While it won’t command the market attention of whatever the next hot game-improvement iron happens to be, the launch of the S-1 – the second iron in Mizuno’s MP Signature Series – represents a significant expansion of a concept that’s proving to be more successful than even Mizuno anticipated.
When the S-3 launched earlier this year, we knew it was just the beginning. It wouldn’t be much of a “series” with just one model and sales numbers suggest Mizuno was onto something. The S-3 has proven to be a genuine success story with sales up 83 percent compared to its predecessor, the JPX 923 Tour.
Now comes the S-1, a single-piece forged blade that serves as the functional replacement for the Mizuno Pro 241. Like the S-3, it’s an extension of the Signature Series, not a replacement, and given the numerical convention, it’s reasonable to expect Mizuno will continue adding models to the lineup.
Mizuno Signature Series philosophy
The fundamental goal of Mizuno’s MP Signature Series remains unchanged: to provide more options for better players and Tour staff whom Mizuno perhaps hadn’t served as well in recent years. The S-Series represents a return to what MP was—classic, timeless designs built to appeal to better players and purists.
What Signature Series designs share is that each will be a single-piece forged iron designed with longevity in mind. Think about those classic Mizuno irons we remember fondly – the MP-33, 37, 60 and MP-32. Those models may have disappeared from the market but the designs themselves are timeless.
The S-1 continues this philosophy with a four-year lifecycle that provides golfers the longevity many say they want while giving Mizuno the freedom to make what it describes as “golfer decisions” instead of business decisions.
Enter the S-1
The S-1 is, fundamentally, a small blade. There’s modest offset throughout the set but Mizuno has taken a progressive approach: more offset in the long irons, less as you move toward the scoring clubs. The thin toplines get progressively thicker through the set to raise the center of gravity in scoring clubs, promoting more penetrating flight and higher spin rates.
While blade length is technically a bit longer through most of the set compared to the 241, we’re talking about fractions of millimeters that you’re unlikely to notice at address.
The more pronounced departure from the Mizuno Pro 241 comes in the shaping. Whereas the 241 featured a rounded toe and softer lines, the S-1 is more squared off with straighter lines. It’s a reflection of current trends on tour and there’s evidence to suggest it’s a design preference that has traction industry-wide.
Channel back innovation
What adds character to the S-1’s design is its “channel back”: a noticeable cutout running through the back cavity. The absence of material in the channel allowed Mizuno to relocate mass to the top section of the club for increased vertical stability.
Make no mistake. This isn’t a forgiving club. It’s not meant to be. But the channel design does provide a modest MOI bump while maintaining the pure feel and workability better players demand.
Sustainability focus
An ancillary story worth noting is Mizuno’s commitment to sustainability. With any forged design, there’s significant material lost in the forging process. The “flash” – leftover material that spills over the mold when the shape is formed – adds up over a production cycle.
With the S-1, Mizuno was able to reduce flash around the hosel by 43 grams per iron. That might not sound like much but it adds up to about 50 tons of material savings annually – a meaningful reduction in waste.
Tuned for feel
As part of its ongoing commitment to feel, Mizuno retooled its sound analysis software for the S-1. The company says the updates allow what they experience in the lab to better model what golfers experience on course. The new software doesn’t just simulate frequencies. Mizuno now has insight into the duration of those frequencies, giving them increased ability to tune sound and feel to player preferences.
Much of this development was driven by PGA Tour staffer Ben Griffin’s feedback. The changes are subtle but intentional. Mizuno’s Chris Voshall describes it as providing a “slightly firmer feel” that’s “less mushy” than previous designs. This isn’t to say the sound is harsh or clicky. You’re still getting the copper underlay and soft Mizuno feel but the S-1 is designed for you to feel a little bit more of what’s happening at impact.
Practical details
The S-1 maintains similar specs to other Signature Series irons: a 46-degree pitching wedge, 34-degree 7-iron, no 3-iron option. The extended lifecycle allows Mizuno to offer the S-1 in both right- and left-handed versions, something that wouldn’t be economically viable with shorter product cycles.
Looking ahead
With the S-1’s arrival, Mizuno’s Signature Series roadmap shows another model currently in tour testing for a potential September 2026 launch. The strategy is working: providing better players with genuine options while maintaining the timeless aesthetic and performance characteristics that made classic Mizuno irons legendary.
The S-1 isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s a blade for golfers who appreciate precision, feel and the confidence that comes from playing an iron designed to reward good swings while providing the feedback to improve bad ones. In a market often focused on forgiveness and distance, there’s something refreshing about a company doubling down on what it does best.
Specs, pricing, availability
The stock shaft in the Mizuno Pro S-1 is the KBS Tour. The stock Grip is a Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Retail price is $215 per club. Availability begins ____.
For more information, visit MizunoGolf.com.
The post Mizuno Pro S-1 Irons: Building The Signature Series appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
