50 Words or Less
The Mizuno ST200 driver is not elite in terms of ball speed. No shaft choices. Robust launch and spin.
Introduction
Last year, Mizuno made a real breakthrough into the driver market with the ST190 (review HERE). It notched a win on the PGA Tour and was in real contention in fittings across the country. For 2020, Mizuno is offering a trio of drivers to try to build on that momentum. In this review, we’ll take a look at the version built for the masses, the Mizuno ST200 driver.
Looks
The Mizuno ST200 driver is a sharp looking club. Its sole is clean with lots of gloss black putting the focus on the large, silver running bird logo.
At address, the club is symmetrical and very round. As on many drivers, the crown fades from solid black near the ball to a carbon fiber on the back half. The only thing I dislike is the white trim around the back edge of the driver which is much more prominent than it appears in the photo above.
Sound & Feel
Connecting the ST200 driver with the ball creates a big “crack.” The sound is slightly above average in volume, medium in terms of tone. Interestingly, it seems to get louder when you strike one pure.
The feel of the Mizuno ST200 was a bit disappointing to me. It didn’t feel hot and explosive nor was it solid and satisfying. Impact wasn’t unpleasant, but it wasn’t exciting either.
Performance
Making an elite driver ultimately boils down to one thing: ball speed. You want to maximize ball speed with your best strikes and preserve as much as you can when the strike is mediocre. The Mizuno ST200 falls short of elite on both of those metrics.
To be clear, the ST200 is not a bad driver. It’s fine. If I had to play the ST200, I wouldn’t quit golf. However, in a year that has seen the release of three MAVRIK drivers (reviews HERE), the Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 (review HERE), and with the PING G410 Plus still on the shelf (review HERE), the ST200 isn’t a compelling option.
Interestingly, though the ST200 driver is not great at preserving ball speed, it is robust in terms of launch and spin. My drives were predictably sent on the same trajectory with the same strong ball flight even when the strike wasn’t ideal.
Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the Mizuno ST200 is the lack of shaft choices. While many other manufacturers are offering three or more stock shafts, Mizuno offers golfers no choice at all. If you want a regular flex, you’re getting the Diamana Red M+. If you want stiff, you get the Diamana Blue S+. Full stop.
Conclusion
After their big leap forward in drivers last year, the Mizuno ST200 driver is a bit of a disappointment. The lack of shaft options combined with the failure to achieve and maintain elite ball speed makes this a second tier offering for 2020.
Mizuno ST200 Driver Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Rarely do you give Mizuno a good shake but hey ho.
However regarding shafts, you’re flat out wrong and/or didn’t do your homework. Not only is there a range of the standard Kuro Kage, Atmos, Tensei etc. The Diamana shafts are the real deal ones, not watered down. Then there’s the exotic offerings at cost for Tour AD DI/XC, Ventus, Tensie Pro.
Loz,
The US website indicates that there are two stock shafts.
As far as shafts at an upcharge, sure, every manufacturer offers an array of shafts at an upcharge.
Please try to keep your comments respectful in the future.
-Matt
Fair review as they are always subjective however I’m surprised at the claim on shaft options. Check out https://golf.mizunoeurope.com/golf-clubs/st-series/st200-driver/ and custom shafts section which infers there are 24 options across the various flexes.
David,
Thank you.
Plugged In Golf is based in the US, as is the majority of our audience, so our reviews reflect what’s available here.
Best,
Matt
Thanks Matt and understood. I’ve just checked http://www.mizunousa.com and looks like you’re being hard done by on your side of the pond with the lack of customisation choices.
Hi Matt,
I am finding this model interesting. I read many positive reviews on st200 and st200 G.
On Mizuno web site there is a choice of 21 shafts for this driver.
On what I see, in store they only have the Diamana shafts on shelves.
I think Mizuno is making more efforts to sell drivers in Europe than they are making in USA and Canada.
There web site in USA took a long time to be up to date compare to Mizuno Europe.
I agree with you that the competition this year is very strong with Maverik and Sim.
With a different shaft, may be your review would be different.
I wish you will test the st200 g model soon.
Best regards,
I completely disagree with your ball speed and distance assessment. I have played the TS3, SIM, and the Maverick. The easy choice for consistency and length of the tee combined is the ST200G. Sim and Maverick seemed a touch longer, but ST200G is an easy choice for me.
James,
I’m glad you’re happy with your driver. However, I’m confused by: “The easy choice for consistency and length…is the ST200G” yet “SIM and [MAVRIK] seemed a touch longer.”
Also, with due respect, if you’re dealing in “seemed” vs. actual data from a launch monitor, it doesn’t carry much weight.
-Matt
I would agree with this review. I tested some of this year’s Mizuno drivers, and while the consistency/repeat-ability of the launch conditions across the face was good, the speed and spin numbers weren’t optimal vs other drivers (speed was lower, spin was higher). That doesn’t mean it’s bad, it just means that it wasn’t a good fit for me.
