handed but I preferred batting left. I didn't know lefty was so minor because the Sears catalog had my starter set in either. When offered the chance, I chose lefty (30 years ago). It wasn't until I went to add clubs at the local Nevada Bob's that I learned the harsh reality of my decision.

 

As a goody foot skater/surfer, I feel more comfortable on that side of the ball anyway. But the lack of hardware has been a challenge.

[skraly]

On 12/6/2021 at 7:14 AM, Trippels said:

I wish they would stop wasting time on "lefty" clubs all together. Go play something else.

Man, do I remember the righties screaming to high heaven when the Titleist 931 PM’s came out in LH only!

[Barfolomew]

Playin partner is a lefty scratch player.... I've heard all the whining

 

My only fix is that larger companies should do runs of all their top gear in lefty but in less quantity.... meaning the stores/dealers wont have any of the rare ones but you can order it and when they run another batch you'll get yours, so it'll take longer but at least its a compromise.  If that dont work I got nothin...

[aenemated]

On 12/6/2021 at 2:28 PM, bobfoster said:

I'm not certain I've ever seen a Mizzy golf ball being gamed.

 

Buddy of mine from my old regular group got a set of MP20s a while back and there were a few sleeves of them in the box. 

 

None of us knew they even made balls. After hitting them, it was clear why. 

 

[braincramp52]

2 hours ago, skraly said:

Man, do I remember the righties screaming to high heaven when the Titleist 931 PM’s came out in LH only!

Yea, I remember that too. It wasn't real funny then.

[bobfoster]

38 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Buddy of mine from my old regular group got a set of MP20s a while back and there were a few sleeves of them in the box. 

 

None of us knew they even made balls. After hitting them, it was clear why. 

 

 

Jeez. That is really good to know. I knew they made them, but don't think I've ever seen them in a retail big box (then again, maybe they are, it just never occurred to me to look - but I'm a Mizzy iron fanatic so I suspect I would have noticed). After this thread, I was thinking about ordering a box online just for sh*ts and giggles, but from what you say I won't bother. 

 

Odd that they aren't that good, because they are actually relatively expensive - ranging from around $25 to $40. Balls at the mid-to-high end of the price spectrum have a lot of competition. 

[jholz]

6 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

 

Jeez. That is really good to know. I knew they made them, but don't think I've ever seen them in a retail big box (then again, maybe they are, it just never occurred to me to look - but I'm a Mizzy iron fanatic so I suspect I would have noticed). After this thread, I was thinking about ordering a box online just for sh*ts and giggles, but from what you say I won't bother. 

 

Odd that they aren't that good, because they are actually relatively expensive - ranging from around $25 to $40. Balls at the mid-to-high end of the price spectrum have a lot of competition. 

 

I love obscure, major OEM equipment, including balls - so when Mizuno announced the new balls I was ready to adopt them.

 

Then I played a sleeve. The RB Tours. Yikes! They've got some work to do.

 

Gen 3 or 4 might be the cat's a**, who knows?

[bobfoster]

1 hour ago, jholz said:

 

I love obscure, major OEM equipment, including balls - so when Mizuno announced the new balls I was ready to adopt them.

 

Then I played a sleeve. The RB Tours. Yikes! They've got some work to do.

 

Gen 3 or 4 might be the cat's a**, who knows?

If you have a moment, what did you find wrong? Distance, spin, feel, workability? 

 

Just Googled reviews. The Golf Monthly one started with "The Mizuno RB Tour X ball is an excellent option for a relatively small group of golfers." Spit wine out of my nose laughing. That pretty much sums up everything Mizzy golf makes - "an excellent option for a relatively small group of golfers." 🤣

 

What was your experience?

[jholz]

22 minutes ago, bobfoster said:

If you have a moment, what did you find wrong? Distance, spin, feel, workability? 

 

Just Googled reviews. The Golf Monthly one started with "The Mizuno RB Tour X ball is an excellent option for a relatively small group of golfers." Spit wine out of my nose laughing. That pretty much sums up everything Mizzy golf makes - "an excellent option for a relatively small group of golfers." 🤣

 

What was your experience?

 

I know this is probably not exactly what you are looking for, but I think the engineer who designed the Mizuno balls was also responsible for designing the MP30 irons. Super great looking and feeling, but inevitably about 30 yards short on every swing.

 

My best attempt at summarizing them would be something along the lines of "squishy" - like hitting a marshmallow. They absorbed impact rather than responding to it.

 

[MrCook]

On 12/6/2021 at 2:30 PM, lefthack said:

Lefty woods are not overly common, but anything but a 3/5 is a total crap shoot.

 

But to make a 3 and not make a 5? 🤣 It's tough to justify making something for 7% of the golfing market.

 

I mean, since the other 93% don't know it's not for them and still buy it, I get where Mizuno is coming from.