2024 Srixon ZXi Irons

On first impressions, the new Srixon ZXi iron release appears to be tracking the footprints of its predecessor, the powerhouse ZX Mk II irons, whose two-year tenure has come to an end. Given Srixon tend not to swing too wildly from one generation to the next, it does seem to follow the well-thumbed script of incremental improvement in their forged iron line-up.

Scratch the surface, however, and the new ZXi4, ZXi5, ZXi7 and ZXiU irons appear to be much more than that. They are fundamentally different from the ground up, which can largely be chalked up to something Srixon call “i-Forged technology”.

i-FORGED TECHNOLOGY

The success of a forged iron depends largely on how they feel. Soft and buttery is a much easier sell than harsh and clicky, after all.

Srixon’s new i-Forged technology delivers a significantly softer, pure feel throughout the ZXi iron line-up, which includes ZXi7 player’s irons, ZXi5 player’s-distance irons, ZXi4 game improvement irons and ZXiU utility irons. Conceivably, it seems a tough ask to introduce any meaningful change to the forging process, which is essentially a huge hammer pounding red hot billets of steel until they resemble an iron head in draft form.

However, Srixon consider their new i-Forged process to be one their greatest innovations. Softer steel will always offer better feel. The trade-off, however, is that soft steel requires bolstering to withstand the considerable forces that occur at impact. Without support structures, iron heads made from soft steel would eventually buckle in a crumpled heap.

Srixon’s workaround to solve this conundrum is i-Forged technology, and its new Condensed Forging technique is the secret sauce of the ZXi iron range.

SOFTER STEEL, BETTER FEEL

Condensed Forging works like this: when a ZXi iron head has been roughly formed in the initial forging phase, a series of small steel protrusions are tacked on in the zones that bear the most stress. On the ZXi7 iron, that location occurs near the hosel. In the ZXi5 and ZXiU, it’s along the topline and around the toe.

The heads are then reheated and pounded by the forge hammer again. The protrusions are integrated into the iron head, to insert extra strength where it’s needed.

Srixon’s end game with their i-Forging process was simple: the softer the steel, the better the feel. And Condensed Forging was the catalyst that enabled Srixon to employ softer steel in all their ZXi iron models.

The player’s ZXi7 iron uses a new S15C carbon steel. It’s the softest steel ever utilised in a Srixon forged iron and equates to a seven per cent softer feel compared to the ZX Mk II irons. The two-piece forged ZXi5 and ZXiU irons feature bodies made from S20C steel, which provides a combination of softness and strength, and a SUP10 forged steel face that is 14 per cent softer than its predecessor. And the hollow-bodied ZXi4 iron features a SUS17-47 steel body and HT1770 face, which is dramatically softer than previous generations of the ZX4 iron.

MAINFRAME AND PUREFRAME

The third generation of Srixon’s MainFrame design touches down in the new ZXi5, ZXi4 and ZXiU irons. As the ZXi7 iron is a one-piece forging, it features PureFrame.

For the uninitiated, MainFrame is the pattern of channels and ridges installed on the rear of the face. MainFrame’s goal is to maximise ball speed from every part of the face and in the new ZXi irons, it’s a better MainFrame.

Srixon ran countless A.I. simulations to map the most common impact areas on a face. This information gave Srixon engineers the opportunity to design unique MainFrame face topologies for the ZXi5, ZXi4 and ZXiU models to produce extra speed, consistency and forgiveness in all three heads.

For the ZXi7 iron, the PureFrame design was bulked up with a bigger ridge positioned behind the sweet spot. This new addition stiffens the face for less deformation and vibration at impact, to allow the irresistibly soft, signature feel of the ZXi7 iron to shine.

PROGRESSIVE GROOVES AND VT SOLE

Srixon continue with their progressive groove pattern in the ZXi iron line-up.

In the 3-7 irons, wider and shallower grooves are spread farther apart, while the short irons (8-PW) are given deeper and narrower grooves. It allows a thinner MainFrame face in the long irons to extract maximum distance while creating greater control and spin consistency in the short irons. A laser milled texture is also applied in between the grooves on all models to increase friction for more consistent spin rates and performance in wet conditions.

