The Mizuno ST-MAX 230 launched at $499.99, and now you can pick up a used one for around $190. I hit it on a launch monitor right next to the ST-Z 230, and the numbers make this call pretty easy.
Is the Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver worth buying?
Here’s the deal with this driver. Mizuno built the ST-MAX 230 as the forgiving one in its 2024 lineup, and it’s been replaced. Mizuno named the JPX ONE as the next family, and the old ST-MAX page on Mizuno’s US site just sends you to the equipment section now.
So you’re not buying this one new from Mizuno. You’re buying it used, and honestly, that’s the whole appeal. Used ST-MAX 230s were selling for $189.99 to $239.99 in late September 2026. A new 2026 max-forgiveness driver costs about three times that.
But I want you to see the catch before you buy one. I put the ST-MAX 230 on a SkyTrak+ next to the ST-Z 230, and one number tells the whole story.
Quick Overview
- The ST-MAX 230 is Mizuno’s 2024 max-forgiveness driver, a 460cc head with a 54g weight in the back.
- It launched at $499.99. It’s discontinued now, and used ones sold for $189.99 to $239.99 in September 2026.
- On my launch monitor, it spun about 770 rpm more than the ST-Z 230 and didn’t go as far.
- It came in 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees, with a Quick Switch hosel that adjusts four degrees.
- Mizuno’s replacement is the JPX ONE, so this is a used-market driver from here on.
Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver Specs
Here’s what you’re getting. Used listings change the shaft, flex and length, so check the exact build on the one you’re looking at.
| Specification | Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver |
|---|---|
| Release | 2024, ST 230 family |
| Head size | 460cc |
| Back weight | 54g |
| Loft options | 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees |
| Adjustability | Quick Switch hosel, four degrees |
| Standard length | 45.75 inches |
| Lie | 60.5 degrees nominal, 59 to 62 degree range |
| Face and crown | Forged Beta Rich Titanium face, multi-thickness CORTECH face, composite crown |
| Stock shafts seen | LIN-Q Red, Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 50, HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 60, Helium NanoCore 4F1 |
| Launch MSRP | $499.99 |
| Used price (September 2026) | $189.99 to $239.99 |
| Status | Discontinued; JPX ONE is the replacement |
The ST-MAX 230 Is Built to Get the Ball Up and Keep It Stable
This is the big, friendly one in the ST 230 family. It’s a 460cc head with a longer, stretched look at address, and Mizuno put a 54g weight in the back. That weight is there for stability and launch. If you like seeing a lot of club behind the ball, you’re going to like how this one sits.
Then there’s the CORTECH Chamber. Basically, Mizuno pushed its energy management structure into the Quick Switch area, closer to the face. The idea is to hold onto ball speed when you catch it away from the center. The face is forged Beta Rich Titanium with a multi-thickness design, and the crown has a bigger composite section.
So what does that mean for you? This is a driver built to keep your bad swings in play. It’s not built to squeeze out the last few yards. If your misses are all over the face, that’s the right trade.
And it does get the ball moving. When I hit it on the SkyTrak+, my best three swings with the ST-MAX averaged 142 mph of ball speed. That’s actually more ball speed than I got out of the ST-Z 230.
My Numbers Show the Catch: It Spins a Lot More Than the ST-Z 230
Here’s how I tested them. I hit 20 balls with each driver and kept my top three from each one. Then I put the averages side by side.
| Average of my top 3 swings | ST-MAX 230 | ST-Z 230 |
|---|---|---|
| Ball speed (mph) | 142 | 139 |
| Backspin (rpm) | 3,537 | 2,766 |
| Launch angle (degrees) | 12 | 14 |
| Offline (yards) | 29 | 22 |
| Descent angle (degrees) | 38 | 36 |
| Total distance (yards) | 241 | 252 |
Look at the spin. The ST-MAX averaged 3,537 rpm. The ST-Z 230 averaged 2,766. That’s about 770 rpm more spin out of the forgiving head, and you can see it everywhere else in that table. The ST-MAX came down steeper, it finished shorter, and it ended up further offline.
So even with more ball speed, it didn’t go as far. That’s what extra spin does to a drive.
It actually launched lower for me too, 12 degrees against 14 for the ST-Z. So the height came from spin, not launch.
Now, these are one golfer’s numbers. My club speed was between 93 and 99 mph on those swings. If you swing slower and you struggle to get the ball up, that extra spin can actually help you keep it in the air. But if you already spin your driver too much, the ST-MAX is going to make it worse.
At About $190 Used, It Costs a Fraction of a 2026 Max Driver
This is the real reason to look at the ST-MAX 230 right now. The price.
