Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway Wood Review

The Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway Wood is a low-spin, mid-launching 3-wood built to hit straight shots. Over 5 rounds, off the tee and off the fairway, the ball finished on the line I started it on. I tested the 15° 3-wood.

I also hit it at the range and in the IGR Office on our Carl’s Place DIY simulator. My numbers came from a FlightScope Xi Tour launch monitor.

Straight shots and the sole weight

A weight set low and back on the sole is what keeps the 3-wood straight. It creates power along the Z-axis, the line the ball travels, so the head pushes the ball toward the target. It won’t necessarily fix a slice or a hook, but it simply hits the ball straight.

I was amazed that the line I aimed on and started the ball on was the line it ended on. I played more than 72 holes with it, and it didn’t matter whether I hit it off the tee or the fairway. With a halfway decent swing you get straight shots with low spin and a mid-to-high launch.

The chamber and the face

The biggest technology change is the CORTECH Chamber, a slot system behind the face. A TPU, carbon and stainless steel insert adds flex, so the face springs more for extra ball speed while spin stays low. It also mutes sound and vibration, and it keeps ball speed up on off-center hits, which is where the forgiveness comes from.

The face is made of MAS1C steel, which Mizuno says is a more complex blend than the steel other brands use. That lets Mizuno vary the thickness for more forgiveness and pop. Paired with the chamber, the 3-wood produced fast ball speeds with plenty of forgiveness.

Sound and feel

Mizuno keeps its tradition of pairing plenty of carbon with steel. Mizuno irons get most of the praise for feel, but this 3-wood feels just as good. The muted crack at impact is solid and powerful, helped by the weighting, the high-energy MAS1C steel and the carbon.

Launch, spin and shaft

With the 15° head, my average launch was 15.8° with about 3,100 rpm of spin. That is a mid launch with fairly low spin for a 3-wood, and the ball carried almost 237 yards and ran out another 11.

The 3-wood comes with several stock shafts at no upcharge. I used the Mitsubishi Chemical Kai’Li Blue 70 in stiff, a mid-to-low launch shaft with good spin control and a great feel. It suits the head, giving smooth swings, a mid launch and low spin for long, straight shots with good carry.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want a straight, low-spin 3-wood that works off the tee and the fairway. The Mizuno ST-Z 230 Fairway Wood kept the ball on line for me, and the chamber and sole weight explain why. Mizuno is better known for its irons, but I think its woods deserve a spot on your demo list.

Skip it if you need help with a slice, because this head isn’t draw-biased. For a draw-biased Mizuno, see our ST-X 220 3-wood review, and for other options see our best fairway woods guide.