Mizuno ST190 TS fairway lives up to the hype

By Michael Geiger -- 2nd Swing Staff Writer

Even though I have played Mizuno irons for years, I have remained fairly skeptical about the company’s metalwood products. In fact, my first swing with the new Mizuno ST190 TS fairway wood in 2nd Swing’s Minnetonka, Minnesota Tour Van location marked the first time I had swung a Mizuno wood of any kind.

But all of my preconceptions about the company’s woods went straight out the window after thoroughly testing this club, which is garnering a cult-like following in golf circles for its impressive performance.

Before I even took my first swing, I was already impressed by the ST190 TS. I tend to favor 3-woods with a more compact shape, and this club certainly fit that billing.

I also liked the murdered-out black aesthetic that is accented only by a couple of small blue lines on the sole of the club. The glossy finish on the back of the crown didn’t really appeal to me, but like all things fashion, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Technology-wise, the ST190 TS (the “TS” stands for Tour Spoon) brings a lot to the table. It features a high-energy HT1770 Maraging Steel face that allows the club to create tremendous ball speeds. Its crown is also constructed from an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber that enabled Mizuno’s engineers to move the club’s center of gravity lower, making it more forgiving.

The ST190 TS, unlike the standard ST190 fairway woods, also features an adjustable hosel that allows players to choose lofts ranging from 13 to 17 degrees. And finally, the ST190’s Amplified Wave Sole increases the club’s COR area, which creates a rebound effect at impact and helps generate incredible ball speeds.

For reference, the ST190 TS fairway wood I hit had a 75g Fujikura Atmos Blue 7S shaft and I did my testing with the club in its standard setting at 15 degrees. During the testing session, I attempted to hit all kinds of shots: high shots, low shots, fades, draws, etc.

After 20 swings, I felt pleased with the ST190 TS’ performance, but I wanted to check the numbers to make sure. In terms of distance, I registered an average carry distance of 244.2 yards and an average total distance of 264.7 yards. Also, on average, I generated 152.4 MPH of ball speed, produced 3,200 RPM of spin, and had an average launch angle of 12.2 degrees.

These numbers, the ball speed and spin rate especially, were all significantly better than the numbers I typically produce with my current 3-wood. I could see myself hitting a club like this off the tee almost as often as I hit my driver due to the accurate, low-spin shots I was able to consistently hit.

In terms of feel, while Mizuno irons are known for how soft they are, the ST190 TS fairway wood possessed a firmness that may surprise some. The solid feel gave me a lot of confidence while standing over the ball, as I felt that the club was capable of hammering the ball a long distance.

Golfers looking for more ball speed from their 3-wood would do well not to overlook the Mizuno ST190 TS.

One small issue I encountered during my testing session, however, was that I had a tough time shaping the ball both ways with the ST190 TS. I prefer to see my shots fade about 5-10 yards, but I had to work hard to hit anything other than a 5-10 yard draw. But that might be music to the ears of slicers who are tired of seeing their shots miss to the right.

On the other hand, one major positive that stood out to me concerning the ST190 TS was its impressive forgiveness. Multiple poor shots I hit while testing still ended up flying almost as high and carrying almost as far as my well-struck shots. This creates a high margin of error that can come in handy when approaching a par-5 surrounded by trouble or when attempting to split the fairway on a tight par-4.

As a pretty decent player, I found the ST190 TS quite playable. But this club has a lot to offer for elite ball-strikers as well. Low handicappers should take notice that European Tour player Eddie Pepperell, currently ranked 35th in the Official World Golf Rankings, is gaming the ST190 TS fairway wood.

As someone who had his doubts about Mizuno’s metalwoods walking into my testing session, I walked out with a completely new view. It is clear to me that Mizuno now offers terrific options for almost every single club in the bag.

If the Mizuno ST190 TS fairway wood strikes you as a club you might want in your bag the next time you attack a par five in two, then stop into a 2nd Swing store or call a certified phone fitter at (612) 216-4152 to speak with an expert.