The Mizuno JPX EZ driver is Mizuno's first adjustable-loft driver. Whilst some may think they are late to the party, Mizuno say they have spent a lot of time perfecting their newest driver to offer effective, easy-to-use adjustability and consistently long tee shots.
However, if you think Mizuno's Quick Switch adjustability is just a quick-fix answer to the growing trend of adjustable woods, you would be wrong. The JPX EZ has a host of other features and technologies.
The fresh, new matte black, 450cc club is more rounded than before and has a "Low Slung" (i.e. low-profile) JPX-style footprint..
Many golfers may ask why, if this is a mass appeal driver, is it not 460cc?
David Llewellyn, Mizuno's US R&D Manager, told us that is simply not how Mizuno think, "The difference between 450cc and 460cc seemed negligible once we found a head size and shape that provided the mass properties, sound and look we were after. It is our general feeling that 460 is just a "number" and there is no need to chase it if we can achieve our design goals at a slightly smaller volume."
The mass appeal of the JPX EZ clubs will therefore extend to better players. In fact, Mizuno's Chris Wood, Peter Whiteford and Ricardo Gonzales put the JPX EZ driver in play immediately, whilst Luke Donald added a JPX EZ hybrid to his set.
"The last Mizuno woods to make this kind of early impact were the MX-700s. It's interesting that the EZ line is more about larger footprints and higher ball flight - yet our tour players are finding with the right shaft, it's a profile that really works for them." said Mizuno's Tour Operations Manager, Alex Thorne.
The JPX EZ features Mizuno's latest Rebound Crown Technology. Mizuno have thinned the crown of the new JPX EZ driver to just 0.6mm and added softer edges.
By considering how the crown and sole interacts or blends with the face, Mizuno's R&D team were able to extend the COR AREA of the face over a wider area, adding ball speeds particularly in the centre-to-upper area of the face.
The face itself is built using Mizuno's Hot Metal face technology. The construction is designed to optimise the new, "Low Slung" low profile shape and wider face of the JPX EZ clubhead.
By varying the thickness of the hot-metal face, Mizuno feel they were able to produce the best ball speeds and forgiveness for the new head shape.
So what about the adjustability?
The Quick Switch design allows player to choose from one of eight settings, four primary and four in-between settings. Available in either 9, 10.5 or 12 degree heads, the JPX EZ driver can be adjusted over 3 degrees of loft and 3 degrees of face angle. The charts below show players the various settings and what impact they should have on their ball flight.
"Most adjustable drivers start with the tour player as their base point. The JPX EZ puts the amateur firmly in the middle of its Quick Switch settings. The EZ is a driver designed to launch the ball fast and high with very little spin. Take the adjustability away and you've got a colossal, high launching head with the ability to change the way you see the course." Chuck Couch, Mizuno's Director of Products
Some people may have noticed the weight screw in the sole of the JPX EZ driver. This is not part of the adjustability. The weight screw is for access to the inside of the head during manufacturing and for fine tuning the head weight in the factory.
Whilst It is possible to use the screw for swing weight adjustment, Mizuno have not yet decided whether or not to offer this through our custom fitting departments.
Sadly if you are a left-handed, you are set to miss out on the benefits of the Mizuno JPZ EZ driver. For now, it is only available to right-handed golfers.