Used ones were selling from $189.99 at 2nd Swing up to $239.99 for a certified pre-owned one at GlobalGolf in late September 2026. Rock Bottom Golf had a new closeout listed at $299.95, but it was out of stock.
Now compare that to a new max-forgiveness driver in 2026. The PING G440 Max was $619 at Dick’s Sporting Goods. The TaylorMade Qi4D Max and the Callaway Quantum Max were both $649.99. So a used ST-MAX costs you about a third of what those do. I break down Callaway’s newest family in my Callaway Quantum driver review.
But you’re not getting a new driver for that money. You’re getting a 2024 head, no current Mizuno fitting support, and whatever shaft and grip the last owner had in it. At $190, I think that’s a good trade. At $300, I’d think a lot harder about it. And if you’re still figuring out what kind of driver you even need, start with my guide to choosing a golf driver.
The Quick Switch Hosel Makes a Used ST-MAX Less of a Gamble
Here’s something that makes buying one used a lot less risky. You can change the loft. The ST-MAX 230 has Mizuno’s Quick Switch hosel with four degrees of adjustment, and it came in 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees.
So if you find a clean one with the right shaft but the loft isn’t quite what you play, you’re not stuck. Just move it.
The shaft is the part you can’t adjust. 2nd Swing listed stock shafts like the LIN-Q Red, the Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 50, the HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 60 and the Helium NanoCore 4F1, depending on the flex and configuration. Those are very different shafts. Read the listing for the exact shaft and flex before you pay. And if you’re not sure what flex you need, here’s how to figure out your golf shaft flex.
What I Don’t Love
There’s a catch. There’s always a catch. Past the spin, the biggest one with the ST-MAX 230 is that you’re buying a discontinued driver used.
Mizuno has moved on to the JPX ONE, so every ST-MAX you find has a history. The shaft, the flex, the grip, the headcover and the condition change from listing to listing. Look at the face and crown photos, make sure the adaptor is included, and buy from somewhere with a return policy.
Then there’s the length. The standard build is 45.75 inches. A longer shaft can add a little speed, but it can also make it harder to find the center of the face. On a driver that’s supposed to bail you out when you miss the center, that’s a weird trade. If the one you buy is built long and contact is already your problem, get it cut down.
Who It’s For
Buy it if:
- You want a big, stable 460cc driver and you’re fine buying used.
- Your misses are all over the face, and keeping it in play matters more to you than max distance.
- You have a hard time getting your driver in the air.
- You want a forgiving driver for about a third of the price of a new 2026 max driver.
Skip it if:
- You already hit a high, spinny drive. Look at the ST-Z 230 instead.
- You want a new driver with current support and fitting. Look at the JPX ONE or a 2026 max driver.
- You don’t want to inspect a used club before you buy it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mizuno ST-MAX 230 forgiving enough for a high handicapper?
Yes. It’s Mizuno’s 2024 max-forgiveness head, a 460cc driver with a 54g back weight for stability. It’s a good match for mid and higher handicap golfers who want a big head that’s easy to keep in the air. Just make sure the shaft flex on the used one you buy actually fits your swing.
Is the Mizuno ST-MAX 230 still worth buying?
It is at the right price. Used ones sold for $189.99 to $239.99 in September 2026, and that’s a lot less than any new 2026 max driver. The closer you get to $200, the better the deal. At $300 for leftover new stock, I’d want to see the exact build first.
Is the Mizuno ST-MAX 230 or the ST-Z 230 better?
For me, the ST-Z 230. In my numbers it averaged 2,766 rpm of spin against 3,537 for the ST-MAX, and it went further and straighter. The ST-MAX is the better pick if you want the biggest, most forgiving look and you need help getting the ball up. Here’s my full Mizuno ST-Z 230 review.
What replaced the Mizuno ST-MAX 230?
The JPX ONE series. The ST-MAX 230 came out in 2024, and Mizuno named the JPX ONE as its successor in 2026. The standard JPX ONE is the higher-forgiveness, straighter-flight model, and the JPX ONE SELECT is the more tour-style option.
What loft should I get in a used ST-MAX 230?
Start with the loft you play now. It came in 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees, and the Quick Switch hosel gives you four degrees of adjustment, so you can fine-tune it once you have it. If you already struggle to get the ball up, don’t go lower than what you play today.
Final Thoughts: Mizuno ST-MAX 230 Driver Review
Here’s where I land. If you want a big, forgiving driver and you find a clean used ST-MAX 230 around $190, buy it. That’s a lot of driver for the money. But if you already spin the ball too much, skip it and get the ST-Z 230, because that’s the one that went further and straighter for me. Either way, check the shaft, the flex and the condition on the listing before you pay.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former four-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.