Mizuno S23 Wedge Review
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At a glance
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What we say...
The Mizuno S23 wedge has been engineered for extreme backspin whilst showcasing a centralized sweet spot to give golfers exceptional control.
The Japanese manufacturer strives to blend classic design with modern technology. The Mizuno S23 wedge demonstrates the fusion of those two things and is a candidate for our best wedges in 2023.
The S23 range showcases a shorter hosel than previous iterations and has a cavity that is pushed towards the heel of the club to allow for heavier toe weighting.
This creates the ‘centralized’ sweet spot that allows the club to remain in contact with the ball for longer, more consistent strikes. It also creates a higher spin rate on both full and short shots.
The Forging Process
The S23 wedges are One-piece Grain Flow Forged at Mizuno’s iconic Hiroshima facility in Japan, where their irons have been produced since 1968.
Grain Flow Forging is a process that Mizuno patented back in 1998 and has become an unmistakable part of the brand’s design and feel.
The technique creates a precise head through multiple forging stages of a singular piece of billet steel.
Mizuno use 1025 carbon steel, which is the secret behind some of the brand’s softest irons. It’s used for its balance of strength and feel, which delivers a high level of precision and feedback to the golfer.
The S23 wedge has precise grooves, that are quad-cut milled and made specific to each loft. The grooves are cut into the 1025 carbon steel face to allow for a longer, more effective lifespan.
Mizuno’s HydroFlow Micro Grooves are laser etched onto the face. As a result, they help release moisture in wet conditions and make sure there is no spin drop-off.
The S23 range offers loft-specific profiles, with the stronger lofted wedges featuring a tear-drop straight edge, which flows into a more rounded shape as you go up the lofts, with grinds to match throughout.
Wedge Specifications
Wedge Grinds Explained
S-Grind
Minimal sole grind for fuller shots and lower lofts. For players who use full shots and want the bounce effect around the green.
D-Grind
Moderate heel and toe relief allowing gentle manipulation of the clubface. For players who want versatility around the green with the bounce effect.
C-Grind
Heavy heel and toe relief that’s ideal for firmer conditions. For a better player who wants to open the face and control the ball around the green.
X-Grind
Extreme relief from the heel, toe, and trailing edge. For short-game players who want to control the ball by adjusting the bounce effect according to the degree of opening the face.
What Mizuno say about the S23 wedge
Jeff Cook, of PGA Tour Operations
“The S23 is one of those surprise products that wasn’t meant for the tour – but breaks its own way through. Take away the absolute world-class short game players, and we’re left with many pros who get better spin control from the centralized sweet spot.”
David Llewellyn, Director of R&D for Mizuno
“That check and spin you see from the pros isn’t purely because of newer grooves – most of us don’t have the consistency of strike to get that kind of action. For the vast majority, a centralized sweet spot makes it much easier to find and get that repetitive action.”
Verdict: Mizuno S23 Wedge
Cavity back wedges for club golfers have become a really big deal since Cleveland put the concept on the map with their CBX family back in 2017. The S23 is Mizuno’s model that attacks cavity back wedge forgiveness and consistency head-on as thanks to a centralized sweet spot golfers should expect a better feel and greater spin performance.
Our test data completely supports Mizuno’s thinking too. The model was our fourth-highest spinning wedge of 2024 which should at least highlight the S23 as a force to be reckoned with. It wasn’t finished there though.
Throw in a tied first for smallest carry distance drop-off (6 yards tied with the Mizuno T24 and More MOD 1) and the tightest shot area of all 20 (52° samples) wedges hit and you’ve got a seriously good performing model on your hands.
Before we all go bleary-eyed and gooey for the S23, I do need to point out that at £185 a pop this is one of the most expensive mainstream wedge families you can buy into in 2024. The product is also heading into its second year on the shelf, which says to me it’s a good option, but with the model likely to be replaced towards to the end of 2024 the attractiveness of a £555 three wedge set dims slightly.
