Srixon have had a great start to 2025, with Hideki Matsuyama, Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox all winning on the PGA Tour using their gear. Even Scottie Scheffler has picked up a victory with a ZU85 Utility Iron in the bag.
At the start of the year the brand unveiled their latest generation of the ZX line with the new ZXi Irons. We recently tested the ZXi7 and we were impressed; now it’s the turn of the ZXi5 Irons.
Who Are They Aimed At?
The ZXi5 irons are essentially the big brother of the ZXi7. Some people may call them game improvement irons, but I’d describe them as ‘players distance’.
I could see a wide range of golfers, from single figures all the way up to those who regularly shoot in the 90s, using and benefitting from these irons.
If you want something a little sleeker, the ZXi7 irons are the choice of plenty of tour players. If you need a bit more forgiveness and a friendlier look, the ZXi4 are a real game improvement option. The ZXi5 sits somewhere in between, and the performance is excellent.
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The Tech
The big new story this time around is the introduction of i-Forged technology. This uses a new Condensed Forging technique, strengthening particular sections of each iron to optimise performance.
In the ZXi5 irons it stretches from the high toe area, along the topline of the blade. Then the forged faces are softened, to improve the feel. Adding tungsten weight allows the CG to be placed in the correct position for performance.
The Mainframe technology is back for a third generation. This has milled channels on the back of the face, providing variable thickness levels.
It maximises energy transfer to the ball, as well as saving weight which can be redistributed to raise MOI.
Also featuring is the Tour V.T. Sole. This is a combination of sole widths, bounces and notches to help with turf interaction and encourage better strikes.
The longer irons feature wider grooves, whilst the 8 iron down have deeper, closer grooves. This helps to ensure more consistent spin throughout the set.
Srixon ZXi5 Irons Review
Looks and Feel
The ZXi5 irons have quite an angular look to them, with some sharp lines and edges that give off a strong, modern feel. They reminded me a lot of the previous ZX5 irons I tested a couple of years ago. If I had to choose between the two, I’d say this new version just edges it on looks – the black detailing gives it a slightly more refined, premium feel.
There’s a cavity cut into the back of the sole, and the combination of chrome, black, and white gives it a clean, timeless look that I think most golfers will get on with. It’s simple but smart and not too flashy.
The sole is fairly prominent when you look down at the club, which immediately makes you feel like there’s a bit of forgiveness there.
That’s always a welcome sight, especially on the longer irons. I’ve used Srixon’s Tour V.T. sole before and have always been a fan. It just gives you that extra bit of help through the turf, which builds confidence.
As you get into the shorter irons, the shape of the sole starts to feel a bit more like a wedge, which I really liked. It helps you narrow in on strike and gives that little boost of precision when you’re closer to the green.
At address, things look much more conventional. The head size is just right – big enough to offer a bit of help, but still compact enough to look like a player’s iron. It sits really nicely behind the ball and frames it well.
Feel-wise, there’s a solid click at impact. It’s not the softest iron I’ve ever hit, but it strikes a good middle ground – it feels quick off the face without losing all the feedback.
Performance
The 7-iron in the ZXi5 set comes in at 31 degrees of loft, which is very similar to my current Callaway Apex Ti Fusion irons. This made for a straightforward comparison during testing.
When hitting balls on the GCQuad, I was impressed by how consistent the numbers were. The added forgiveness built into the ZXi5 irons really stood out. Even when I didn’t catch one perfectly, the drop-offs in distance and dispersion weren’t too severe, which was a relief.
On average, I was carrying the 7-iron just under 170 yards, which is right where I’d expect. More importantly, it felt very easy to achieve that number. The 5 iron performed similarly well, although it did fly a little shorter than I’d ideally like. That said, it was extremely easy to hit, and even on a couple of slight mis-hits, I was only losing around 10 to 15 yards – still usually enough to get to the front of the green.
One downside I did find was with spin. As a naturally low-spin player, I noticed that the spin rates throughout the set were on the lower side. With the 7-iron, I was seeing around 4400 rpm. For me, that’s not quite enough spin to stop the ball quickly, particularly on drier surfaces.
Out on the course I saw a slight draw bias, but the clubs were very easy to strike. I felt that throughout testing: even my less-than-perfect strikes were launching high and travelling solid distances. At times, the face felt a little “hot,” and I did battle the low spin again, but there’s no doubt that it took some of the pressure off my long irons.
With a dry spring producing plenty of firm, tight fairway lies, the Tour VT sole really came into its own. Turf interaction was excellent, and I felt confident that I could strike it cleanly from most lies.
This performance carried over into the rough as well—despite the lies, it always felt like I could get the ball up and flying with minimal effort.
Srixon ZXi5 Irons Verdict
Overall, I think the ZXi5 irons are a great option for mid-handicap golfers. They look relatively compact at address, which will appeal to those who prefer a slightly sleeker profile, but they still offer plenty of power and forgiveness. I found them really easy to strike throughout the set, even on the longer irons.
They’d also work really well as part of a combo set. You could pair the ZXi5 in the longer irons for a bit more help and distance, and then blend into the ZXi7 in the shorter irons for a bit more control – just like Sepp Straka does on tour.
At just under £1000 for a set of six irons, I’d say the price is pretty reasonable too. In today’s market, that represents decent value for a good set like this one.
Would I Use Them?
Whilst I loved the overall look and forgiveness, I did struggle with the low spin rates. I think this would be an issue for me when it came to holding greens in the summer. I think the ZXi7 Irons could be a real option though…
