The ZX7 and ZX5 irons by Srixon were the most talked about and loved irons of the last two years. The first rule when replacing an iron with this kind of resume is to not mess it up! You can listen to the Club Junkie below, or any other podcast platform, for a detailed review. Search GolfWRX Radio.
The ZX7 and ZX5Mk II irons were my first impressions. They are immediately recognizable as Srixon irons. The ZX7 Mk II’s traditional design is simple and doesn’t have any metal or plastic badges in its cavity. It is simply painted matte silver. Srixon gave the ZX5 Mk II a small, simple badge made of a combination matte silver and chrome.
Both irons look very similar to me, so I love the design of them both. The ZX7 Mk II has an offset and a blade length that is slightly longer than the ZX7 Mk I. This will be a great choice for lower handicap players. The ZX5 Mk II also has most of this DNA. It is slightly larger than the 7 but has excellent proportions and a slight offset. The toplines of both irons are a bit thicker than I expected, but not distracting. Srixon’s Tour VT sole is featured on both irons for amazing turf interaction in a variety of turf conditions.
Srixon ZX7Mk II
I loved the ZX7 Mk II irons, as did many other golfers. The ZX7 Mk II is a great choice for those who want a soft, solid feel on their first shots. PureFrame’s new design places more mass in the middle of the face. Even with lower quality range balls, you can feel the ball compress and leave the laser-etched face. The ZX7 Mk II will strike the turf with that same solid sound as a golf ball.
This iron is a single-piece forged cavity back. However, it can forgive poor shots. It is responsive and provides immediate feedback. However, it still maintains some ball speed as well as launch. Low shots hit on the face were flattened but the iron still managed to maintain some launch so you could produce a shot that didn’t endanger your round. These irons are known for their consistency and even the most exact players will appreciate the ability to rely on their yardages when it is important. The ZX7 Mk II offered me a straight to a slightly faded ball flight. Although I was able to turn it over and hit the draw, normal swings did not include the left side.
Launch was slightly lower than the ZX5 Mk II but around a 1*. It is still easy to elevate for a lower-ball hitter like me. The Tour VT sole no has not been tested as I haven’t had the opportunity to do so since my testing was done on mats. However, I am confident that it will perform well in soft Michigan conditions just like the ZX7.
Srixon ZX5Mk II
I was impressed by the last version of this iron for its versatility and impressive packaging. The ZX5 Mk II is still a revelation. It looks great, and Srixon did an excellent job of puttingter a lot of ball speed and forgiveness into such a beautiful package. It feels great for a multi-piece head. The ball bounces off the surface with a soft click and is very responsive to impact. Although you may not feel the ball compressing on your face, it will feel like the ball is bouncing into the horizon. The ZX5 Mk II feels quick and you can feel MainFrame technology working to increase the ball speed. MainFrame is fast. I have yet to find a hot spot, but I know I have hit it all across the face.
The distance control is excellent and mishits will still give you enough carry to get it to the front or near the green. Ballspeed was approximately 2 mph faster than ZX7 Mk II and it spun around 100-150 RPM more with a 6-iron. Although the sole is wider than the 7, it still glides through the mats at the same speed. This should give you a little more forgiveness for shots that are just a bit behind the ball.
Overall, I believe Srixon did a great job with the ZX7 Mk II as well as ZX5 Mk II irons. Although they made minor improvements, they didn’t alter the outstanding attributes of each iron. Players who were fitted into ZX7 or ZX5 irons will notice a significant difference and may be forced to switch. It doesn’t seem so. These will be great for players who are looking for new irons, and have read or heard the amazing things about the previous generation.
