Mizuno stz 220 should be way more popular

[Tee1up4]

So I’ve hit the TSi3 since launch and have gotten along with it pretty well. We’ve had our ups and downs, but fine for the most part. 
 

So, for no good reason, got bored and started watching/reading a bunch of reviews on the Mizuno ST-Z 220. Next step of course was pulling the trigger blind, in true WRX fashion. Got it out this morning for is maiden voyage. I have to say this driver is laugh out loud funny easy to hit. I hit all 12 fairways(not counting 4 par 3’s and 2 dogleg par 4’s.)

 

Distance wise it more than kept up with what I’ve been used to with TSi3. A couple holes I even clipped what I’d get out of the Titleist. 
 

Needless to say I am excited to unlock the potential of this thing. Going to try out a few different shafts and I’ll report back. 
 

Point of this post is to shine some light on how good this driver is. Hopefully will give some people a boost of confidence in trying one. 

[Jmccas]

Interesting. I’m surprised you don’t find it too spinny compared to the TSi3. I’ve got a driver fitting next week and this is at the top of the list that I want to try. I need more spin. 
 

The limited edition blue and black version that was just released is stunning. 

[Nixhex524]

Interesting...  I'm playing the TSi3 now and really like it but am getting the itch to try something else....  Had the ST-Z for a hot minute and didn't give it enough time.  Store by me isn't stocking any of the Mizuno woods this go round which does suck for demoing purposes, but maybe I will try it blind.  That much better than the previous gen?

[Flip4000]

I went from the sim 2 to the stz 220 and it’s been excellent. Very consistent off the face and really straight for me. 

Edited April 17, 2022 by Flip4000

[Flip4000]

7 hours ago, Jmccas said:

Interesting. I’m surprised you don’t find it too spinny compared to the TSi3. I’ve got a driver fitting next week and this is at the top of the list that I want to try. I need more spin. 
 

The limited edition blue and black version that was just released is stunning. 

I paired mine with a ventus TR and it really kept the spin down for me. Good launch and a nice flat trajectory 

[Tee1up4]

11 hours ago, Flip4000 said:

I paired mine with a ventus TR and it really kept the spin down for me. Good launch and a nice flat trajectory 

Love to hear this! I ordered a Ventus TR last night! 

[Tee1up4]

11 hours ago, Nixhex524 said:

Interesting...  I'm playing the TSi3 now and really like it but am getting the itch to try something else....  Had the ST-Z for a hot minute and didn't give it enough time.  Store by me isn't stocking any of the Mizuno woods this go round which does suck for demoing purposes, but maybe I will try it blind.  That much better than the previous gen?

I can’t speak to the previous generation. But I played another round this morning and I missed one fairway by about 3 yards to the left but is was straight. I had to be misaligned. 

[Nixhex524]

4 minutes ago, Tee1up4 said:

I can’t speak to the previous generation. But I played another round this morning and I missed one fairway by about 3 yards to the left but is was straight. I had to be misaligned. 

Any chance you can compare it to say the SIM2 Max?  

[aquapig]

On paper the STZ should be better than my ST190, but during indoor testing it hasn't shown me much improvement. I'd like to get one on the course, but just can't justify spending the money since there isn't anything I really dislike about my ST190. 

 

Anyone go from the 190 to the 220Z?

[HarborMike]

I really wanted to love the ST-Z 220. It looks awesome, great feeling, and probably most forgiving driver I’ve tested this year, but was too spinny for me and lost too much distance. Ended up with Stealth+. Better fit and longest driver for me and consistent. But I was really rooting for the ST-Z to stay in my bag.

[jetmech879]

Mizuno has actually been making great drivers for decades! The MP650 was a absolute beast! I have been gaming the ST-G 220 since it was released. It has been absolutely fantastic! The ST-Z 220 had me intrigued when it came out then I saw the blue one was getting released. Had to have it! I’ve played one round with it and it’s definitely forgiving! Going to need some hotmelt in it to get the weight up but it’s a freaking beautiful straight hitting driver! Here’s some eye candy 😉

Edited April 17, 2022 by jetmech879

[Aross]

19 hours ago, Flip4000 said:

I went from the sim 2 to the stz 220 and it’s been excellent. Very consistent off the face and really straight for me. 

Just made the same switch and wow. Got the limited blue edition and just love it

[Red4282]

On 4/16/2022 at 2:38 PM, Jmccas said:

Interesting. I’m surprised you don’t find it too spinny compared to the TSi3. I’ve got a driver fitting next week and this is at the top of the list that I want to try. I need more spin. 
 

The limited edition blue and black version that was just released is stunning. 

For some, more spin is needed making it a better fit. But yes you are right, comparing the two heads, mizuno is higher spin.

