What does it mean?

Whacking a driver down the center of the fairway is just about one of the best feelings in golf. There’s nothing like going to pick up your tee knowing that you’ve hit your Sunday best and received the plaudits from your playing partners.

One of the reasons we’re able to pull off such cracking shots is because of the technology packed into these clubs – as well as our unwavering natural ability! – that is getting honed and enhanced with each generation that passes.

Broadly speaking, drivers are made of three components: the grip, shaft, and clubhead. We’re all too familiar with how our favourite driver feels and performs, but have you ever wondered how the inner workings of the club help us achieve the results we’re after? Please read on as we dissect Mizuno’s latest ST 230 range of drivers to give you this wonderful insight.

The range

First of all, there are three drivers in the ST 230 range. You may not know anything about them at a glance but they all have distinct names, the ST-X, the ST-X PLTNM, and the ST-Z.

The ST-Z is the standard entry in the range that most golfers will find a real asset to their game. It provides forgiveness from off-center hits and will give you fantastic ball speeds at impact.

The ST-X driver is a rounded club with a deeper profile with the weight located closer to the hosel. It’s higher spinning and has a slight draw bias. If you’re a skilled player, you’ll find this driver very workable and will help you shape all kinds of shots off the tee.

The ST-X PLTNM is the most forgiving club in the range. It’s high launching with a draw bias and is super lightweight. This club is ideal for players that have a slower swing speed and want to gain some distance on their drives.

The face

The face is naturally the part of the driver that makes contact with the ball. It’s important you make the best contact possible so Mizuno have included a “CORTECH” chamber behind the face. This creates an additional energy source to transfer force into the ball, giving you faster ball speeds off at initial contact which translates into more distance.

The face also features a multi-thickness design which helps you get a larger sweet spot in the centre, so the fall will fly if you make a good connection. This face design will also give you consistent ball speed across the entire surface.

Weighting and shape

Mizuno want their drivers to feel as natural as possible as you complete the arc of your swing. The clubs in the ST range have a unified sole plate on the bottom of the driver which allows for more stability when you swing through the ball. The mass has also been spread evenly around the clubhead which will encourage straighter ball flights.

We all know their irons are top quality, and Mizuno bring the same level of care to crafting their drivers. The ST clubs have a modern players profile that’s closer to the ground. They not only look great when resting in your bag, but you’ll have the confidence to go for the ball when you’re lining up at address.

It can only help your game to have better a better knowledge of how your club’s work. But while it’s great to know the theory, we all know that practice makes perfect. You can always contact us if you’d like to book in a lesson to help you get better at your game.