Has Mizuno finally cracked the code with its new JPX ONE metalwoods?

While the brand's new M-13 irons confirmed to us that, even in 2026, nothing feels like a Mizuno, there's no doubt that the Japanese brand has a conundrum it still needs to solve.

The problem is fairly simple. People love their irons, and a set of forged Mizunos remains one of the most desirable assets in all of golf. Their other clubs, however? Not so much.

This isn't to say Mizuno don't make good clubs throughout the bag. Their former ST-series drivers were solid performers and genuine tour-winning models, presenting an excellent value proposition due to their tendency to go on sale at quite a heavy discount. Their wedges and putters, meanwhile, are equally solid performers. 

But a tiny handful of the brand's staff players actually using the brand's full suite of clubs on tour, Mizuno's ability to make noise in areas outside of the iron market have long been pretty limited. To put it into context, according to PGA Club Tracker, just two Mizuno drivers saw action last year on the PGA Tour (a number that might rise to three when Marco Penge hits the tour in the 2026 season, assuming he stays with his current set-up). That naturally doesn't equate to a lot of airtime, or a lot of sales.

So what's the remedy? Mizuno will be hoping they've found something approaching an answer with the launch of the JPX ONE: a brand new suite of metalwoods for the 2026 season that the brand claims will truly bring the fight to the biggest sellers in terms of distance and forgiveness. 

Dressed in a dark hue of Mizuno's signature blue, the JPX ONE range is instantly recognisable for its distinct blue face and navy carbon finish, providing a refreshing counterpoint to the swathe of predominantly black drivers that look set to hit the market over the next month or so. Mizuno have limited the range to just two distinct models: the more forgiving JPX ONE core model, and the low-spin JPX ONE Select.

Mizuno claim they've made big strides in creating a pair of driver models that deliver properly elite results for tour players while also presenting a more compelling option for everyday players. The biggest innovation is the introduction of Mizuno's proprietary NANOALLOY face material, which uses microscopic polymer dispersion to produce a face that dynamically alters its elasticity under impact.

In theory, this new face material stores and release more energy at impact than traditional titanium or composite constructions. It's also been paired with Mizuno's CORTECH face design, which is not only up to 35% thinner than prior models, but also expands the woods' sweet spot by 15%. 

As such, Mizuno claim that the JPX ONE is now among the longest and fastest drivers on the market, if not the outright winner – particularly on off-centre strikes. However it's noteworthy that Mizuno haven't made any trendy claims about MOI with these two models, and whether or not the JPX ONE has cracked the much-vaunted 10K figure hasn't been confirmed.

The fairway woods and hybrids present a slightly more conventional package, dressed in a combination of black and blue and engineered with a Multi-thickness CORTECH Design COR MAS1C face Material. 

This is combined with a revised CORTECH chamber that Mizuno says helps the face produce more flex and speed towards the toe and heel without compromising performance in the middle of the face. The result? More speed and more forgiveness.

Will all of this prove a true game-changer for the brand? If we see Mizuno's staff roster switch into the driver to start the 2026 season, that'll be a great start. Either way, we'll be sure to bring you our full review the range so you can decide for yourself.

Priced at RRP £529 for the drivers, £315 for the fairway woods and £280 for the hybrids, the new Mizuno JPX ONE range will arrive on presale on January 12 and hit store shelves on January 22.