Mizuno are calling their new Mizuno Pro 243 iron the 'Tour Speed' model which seeks to provide the brand's iconic forged feel in a players cavity back iron.
I tested the Mizuno Pro 241 irons and although I loved the look and feel of them, the compact size and traditional lofts meant that they're only really suitable for tour pros or elite players.
Could the Pro 243 be the model that provides the best of both worlds - great looks and feel combined with a bit more forgiveness?
Who Is It Aimed At?
Whilst these irons are designed to be easier to hit than the Pro 241s, I'd still say you have to be a confident ball-striker who is in the low single figures to be able to get the most from them.
They are still relatively compact both in terms of size and the thickness of the topline, but they could be ideal as a combo set either with the Pro 245 longer irons or with the Pro 241 shorter irons.
The Tech
The Pro 243 irons are forged from a single piece of metal at Mizuno's facility in Japan, as well as a microlayer of copper beneath the Nickel Chrome head to enhance the feel from the head.
In the longer irons (4-7) there is a wider and longer flow microslot to create a more expansive high energy area of the face, producing a higher ball flight and faster ball speeds.
The shorter irons feature a 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel which provides a solid feel and control, with modern lofts to help maintain a more even gapping between distances as you move through the set.
Mizuno have applied their Harmonic Impact Technology to produce the vibration patterns needed for a soft, muscle back-like feel.
In terms of the actual profile of the irons, Mizuno have added heavy relief around the sole to improve turf interaction and provide a better transition from the microslot 7 iron to the traditional 8 iron.
Like with the Pro 241 irons, Mizuno has reduced both the topline and blade length throughout the set for a more 'compact players profile', whilst the bounce angle has been increased by a degree in the long irons and 2 degrees in the shorter irons, to improve turf interaction.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Review
Looks
The Pro 243 is the 'middle of the road' model in Mizuno's Pro lineup and features a mid-sized head, and a more compact profile to the previous 223. I actually preferred the look of the 223 as the slightly straighter lines on the back cavity just suited my eye a bit better, although the difference really is minimal.
Having said that, I was a big fan of the new satin brush finish that we're seeing across the range, as I prefer that kind of matte finish on my clubs which helps to reduce glare both in the bag and down by the ball, and makes it a bit more durable too.
They did remind me a little of the new Ping Blueprint S irons, particularly with the Ping's longer irons featuring an elastomer insert which is reminiscent of Mizuno's back cavity, or even the TaylorMade P7MC irons, both of which are similar models to the Pro 243 and would count as their competitors in this market.
The irons did look a little more boxy than I was perhaps expecting, but it was still a great look down by the ball, particularly in the short and mid irons. Once you get up towards the 5 iron things to start to look a little bit thin for me, but as we'll see when we get to the numbers section, the performance was still pretty impressive.
Feel
When testing these irons the word that I noted down to describe the feel was 'solid'. They weren't quite as soft as the buttery Pro 241, but equally they were nowhere near as hot or as fast off the face as the Pro 245.
A good strike was met with a nice thud, whilst the long irons perhaps sounded a little more hollow than you might expect, possibly due to the insert behind the face which is helping you out as you move up the set.
Performance
Testing these irons using the GC Hawk launch monitor at Hukd Golf, I saw that they produced really solid numbers, which were predictable in the best way possible - every shot seemed to go exactly where I was expecting it to go.
One thing that was very impressive to me was the consistency of the numbers again, just like with the 241 irons, with just a few yards between my shortest and longest carry distances with each of the irons.
They're not the longest irons on the market, with the 7 iron coming in at 32 degrees, but they felt like one the most consistent models I have tested.
The 243 irons sit in the middle of the new range meaning that they are sleeker and less hot than the 245, but more forgiving than the 241 model. The lofts are also slightly stronger than with the 241, which meant that I gained a little bit more distance and this was definitely something that I noticed in the longer irons which were much easier to hit.
I spent some time hitting a number of different shots with both the short and mid irons, trying to work the ball both ways and adapt my ball flight and I found that they were very workable. Essentially, I was getting out exactly what I put in with these irons, which is great.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Verdict
I went into this review almost hoping that these irons would be best suited to me, because they're the exact type of set that I would like to use if I could. The only worry I had was that I would be giving up too much yardage and consistency if I wasn't striking it well.
Testing these irons on the launch monitor really showed that the numbers produced were great and the dispersion between my good and bad shots was much tighter than I had feared.
The Pro 243 irons are a great looking option which provide a bit more forgiveness and a friendlier look than the 241 which should mean that more golfers could consider using them.
There's not been a great deal of change over the last few years in Mizuno's 'MP' line so if you've bought one of the last couple of generations, you might not think it's worth the upgrade.
But if you're in the market for a set of this type of 'tour cavity' iron, they're right in the mix with the likes of the TaylorMade P7MC or Ping Blueprint S irons, meaning you'll be spoilt for choice when choosing your next model.
Shelve these firmly in the 'irons to beat for 2024' category.
Would I Use Them?
In the short irons, absolutely. I still feel as if the longer irons could've been slightly easier to hit for me, and in an ideal world I'd probably want a little more forgiveness and easier launch at the top end of the bag, but I really enjoyed the feel and workability of the short irons.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons Pros and Cons
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