Srixon Z-745 irons.... who’s playing or played them?

[nitram]

You just described the J40CB.

[jmck]

Close. The J40s are noticeably longer heel to toe, and a bit bigger overall. The heel to toe length is most pronounced in the long irons, and the bigger overall footprint is most pronounced in the short irons. If you take the 3i and PW of each set and set them down next to each other you'll see exactly what I mean. They are very similar designs though, and both excellent. Two of my favorites. Definitely a thinner topline on the 40s. And the V-sole design is a little more aggressively shaped on the 745s. I'd offer to take side by side pics, but my set of J40s is in a bag in my office....so I haven't seen them for about a month.

The 7s and 9s blend perfectly. Thinner soles on the 9s for sure, but from address they're pretty much identical. I'm on my second set of 7/9s, split 4-7 and 8-W. There's nothing wrong with the 745 short irons, I just find the 945s to have a slightly lower natural ball flight which I like.

There's a reason the 745s still get a ton of play on tour, despite being several generations and 6+ years old. They're just really really really good and IMO Srixon has yet to improve on them (I also don't think Bridgestone has improved on the J40s for that matter). As far as Srixon vs. everything else goes, well to each his own, but I can play anything and am a huge iron ho and there's nothing that anyone--from Mizuno to Miura and back again--has made since the 7/945s came out that I like better than the 7/945s.

Here's set #2 for me. The raw ones look a tiny bit smaller behind the ball than the chrome ones do, so that's one way to knock the topline down a bit. The last time I liked a set of irons enough to move onto a second set of them after wearing one out was the MP-14s.

[jt2gt]

Nice...thanks for the pics. Did you raw them yourself...how'd you do it? I got on 745s last season and tested a bunch other new stuff and 745 won out. Of course, I had to pick up some 785, but I think I may stick with the OG.

[nitram]

No need for pics as I agree with you. I was just responding to J13's post and the thinner top line of the J40. Having bagged both the J40 CB and the 745/945 combo set I am very fond of them both, just prefer the J40.

[Nixhex524]

The J40 DPC is bigger heel to toe than the 745s but the J40 CB are not. The size is very close actually with the top line being thinner on the J40 and the sole grinds being a tad different, but similar.

All the talk of the 745s being a "rip off" of some Mizzy is just dumb. There are a lot of irons that have packed the weight in the cavity the way the 745 has long before it. They may not look exactly the same but that triangle designed weighting is found on numerous irons before. It's how Srixon refined it and built a forgiving, power packed players CB with exceptional feel that is special. Design department really nailed it on this model (and the 945s honestly) and I think was a HUGE reason Srixon hit the market so strong in 2013/14 and even since then. Couple that with a fair price point and Modus shafts from the factory and they are hard to look past.

[Jwh16]

With your nunchuk shaft in the U745, why did you opt for the hybrid shaft I stead of the taper tip 355 version?

I am looking for a shaft replacement for mine is why I’m asking. Any feedback on stiffness of the shaft? I usually like very stiff shafts

thanks

jim

[jmck]

Guys, I promise you that the J40 CB is longer heel to toe than the Z745. Vernier calipers don't lie.

[Nixhex524]

Out of curiosity, by how much are the J40s longer heel to toe? I ask as I have had the J40 CB and 745 next to each other and there was no major difference to be seen.

[t4t3r]

I believe the calipers but looking at my two 8 irons side by side, the difference is pretty much impossible to discern by eye. The shaping of each in the toe area being a little different plus the width of the face plays tricks with the sizing visually to me. I do see the soles being a little wider on the 745 but again, that could be another illusion due to the V-sole.

[Nixhex524]

That's my opinion, too. I have no problem believing the calipers either, but I would not say there is a "noticeable" difference. If we are talking DPC, then yes, it's not even a question. Either way, both fantastic irons and very similar. Also agree on the sole width of the 745s, but this also helps make them a little more forgiving I think, too.

[jmck]

People have different thresholds for noticeable. To me it's very plain to see, calipers not needed. YMMV.

[t4t3r]

Good to know. I have 2 sets of 745, one of which needs to be reshafted, but I am interested in putting them in play over my J40 CBs which I've been playing since late last year. None of them have beaten the J15 CB for me, but the desire to tinker is too great to just throw one of those sets back in the bag. Really haven't spent much time with the 745s so I want to give them another go.

[Dustin]

Only reason is that I had one handy and liked the weight so figured I'd try it out and it worked like a charm. Not sure the profile difference between it and the taper tip iron shaft, but i've now built 4 of them and guys love them. I'll never take mine out of the bag.

[nitram]

Welcome to WRX Jim.

[Nixhex524]

I am just curious though, since you mentioned that the calipers told you otherwise, what the actual measurement is.... It's so close to my eye, would love to know what the actual difference is. Even if we are talking J15 CB, yes, there is a noticeable size difference but the J40 CB were smaller than the J15 CB as well.

[jmck]

I’m also curious now, lol. I’ll grab them next time I’m in my office and we’ll see.

[conted]

I've been gaming the z745s (w/ Modus125) since they came out except for one season where I put 765s in play, thinking, they had improved on something, but it was a step back for may be more "pretty" with rounded edges. I sold them and luckily I hadn't put the 745s on BST. I did just switch out the Pw for the zForged (the z745 Pw is credited with my only hole-in-one...).

[bogeyblues20]

Beautiful in the raw finish.

 

[J13]

I had a set of Bstones before and the heel to toe length always turned me off and i sold them rather quickly. Bought them site unseen. They have a great shape to them though.

[joakimpekkari]

How did you get them raw? looks awesome!

[jokerusn]

Best irons I've ever played. Nothing comes close.

[jmck]

Buddy of mine owns a shop that does European sports car restorations. He doesn't have the equipment himself but he has a metal guy who does. The process itself is simple--the chrome and nickel underneath are electrolytically stripped--but the equipment needed to do it correctly and the disposal of the waste created are no joke. It can also be done in an acid bath (you'll occasionally see it recommended in a DIY chrome removal thread), but the acids strong enough to do so are also no joke and will happily eat through the metal underneath. And again, proper disposal of that type of waste is well beyond the scope of a DIY'er. Anyway, if you want to give it a shot, do it the right way and find a shop in your area that does restorative work on car bumpers or trim. Cost depends on how well you know the guy. So anywhere from a six pack to maybe a maximum of $10 per head? They just throw them in the tank when they're doing a bumper or whatever.

On another note, I still haven't been to my office (last time there was 3/13--unbelievable to think back to the glory days of a month and a half ago...) but I'll probably pop in at some point this week and I'll grab the J40 CBs and take some in hand pics of them next to the 745s. Then we can settle that debate once and for all, lol. Granted it's been a while since I sat them down next to each other, but some of the posts in this thread have me thinking I'm taking crazy pills!

[jt2gt]

I've gone back to my 745 and liking them a bunch. BTW...anyone have an extra 945 single 9 iron laying around. I am putting together a short set and need the 945 9 -- head or shafted fine.

Thanks for the rundown on the raw 745...they look awesome.