- Mizuno introduces three new M.Craft X mallet putters.
- The M.Craft X putters are modular designs built from forged 1025 steel and milled aluminum.
- MSRP $399.99
Mizuno decided to mix things up with their latest putter offering. The new M.Craft X putters are modular in construction. There are three 1025 steel neck options and three different milled aluminum rear sections.
Basic math says you can order your M.Craft X putter in one of nine combinations of neck and back. There are also three removable weight options to get your putter weighted to your specifications.
Other companies have tried modular putter systems but none of them really caught fire in the marketplace. What makes the new M.Craft X system different? Can Mizuno’s modular putter plan succeed where others have struggled?
Mizuno’s M.Craft design basics
As I mentioned, the M.Craft X putters consist of two main pieces. The face of the putter is forged from 1025 steel and then milled into shape. Your putting stroke will dictate which neck (slant, stub or plumber’s) is your best fit.
The second M.Craft X component you’ll choose is the CNC-milled aluminum rear section. There are three options. The Four is a wide, square shape; the Five is rounded like a traditional mallet, and the Six is a fang design.
The interesting thing about the aluminum pieces is that they all have the same weight. This means you can swap them in and out without changing the weighting of your putter. The MOI value will be a little higher (+400 or so) for the fang-shaped Six but otherwise the overall weight stays the same when you swap the different rear sections.
Mizuno M.Craft’s simple complexity
The key to the success of the Mizuno M.Craft X line is not its complexity of options but rather its simplicity of execution. Mizuno has developed a system that is very easy to understand and simple to use.
The face and back sections are secured together with the large sole weights. All you need to do is put the front and back together and screw in the weights with the M.Craft X adapter and driver wrench.
It’s worth noting that the pieces fit snugly together. You shouldn’t be hearing any vibrations between the components at impact. This is Mizuno, after all. We expect their tolerances to be tight and they are. There are also a couple of rubber pads to keep the pieces secure and vibration free.
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The whole package is one face, one back and two weights. The only specialized tool you will need is the adapter to screw in the weights. You’ll not need an engineering degree to swap out your putter parts.
Will you really be changing your putter?
It is entirely possible you will never change your M.Craft X putter once you determine your ideal build specifications. Precision fitting is another great feature of the M.Craft X system. The modularity allows you to work with a club fitter to build a putter customized for you.
Mizuno will be rolling out fitting systems to shops, allowing you to figure out what you need before ordering. Just determine the neck, back and weights that work for you and order your putter.
If that initial build is effective, don’t change anything. Later on, if you wish you had gone with the Six rear piece, order the Six rear piece and swap it in. If you want it heavier (or lighter), you can swap out the weights.
The M.Craft X system gives you options down the road. Without the modularity, you’d be buying a new putter.
The M.Craft X Four
This M.Craft X Four has the slant hosel, generating a toe hang about 40 degrees below horizontal. With this hosel in particular you will feel how these mallets were designed to swing like blade putters. The steel front and aluminum back build positions the center of gravity for the M.Craft X putters toward the front.
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Though all three of these putters are 100 percent mallet in appearance, the forward CG value will make them feel like blades during the stroke.
Mallets that feel like blades is a recurring putter design theme these days for a reason. This style of putter couples the familiar blade feel with the boosted mallet MOI and the enhanced mallet alignment schemes. Essentially, you have a putter with helpful aspects of a mallet that feels like a blade.
The M.Craft X Five
The Mizuno M.Craft X Five is a rounded mallet design. This version is paired with the spud-neck front section, creating a classic round mallet look. The neck makes the putter face-balanced. Again, the fun thing about this putter line is that if you want a face-balanced putter with the fang back, you can order it that way. Or order it later and easily swap the aluminum sections.
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The face milling on the M.Craft X line is fairly deep, softening the feel at impact. They don’t have any assistive groove technologies but the tone and feel at impact are satisfying. They strike with a hefty thunk more than a click.
The M.Craft X Six
If you are a fan of the fang, the M.Craft X Six is your putter. This Six has the plumber’s neck, providing about 20 degrees of toe hang. This is the face that will feel most familiar to those of you playing Anser-style putters.
The rear sections of the M.Craft X putters are all the same weight. However the various neck styles create different weights for the front section. The plumber’s neck is about 30 grams heavier than the spud/bend neck and 14 heavier than the slant neck.
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Mizuno varies the weight of the sole weights to compensate for this difference, ensuring the stock weight for all three necks is 365 grams. If you want to go heavier or lighter, you can change the weights. You can get the plumber’s neck head weight all the way up to 393 grams should you want to.
The Mizuno M.Craft X is modular done right
Over the past few cycles, Mizuno has become quite the putter company. They may not come up in the same conversations as Cameron or Odyssey but their putters are top notch. This new M.Craft X line builds upon the success of the original M.Craft putters and also the well-received M.Craft OMOI putter line.
Mizuno is carving out their own space in the putter marketplace by following their muse. Whether it be the head-heavy design on the OMOI line or the modular nature of this new line, Mizuno is willing to try out new ideas.
A willingness to experiment, combined with Mizuno’s reputation for precision construction, is a plan that will bring nothing but good things to the putter corral.
Find out more about the new Mizuno M.Craft X putter line at Mizunousa.com
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