With their 2023 driver lineup, Mizuno has tried to come out swinging with good alternatives to the Callaway Paradym, TaylorMade Stealth 2, and Ping G430. In this guide, I’ll compare the Mizuno ST-Z 230 vs Mizuno ST-X 230 drivers in detail, letting you know if they’ve done their job or not.
Overall, the Mizuno ST-Z vs ST-X are made for two very different golfers, despite a lot of the core features being the same. The new through-slot speed pocket (CORTECH) really helps the driver maximize distance. The carbon crown matches what Callaway and Taylormade have done with weight distribution. I’ll be watching closely to see if a Mizuno driver makes its way into a few more pro bags.
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If you have any other questions about these Mizuno golf clubs, comment down below and let me know!
- Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver Overview
- Mizuno ST-Z 230 Key Features
- Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver Overview
- Mizuno ST-X Key Features
- Key Features in Both the Mizuno ST-Z and ST-X 230
- What I Like About the Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver
- What I Don’t Like About the Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver
- What I Like About the Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver
- What I Don’t Like About the Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Mizuno ST-Z vs ST-X 230 Conclusion
Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver Overview
The ST-Z is Mizuno’s straight bias driver. It is a stable driver for pure golfers who have a good swing and want solid technology. Mizuno has worked to decrease the spin of your golf ball off of the club face compared to the old ST-Z 220.
The Mizuno ST-Z230 Driver is available in 9.5 and 10.5 degrees of the loft by default. A quick switch hosel allows you to adjust the club how you wish quickly.
The Z230 has a new CORTECH Chamber, which Mizuno claims is the missing piece from their drivers. This through-slot design is right behind the driver face and allows for even more compression and faster ball speeds. They have also kept their Beta Titanium Face, and that material makes the face more durable and resilient to every single hit.
Price
The driver will retail for $499 USD, which is about $100 cheaper than the premium brands such as TaylorMade’s Stealth 2 and the Callaway Paradigm. This is quite a price difference, especially if you get similar results with both drivers.
This year is a great chance to check out Mizuno, as they look to become a staple in the driver market.
How to Buy
You can buy the new ST-Z driver from any online golf retailer. I also expect it to make its way onto Amazon, where you can ship worldwide, in the near future.
Mizuno ST-Z 230 Key Features
Balanced Flight Bias
The “Z” in the ST-Z name refers to the club head’s Z neutral axis. Mizuno created this driver to concentrate mass along the Z-axis (front to back). There is a 14-gram weight that is placed centrally in the rear of the driver head, which helps keep a balanced flight bias.
There is also plenty of mass located within the CORTECH Chamber. Mizuno is trying to align the center of gravity directly with the true face center, which also helps to maximize ball speeds.
Tour Profile
The ST-Z is catered towards golfers with a low-to-medium handicap (0 to 15). The center of gravity and spin are both lower than on the ST-X. This lowers the launch of the driver because Mizuno expects your fast club speed to make up the difference.
Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver Overview
The ST-X is made for more average golfers who have a natural slice to their swing. Weight has been shifted up closer to the shaft, which gives the club a bit more spin and draw bias.
However, a lot of the main features still exist here. With the inclusion of their CORTECH Chamber and Beta Titanium Face, the ball launches off the driver face with ease.
With the ST-X, I loved how square the face sat in the neutral position and how easy it was to turn the ball over for that slight draw.
Price
Like the ST-Z 230, the ST-X 230 is $100 USD cheaper than the premium brands such as Callway and TaylorMade. That can be a big deal, especially if you end up getting the same or even better results with Mizuno.
How to Buy
You can buy the new ST-X driver from any online golf retailer. I also expect it to make its way onto Amazon, where you can ship worldwide, in the near future.
Mizuno ST-X Key Features
Slight Draw Bias
The ST-X driver has a more rounded, deeper profile than the ST-Z, and its weight is closer to the hosel. With the weight located closer to the shaft axis, it helps to encourage a draw-based outcome, all dependent on the golfer and their swing.
A Deeper Profile
If you are comparing the ST-Z vs ST-X 230 drivers, the head shape is the biggest difference. The ST-X 230 has a more rounded club head that is a little taller. The club is square in its neutral setting, but Mizuno allows you to add some more draw bias to the club if you need.
Key Features in Both the Mizuno ST-Z and ST-X 230
For the most part, a lot of the core features are the exact same in these two drivers.
CORTECH Chamber
The CORTECH Chamber is a brand new addition to these Mizuno drivers. This chamber is a through-slot design, like what Callaway and TaylorMade are doing. It is a stainless steel weight located right behind the club face that helps to create additional energy and more ball speed at impact. It is made from an elastomeric TPU material which helps to reduce stress on the driver’s face.
