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In this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons.
The JPX923 Hot Metal iron can be considered the “game-improvement” model in the Hot Metal family, designed to produce incredible ball speeds off the face (hence the ‘Hot’ in the name) as well as stability, high launch, and soft landings into greens.
How does the JPX923 Hot Metal actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare with the other models in the Hot Metal line? Is it worth putting a set in the bag?
Here’s what will be covered in the review:
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating clubs. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The JPX923 Hot Metal irons won a gold medal on the 2023 Golf Digest Hot List.
Consumers generally praise these irons, which enjoy average ratings of 5/5 on Global Golf and 5/5 on PGA TOUR Superstore. Critic reviews are mostly positive.
What People Like
- uniquely attractive aesthetic
- powerful impact feel
- very fast off the face
- highly forgiving
- nice launch with impressive stopping power
- very playable from the rough
What People Don’t Like
- some find distance and forgiveness underwhelming
- not much difference in performance compared to the JPX921 Hot Metal
The Features
Nickel Chromoly
The JPX923 Hot Metal iron has a one-piece 4335 Nickel Chromoly cavity construction.
This material is 35% stronger than the Chromoly material in the original Hot Metal. Its extreme strength allowed Mizuno’s engineers to thin down the face to just 1.75mm, 8% thinner than the previous model, and hence set the stage for unprecedented ball speeds.
In addition, the thinnest part of the sole is now 18% wider, producing more COR over a larger area of the face.
V-Chassis
The frame of the JPX923 Hot Metal irons is called the V-Chassis, which is enabled thanks to weight savings made in other parts of the iron.
The V-Chassis controls vibrations to produce a more satisfying and solid feel at impact.
Seamless Cup Face
The JPX923 Hot Metal iron adopts a seamless cup face geometry which enables the CG to be located low and deep.
The result is high launch with enough spin for outstanding stopping power into greens.
Stock Info
The JPX923 Hot Metal irons come in 4-LW (19°-60°).
Mizuno offers a number of stock shaft options at no upcharge including the KBS TOUR LITE (steel), True Temper Dynamic Gold 95 (steel), and UST Mamiya Recoil 460 ESX (graphite). The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Custom options are available.
Below are the specs of the JPX923 Hot Metal irons. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
The JPX923 Hot Metal irons are long, sure. But going into my test, I was expecting these irons to be somewhere in the top 5 longest irons I’ve played, and they just aren’t.
Models like the Callaway Paradym, Cobra AEROJET, and PXG 0311 XP GEN6 immediately come to mind as recent irons I’ve tested that carry longer for me.
But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve never been a fan of “bombers'” irons which tend to have strong lofts and spin that is too low coming into the greens, even for game-improvement irons, and the JPX923 Hot Metal is fortunately not guilty of this.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is one of the greatest strengths of the JPX923 Hot Metal irons.
They are super stable, with excellent ball speed preservation across the face (only 1-2 mph less ball speed and a few yards lost from moderate mis-hits) and tight dispersions overall. Top marks from me in this area.
In addition, these irons are highly accurate, consistent and repeatable, which is something you typically don’t expect from an ultra-thin face and cavity back design.
Playability/Trajectory
The trajectories I experienced with the JPX923 Hot Metal irons tended to be high with mid spin. At most, I noticed a very subtle draw bias.
Stopping power coming into greens is very impressive and the strong suit of these irons apart from forgiveness. The long irons are relatively easy to get up in the air, and the touch and feel of the short irons is so great that I almost felt like I was hitting a players’ iron at times.
You get a decent amount of workability from these irons despite their forgiveness profile. Able golfers should be able to pull off gentle draws or fades, but there are obviously better options out there for shot shaping such as the JPX923 Hot Metal Pro.
The Look
Setting up behind the ball, the JPX923 Hot Metal has the look of a refined, aesthetically pleasing game-improvement iron.
The top line is thick but softened by the beveled edges, the offset is fairly substantial, and the sole is wide. There’s a lot going on behind the face, so you can see a bit of the iron peeking out behind the top line in the longer irons.
These irons have what Mizuno calls a “white-satin finish”. This chrome-plated finish is sort of like a flat finish that minimizes glare and reflections but has an extra bit of shine for aesthetic appeal.
The JPX923 Hot Metal irons have a uniquely premium look in the bag, with the sophistication and simplicity of a players iron that is sure to turn a lot of heads. There’s really no other iron out there like it.
The Sound & Feel
You might expect the JPX923 Hot Metal irons to have a thin and explosive feel at impact due to the thinness of the face.
There is certainly an element of explosiveness there, especially in the longer irons, but they also feel surprisingly solid, similar to what you would feel off a players’ iron. Plus, the short irons are some of the best-feeling for a game improvement iron that I have experienced in a long time.
The sound at impact is a soft “crack” that doesn’t seem to change much on mis-hits based on my testing. You tend to get better feedback through your hands as mis-hits don’t feel as solid as center strikes.
Where To Buy These Irons Online
One of the best places to pick up the JPX923 Hot Metal irons (new or used) is eBay. You can typically find deals there that you can’t find anywhere else.
You can also check the stock at Global Golf and PGA TOUR Superstore. These merchants may offer custom ordering, club trade-ins, points programs, or other perks to enhance your shopping experience.
Fittings are more important for Mizuno clubs. Fortunately, PGA TOUR Superstore allows you to book fittings directly from their store depending on local availability.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal is a solid game-improvement offering with great distance, excellent forgiveness, and some of the best launch and stopping power on the market.
What I like most is that in spite of their game-improvement qualities, the control and accuracy of the short irons in particular are similar to that of a players’ iron. Spin is optimal throughout the set, and the lofts aren’t too strong.
If you’re a higher handicapper looking for forgiveness in your irons and want to go in a different direction from the more popular OEMs, the JPX923 Hot Metal is a model you should give serious consideration.
Are you interested in the JPX923 Hot Metal irons? Have you tried them yet? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
