Mizuno ST200G Fairway Wood

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Tour Fairway Wood

The ST200G is the driver Mizuno built for players who spin their tee shots too much and pay for it in the wind. It sits at the top of the 2020 ST200 line, above the standard ST200 and the draw-friendly ST200X, and it's the one with the sliding weight track that lets you actually tune where the ball comes off the face. Mizuno isn't a name most amateurs think of first for drivers, which is a shame, because the ST200G competes with anything from the bigger brands on ball speed and beats most of them on sound and feel.

What you're paying for here is spin control. The G has a forged beta titanium face and a carbon crown, and the two 7-gram weights on the sole track let you push the center of gravity forward to knock spin down or back to add a touch of stability. Set it forward and this thing produces some of the lowest, flattest spin numbers you'll find in a mainstream driver from this era. That's a benefit if you deliver the club with too much loft or a steep angle, and a liability if you already hit it low and thin.

This is a fitter's driver, not a grab-it-off-the-rack driver. The rewards are real if you get on a launch monitor and dial in the weight position, loft sleeve, and shaft. Skip that step and you might leave 10 yards on the table or fight a ball flight that never gets airborne.

• You generate too much spin off the driver and watch your ball balloon, especially into the wind, and want a club that can physically take spin out of the equation.
• You have access to a launch monitor and a fitter, since the weight track and loft sleeve only pay off when someone helps you set them to your numbers.
• Faster swing speeds that already launch the ball high enough will get the most out of the forward, low-spin weight setting.
• You care about sound and feel and are tired of drivers that click like a soda can at impact.
• You're open to a brand outside the usual big three and willing to trust the performance rather than the logo.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between the Mizuno ST200G and the standard ST200?

The G is the low-spin, tour-focused model with a sliding weight track on the sole that the standard ST200 doesn't have. The regular ST200 has a fixed rear weight for higher launch and more forgiveness, while the G lets you slide two 7-gram weights forward to cut spin or back to add stability. The G head also sits slightly more compact at address. If you spin the ball too much and want to tune it out, the G is the one. If you want easy launch with no fiddling, the standard ST200 makes more sense.

Is the ST200G a good driver for a low swing speed?

Not really the ideal match. The G is built to reduce spin, and slower swing speeds usually need spin to keep the ball in the air and carry it a reasonable distance. If your speed is on the lower side, the standard ST200 or the ST200X will get you more height and carry. The G rewards players who already produce enough spin and launch and need to bring those numbers down.

How does the adjustable weight track on the ST200G work?

There are two 7-gram weights that slide along a track on the sole. Move them toward the face and you shift the center of gravity forward, which lowers spin and flattens ball flight. Move them toward the back and the CG goes back, raising launch and making the head more stable on mishits. You can also split them or set them to bias one side. It's meant to be set with a fitter on a launch monitor rather than guessed at.

Can you adjust the loft on the ST200G?

Yes. It uses Mizuno's Quick Switch hosel, which lets you change loft up or down and also adjust the face angle through the sleeve settings. Combined with the sole weight track, you have two separate ways to shape launch and spin, which is why this driver really needs a proper fitting to get the most out of it.

Does the Mizuno ST200G actually compete with drivers from TaylorMade, Callaway, and Ping?

On ball speed and spin control from 2020, yes. Independent testing at the time put the ST200 line near the top of the class for raw ball speed, and the forged beta titanium face is a big reason. Where Mizuno tends to win is sound and feel, which are genuinely better than most. Where it loses is name recognition and resale, since fewer people shop Mizuno drivers. The performance is there if you're willing to look past the logo.

Alternatives to the Mizuno ST200G

Other tour fairway wood models from different brands, closest to its model year.