Mizuno have ventured down a new path with their M.Craft City Series putters, and it’s turned me into a blade putter convert.
I’ve never had success with a blade putter before. I’ve tried blade putters on multiple occasions, with the hope of finding one that works. Before using the Mizuno M.Craft City Series Kyoto putter, I thought I was destined for a life using zero-torque putters, but this blade putter could well be the best putter I’ve used in a long time.
The Kyoto hasn’t completely revolutionised my putting, but I don’t think I’ve ever putted with so much confidence with a blade putter in hand. The Kyoto feels as stable as a mallet putter, which is probably hard to fathom considering how sleek the blade is.
The Mizuno M.Craft City Series putter range is made up of four models – two blades and two mallets. The other blade model is the Osaka. I have tested all four models, but the Kyoto is by far my favorite.
Mallet putters have taken over in recent times, but the Kyoto – and to some extent the Osaka – are clear examples as to why, at least in my mind, a blade putter is still the ultimate weapon for a golf purist.
I have never used a blade putter as nice as the Mizuno M.Craft City Series Kyoto, and I think it’s going to take a lot for it to be replaced in my bag.
Price: $300.00 / £299.00
Pros & Cons Ratings Specs Features
Pros Super forgiving and stable for a blade putterLooks incredibleAmazing positive rollThe all-black is very appealingQuality craftsmanship and materials
Looks, Sound, and Feedback
Distance Control and Roll
Forgiveness and Stability
Technology and Components
Loft 3° Lie Angle 70° Length 34″ – 35″ Forged in Japan from Pure Select 1025E Mild Carbon SteelReinforced trim layerCopper underlayDeep Face Milling patternSubtle top-edge alignment decal
Price: $300.00 / £299.00
Pros & Cons Ratings Specs Features
Pros Very stableA blade that feels like a malletAmazing sound and feelQuality craftsmanship and materials Cons Surprisingly not as forgiving as the Kyoto
Looks, Sound, and Feedback
Distance Control and Roll
Forgiveness and Stability
Technology and Components
Loft 3° Lie Angle 70° Length 34″ – 35″ Forged in Japan from Pure Select 1025E Mild Carbon SteelReinforced trim layerCopper underlayDeep Face Milling patternSubtle top-edge alignment decal
I’ve had the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max in my bag for months, and I thought it was going to be in there forever, but the Kyoto is going to my putter for the foreseeable future.
Moving from a zero-torque putter to a blade is highly unusual, but allow me to explain my rationale.
Looks, Sound, and Feedback: 4.5/5
The Mizuno M.Craft City Series Kyoto stands out for all of the right reasons. It’s a timeless and classic design with modern elements that will make it appeal to a wide range of golfers. I really like the all-black design with the Nickel finish, black shaft, and black grip because it all ties in perfectly.
I’m not a huge fan of the Grey Ion finish on the Osaka because I think, compared to the Kyoto, it doesn’t look as premium. The wider blade doesn’t look as sleek, and I think it would have looked better in the Nickel finish.
The Osaka and Kyoto both deliver outstanding sound and feedback because they both incorporate the Copper Underlay that creates an incredibly soft and responsive feel.
Technology and Components: 5/5
Building on from the Copper Underlay, the Kyoto and Osaka both feature the same technology and components that makes them sound so sweet and feel great. From the forged Pure Select 1025E Mild Carbon Steel to the subtle top-edge alignment decal, Mizuno have thought of everything when it comes to technology and components to help the M.Craft City Series putters have great shelf appeal and perform to the highest standard.
The Deep Face Milling pattern produces a smooth roll and enhances acoustic feedback so you know when you’ve hit the perfect putt. One of my favorite features is the design of the sole weights. Not only do they complement the head, but they also remind me of a weapon in a Ninja’s armory.
Distance Control and Roll: 4.25/5
Given that I’ve used mallet putters and zero-torque putters for such a long time, I wasn’t expecting to gauge the distance control so quickly with a blade putter.
I found more success with the Kyoto, but I couldn’t fault the roll either putter delivered. I think my stroke was more positive with the Kyoto, which delivered a more positive roll than when I used the Osaka.
It took me slightly longer to gauge distance control with the Osaka than with the Kyoto, but I didn’t leave any putt outside of gimmie range with either.
Forgiveness and Stability: 4.25
This is the area that surprised me most with both putters, but specifically the Kyoto. I never expected a blade putter to be overly forgiving and stable. It’s definitely possible for a blade to be forgiving and stable, but they rarely feel as stable as a mallet, especially when they’re as sleek as the Kyoto is.
The Osaka feels like a mallet, so much so, if you shut your eyes, you would feel as though you’re holding a mallet. The Kyoto isn’t as stable, but for such a thin blade, it’s very stable.
I thought the Osaka would have been more forgiving than the Kyoto, but I didn’t think it was. I was purposely missing the middle of the face on some putts, and I didn’t see any difference in roll and distance from the Kyoto. However, there was a noticeable drop off in distance when I hit a putt out of the heel with the Osaka. It wasn’t drastic, but enough to make me think the Kyoto is more forgiving.
Final Verdict
Considering I’ve gone from never having any success with a blade putter to now having the Kyoto in my bag, I think you could say I’m a huge fan. The Osaka is my second favorite putter in the M.Craft City Series range, and I definitely didn’t expect to like both models more than the mallet Tokyo and Nagoya putters.
Mizuno have taken a huge step forward from their previous putters, most noticeably in design, craftsmanship, technology, and components. If anyone is looking for a new putter in 2026, I couldn’t recommend this range enough.
AloJapan.com