Data comparison: How does the Mizuno S23 compare to leading competitor wedges in 2024?
| Model | Loft | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Backspin | Backspin Drop Off | Height | Descent Angle | Carry Distance | Carry Distance Drop Off | Shot Area |
| Vega VWX | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 24.6° | 8974 RPM (1) | 1212 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.4° | 94 YDS | 11 YDS | 62.7 SQ YDS |
| Ram Tour Grind | 52° | 78.4 MPH | 24.2° | 8402 RPM (2) | 1746 RPM | 17 YDS | 42.3° | 94 YDS | 15 YDS | 64.5 SQ YDS |
| TaylorMade MG4 | 52° | 78.3 MPH | 25.8° | 8003 RPM (3) | 1092 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 94 YDS | 8 YDS | 60.8 SQ YDS |
| Mizuno S23 | 52° | 81 MPH | 26.1° | 7987 RPM | 1289 RPM | 20 YDS | 45.2° | 99 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 23.4 SQ YDS (1) |
| Tour Edge Wingman | 52° | 80.5 MPH | 25.1° | 7982 RPM | 1382 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 98 YDS | 12 YDS | 100.8 SQ YDS |
| Ping S159 | 52° | 77.5 MPH | 24.9° | 7974 RPM | 791 (1) | 18 YDS | 42.5° | 93 YDS | 12 YDS | 68.4 SQ YDS |
| Cleveland RTX 6 | 52° | 77.4 MPH | 26° | 7911 RPM | 1791 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.7° | 93 YDS | 9 YDS | 44.1 SQ YDS |
| Sub 70 286 Forged Raw | 52° | 77.9 MPH | 25.5° | 7820 RPM | 2339 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.3° | 94 YDS | 7 YDS | 58.8 SQ YDS |
| Cleveland CBX 4 | 52° | 78.4 MPH | 26.5° | 7800 RPM | 949 RPM (3) | 19 YDS | 44.6° | 95 YDS | 9 YDS | 53.1 SQ YDS |
| Bettinardi HLX 5.0 | 52° | 78.5 MPH | 24.3° | 7797 RPM | 2109 RPM | 17 YDS | 42.1° | 95 YDS | 10 YDS | 45 SQ YDS |
| PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II | 52° | 79.2 MPH | 25.7° | 7741 RPM | 2240 RPM | 19 YDS | 44° | 96 YDS | 10 YDS | 44 SQ YDS |
| Titleist Vokey Design SM10 | 52° | 78.2 MPH | 26° | 7653 RPM | 1926 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.9° | 95 YDS | 15 YDS | 139.5 SQ YDS |
| Vega Alcor | 52° | 79.9 MPH | 25.7° | 7633 RPM | 2006 RPM | 19 YDS | 44.1° | 97 YDS | 9 YDS | 64.8 SQ YDS |
| More MOD 1 | 52° | 79.2 MPH | 25.4° | 7512 RPM | 894 RPM (2) | 19 YDS | 43.4° | 96 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 28.8 SQ YDS (2) |
| Callaway Jaws Raw | 52° | 78.9 MPH | 26.3° | 7408 RPM | 2805 RPM | 19 YDS | 44.3° | 96 YDS | 7 YDS | 30.1 SQ YDS (3) |
| Ping Glide Forged Pro | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 26.2° | 7165 RPM | 2246 RPM | 19 YDS | 44° | 96 YDS | 11 YDS | 119.9 SQ YDS |
| Mizuno T24 | 52° | 76.3 MPH | 26.2° | 7059 RPM | 2131 RPM | 18 YDS | 43.1° | 92 YDS | 6 YDS (T1) | 44.4 SQ YDS |
| Wilson Staff Model ZM | 52° | 77.8 MPH | 26.4° | 7003 RPM | 1963 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.8° | 95 YDS | 13 YDS | 81.9 SQ YDS |
| Callaway CB | 52° | 78.9 MPH | 26.1° | 6856 RPM | 1672 RPM | 19 YDS | 43.7° | 96 YDS | 11 YDS | 90.2 SQ YDS |
| Inesis 900 | 52° | 78.8 MPH | 27.6° | 6685 RPM | 2168 RPM | 20 YDS | 45.2° | 97 YDS | 16 YDS | 172.8 SQ YDS |
| Average | 78.6 MPH | 25.7° | 7668 RPM | 1738 RPM | 18.7 YDS | 43.7° | 95.3 YDS | 10.2 YDS | 69.9 SQ YDS |
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