In order for each golfer to hit the longest and straightest drives possible, their drivers must be properly fit to optimize parameters such as ball speed, spin and trajectory.
Since every golfer delivers the club to the golf ball differently, however, it’s often a challenge to figure out exactly what driver is best for a particular player.
For driver manufacturers, there’s a constant give and take of tradeoffs. Some drivers are made to launch the ball high, which is great for golfers who need more height on their drives, but not so effective for those who hit it too high already. Other drivers are made to reduce spin for a more penetrating flight, but those drivers tend to be slightly less accurate due to their weight properties. And then there are drivers that are made to draw or fade the ball. Finding the right driver design for you particular game is crucial, but not always easy.
Mizuno, with its new ST-G 220 driver, is hoping to satisfy the needs of a wide-range of golfers with just one driver design. To accomplish that, the company has three moveable weight tracks and two moveable weights in the sole of the driver.
Thanks to the ultra-adjustable design, the ST-G 220 can produce low-spinning drives, high-launching drives, and draws or fades just by changing the layout of the weights.
“Having that little bit of extra adjustability is especially useful out on tour – where we can fine-tune a player’s flight,” said Chris Voshall, Mizuno’s Head of Product, in a press release. “Or make an adjustment for a particular tournament when the player doesn’t want the feel of a completely new driver… the ST-G 220 has so much more effective movement of weight along both the X and the Z axis. We can set it to be very low spin, a more playable mid spin, heavily fade or draw biased, and just about anything in-between.”
Back in January 2021, after refocusing its approach to metalwood design, Mizuno launched its popular ST-Z and ST-X drivers. They were standout products in the market and on tour, partly due to their second-generation SAT2041 Beta Ti face structures. Since the material has such high-strength, Mizuno was able to construct the faces to be extremely thin, helping boost ball speeds on shots hit across the face.
The newly launched ST-G 220 driver joins the ST-Z and ST-X models in Mizuno’s metalwood lineup. Like the previously released models, the ST-G 220 also has a face made of the SAT2041 Beta Ti material (according to Mizuno, the material is made of Super Alloy Titanium, 20 percent Vanadium, 4 percent aluminum, 1 percent tin, and it has 17 percent more tensile strength than traditional 6-4Ti and 8 percent more flexibility).
From a general design perspective, the ST-G 220 driver is made to have a deeper-faced profile with a shorter back to front shape, and it measures 460cc in size. It also has what the company calls an Optimized Wave Sole to help improve ball speed, particularly on shots hit low on the face. Furthering its adjustability features, the hosel allows for 4 degrees of loft adjustability (from 7 to 11 degrees).
Due to the amount of adjustability in this driver, it’s especially important to consult an expert fitter or a local professional to ensure that you’re maximizing the driver’s potential for your game. Below is a brief look at the various weight location options, as per Mizuno.
Generally speaking, putting weights in a more rearward position will enhance forgiveness and increase launch/spin. Moving weights more toward the face of the driver, on the other hand, will lower spin and flight. Putting heavier weight on the toe section of the sole will influence a fade, and weights in the heel position will influence a draw.
Mizuno’s new ST-G 220 driver, which is set to hit retail in October 2021, will sell for $499.95.
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