ZX5 vs ZX Utility

[Aviador Naval]

Happy with my bag so it’s time to tinker...

 

Thinking about pulling my 26 deg hybrid for either the 24 deg ZX5 5i or 23 deg ZX-Utility 4i.  Would likely order either at 38.25” as my 6i is 37.5” and my 22 deg hybrid is 39”.  Club would be for all around use so performance from turf important.  Hybrid works well but trying to tighten up azimuth dispersion from aim/alignment.

 

I’ve been able to hit the ZX-U.  Shaft was longer than I’d use but it worked well.  The ZX5 6i  was on the trading block for a while but has become one of my favorite clubs.

 

My most likely miss in this part of the bag is thin.  Leading contender is ZX5 5i with same shaft as my irons - perhaps soft stepped once.

 

Thoughts on head choice or shaft (e.g., same as irons or a lighter hybrid/utility)?  Important consideration is height - I’m not looking for a stinger/links/tee club.

 

Thanks.

Edited April 2, 2021 by Aviador Naval

[manima1]

If height is your goal, no question go with the utility iron.

 

Although I will say, I find my 5 series 4 iron to be "hotter" than the U series 4 iron equivalent for what it's worth.  

[Russ757]

My zx5 4 actually put my trusty 588 Mt in the placeholder bag

[Chicago23]

I was considering something similar - swapping my ZX5 3-iron and 5-iron for a ZXU 2I and 4I. However, these comments are giving me some pause, as it seems like I might not get any notable gains in carry. I've only just started playing with the ZX5s here in MN, and have found them hot for sure. Construction b/t the two seems similar (Mainframe, SUP10 face), so maybe I should maintain the status quo and save a few $$$??

[nostatic]

could also ponder a ZX4 with the same shaft as your ZX5. The 4i is 21*, 5i is 23*, 6i is 25.5*.

Edited April 6, 2021 by nostatic

[even_steven]

I have gone with 5-PW in ZX7 and then the ZXU in 3-4 irons, very happy with that choice.

[me05501]

Seems like the shaft is super important in this part of the bag.

 

I like a heavier, stiffer shaft in a hybrid, but have found that a lighter, softer shaft works better for me in a driving iron type club.

 

I had a U65 4/23 for a season and there were times when I hit it great, but in the end the shaft was too stiff for me. Lately I'm tempted to buy another one and try it on the shaft I prefer in my long irons (softer/higher launching). 

 

 

[JRog1974]

I play the zx7’s, 5-gap. Stiff and 2-degrees upright. I am considering replacing my hybrid 4 with a zx utility iron. I was thinking the zx 4u. Would anyone recommend a 4-iron as a zx4 or zx5 instead?  Thanks for the feedback. 

[Ryan19jwu]

1 hour ago, JRog1974 said:

I play the zx7’s, 5-gap. Stiff and 2-degrees upright. I am considering replacing my hybrid 4 with a zx utility iron. I was thinking the zx 4u. Would anyone recommend a 4-iron as a zx4 or zx5 instead?  Thanks for the feedback. 

I play zx7 5-gap and have been using the zx UT as a 4i and I love it. It’s a rocket and I can get it to chase out off the tee if needed. Flies high off the deck as well. 
 

I have the zx7 and zx5 in the 4i and I prefer the UT in most situations. If I need to play a higher shot and don’t plan on using it off the tee the zx7 seems to fly higher and land softer. The zx5 and the UT are both hot, but I find the UT to be better off the tee and faster for my home course. No real need for me to ever hit it into a green, but I can use it off the tee 2 or 3 times a round. 
 

just my $.02. 

[BallerNate]

2 hours ago, JRog1974 said:

I play the zx7’s, 5-gap. Stiff and 2-degrees upright. I am considering replacing my hybrid 4 with a zx utility iron. I was thinking the zx 4u. Would anyone recommend a 4-iron as a zx4 or zx5 instead?  Thanks for the feedback. 

I’ve been on the same search for the right club in the 21-22* range. My old 3-iron used to be one of my go-to clubs, but with the lower lofts now I haven’t been able to find the right fit.

 

I finished the season with a 19* Hybrid and 22* Hybrid, but really don’t want to carry 2 Hybrids.

 

My setup is similar to yours, I have ZX7 6-GW, ZX5 5-Iron, and my newest experiment is a ZX4 4-iron w/ graphite UST ES 780 F4 shaft.

 

Have only tested it at the indoor range, but so far it looks like an absolute rocket off the Tee!! Haven’t found the right ball position to hit it consistently off the deck yet though, but once I get that dialed in it should be $$$!

[sleepyeg]

I play M3 19 Hybrid, ZX 4 UT, P770 5-Gap wedge. Love the UT, might get rid of the 770's and pick up some ZX 7's. 

[dmeeksDC]

In this loft range I like to go with the most forgiving iron option if possible, a hybrid if that won’t work. With Srixon, that is the ZX4, which launches high, sounds and feels great, and I also like it for its midsized blade length. It is more forgiving than the utility or the ZX5 and I really like the way they cambered the trailing edge to reduce turf interaction with the wider sole. 

[RH82]

Would you guys recommend keeping the 4 iron (for the utility iron) with the same shaft as the rest of the set or going the graphite route?

Edited February 8, 2022 by RH82

[dmeeksDC]

On 2/8/2022 at 8:44 AM, RH82 said:

Would you guys recommend keeping the 4 iron (for the utility iron) with the same shaft as the rest of the set or going the graphite route?

You will get a lot of opinions on this. I don’t go to graphite, I prefer the same shaft as in my other irons, perhaps a little lighter. A lot of players switch to graphite in this spot.
 

Just ordered a set with Project X LX 6.0 and went LZ 5.5 in a more forgiving 4 iron. I figure it already has more launch and forgiveness than my full set, so don’t really need the shaft to help in that regard. I prefer the consistency and the club feeling pretty much like my others. 

[me05501]

On 4/6/2021 at 9:05 AM, me05501 said:

Seems like the shaft is super important in this part of the bag.

 

I like a heavier, stiffer shaft in a hybrid, but have found that a lighter, softer shaft works better for me in a driving iron type club.

 

I had a U65 4/23 for a season and there were times when I hit it great, but in the end the shaft was too stiff for me. Lately I'm tempted to buy another one and try it on the shaft I prefer in my long irons (softer/higher launching). 

 

 

 

 

Since I made this post I picked up a U85 4 with the Recoil shaft. I wanted the head to feel a bit lighter so I recently added an 8g butt weight. It feels better to me now. 

 

I still need to practice with it more, but it is a better fit for me over the stock orange shaft. 

 

I have a 4 iron to match my Z565's and I hit it pretty well too. It's definitely not night and day between the Z565 and the U85. After some more range time I may consider moving the shaft from the four iron into the U85.