ZX7 vs Mizuno Pro 223

[platgof]

On 2/5/2022 at 7:09 PM, Canyonaro said:

 

I have a golf trip with some old buddies coming up & they're going to abuse the hell out of me if I show up with new irons for a third year in a row. 😭

Life Time WRX member!

[Pnwpingi210]

1 hour ago, T_Golf_23 said:

The X-Forge CB are fantastic performers - just complete clubs and after mizzuno - are the next best feeling irons I have ever hit. Surprisingly long as well. 
 

 my curiosity is getting the best of me and I am trialing the whole Miz pro line - no idea why though - the XFCB leave little to be desired.   

My only nit with the x forged is the offset in scoring irons.  I’m still adjusting to it….have the occasional pull/left ball in them.

 

keep us posted in your mizzy trials.

[T_Golf_23]

3 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

My only nit with the x forged is the offset in scoring irons.  I’m still adjusting to it….have the occasional pull/left ball in them.

 

keep us posted in your mizzy trials.

That is my same issue - it’s actually less offset then the MP line, except the 221, but they way they do it - it just looks more than it is. they are also a little larger than the MP scoring  irons - That is what led me to look at the MPs 

 

will let you know - but I have some extensive reviews on the 225 and 221s under my profile.

 

223 are inbound to test. 
 

 

[ob1soccer]

2 hours ago, platgof said:

Life Time WRX member!

there would be something wrong with u if u showed up with anything that wasnt new

[1puttTUT]

First round round with 223's today...damn they're pretty amazing if you're a decent ballstriker (and I'm only good, not great) 🍻

[oneaugusta]

223's are a really good iron like most Mizuno irons.  The ZX7's were a little more forgiving and I just seemed to make more pure contact.  I tend to get a touch steep at times and the sole design really sold me.  Feel wise they feel different, I find the 223's more dense and muted, the ZX7's a touch crisper but feel is subjective.  For my game the ZX7's are very special and in the bag.

[uglande]

I'm intrigued by ZX7s with Steelfiber shafts for only a $35/per upgrade. With most OEMs it's +$60-75. 

[JStang]

Still no 223's for me but I am striking the ZX7's really well. So well that I may just sell the 223's when they arrive so I'm not tempted to switch again. The ZX7 long irons are so good. I had 5 iron and 4 iron into the par 5's last night and hit the 5 to the back fringe and the 4 on the middle of the green. 

 

FWIW, I had the lofts bent one degree weak and they are in the perfect flight and spin window for me. 

[Stonewalled]

On 4/1/2022 at 5:25 AM, oneaugusta said:

223's are a really good iron like most Mizuno irons.  The ZX7's were a little more forgiving and I just seemed to make more pure contact.  I tend to get a touch steep at times and the sole design really sold me.  Feel wise they feel different, I find the 223's more dense and muted, the ZX7's a touch crisper but feel is subjective.  For my game the ZX7's are very special and in the bag.

Iv'e been fooled way too many times believing the written word on April Fool's Day🙃  Hopefully this isn't one of those days. I have heard that the ZX7's are special irons, now I know.  Well done. 

[oneaugusta]

10 hours ago, Stonewalled said:

Iv'e been fooled way too many times believing the written word on April Fool's Day🙃  Hopefully this isn't one of those days. I have heard that the ZX7's are special irons, now I know.  Well done. 

Not Foolin!  there really good..................

[aussieb]

After having the SEL MP20 since they came out and not being completely thrilled about the HMB 4i, I picked up the ZX7 in 4i & 5i on a whim. Since they're so much less than any other OEM here in Oz, I slowly added the whole set as a backup. No upcharge for Modus 130X made it easy.  When the MP20 were looking long in the tooth, I tried out their new stuff that's also recently jumped in price.  The 223 weren't anywhere as solid on numbers for left/right dispersion, or through the turf.  They also sound/feel a little off, clicky even.  The ZX7 long irons are probably the best I've ever hit with the tweaked V Sole and mass behind the ball. I'll be sticking to them until I can refinish the MP20.

[T_Golf_23]

On 1/22/2022 at 3:25 PM, maximusppl said:

Give the new T100S a try as well. I went from ZX7 to the T100S and not looking back. For my swing it was better turf interaction and a better feel. Gained some performance as well. I also now prefer the smaller clubhead and anything else feels "big" and clunky. 

What does your angle of attack look like?? Do you tend to be steeper or more neutral? 

[T_Golf_23]

Got my hands i a full set is ZX7 and playing them against my 223. 
 

At address, the ZX7 blade size is larger. So is the top line. As you get into the scoring irons. This get more noticeable. The ZX7 scoring irons are larger, the 223 scoring irons get more compact. 
 

the Zx7 reminded me of the JPX921 Forged. 
 

the feel is consistent across the set for the ZX7, where as there is a slightly different feel in the 7 to 8 iron transition. More noticeable on mishits. 
 

i found the 223 to be more forgiving in the long irons. Short irons were similar. 
 

I did notice the ZX7 to have more of a cut shot shake vs the 223 with a subtle draw. This is most likely shaft related, modus 115s in 223 vs $-taper 120 in the ZX7.
 

I don’t get on with the ZX7 head and sole as well as I do with the 223 irons. I tend to be a little shallow at a -1/-2 AoA. 
 

For me, the 223 blow the ZX7 away. But overall, my X-forged CBs and NL PF2 are in the lead for the gamer set this year. Still have to try the Wilson Staff CB, which I may blend with my MP221. 
 

So many choices…. 

[JoeFrigo]

finally warming up in Chicago so I can get outside some more. I have 2 rounds in with the ZX7's and they performed very well. Very forgiving for the category they're in and good speed.