A thinner design allows you to get even more speed on the ball. Ball speeds average over half a mile faster than without the insert. The spin rates drop by about 250 RPM, which means even more distance on every shot.
Beta Titanium Face
Mizuno has still included their SAT 2041 forged beta titanium face that you can find in their previous drivers. This is a much stronger and more resilient material than the other commonly used titanium in driver faces.
This helps make the driver face much more durable, and the CORTECH Chamber allows for a more complex multi-thickness design on the face for faster ball speeds.
Unified Sole Composite
Mizuno has followed other big golf brands in adding carbon into the driver head. Mizuno’s implementation is more subtle than TaylorMade and Callaway and the results are more natural too.
A single piece of carbon in the back of the club pushes the weight through the middle of the club as you swing. It allows Mizuno to put extra weight up near the club face where you contact the ball.
Three Shafts For Different Launches
Both Mizuno drivers come with three different stock shafts that you can equip of your driver, depending on what kind of launch you are looking for:
- UST-Mamiya LINQ Red (High launch)
- Mitsubishi Kai’Li Blue (Mid launch)
- Project X HZRDUS RDX Smoke Green (Low launch)
Where other manufacturers choose to change up the driver head slightly for different launches, Mizuno keeps things simple and moves this customization to the shaft. The results are more subtle, but the UST-Mamiya will give higher launch for most people.
What I Like About the Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver
The one thing I loved about the Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver was the consistency it provided off the tee. Each shot was consistent in its impact, ball speed, and flight. The sound is a little muted, but it provided excellent feedback on every drive.
This driver has great aesthetics to it. There is nothing is too fancy about it, but it fits in with all the other drivers available today. Mizuno is usually just known for their irons, so they now have something going for them in the driver department.
Another thing I liked about Mizuno said is that they are moving towards a two-year cycle of releasing new clubs. You won’t notice a massive change in technology and performance each year. Two years in between will let them invest more extensively in upgrades.
What I Don’t Like About the Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver
Because the ST-Z 230 driver is very low spinning, this could be off-putting for some golfers, especially amateurs looking just to hit the ball straight. Low-spin drivers work better for low-handicap golfers who can hit the ball straight and want more distance.
The second thing to note is that the driver head is massive at address behind the ball. Having a big driver head increases your confidence, but it could also throw some golfers off. It all comes down to personal preference.
Lastly, Mizuno has stuck mostly with titanium when other big brands are transitioning to carbon-face drivers. Mizuno does have carbon fiber sole, but the results and usage are more subtle.
What I Like About the Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver
When I used the ST-X 230 driver, I immediately noticed that the driver head was more compact than the ST-Z and not as stretched back. It still is a very generous size, though, and provides a lot of confidence when you are standing above the ball. I also liked how the driver was square when lined up at address.
After taking a few swings with the ST-X, you can immediately feel the difference when Mizuno says there is a slight draw bias. It was very effortless to draw the ball with this driver and my ball speed and distance didn’t suffer even in the slightest.
What I Don’t Like About the Mizuno ST-X 230 Driver
The only thing I didn’t like with the ST-X was that it seemed less consistent than the Z. With the slight draw bias, if you even have the tiniest hook, the ball will be gone sideways.
With the ST-Z, the straighter flight worked better. With the low spin, even on a mis-hit or hook, the ball didn’t go as far off course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Mizuno STZ and STX?
The ST-Z is Mizuno’s tour performance lineup. It doesn’t have any specific draw bias and is made for lower handicap players with a higher swing speed. The ST-X features a larger club head and more draw bias to give some extra assistance to ordinary golfers.
Is the Mizuno ST-Z Forgiving?
The ST-Z is Mizuno’s tour profile driver. It is focused on neutral bias and a solid core with low launch and low spin. If you want a more forgiving Mizuno driver, check out the ST-X.
Do the new Mizuno ST-X and ST-Z 230 Have Carbon?
Yes, both new Mizuno ST-X and ST-Z golf drivers feature a unified sole composite in the bottom of the driver, which is made from carbon. This allows Mizuno to concentrate weight in the driver where it allows you to get more ball speed at impact.
What is the difference between the Mizuno STZ and STX?
The STZ was able to move more straight and launched slightly faster than I had. It was a draw biased car so I could release my face even more which was more of a draw. They both had excellent performances.
Mizuno ST-Z vs ST-X 230 Conclusion
After hitting both the ST-Z and the ST-X, it is hard to push golfers in either direction. The obvious decision is to match up your handicap and go with the ST-Z if you are under 15 and ST-X if you are over. However, the differences are more subtle here than on other competitors.
The ST-X 230 works better for slower swing speeds. It has slightly higher launch and a center of gravity that sits closer towards the shaft.
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