The ZX7 and ZX7 MKII irons from Srixon have consistently proven themselves to be some of the best irons in the game. Consistently featuring in the bags of non-contracted touring professionals over the years, there is often no higher compliment to be paid to a golf club than this. I have been testing the latest iteration of this model, the ZXi7, to see if the legacy continues and if they can compete with some of the best golf irons in the game…
In terms of the technology changes, the main story here is about improving the impact feel of the irons. Having tested the previous iterations pretty comprehensively, I was a little skeptical as to how this could be achieved, mainly because the bar had been set so high. Srixon has tackled this through a process it calls ‘i-FORGED’.
“The i-Forging process gave us the unique ability to select which steels would be best suited for each ZXi Iron, promoting a better hitting feel and overall performance,” Joe Miller, Srixon Europe Product Manager, told us. “On the ZXi7 players Iron, we used a softer steel in S15C. It’s the softest steel we’ve ever had in a forged Srixon Iron. Each new material upgrade serves a specific purpose to balance and strengthen each Iron and give players immediate feedback at contact.”
In an attempt to deliver a more stable strike, an expanded PureFrame has been forged into the body and placed directly behind the sweet spot to reduce undesired vibrations. With these enhancements, Srixon says that the ZXi7 irons have achieved a 9.3 per cent reduction in vibration displacement compared to ZX7 Mk II Irons.
From the ‘in the bag’ perspective, the ZXi7 irons look good, although the complicated topography and contouring may put off some. That said, the branding is fairly minimal, and the limited use of color offers a very sophisticated aesthetic. Down behind the ball, however, is where they really begin to excel. Everything about these irons in the playing position suits my eye, and I feel Srixon has ticked every box. Compact without being intimidating, with a mid-slim top edge and minimal but still perceptible offset, this whole visual is so well-balanced.
I tested these irons out at Saunton Golf Club using TaylorMade TP5 golf balls and gathered data on my FullSwing KIT launch monitor, and it proved one of the most enjoyable afternoon testing sessions that I have had in recent memory.
In these low handicap, compact irons, data isn’t generally where I place the most amount of scrutiny. While consistency is always critical in this category (which the ZXi7 provides in abundance) they are not designed to produce mind-blowing distance (for context the 7 iron comes in at 32° of loft) or stratospheric height, the true test of this type of iron lies more in the unquantifiable parameters.
Firstly, one of the most impressive features of the previous iterations has always been the impressive turf interaction from the Tour V.T. sole, and I am relieved to say that is still very much with us in the ZXi7. The versatility of this sole cannot be overstated, with it cutting through the firm links turf I generally play from as well as gliding through softer, wetter inland turf at this time of year. I know that this sole is the envy of many manufacturers, and for good reason.
Furthermore, the tech work that has been done to enhance the feel of the ZXi7 has without a shadow of a doubt achieved its brief. This sits alongside the TaylorMade P7CB and the Mizuno Pro 241 as one of the best-feeling irons currently available. The strike is buttery soft but with genuine feedback, and the ‘anti-vibration’ work is a masterstroke, particularly on those slightly thin shots that you’ll all be familiar with sending unwanted shockwaves up your arms. In fact, this coupled with the aforementioned turf interaction may just elevate the ZXi7 to the top of the pile in terms of holistic feel.
One of the main objectives when redesigning a model as successful as this must surely be to simply not mess it up. I can unequivocally confirm that not only has Srixon not messed it up in any way, it has also made some genuine upgrades to the ZXi7 which could make for slightly ominous reading for its competitors.
The Srixon ZXi7 irons will retail from £999 for a 6-piece steel set, while the same in graphite shafts will set you back £1,099.
