Mizuno introduced the new ES21 wedges with the goal of making spin easier to control across all your wedge shots. They did not just make these golf clubs spin more. They made the spin more consistent and longer-lasting, shot after shot. With Mizuno’s signature forging process, versatile profile, and more central sweet spot, these are high-performance wedges for all short game situations. Read on for TGW’s in-depth look at the technology and an exclusive video review.
Mizuno ES21 Wedge Review by TGW
Technology
Mizuno ES21 wedges start with a hollow body construction made from 431 stainless steel. Making the body of the golf club hollow creates a higher, deeper center of gravity that better aligns with where golfers most often make contact with the golf ball. It also centers the sweet spot so it is easier to hit swing after swing. This ensures a square strike and higher spin for greater control.
The face of the ES21 wedges is made from Boron-infused steel using Mizuno’s signature Grain Flow Forging process. This process creates a tighter, more compact grain structure to give these golf clubs that patented soft Mizuno feel.
Then Mizuno puts their Quad Cut Grooves onto the face for maximum spin. They use an ultra-precise CNC milling process to get each groove exactly right for the best possible performance. Mizuno also uses Hydroflow Micro Grooves that are laser-etched on the face to channel away moisture and maintain spin in wet conditions.
Finally, the ES21 wedges come in your choice of standard or wide sole. The standard sole is an all-purpose grind design to help you hit all kinds of wedge shots more consistently. The wide sole provides a more versatile option for players who prefer or need more bounce.
Performance
We tested the performance of the Mizuno ES21 wedge with the help of Rick Hatfield. Rick is the head golf pro at Flint Hills National Golf Club and TGW’s resident product expert. We conducted our test using the 56° wedge, hitting both full shots and open-faced shots closer to the green.
On full shots, Rick hit this wedge an average of 86 yards with only a deviation of plus or minus 3 yards so distance was incredibly consistent. He also produced an average spin of 10,022 rpm which is more than enough to hold the green from that distance.
Then we moved in closer to the green to hit some shorter pitch shots. Rick hit these shots an average of 50 yards with the same deviation of 3 yards so the ES21 wedges held up in their consistency even as we moved closer to the green. He also saw an average spin of 7,776 rpm. Rick also noted that it was easy to open up the club face and hit flop shots even closer to the green. This is an area where golfers can benefit greatly from that improved consistency. These are difficult shots to hit and the Mizuno ES21 wedges do make them easier.
Who It’s For
Mizuno ES21 wedges are made for golfers who want more consistent yardages and spin rates in their short game. Many players want to pull a wedge out of their bag and know exactly how far they can hit it with the proper spin to hold a green. These wedges are made to deliver consistency and repeatable performance so you can feel confident knowing what type of shots you can make with your golf clubs.
Appearance
The Mizuno ES21 wedges feature a high toe, low heel profile. High toe wedges are a popular design in golf right now and these look sleek at address while inspiring confidence on shots where you need to open the face. These wedges are also a little thicker due to the hollow body design. They also have a black finish on both the club head and the shaft that looks sleek at address and in your golf bag.
Feel & Sound
During our test, Rick noted that the Mizuno ES21 wedges felt and sounded great at impact. The turf interaction was smooth while contact with the golf ball was pleasing.
Mizuno ES21 Wedges
