Mizuno JPX 923 Irons Review - Hot Metal, Hot Metal Pro, and Hot Metal HL (High Launch)

I've been playing the new Mizuno JPX 923 irons for awhile now.  The JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro, the JPX 923 Hot Metal, and a newcomer to the family - the JPX 923 Hot Metal HL (High Launch).  And the common theme with all these irons is ball speed.  Seriously fast ball speed.  In fact, these are the longest JPX irons of any I've ever hit, hands down.

But there's more to this new JPX 923 line than just Nickel Chromoly speed.  All three models are extremely playable, even the Hot Metal Pro (HMP) has fantastic forgiveness.  And the ability to blend any of these irons seamlessly into a mixed or combo set will give players all kinds of options that fit pretty much every skill level.  In a nutshell, the JPX 923 irons are the most fun to hit JPX irons of all time.

I'll touch on some of the new tech story insofar as it relates to distinguishing the JPX 923 line from the previous gen JPX 921.  You can read more detail about the new tech on the Mizuno website.  Of course I'll highlight and explain the differences between these three JPX 923 models in how they play.  And I'm telling you straight up, every model of JPX 923 irons absolutely shines.

Starting with the shapes of each model, you can see JPX 923 HMP irons are the most compact and the JPX 923 HL are the largest.  In fact, from HL to HM to HMP you'll get progressively shorter blade lengths, thinner soles and top lines, and less offset.  None of the shapes is better than the other per se.  It's really going to boil down to what kind of performance you're looking to get from your irons (and I'll get into that shortly below).

As alluded to above however, one of the really cool thing about all three JPX 923 models is how neatly them all blend into each other.  In the pictures below, you'll see the 7-iron in all three JPX 923 models, and then the HL 5-iron, HM 7-iron, and HMP 9-iron.  Mizuno's not complicating anything here, and if you're the kind of player who needs the benefits of a mixed set this is visually very pleasing.

JPX 923 7-iron HL, HM, HMP Comparison

 

 

  

JPX 923 5-iron HL, 7-iron HM, 9-iron HMP Comparison

 

The JPX923 Hot Metal Pro is my huckleberry.  The compact shape suits my eye best, and there's enough forgiveness that when I hit some squirrely shots I'm not punished in distance on direction.

Speaking of distance, Mizuno's new nickel chromoly is thinner than the previous gen material but also 35-percent stronger.  And that means JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro are long, really long.

 

I didn't play the JPX 921 HMP the last few years, instead playing the JPX 921 Forged irons.  But I was curious how my 921 Forged compared to my 923 HMP.  And JPX 923 HMP is legitimately 10 yards longer.  923 HMP launches a bit lower and spins a bit less than the 921 Forged, but it still has plenty of stopping power.

If you're a player chasing distance or losing speed as you get older, the JPX 923 HMP might cure all your ails.

  

JPX 923 Hot Metal was interesting to me mainly because distance was very similar to HMP.  The main differences between these two models was HM launching a bit higher and spinning a bit less than HMP (HM actually launched closer to what I get with the JPX 921 Forged).  As mentioned earlier HM also has more offset.  So if you need a little more help squaring the face or launching higher for maximum carry, HM is the way to go.  Sound and feel between these two irons is pretty much identical.

And circling back to JPX 923 forgiveness, obviously the HL being the largest head will be the most forgiving.  But all JPX 923 models are what I'd call proportionately forgiving.  Miss low or out towards the toe with the HM and performance will be similar to center strikes.  Same with the HMP and HL.  Mizuno made the face of each model more efficient on mishits.  So if you're choosing between these models based on forgiveness alone it really boils down to how large or small an iron head you prefer.  You're going to get forgiveness with all of them.  Remember I told you JPX 923 are fun to hit?

 

 

  

JPX 923 High Launch is the newest member of the JPX family and as the name implies these launch high, higher than both the HM and HMP.  These would be great options for anyone who struggles to get the ball in the air or who has a slower swing speed.

I wouldn't necessarily call JPX 923 HL super game improvement irons however.  Yes the entire HL set is designed to be extremely easy to hit and launch and deliver forgiveness all over the face.  But there are a lot of players out there who can't hit long irons consistently, and a HL at the top of your iron set could transform your long iron game.  And for those considering full sets the HL short irons are actually very clean looking, not bulky at all, and spin quite a bit more than you'd expect.

JPX 923 HM and HL 9-iron Comparison

   

Ultimately what Mizuno has done with the new JPX 923 line of irons is make JPX more JPX, a stronger performing JPX really.

The JPX 923 are more forgiving without sacrificing that delicious Mizuno feel.  They're longer than previous generations without sacrificing precision or control.

 

  

And now with three Hot Metal models to choose from, there's distance and forgiveness for all.