Gear: Mizuno M.CRAFT X putters
Price: $399.99 with a black KBS CT Tour 120 shaft. Zero-torque models have a SuperStroke TLT Pistol 1.0 grip, while plumber’s-neck, slant-neck and double-bend models have a Lamkin Sink Fit grip.
Specs: One-piece forged and CNC-milled 1025E mild carbon-steel face and neck, a CNC-milled aluminum back and interchangeable 7-, 14- and 21-gram sole weights.
Available: Sept. 24
Who it’s for: Golfers who want to combine a premium forged feel with mallet stability and extensive fitting options, including a new zero-torque configuration.
What you should know: Mizuno has expanded the M.CRAFT X family with a Z-Neck that creates zero-torque performance. Two new head shapes, the triple-wide Z2 and rounded Z3 dome mallet, join the system.
The Deep Dive: Nearly every major putter maker has introduced a zero-torque option since the category caught fire two years ago, and Mizuno is joining the party without abandoning the forged feel it has emphasized throughout its putter line.
The new Z-Neck positions the shaft axis directly through the putter’s center of gravity. Mizuno says that reduces the twisting forces that can encourage the face to open or close during the stroke, helping the face remain square to the stroke path.
In practical terms, the design should allow golfers to control the face without fighting the putter’s natural tendency to rotate. The zero-torque M.CRAFT X putters will not read a slippery 6-footer or silence the voice reminding you what the putt is worth. Technology still has boundaries. But reducing unwanted face movement could make it easier to start the ball on the intended line.
The Z2 has a triple-wide profile that offers a blade-like appearance with added stability. The Z3 is a rounded dome mallet with a larger footprint designed to provide more alignment assistance and forgiveness. Both become part of an interchangeable system that also includes square, round and winged mallet shapes.
Every M.CRAFT X starts with a one-piece forged face and neck made from 1025E mild carbon steel. Mizuno then uses aggressive CNC milling across the hitting area to create a solid impact sensation and promote consistent roll and speed control.
A lightweight, precision-milled aluminum back is attached behind the heavier steel face. That construction allows Mizuno to redistribute mass around the head, increasing resistance to twisting on off-center strikes while maintaining a relatively shallow center of gravity. The goal is to produce the responsiveness of a blade with the stability of a mallet.
Golfers can combine any of the five backs with a double-bend, slant-neck, plumber’s-neck or Z-Neck configuration. Each changes the putter’s offset, toe hang, alignment presentation and face behavior. The interchangeable sole weights provide another fitting lever, allowing golfers to alter head weight and feel for different tempos or green speeds.
With 20 possible configurations, buying an M.CRAFT X without trying several combinations would be a little like visiting a steakhouse and ordering toast. The value of the system is its adaptability. A proper fitting can help golfers identify the head, hosel and weight combination that best matches what they see, feel and do during the stroke.
David Dusek is a senior writer at Golfweek covering golf equipment.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Mizuno adds zero-torque option to M.CRAFT X putter family
