MIZUNO ST-Z

◆ LOFTS 9.5° / 10.5° ◆ STOCK SHAFTS Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 60/70, Fujikura Motore XF3 50/60/70, Project X Riptide CB 40/50/60

VERDICT Year on year, we’ve seen how Mizuno’s ST180 and ST190 drivers have been fast and powerful, then last year’s ST200 combined distance with some really good forgiveness numbers too. So Mizuno are on a roll with drivers. The ST-Z is a stand-out performer because the speed and distance numbers (271 yards – that’s 9 yards shorter than our longest traditional forgiving driver) it posted are from a 45in shaft length, which is 0.75in less than the competition. Look at our drop off data and it’s easy to see the effect the shorter shaft has on consistency. The ST-Z was third-best at protecting carry distance, second-best at protecting ball speed and flat-out top at controlling spin difference, which in anybody’s book merits a Best of 2021 award.