Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Vs Taylormade Stealth Irons Comparison

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Vs Taylormade Stealth Irons Comparison Overview

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal and the Taylormade Stealth irons actually have a lot in common in terms of design goals.

After testing both of these irons, it was clear that each company was trying to create a better feel for players with higher handicaps.

Mizuno is typically known for making performance blades meant for better golfers but the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons are a bit of a departure from that template. Taylormade has always made solid game improvement irons; but how do the new Stealth irons hold up against the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons?

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons Overview

“The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons have been constructed with a unique combination of nickel and chromoly.”

This, according to Mizuno, allowed them to expand the thin portion of the face by 18%. When we tested the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons, we noticed that they did in fact play hot across most of the face.

One thing we didn’t expect though was the soft feel. Keep in mind that these are cast irons so you don’t get the soft response and feedback that you would from forged irons. But the chromoly and nickel combination seem to mimic a forged feel fairly well.

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons are also strong lofted so they launch low and give higher handicap players the opportunity to attack long par 5’s and set up for birdie more often.

Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview

“The Stealth irons have an interesting cavity design that helps increase forgiveness.”

The cavity has been constructed so that more mass can be moved to the toe area. This increases accuracy and reduces ball speed loss on mis-hits. Like the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons, the Stealth irons mimic forged irons fairly well.

The Echo Dampening System creates multiple contact points behind the face to smooth out vibration and soften the overall feel. The Stealth irons are also strong-lofted and produce a low launch. However, the faces of these irons play a bit dead when compared to the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons.

“Overall, the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons were longer and had a nicer feel. While both of these iron sets are equally forgiving and afford a better feel to higher handicap players, Mizuno did a better job of blending performance and game improvement features.”

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons First Impressions

Straight out of the gate the JpX 923 look great, they are not big and chunky like some game improvement irons, but they are not the most forgiving irons on the market either. One thing is for sure, the 923 Hot Metal irons are built for distance.

The irons come in 3 flavors:

JPX 923 Hot Metal High Launch – for slower swing speeds to get the ball in the air.

JPX 923 Hot Metal – Perfect for Mid Handicappers looking for distance, forgiveness and stability.

JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro – Aimed at consistent iron strikers with more precision, control and workability. Likely to compete with the forged version and the

The next thing that stands out is the V-Chassis on the back which completes the excellent looks of the irons.

It also adds stability to the club face, improves the feel and dampens vibrations on any mishits.

These clubs are faster thanks to the new Nikol Chromoly material that the cup face, and cavity back designed clubs are made with.

It is 35% stronger which a stronger impact and more distance. It also allows the club face to be 8% thinner meaning a better energy transfer. The thinnest point of the face is now also 18% larger and the bigger sweet spot results in better shots on the off-center strikes.

More bounce and stronger lofts also add to the effect of more distance and a higher loft. The extra bounce helps to generate a higher ball flight.

While not being the most forgiving of game improvement irons, they look excellent at the address and offer a ton of distance for players with moderate to average swing speeds and beyond.

The Hot Metal irons are not going to be the best option for beginners and inconsistent strikers but they will be excellent for anybody looking for maximum distance and excellent control, especially in the shorter irons.

Taylormade Stealth First Impressions

The Taylormade Stealth irons have a striking design that we didn’t really know what to make of at first.

These are some of the most uniquely designed game improvement irons we ever tested. The cap back system that wraps around the rear toe area looks striking but it didn’t make sense to us at first.

Then we started playing with this set. One of the first things we noticed was that even with the 4 iron, it was very easy to find the sweet spot. The offset helps yes, but more than anything, that extra mass in the sole beneath the sweet spot helps to square up.

It’s like a giant target for your alignment. And since the face was designed to flex to a ridiculous degree, you don’t need a fast swing speed to get decent distance out of these irons.

With the 5 iron in the Taylormade Stealth set, our testers were able to establish an average distance of 161 yards. Of course, as game improvement irons, they suffer from the typical short-game pitfalls.

