923 Hot Metal vs Hot Metal Pro

[Lefty87]

Is the HM that much more forgiving than the HMP? Same lofts, same technology. Who has hit both and what were your experiences? 

[PJE]

I’ve owned both and currently play the HM Pro. I also wondered about the difference so I got both models. I sold the HMs last week. 
Performance wise, I think these clubs are essentially the same. Aesthetically, the HMs are slightly larger.  The HM Pro is not a small club by any means but it’s relatively compact appearing for a GI iron.  So, for me it came down to the club I liked looking at better.  But some people like the bigger appearance of the HM because they’re accustomed to a larger iron and it gives them confidence. 
I think the choice depends on the golfer. If launch is an issue, I think the HM is slightly easier  than the HM Pro in the 5 and 6 irons and no different with the other clubs. 

I think both models are the same for all clubs on thin hits.
If you miss towards the toe, maybe the HM is a better choice.
Very nice ball speed with both models. Spin is on the low side but they seem to hold greens. ( I use urethane covered balls. ) 

But, if you’re worried that the HM Pro is not forgiving enough, why not just get the HM?  Or blend them? 
For what the Maltby ratings are worth, he’s got the HM at 805 and the HM Pro at 696. Maltby rates the horizontal GG (away from the hosel) higher on the HM. He’s got the MOI of the HM in the 15s and the HM Pro in the 14s. 
Hope this helps. 

Edited April 9, 2024 by PJE

[Tree Levino]

If your miss is an overdraw you will likely enjoy the pro more if your miss is a slice the HM will likely be better. 

[Lefty87]

37 minutes ago, PJE said:

I’ve owned both and currently play the HM Pro. I also wondered about the difference so I got both models. I sold the HMs last week. 
Performance wise, I think these clubs are essentially the same. Aesthetically, the HMs are slightly larger.  The HM Pro is not a small club by any means but it’s relatively compact appearing for a GI iron.  So, for me it came down to the club I liked looking at better.  But some people like the bigger appearance of the HM because they’re accustomed to a larger iron and it gives them confidence. 
I think the choice depends on the golfer. If launch is an issue, I think the HM is slightly easier  than the HM Pro in the 5 and 6 irons and no different with the other clubs. 

I think both models are the same for all clubs on thin hits.
If you miss towards the toe, maybe the HM is a better choice.
Very nice ball speed with both models. Spin is on the low side but they seem to hold greens. ( I use urethane covered balls. ) 

But, if you’re worried that the HM Pro is not forgiving enough, why not just get the HM?  Or blend them? 
For what the Maltby ratings are worth, he’s got the HM at 805 and the HM Pro at 696. Maltby rates the horizontal GG (away from the hosel) higher on the HM. He’s got the MOI of the HM in the 15s and the HM Pro in the 14s. 
Hope this helps. 

This is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I have a Hot Metal 7i I’ve been hitting at home with my MLM2Pro and I love the ball speed, height, and forgiveness, but I’m having a hard time keeping it straight. I’m a lefty and every shot is a heavy draw. I like that the HMP has less offset, but I’m wondering how the forgiveness compares. My miss is low toe, but I’m not hitting every shot there.  

[Lefty87]

26 minutes ago, Tree Levino said:

If your miss is an overdraw you will likely enjoy the pro more if your miss is a slice the HM will likely be better. 

My miss is 110% am overdraw, but I also tend to miss low and near the toe side. 

[UrethaneMane]

I am not sure about the pro, but I do have the hot metal 921. One thing I don’t like about them is the club face always feels closed or like it wants to close. My irons are also a half inch longer and 2° upright so that might have something to do with it.

[PJE]

5 hours ago, Lefty87 said:

This is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. I have a Hot Metal 7i I’ve been hitting at home with my MLM2Pro and I love the ball speed, height, and forgiveness, but I’m having a hard time keeping it straight. I’m a lefty and every shot is a heavy draw. I like that the HMP has less offset, but I’m wondering how the forgiveness compares. My miss is low toe, but I’m not hitting every shot there.  

The HM Pro has less offset and I guess that’s why it looks “better” or more traditional than the HM at address. 
Mizuno bills the HM Pro as intended for “…confident…” ball strikers. I think that’s misleading. As long as the golfer possesses enough ability to hit shots that routinely fly in the air and are not all over the face all of the time, he or she will be fine with the HM Pro. 
The lofts are strong which can lead to some weird gapping  and awkward short yardages on the  course, but that dynamic is not confined to the HM Pro. I think a golfer playing any OEMs  strong lofted clubs may have that issue. It depends on the course and where the tee ball ends up. 
 

[Tree Levino]

12 hours ago, Lefty87 said:

My miss is 110% am overdraw, but I also tend to miss low and near the toe side. 

In my opinion, longer blade length irons with weight moved towards the toe tend to not want to draw nearly as much as something more bladed. Take the offset away, as the pro has done, and you have an iron that is great at mitigating the left miss. 

[brutus27]

FWIW, I have 919 HMP GW thru 6 and HM 5 & 4. 
Don’t notice much difference in forgiveness from Pro’s to non Pro’s.

I typically draw the ball. For me I tend to miss to the right with the non Pro’s due to holding my swing off to avoid the over draw. Non Pro’s have more offset and do look longer at address.

[odshot68]

I switched this year from Mp 20 MB irons to the JPX 923 HMP Irons.  These irons are amazing.  So forgiving with great height and accuracy.  I love the sole design as more forgiving irons tend to have wider soles and more offset.  I would not not sleep on them.  I know they are not forged but the wider sweet spots makes more shots feel and react as it was flushed.  I can hit it hit low and move the ball to a degree with them both ways, they work well for knockdown shots too and don't balloon in the wind.  Ive seen one flier over the past month but it was sitting in the rough and kept it below the wind so my bad.