The Mizuno JPX800 iron is part of the JPX range that has been around in Japan for a while and is now replacing the MX range in the western world. Mizuno's aim is to create ‘Balanced Performance’ by combining feel, control, forgiveness, distance and looks in a single clubhead without one compromising the other.

Compared to the MX-200 irons this iron is much longer and more forgiving thanks to Mizuno’s Hot Metal design that they have used in their woods for a while now. The means that a thinner, more uniform face combines with deep undercut cavity to give greater ball speed off the face and hence more distance. Mizuno tour pro Luke Donald tried a JPX800 6-iron and hit it 18 yards further than his normal irons.

So why doesn’t he use it? Well, the high MOI face means less workability and the looks are fairly chunky with a reasonable large offset that is hidden a little by a wider hosel blend design. Nonetheless the extra distance results are impressive. The JPX800 iron has a reasonably compact head and the triple cut sole helps reduce the visual size of the club.