With the shorter irons, spin is very hard to control. Roll distance was a problem on short approaches and if you are playing a particularly fast green, you will need to rely on your wedges for longer shots.

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Iron Selling Points

New Nikol Chromoly Material
3 Versions To Suit Different Golfers
50 Custom Shaft Options
Stronger Lofts & More Bounce
Around 10% More Distance Than The JPX 921’s
8% Thinner Face
18% Bigger Sweet Spot

Taylormade Stealth Selling Points

They have an innovative cap back design
They do work to soften harsh vibration to a moderate degree
Reduced toe mass
Increased sole mass under the center of the face
They feature Taylormade’s inverted Cone Technology (ICT)
450 stainless steel face

Who Are The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons for?

The 923 Hot Metals are for players looking for a lot of distance from a highly stable club that offers a lot of control and workability in the shorter irons.

The High Launch version is more offset, more forgiving and easier to get into the air for slower swing speeds.

The Regualr version will suit high to mid handcappers looking for distance, easy launch and consistency.

The Pro version is more compact and workable with a smaller blade and is aimed towards the better strikers who will also have other options from Mizuno for their handicap range like the Forged and Tour versions which will be released in early 2023.

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
4 Iron	19°	60	“0.233”	“38.5”
5 Iron	22°	60.5	“0.22”	“38”
6 Iron	25°	61	“0.208”	“37.5”
7 Iron	28.5°	61.5	“0.196”	“37”
8 Iron	33°	62	“0.18”	“36.5”
9 Iron	37.5°	62.5	“0.159”	“36”
PW	42.5°	63	“0.135”	“35.5”
GW	48°	63	“0.098”	“35.25”
SW	54°	63	“0.082”	“35.25”
LW	60°	63	“0.065”	“35.25”

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
5 Iron	25°	60.5	“0.257”	“38”
6 Iron	28°	61	“0.245”	“37.5”
7 Iron	31°	61.5	“0.233”	“37”
8 Iron	35°	62	“0.204”	“36.5”
9 Iron	40°	62.5	“0.176	“36
PW	45°	63	“0.147”	“35.5”
GW	50°	63	“0.127”	“35.25”
SW	55°	63	“0.106”	“35.25”

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
4	19°	60	“0.155”	“38.5”
5	22°	60.5	“0.147”	“38”
6	25°	61	“0.139”	“37.5”
7	28.5°	61.5	“0.131”	“37”
8	33°	62	“0.122”	“36.5”
9	37.5°	62.5	“0.114”	“36”
PW	42.5°	63	“0.106”	“35.5”

Distance: 98/100

Forgiveness: 93/100

Accuracy: 93/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 95/100

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Who are the Taylormade Stealth Irons for?

The Taylormade Stealth irons would primarily benefit high handicap players who are struggling chiefly with distance.

While they offer a moderate degree of forgiveness, it’s clear after testing these irons that most of the R&D went into improving ball speed and distance for players with slower swing speeds.

Most of the testers in our party with swing speeds under 90MPH were keeping up remarkably well with testers with faster swing speeds. Just don’t expect impeccable feel from these irons.

While Taylormade claims that the polymer cap back material gives these irons a “forged feel” we would classify this as a dubious claim at best. At the end of the day, there is simply no mistaking a forged iron and these are not forged irons.

The Taylormade Iron Family

While the Stealth irons are a stand-alone class, Taylormade makes a ton of iron sets. One of the most notable for beginners and high handicappers is the SIM2 Max irons that sport an oversized face profile so that it’s much easier to nail the sweet spot.

The SIM2 Max irons also feature the predecessor to the cap back system, the Speed Bridge. The Speed Bridge is a rear brace that connects the crown and sole, allowing the face to be disconnected from the body just like the Taylormade Stealth irons.

The result is the same: higher degree of flex and ball speed. However, the SIM2 Max irons will do more for you if you are struggling with iron accuracy. They offer comparable distance to the Taylormade Stealth irons; but with a higher emphasis on forgiveness.