Edited April 18, 2022 by Red4282

[mitchdoc]

Three the strive should get more love definitely. In attempt to upgrade from my cobra speed zone driver I have demoed all of the new clubs. And without getting long-winded again I could say I found that the Mizuno was the straightest most consistent driver of this year.

 

it is not the longest but I would say if you look at average distance it is up there with the best. This is because no matter where you hit it on the face you get almost identical performance and straight. I would say compared to my speedzone driver it probably spends about 300 RPM more on average but can get very low spin as you hit it higher on the face.

I ended up buying it over the Callaway rogue tailor-made stealth and the new cobra models that I’d have demoed. They only had it in stock with the Mitsubishi tensei AV raw blue shaft and it seemed like a good fit for me. Perhaps another shaft would knock the spin down a little more and make this a distance monster as well. Although here in Canada it is a little bit difficult given the short golf season and the wait times to get anything custom.

 

I think there would be a lot less divorces in the world if wives were as forgiving is this driver!

[mitchdoc]

First round with it today.

As long as my previous gamer cubes speed zone, so forging!

9 or of 12 fairways and 1 was a kid as I tried to hit it over some trees to cut a dog leg. I tried it very high and got worried about getting a sky Mark and lofted up and hit it close to bottom . Was still a very good hit very straight but hit top of trees on fly.

[Rtkelly2183]

That blue paint fading into carbon fiber is beyond sexy. Looks a bit shiny and glarey but I'll squint when hitting it for how it looks in the bag lol

[Ri_Redneck]

I have liked the Mizuno drivers since the JXP850. I still have it along with an ST180 (Diamana Kai'Li 70 @ 44.5") and ST190 Diamana OG WB 73 @ 44.5"). Only downside to the 180 was the sound and a little hotmelt took care of that. Distance-wise, the ST180 is really hard to beat. Only thing I've found that outperforms it is my SpeedZone long driver.

 

BT

[mitchdoc]

What impressed me the most about this driver was how forgiving it was. I hit it all over the face from low heel to high toe and only really ones that I hit a bad enough drive that I was not in good position for my second shot.

[Dudee]

On 4/17/2022 at 3:34 PM, jetmech879 said:

Mizuno has actually been making great drivers for decades! The MP650 was a absolute beast! I have been gaming the ST-G 220 since it was released. It has been absolutely fantastic! The ST-Z 220 had me intrigued when it came out then I saw the blue one was getting released. Had to have it! I’ve played one round with it and it’s definitely forgiving! Going to need some hotmelt in it to get the weight up but it’s a freaking beautiful straight hitting driver! Here’s some eye candy 😉

 

Have really been pleased with my STZ but the Limited Edition STZ 220 is absolutely stunning. 

 

jetmech879 is spot on........... Mizuno drivers have been great for quite some time.

 

To this day, the MP-600 is still on my personal GOAT list.

 

 

[Esox]

Mizuno is making amazing drivers these days. The ST220's are fabulous. I actually took my Ping G425 out of the bag in favor of the STZ 220. Now that is saying something......

And I put a 12 degree STX with high launching shaft to replace my 3 wood as more forgiving, a high flying,quick stopping dogleg beater.  Very seldom hit the 3 of the deck anymore anyhow.

The STX supposedly has a draw bias, but it is subtle and all weighting, no closed club face like many biased drivers. I can hit a little slider with it any time I want.

[golfinbrad]

I wanted this one to work.  Loved the looks and price, but it is not a low spinning head.  Was giving up significant yardage.  This will really vary person to person.  If it fits you, you cannot beat the price.

[Flip4000]

On 8/28/2022 at 6:56 AM, golfinbrad said:

I wanted this one to work.  Loved the looks and price, but it is not a low spinning head.  Was giving up significant yardage.  This will really vary person to person.  If it fits you, you cannot beat the price.

I had a similar experience when I initially bought it. I did change the shaft and loft, but moving to a prov1 left dash ( which I had been tinkering with prior to the mizuno) really unlocked this driver for me. I get plenty of spin-offs in my irons so ultimately it didn't impact the other parts of my game.

 

I'd agree though, I don't find it a low-spin bomber-type driver. I would put it into the mid spin category and acknowledge the big win for this driver is channeling ping g425 max forgiveness with much-improved acoustics and less spin (than the ping)

[Bobb3rdown]

Just picked up a very clean stz 220 on ebay for $200. Same shaft as my radspeed. Px hzrdus smoke blue rdx 60gr 6.0. So should be a good comparison. I do have an extra diamana kai'li 70 stiff coming, but fear the stz will fly way to high with that shaft.

 

What's been the consensus on head weight for these without an adapter?

Edited August 30, 2022 by Bobb3rdown

[jvincent]

49 minutes ago, Bobb3rdown said:

What's been the consensus on head weight for these without an adapter?

