Mizuno Golf's JPX-900 driver was a winner for me last year because it was a fairway finder that had all the adjustability a golfer could want in a 1-wood.
For 2018, the company has updated the thinking behind the JPX-900 and introduced the GT180 series, which is a cousin to the low-spinning ST180 series. With the GT180 driver, you're getting what I called the sole console that the JPX-900 had. On it, you have two 8-gram weights to move in a central track for dialing in center of gravity for launch and spin characteristics. Those weights can also be used to set up draw and fade biases or to offer maximum lateral forgiveness or drive the center of gravity as far back as possible. Really, a lot you can do with a wrench and a few weights.
You also can use a separate pad weight to set the club neutral, open or closed at impact so a golfer can get the look they want.
The adjustable hosel lets a golfer dial in loft up or down 2 degrees over standard.
The driver uses the same titanium-alloy blend called Forged SP700 as found in the ST180, which the company says is 10 percent stronger than 6-4 titanium used previously. A hidden waffle pattern in the crown also saves 5 grams that is used elsewhere.
The GT180 fairway woods have a single sliding weight in the sole. Like the ST180 series, a maraging steel face is featured, and it has an adjustable hosel, the waffle crown and Wave Technology for improved ballspeeds.
The company says there's not really a material difference in performance of the ST180 versus the GT180. The difference is adjustability. The ST180 doesn't really offer that much, and the GT180 does. If you want to just hit, go with the ST180. If you want to dial in, pick the GT180.
The Mizuno Golf GT180 driver runs $500 and comes with a variety of shaft options, including Mitsubishi Tensei CK, Kuro Kage Silver Dual-Core TiNi, and Bassara E-Series. The fairway woods are $300 each.