However, I will say that there are multiple shaft options available with no upcharge. Unfortunately, Mizuno USA’s website is dreadful compared to the European site. I can confirm that the options that are listed on the Mizuno Golf Europe site are available in the US. For the life of me, I can’t understand why Mizuno doesn’t make it more consistent across the pond either way. So, yes, you can get the ST200 series with about 24 different shafts, but you have to go to a Mizuno fitting location to order them. Also…good luck with the fitting location having all of the shafts…which is another issue all together. You just can’t order the custom options online. I’m guessing Mizuno wants you to go to a fitting center to order. Maybe it’s to make sure you get fit. Maybe it’s a way for them to protect their vendors.
Another example of this is the T20 wedges. On the Mizuno USA website, they only list 46 – 60 deg lofts in evens. However, on the Mizuno Europe site, they list every loft, bounce, and grind options from 45 – 62. You can get ALL of them in the US, you just have to know to look at the Europe site, and request them from the Mizuno Fitting retail location.
Yes, I’m a fan boy. Yes…get fit. But it pays to be informed.
You can get many more shafts with no upcharge through custom order. You are wrong about only two stock shafts, please check with mizuno to confirm. I like your reviews but a one person test does not confirm a driver lacks ball speed since it could be your particular swing or a bad day.
William,
Lack of ball speed relative to swing speed – smash factor – is what my comments are based on.
-Matt
RichardP, +1 on trying another shaft. Maybe if you had a fitted shaft your results would differ.
I’ll take those spin #’s. Matt, you know these damn Mizuno people are crazy and think if it’s a Mizuno product it’s always going to be the best, they are delusional. Oh, by the way I’m the self elected President of that crazy ass Mizuno crowd. I’m that guy.
Matt, what is it that Mizuno is missing when it comes to making drivers? You would think a company with the reputation of Mizuno would have no problem making a competitive driver. I think y’all do a great and I always checkout your reviews before I buy anything
C. Kay,
I hit the ST200 with a Ventus Black, so the ST200 had every advantage as far as shaft selection.
As I said in the review, the ST200 is a fine driver, it’s just not the cream of the crop. I’m sure it will win some fittings, but on average the other drivers I mentioned perform better, which comes not just from me but from the many fitters that I consult with. Mizuno, like any company, has limited resources and spends them where they’re most likely to see return. Callaway buys super computers to design driver faces, Mizuno (I assume) puts more R&D into the irons.
Stay safe. Hopefully we’ll all be golfing soon.
-Matt
You’re definitely wrong on the availability of shaft choices, no upgrade shaft choices include (all real deal): Diamana + Limited (red, blue & white), atmos/atmos tour spec (red,blue & black in TS), tensei (blue & white) and kuro kage.
Upcharge options also include Ventus, Graphite Design line and Tensei pro. Perhaps be a little bit more “Plugged In”
I do agree that the ball speed from the ST200 line is not up to par, however.
The web site deserves a lot of respect for delivering the truth as the author sees it! Many other “review” sites have glowing things to say about every club, repeating the marketing message. Plugged In is a great resource.
I really like the st190 and st200 drivers feel ,looks and alignment, plus they are very forgiving, go straight down the middle. BUT they are way shorter than my M3 driver –like 20 plus yards shorter. Maybe it is the stock atmos 5s and diamana shafts?
Could be the shaft or the head simply doesn’t fit you. If the head doesn’t fit, even the perfect shaft isn’t going to get you to optimal results.
-Matt
Hi and hello from Scotland.
I’ve just ordered a standard ST200 head on a Mfusion (super light) shaft, after a session at American Golf. Bit of a gamble, the shaft should be easier to swing (I’m 72 now) but the head should still feel substantial. Fingers crossed it works.
I tried the ST200 with the tensel orange 50 stiff at the PGA superstore and on the monitor compared to my maverick I picked up another 15-20 yards on the average. My club head speed is 102 mph. I enjoyed the driver so much I placed an order for one cannot wait till it comes in
Mat,
My view – it’s all about the detail – it’s got to be defined and detailed – if others drivers are better by how much.. 2 yard / 20 yard..?
2 yards is not enough for me to spend my monthly mortgage or a months shopping bill on a driver.
Then folks can see if they spend the big bucks they get the advantage they desire.
Best regards
Graham
Callaway, Titelist etc.
Graham,
I totally agree. You also get into the issue of money being relative. I can say something is a good value relative to other golf clubs but it might still be out of reach for some. For others, cost never enters the equation.
-Matt
Hey, I’m unable to locate a weight for the st200g driver. Chris at mizuno said he has sent me the a weight, but it has never shown up. Said that was the last they had. Any suggestions on where I would be able to locate one. Thank you, Robert
Robert,
Unfortunately I don’t have any suggestions for that.
-Matt
Out of curiosity; I’m looking for straight consistent drives. Reliable and predictable performance rather than highest speed / longest carry.
Do the Mizuno ST 190 and ST 200 meet that criteria or are there better options?
Richard,
For forgiveness and consistency, nothing is as good as the PING G425 Max.
-Matt
I bought the ST200 and found the ball sounded terrible off the face ,almost a dead sound and my distance was ordinary to say the least. A mate gave me the STZ today and it was so much better that I will be buying it from him, the comparison was like chalk and cheese
I’m a big fan of Mizuno golf clubs. I have a few of their drivers in my bag and I have never been disappointed. The ST200 driver is no exception. It’s a great club for anyone looking for a forgiving