Gear: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi irons
Price: $250 each with SteelFiber HLS 880 graphite shaft and Golf Pride MCC grips
Specs: Cast 4335 Nickel Chromoly with internal tungsten weight. Available as a 2 (16.5 degrees), 3 (19 degrees) and 4-iron 21.5 degrees) for right- and left-hand.
Available: January 25, 2024
Who It’s For: Golfers who want more distance, height and forgiveness in their long irons and who do not want a hybrid.
The Skinny: An ultra-thin face and hollow-body construction help the updated Fli-Hi irons generate more ball speed and height so players can achieve more distance at the top of their iron set.
The Deep Dive: Driving and utility irons have gained popularity over the last few years, coinciding with the rise of better-player distance irons. As more golfers see the benefits of switching into hollow-bodied, distance-enhancing irons that look like clubs that would be used by someone who shoots in the 70s, irons that deliver even more pop but maintain better-player looks are being considered by a growing number of players.
The Mizuno Fli-Hi irons have been around for several years, but with the release of the updated Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi, the Japanese brand is trying to make stylish refinements to a club that still packs a punch.
The blade length and topline of the updated Fli-Hi are slightly smaller than the 2021 Fli-Hi, but the combination of the black finish and the removal of the sandblasting from the topline make the new Fli-Hi seem even smaller.
The body and neck of the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi are cast using 4335 Nickel Chromoly, and the face plate is made from the same material, but it receives a heat treatment. Mizuno engineers like the 4335 Nickel Chromoly because it has a soft feel and allows the hosel to be adjusted so they can tweak the loft and lie angle. However, the heat treatment hardens the 4335 Nickel Chromoly, so Mizuno could make the hitting area thinner and lighter to flex more easily but remain durable.
The hitting area looks flat, but the face wraps under the leading edge and into the sole, giving it an L-shape, which helps it flex more efficiently on low-struck shots.
While the body of the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi is hollow, designers added a 23-gram tungsten weight that runs from the heel to the toe area. The tungsten lowers the center of gravity (CG) location and pulls it back, away from the face, which encourages a higher-fly shot and more spin.
Finally, to improve the sound created at impact, Mizuno added a pair of internal ribs that stiffen specific areas and change the frequencies produced when the face hits the ball. It’s a more solid, deep sound meant to mimic Mizuno’s forged irons.