 

My STZ-220 came in at 197.3g

[Bobb3rdown]

Took my stz220 to the range today. This driver is really good. Reminds me alot of the st190 I've had previously. The px hzrdus smoke blue rdx suits me much better then the kuro kage silver dual core tini I played in the st190. Both 60gr stiff. 

 

Only used range balls. But was flying is 3/4 up the back wall at 230yd. 

 

Still hit some quack hooks and big blocks, that's the nature of my swing unfortunately. Being pretty neutral in delivery and a bit floppy.

 

But the gear effect on this club is pretty tame compared to my radspeed with the same shaft. 

 

I lived in the upper toe mostly, had a few with a portion of the ball above the top line on the face and they never fell out of the air.

 

Hit a few low heel trying to get after some and the flew fairly straight. You cam definitely feel where you strike it on the face.

 

I'd say if you find a slightly used one for around $200 like I did you'd be hard pressed to find a better driver.

 

I was expecting high spin moon balls and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the case.

 

[jar59]

On 4/17/2022 at 12:24 PM, aquapig said:

On paper the STZ should be better than my ST190, but during indoor testing it hasn't shown me much improvement. I'd like to get one on the course, but just can't justify spending the money since there isn't anything I really dislike about my ST190. 

 

Anyone go from the 190 to the 220Z?

I went from the ST190 to the original STZ and liked the move very much.  I still have my ST190 and practice with both drivers quite often.  I don’t see much yardage difference between the two and I prefer the crisp feel of the ST190, but the STZ is a better driver for me on a day after day basis.  
 

The differences are based on my most frequent miss, which is a left miss.  My natural action has always been right to left and the ST190 has a couple reasons for that tendency to show up more often than the STZ does.  
 

First, the face angle at 9.5 degrees is square in the 190 and 1 degree open in the STZ at 9.5 deg loft.  I like to play the lofts over 10 degrees and that moves the face angle to 1.5 degrees closed on the 190 and .5 degrees closed on the Z.  The look of a leftward shot on the 190 is prominent at 1 setting upward so I lose that option due to my bias.

 

The 2nd reason I am better off with the Z is the lie angle is 1.5 degrees more upright with the ST190 and, as I understand it, that could also tilt the shot leftward a small amount.

 

The final reason I prefer the STZ is that the face produces a stronger shot when hit below the middle of the face while the 190 was criticized for weaker shots from that area.  Frankly, I don’t remember noticing anything unusual about the weak bottom on the 190 but I saw that criticism in print so I added it to my list.

 

All in all, the STZ is better for me because of the nature of my swing and my shot pattern.  I like my 190 and still practice with both drivers several times every week.

 

 

[aquapig]

On 9/10/2022 at 8:43 PM, jar59 said:

I went from the ST190 to the original STZ and liked the move very much.  I still have my ST190 and practice with both drivers quite often.  I don’t see much yardage difference between the two and I prefer the crisp feel of the ST190, but the STZ is a better driver for me on a day after day basis.  
 

The differences are based on my most frequent miss, which is a left miss.  My natural action has always been right to left and the ST190 has a couple reasons for that tendency to show up more often than the STZ does.  
 

First, the face angle at 9.5 degrees is square in the 190 and 1 degree open in the STZ at 9.5 deg loft.  I like to play the lofts over 10 degrees and that moves the face angle to 1.5 degrees closed on the 190 and .5 degrees closed on the Z.  The look of a leftward shot on the 190 is prominent at 1 setting upward so I lose that option due to my bias.

 

The 2nd reason I am better off with the Z is the lie angle is 1.5 degrees more upright with the ST190 and, as I understand it, that could also tilt the shot leftward a small amount.

 

The final reason I prefer the STZ is that the face produces a stronger shot when hit below the middle of the face while the 190 was criticized for weaker shots from that area.  Frankly, I don’t remember noticing anything unusual about the weak bottom on the 190 but I saw that criticism in print so I added it to my list.

 

All in all, the STZ is better for me because of the nature of my swing and my shot pattern.  I like my 190 and still practice with both drivers several times every week.

 

 

Bought the STZ..few range sessions and a couple rounds and went back to my trusty 190. Sold the STZ to my buddy I golf with and he's liking it. I'll hit it every now and then. 

 

The ST190 just seems easier for me to work both ways and the distance between the 2 wasn't much expect as you mentioned on slight miss hits. 

 

The ST190 reminds me of the old Titleist 910. Timeless drivers and I'll using my ST190 for a while. 

[jetmech879]

I’d love to see one of the YouTube guys do a video comparing the STz-220 to the TSr2. That would be a hell of a shootout in my opinion!

[Trippels]

21 minutes ago, jetmech879 said:

I’d love to see one of the YouTube guys do a video comparing the STz-220 to the TSr2. That would be a hell of a shootout in my opinion!

 

[Jmccas]

6 hours ago, Trippels said:

 

I think this is the original STZ and not the 220.