 

Indoors the 223's have consistently shown to be a little faster speed wise while both clubs being lower spin. Both 7i's have been around 5900 - 6000 spin inside so im hoping outside that spin will go up a little bit more for control. The last few years of blades im used to seeing 6600ish spin with 7i

 

Looks and feel are subjective but I think the 223 looks better and is noticeably softer at impact

 

Saturday will be the first time outside with the 223's after playing the zx7's for the first 2 rounds

[ob1soccer]

so which iron is more forgiving?

[Golfah]

I have played both sets quite a bit.  I sold the 223s after months of trying to get them to work and kept my ZX7s.

 

My observations (which may be shaft dependent):  

 

MP-223 Shaft Modus 115 Stiff

- Could only demo the 7i which felt great.  

- Dead feeling PW-8 without the tech

- Unusably low ballfight in long irons. I had more shots roll through the green than ever before, no stopping power

- PW is just oddly short and high (loft needs adjusting?)

- All in all the set does not flow well from PW in terms of feel, distance and trajectory

- Rear badge scratches easily. 

- Overall short (struggle with distance control through set)

- Nice at address

 

ZX7 Modus 105

- Visually larger at address (I like small blades so this is a negative)

- Crazy long and high - scoring irons are so long you need a gap wedge

- Much smoother and more powerful feeling at impact than 223 

- Consistent feel, gapping, length and trajectory changes through the set 

- Low but playable trajectory with 4-iron

- A bit loose in directional consistency (e.g. don't provide the feel of confident precision as with true muscle backs)

 

For me, no contest.  I was a Mizuno fan for years, cut my teeth on MP-14s.  223 got so much hype I bought into and impulse bought them as a return to Mizuno.  But in my hands, the set was all over the place and you don't get that insight from hitting a 7i in the simulator.  

[JStang]

223’s arrived yesterday. I definitely prefer the look of the 223 at address due to the thinner, less boxy top line.

 

 

[ob1soccer]

best of luck they look awesome

[JoeFrigo]

22 hours ago, JStang said:

223’s arrived yesterday. I definitely prefer the look of the 223 at address due to the thinner, less boxy top line.

 

 

curious to hear your thoughts once you hit them! I got both sets in late February and only have 3 rounds so far due to a horrible spring here. Right now id give the edge to Mizuno but I really dont have a negative thing to say about either

223's are definitely softer at impact

[JStang]

PluggedIn finally published their 223 review. I was looking forward to this one:

 

https://pluggedingolf.com/mizuno-pro-223-irons-review/

[JStang]

Threw the 223’s in the bag for the first time tonight. Zero swings with them prior to tonight and I didn’t skip a beat. 

 

They look great, feel great and flew what I expected them to fly. I had two less than perfect strikes that proved to be forgiving.
 

The first was on a par 5 where I had 200 to the pin and the ball was quite a bit above my feet, into the wind and I hit 4 iron a groove or two thin. The ball drew perfectly in line with the flag leaving me short of the flag with a 20 foot eagle putt.

 

The other example was a 160 yard par 3 that was playing a touch up hill and into the wind. I tried hitting a knockdown 7 iron that was off the toe and pushed and ended up pin high right.

 

Not a ton of action as I hit a steady diet of driver wedge on most holes but not a thing to be concerned about. Will check in again after 18 on Friday.

Edited May 5, 2022 by JStang

[maximusppl]

On 4/19/2022 at 12:29 AM, T_Golf_23 said:

What does your angle of attack look like?? Do you tend to be steeper or more neutral? 

I am not very steep in general. With a 7 i can be 2-4 down. I don't take many divots on the course either. 

[QuigleyDU]

I find these two sets extremely comparable. I think the 223s offer a smidge more ball speed though.

[Judge440]

Have both.  Interviewing the 223's right now.  Leaning toward the 223's over the ZX7's.  Performance is pretty tight between the two.  At the moment the 223's win on looks and feel.  

[Fairways to Heaven]

On 1/23/2022 at 3:33 AM, casey_0507 said:

ZX7 look great, but 223 I think have almost perfect proportions. 
 

I think I'm sticking with my ZX7 but am gonna look for opportunities to hit a full set of 223 outdoors....which probably ends up being I buy a set, haha

So have you swapped out the ZX7s then? If so why? Thanks

[casey_0507]

10 minutes ago, Fairways to Heaven said:

So have you swapped out the ZX7s then? If so why? Thanks

I actually went ZX7 to new Cobra Forged Tec. Kind of the opposite way for me, but just really wanted something a bit more forgiving as I don't practice at all anymore and don't play too frequently anymore so wanted more help, which so far has worked well for me. Will say kinda wish 9/PW from ZX7 could still be in my bag though. 

[joshrad_golf]

I did a blind club test and ended up between these exact two irons. I chose the Mizuno Pro 223s because I felt like I had a touch more workability on curvature with them. Both felt incredible. Both offered great numbers. I'm not sure you can go wrong with either if you get the right club build.

[joshrad_golf]

Both of the clubs are made in the same factory, by the way, in Japan.

[Foreleft]

4 hours ago, joshrad_golf said:

Both of the clubs are made in the same factory, by the way, in Japan.

i don’t think this is true.  Mizuno made at their own plant in Hiroshima and Srixon has their own facilities.

[joshrad_golf]

1 hour ago, Foreleft said:

i don’t think this is true.  Mizuno made at their own plant in Hiroshima and Srixon has their own facilities.

You might be right. Heard that from a guy who used to be a Srixon rep, but it was a comment made in passing.