Mizuno is likely not the first name you think of when it comes to golf balls. It doesn’t have the touring rep of the bigger OEMs, nor does it offer the fashion model and value proposition of the DTC brands.
However, it’s probably worth considering what Mizuno has to offer with the new Mizuno Pro S and Mizuno Pro X golf balls.
The second generation RB Tour AND RB Tour X were, in my opinion, the most pleasant surprises from our 2023 Golf Ball Test. The original RB Tour Series flew low and rolled a lot … like Kirkland a lot.
The 2023 models increased height, lowered roll and were generally solid performers across the board. “We’re really happy with where we’re at,” says Chris Voshall, Mizuno’s Western World Product Director, “but there are a few things we wanted to change.”
Mizuno Pro S and Pro X Golf Ball Updates
At the highest level, Mizuno’s goal for the new Mizuno Pro S and Mizuno Pro X was to meet or exceed the performance of the most played golf balls on the PGA Tour.
To that end, Mizuno made some notable changes.
The thinnest cover: Mizuno reduced the thickness of the cover by 12 percent compared to the RB Tour and RB Tour X. Although it’s counterintuitive, all things being equal, a thinner urethane cover is a more durable cover.
Thicker mantle: To increase COR and ultimately ball speed, Mizuno made the fairing six percent thicker.
12-Percent softer: By increasing the COR from the fairing, Mizuno was able to make the cores of the Mizuno Pro golf balls softer.
New dimple model: Unlike many smaller brands, Mizuno develops its cleat designs in-house. The new aerodynamic package features a 332-dimple design, a significant increase from the 272-dimple cover on the current balls.
From a performance standpoint, Mizuno says the new cleat design offers lower traction with a lower peak trajectory from the driver. “It doesn’t go that high, but it stays in the air,” says Voshall.
Improved wind performance is also part of the package.
The other advantage of the new dimple design is a little harder to measure. Mizuno believes that with the higher dimple count, the new ball simply looks better.
“It (RB Tour) looks a bit silly because the dimples are so small,” says Voshall. “Looked a little JPX-y.”
Quick performance summary
In testing conducted by Mizuno, the new balls were shown to be faster and less spin off both irons and driver.
With the irons, Mizuno saw higher tip heights with steeper landing angles and more distance.
From the driver, the new balls flew lower, had shallower descent angles and were longer than their RB Tour equivalents.
The same tests show that Mizuno’s new balls compare favorably with the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
While not strictly a performance metric, in player testing, golfers preferred the feel of the Mizuno Pro over the title equivalents in both wedge shots and putting.
Mizuno Pro S vs Mizuno Pro X
As you might guess, the Mizuno Pro S offers lower compression and a softer feel than the Mizuno Pro X.
Mizuno says the Pro S offers a mid-trajectory flight while the Pro X should fly higher. While, like everyone else, Mizuno says both balls offer high greenside spin, the Pro S should produce lower spin in the long game and presumably off the driver.
Reality check
Unlike others in the category, Mizuno has no serious aspirations to become the No. 1 brand. 1 of the golf ball. It’s not lost on the company that you need to give players a reason to play something other than a Pro V1 and so, while there will certainly be Titleist loyalists who never give the Mizuno Pro a second look, it’s not there is a real shortage of players. you will try something different.
That said, the golf ball will never make or break the Mizuno Golf brand. For Mizuno, it’s not so much about capturing the market as it is about making a ball it can be proud of and putting its logo in front of more golfers – whether on the course or on store shelves. along with dozens of other golf ball options.
In one sense, being seen is almost enough, but not for nothing, the RB Tour series was well under the radar, and there’s no reason to expect that the Mizuno Pro lineup won’t be even better.
Availability and price
The Mizuno Pro S and Pro X golf balls retail for $47.99. Availability begins January 22.
For more information, visit MizunoGolf.com.
Looking for a deal?
While supplies last, now the previous generation RB Tour AND RB Tour X golf balls retail for $34.99. While the fit of the ball depends on the golfer, I am particularly fond of the RB Tour X.
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