Srixon ZXi 5 Irons Review

In this Srixon ZXi 5 Irons Review, we share our insights from testing the Srixon ZXi 5 irons – from looks and forgiveness to distance, control, feel and overall value for money. Whether you’re a single-figure golfer or a mid-handicapper looking to take your game to the next level, this deep dive will help determine if the ZXi 5s deserve a spot in your bag.

Looks

The Srixon ZXi 5 irons offer a clean, confidence-inspiring look with a slightly thicker top line than ultra-compact models, yet still maintaining a compact, minimal-offset design. The cavity back features Srixon’s Main Frame technology, strategically positioning tungsten for increased MOI and forgiveness.

Looking down at these from setup you’d have a hard time telling the difference between the Srixon ZX 4, 5 and 7 irons and that is exactly what Srixon want.

The ZX 5 aims to offer great forgiveness and distance in a club that looks like a traditional player’s iron.

Forgiveness

The Srixon ZXi 5 irons offer very good forgiveness considering their size and shape. These are refined-looking irons, so we can’t expect them to compete with the Ping 730 irons or Cleveland Halo XLs.

However, in testing we only saw a 3-4.5 mph drop off in ball speed for shots hit out of the toe and heel. This is thanks to the MainFrame design and multi-piece construction that boosts MOI and stability on off-centre strikes.

The Tour VT sole aims to enhance playability from various lies, while a higher launch angle boosts carry without sacrificing stopping power. We didn’t have any super thick rough to test these from, but they do perform well from a range of lies and don’t feel too chunky on tight lies.

Distance

The Srixon ZXi 5 irons aren’t here for out-and-out distance. This is evident with the 7-iron loft sitting at 31º (full lofts at the end of this article) compared to the power-focused Srixon ZXi 4 irons with a 7-iron loft of 28.5º.

As a result, the ZXi 5 irons generate a lower ball speed and more backspin with each club. The uniquely designed forged face does its best to maximise ball speed across the face and these are by no means short, but there are longer irons on the market.

However, the good news is that this forged face and well-lofted irons offer more control, height and spin. In testing, they also created a really tight disruption in terms of distance.

Though not a pure distance iron, the ZXi 5 offers plenty of yardage with optimised launch conditions and great distance control.

Control

As discussed above, the ZXi 5 irons really do shine in terms of control. Their construction and lofts give you a set of irons that offer great control in both distance control and trajectory.

Unlike some player-distance irons, these don’t suffer from the odd iron shot that suddenly bazookas the ball 15 yards further than your average carry (the TaylorMade 770s & 790s both have this issue). The ZXi irons seem to offer consistent spin numbers and as a result reliable distance control.

The compact head and minimal offset make shaping shots pretty easy. They take a little work to hit an excessive fade or draw, but it’s very do-able. More importantly, it’s easy to it a few lower shots without the ball ballooning up into the wind.

Feel

Feel is the standout feature of these irons.

The Srixon ZXi 5 irons offer a powerful, solid feel but still feel buttery soft. It’s a great balance thanks to some clever engineering and their forged design from their S15 steel.

I could happily stand on the range all day hitting these clubs. The shorter irons feel soft and offer great control and the long irons still feel powerful.

These are ideal if you are wanting great feel in a forged iron that still offered forgiveness.

Value

At a price point of £900-£1200 (depending on the number of irons and shaft options) the Srixon ZXi 5 irons offer good value, blending forgiveness, distance, feel, and control in a sleek, player-friendly design.

Forged irons and multi-piece design are both expensive and this is the route Srixon have taken to get the results above. I feel it’s a fair price and cheaper than similar products on the market.

Golf Insider Verdict

The Srixon ZXi 5 irons are cool and fill a really nice space in the market for golfers.

They offer really good forgiveness given their size and solid distance, although they are not the longest. Where they shine is in their ability to offer consistency, control and exceptional feel in an iron that will work for single-figure golfers and teen golfers who are reasonable ball strikers.

If you are after more distance look at the Srixon ZXi 4 irons, but for golfers who want a balanced iron with incredible feel these are well worth heading out to test.

Srixon Combo Set

Srixon purposely built these irons to allow golfers to mix them in with their ZXi 4, and Srixon ZXi 7 irons, meaning you can always consider the Srixon ZXi 4 irons in your longer irons and add in the ZXi 5 irons in your mid and shorter irons.

Alternatives to Consider

Srixon ZXi 4 irons

If these sound great but you crave more distance, then check out the Srixon ZXi 4 irons. They have a lower centre of gravity combined with stronger lofts which result in a higher ball speed and more distance.

I’d estimate they will give you 1/2 to 3/4 of a club extra with a little less backspin, but they are a great option to check out.

Ping G440

The Ping G range has been one of the best-performing irons for many years and their Ping G440 irons are no different. They don’t feel as soft as the Srixon ZX irons, but they offer great performance and will save you a few hundred pounds (depending on the number of irons you opt for).

Frequently Asked Questions

What handicap range do the ZXi 5 irons suit?

The ZXi 5 irons fit golfers from low single-digit up to teen handicaps who strike the ball well. They balance forgiveness, distance, and control. Lower handicaps benefit from shot shaping and feel, while mid-handicappers get good levels of forgiveness and distance. Higher handicaps may prefer a more forgiving game-improvement iron.

How forgiving are the ZXi 5 irons?

The ZXi 5 irons offer exceptional forgiveness for their head size. Heel and toe strikes retain strong ball speeds, and thin shots launch well. Tungsten weighting and a wide sole increase stability. While not as forgiving as super game-improvement irons, they perform well in their category.

What are the best shaft pairings for the ZXi 5 irons?

Go get fitted, but here are some ideas:

• Slower swings: UST Mamiya Recoil dart 65
• Mid-speed: Mitsubishi MMT (graphite), Dynamic Gold R300
• Fast swings: Dynamic Gold S300 or S440, Project X 6.5 (steel) for stability.

A professional fitting will optimise your performance.

Srixon ZXi 5 irons specs

					STEEL SWING WEIGHT		GRAPHITE SWING WEIGHT
HEAD	LOFT	HAND	LIE	OFFSET	LENGTH†	S FLEX	R FLEX	R FLEX	A FLEX
3	20°	RH	60°	4.2mm	39.25″	D3	D2	C9	C8
4	22°	RH/LH	60.5°	4.0mm	38.75″	D3	D2	C9	C8
5	24°	RH/LH	61°	3.8mm	38.25″	D3	D2	C9	C8
6	27°	RH/LH	61.5°	3.6mm	37.75″	D3	D2	C9	C8
7	31°	RH/LH	62°	3.2mm	37.25″	D3	D2	C9	C8
8	35°	RH/LH	62.5°	3.0mm	36.75″	D3	D2	C9	C8
9	39°	RH/LH	63°	2.7mm	36.25″	D3	D2	C9	C8
PW	44°	RH/LH	63.5°	2.2mm	35.75″	D3	D2	C9	C8
AW	50°	RH	63.5°	1.9mm	35.75″	D4	D3	D0	C9
SW	56°	RH	63.5°	1.5mm	35.75″	D4	D3	D0	C9

Happy golfing – Will @ Golf Insider