Review- Mizuno MP-52 Irons

The new MP-52 irons with Dual Muscle Technology are the most playable MP irons ever! The performance of the MP-52 iron set is based upon two innovative technologies. Making up Dual Muscle technology, is an outer muscle pad allows for a precisely placed, lower and deeper center of gravity, offering enhanced playability and an ideal launch angle, and an inner muscle pad that provides the unparalleled feel and the feedback that better players demand. The second innovation that sets the MP-52 irons apart and advances MP iron playability to a whole new level is a patented CNC milled pocket cavity. Two deep crescents milled into the club head allow for the redeployment of 14 grams of mass for a lower and much deeper COG. The performance advantage of this feature is increased playability on mishits and a superior launch. These advanced features are combined with a classic head profile to deliver tour level looks, feel and playability.

 

Unfortunately, the MP-52s I have reviewed here were fitted with some Dynamic Gold shafts vs. Project X shafts in the MP-57s, so right there the clubs will have a slightly different feel to them. However, off the club face you can instantly tell where you have missed a shot, a little to the toe, a little thin…you will know it. Sure, you can get away with a slightly off center hit; however you will not be rewarded with a nice feel. This is one thing that has always bugged me about other game improvement irons…your subconscious brain is rewarded with a decent feel even when you do not hit it in the center of the face. That is not game improvement. So as long as you are willing to deal with some pain when you hit a thin shot in the cold, this Mizuno MP-52s should also help you start hitting the ball on the center of the club face more often.

 

Along with the Mizuno MP-52s, I have been playing an older set of Callaway Fusion irons, with identical shafts/setup. The Fusion irons are clunkers to look at from behind, but setup nicely and are extremely forgiving. They also cannot hold a candle to the MP-52s in terms of accuracy/consistency. With a good swing, I find the MP-52 Irons are extremely consistent distance wise. If you have not done this yourself, take a shag bag, 20 or so balls, and an iron of your choice. Put a stake or something in the ground as a target, and pace back the distance you believe you hit that iron. Hit 10-20 balls at that target, and see how consistent you are distance wise. It is very easy to spray the ball a little left or right. But the distance the ball travels should be pretty close. With the Mizuno MP-52 Irons, it is extremely close. With the Fusions, I find I catch one here or there that just launches an extra half club.