Meanwhile, a Tour VT sole design features throughout the ZXi iron range. Progressive sole widths and bounce throughout the set guarantees smooth turf interaction from the fairway, rough and sand and minimises speed loss.

SRIXON ZXi7 IRONS

The new ZXi7 iron is a single-piece, forged cavity-back iron featuring a level of friendliness that is rare in a purebred player’s iron. Featuring a thin topline, narrow sole and minimal offset, the ZXi7 is headlined by a soft new S15C carbon steel that complements Srixon’s feel enhancing PureFrame design.

ZXi7 long irons are installed with a tungsten weight in the toe, which helps off-centre strikes by increasing spin and distance.

SRIXON ZXi5 IRONS

MainFrame technology powers the two-piece ZXi5, which now must be considered the softest player’s-distance iron in the game. Featuring a slightly longer blade length than the ZXi7 iron and a wider sole, the ZXi5 iron body is constructed from a soft S20C steel. It’s connected to a MainFrame-enabled SUP10 face that offers a sublimely soft impact feel.

ZXi5 irons are installed with a moderate amount of offset and provide more forgiveness and distance for players who seek a level of workability in their irons.

SRIXON ZXi4 IRONS

Hollow-bodied game improvement don’t normally look as luscious as the new Srixon ZXi4. Forged from a super soft SUS12-47 steel and featuring Srixon’s headlining MainFrame technology, ZXi4 irons help extract maximum speed out of your swing while also injecting maximum forgiveness into your game.

There is no foam or microsphere vibration absorbing material in ZXi4 irons — it’s purely the softness of the steel that creates such incredible feel.

SRIXON ZXiU UTILITY IRONS

Srixon ZXiU utility irons might make you nervous with their blade-like appearance, but the long iron replacements are so easy to launch high and far you’ll be wondering how you ever did without one in the bag. Offering plenty of forgiveness via internal tungsten weighting, ZXiU utility irons feature an incredibly soft feel and minimal offset.

SRIXON ZXi IRONS COMBO SET

A uniform topline and only a subtle difference in sole widths and blade lengths makes building a combo set of ZXi irons incredibly seamless. Choose from a player’s style ZXi7/ZXi5 combo, a ZXi4 and ZXi5 max forgiveness combo of a tour-bred ZXiU/ZXi7 combo set.

SRIXON ZXi IRON SPECIFICATIONS

Australian Launch Date: November 25, 2024

Hand: Right/Left

Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360; Lamkin ST Soft Women’s

Srixon ZXi7 Iron Lofts: 3: 20˚, 4: 22˚, 5: 25˚, 6: 28˚, 7: 32˚, 8: 36˚, 9: 41˚, PW: 46˚, AW: 51˚

Srixon ZXi5 Iron Lofts: 3: 20˚, 4: 22˚, 5: 24˚, 6: 27˚, 7: 31˚, 8: 35˚, 9: 39˚, PW: 44˚, AW: 50˚

Srixon ZXi4 Iron Lofts: 4: 21˚, 5: 23˚, 6: 25.5˚, 7: 28.5˚, 8: 33˚, 9: 38˚, PW: 43˚, AW: 49˚, SW: 56˚

Srixon ZXi4 Women’s Iron Lofts: 5: 23˚, 6: 25.5˚, 7: 28.5˚, 8: 33˚, 9: 38˚, PW: 43˚, AW: 49˚

Srixon ZXiU Utility Iron Lofts: 2: 18˚, 3: 20˚, 4: 23˚

Srixon ZXi Iron Shaft Options: ZXi7: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (steel); ZXi5: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115/100 (steel); KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron (graphite); UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 65 (graphite); ZXi4: KBS Tour Lite (steel); KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron (graphite); UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 65 (graphite); ZXi4 Women’s: UST Helium Nanocore 50; ZXiU: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115; Mitsubishi MMT Utility