Tour Srixon MKII ZX5 & ZX7 drivers - 2022 Fortinet Championship

[Cactus Jack]

Are these still under embargo? Besides Crossfield, who I assume gets early access being a staffer, I haven’t seen any of the big reviewers chime in. 

[Kenner300]

It looks like hideki went with the zx5 ls but Ryan fox is using the regular zx5…. Is the zx5 the one to actually test out for? 

[Orange Hog]

13 hours ago, Cactus Jack said:

Are these still under embargo? Besides Crossfield, who I assume gets early access being a staffer, I haven’t seen any of the big reviewers chime in. 

 

Not under embargo any longer.  There are a couple of reviewers on YT that have posted videos but I think Stealth and Paradym have captured a lot of buzz out of the gate, as you'd probably expect with the marketing dollars behind Callaway and Taylormade.  I think you'll see more mainstream reviewers posting some stuff.  Peter Finch did kind of a weird "Japanese clubs" video the other day that wasn't specific to Srixon but he raved about the irons.

 

I just got my irons and woods yesterday and am going to play a quick round today with them.  Just hitting the irons in the garage simulator last night I can say this much...these are the best feeling Srixon irons I've ever hit.  Never thought I'd say that, especially since the 745's were my favorite irons of all time but Srixon absolutely nailed this new launch in every way.

 

Below are some pics of the clubs.  Only one I don't have yet is the hybrid (it arrives this afternoon).

 

My set make up is as follows:

Driver - ZX5 LS Mk II (8.5 degree)

FW - ZX Mk II (15 degree)

Hybrid - ZX Mk II (22 degree)

Irons - ZX4 (4 iron), ZX7 (5-PW)

 

Thoughts:

Driver - love, love, love the matte finish.  I'm interested to see how the titanium crown feels vs the carbon drivers I've been gaming for a while (SIM and Stealth).  The profile reminds me very much of the Taylormade SIM.  My hope is that it performs a bit more consistent thant he SIM.  With the SIM my good strikes were really good but the dippy, low spin hook was the reason I went to the Stealth.  Really hoping that the ZX5 LS doesn't have that same miss but we'll see as I get time with it.

 

 

 

 

 

FW/Hybrid - love the look on these as well.  They don't have a face that looks closed to me like so many fairway woods and hybrids.  Really interested to see how these perform and feel on the course.

 

 

 

Irons - blade length on the ZX7 looks to be a tiny bit shorter heel-to-toe, which I really like vs the Mk1 version.  Not much else is different from a topline perspective that I can see.  Just a super clean looking Srixon iron.  I will say the ZX4 is the biggest change I'm seeing.  The prior version felt very offset and chunky.  This version still looks forgiving but in a much more streamlined "player-type" profile.  It's not clicky either, which was my concern.  Very nice, forged feel on impact.  I could honestly play an entire set of the ZX4 and be really happy with them, which makes me wonder what the point of the ZX5 iron is but that's for another conversation.

 

 

ZX4 4-Iron...

 

 

ZX7 7-Iron...

 

 

Comparing ZX7 to my current gamer Sub70 659 TC...

 

 

 

[Orange Hog]

First round follow up…

 

The ZX5 LS driver performed incredibly well for the maiden voyage.

 

I had a few shots on the range that favored the heel side but the ball ended up right on line.  I tried hitting a couple toward the toe intentionally and saw a similar result.  Feeling out of the middle was so pure.  Trajectory in the 8.5 degree head was awesome! Mid flight that seemed to just carve through the air.

 

I normally hit a draw with my clubs and my miss with the driver is a dippy low spinning over-draw.  With the HZRDUS Blue shaft in this head I literally couldn’t turn over the ball no matter how hard I tried.  I was hitting these sweet little butter fades that dropped on a dime.  This thing is going to be an absolute weapon for me this year.

 

One thing I’m going to have to get used to is the sound.  It’s VERY different than a carbon driver.  Much louder.

 

I hit the fairway wood and hybrid a couple times on the course and several times on the range.  Very predictable ball flight.  Super consistent performance.  Neither wanted to go left which again was exactly what I was hoping for.

Edited January 21, 2023 by Orange Hog

[rainkingjr]

On 12/24/2022 at 9:09 AM, mktrout said:

do we know if the zx5 LS is actually going to be a retail model? Its not listed on the Australian srixon site with all the other new clubs

I read an article that said the ZX5 LS model was going to be a US release only at launch. May change later. Last paragraph.

 

https://www.todays-golfer.com/equipment/golf-clubs/drivers/srixon/zx-mk-ii/srixon-zx5-mk-ii-and-zx7-mk-ii-driver/

Edited January 22, 2023 by rainkingjr

[Longdriver295]

Just ordered ZX5 LS with the ventus blue 5 Reg flex Shaft. I hope it plays as good as it looks! Should be here 1st week of Feb. 

[robbie91]

I got a chance to spend some time hitting through the new lineup today. The irons impressed me and will be ordered, but that wasn't much of a surprise. The metal woods, on the other hand, were pretty mind-blowing. 

[JourdanM]

8 minutes ago, robbie91 said:

I got a chance to spend some time hitting through the new lineup today. The irons impressed me and will be ordered, but that wasn't much of a surprise. The metal woods, on the other hand, were pretty mind-blowing. 

Would love to hear more feedback

[Longdriver295]

12 minutes ago, robbie91 said:

I got a chance to spend some time hitting through the new lineup today. The irons impressed me and will be ordered, but that wasn't much of a surprise. The metal woods, on the other hand, were pretty mind-blowing. 

Mind Blowing as in that Good??

[belh22]

Gonna need some elaboration on that comment lol

[dmeeksDC]

On 1/20/2023 at 11:59 AM, Orange Hog said:

 

Not under embargo any longer.  There are a couple of reviewers on YT that have posted videos but I think Stealth and Paradym have captured a lot of buzz out of the gate, as you'd probably expect with the marketing dollars behind Callaway and Taylormade.  I think you'll see more mainstream reviewers posting some stuff.  Peter Finch did kind of a weird "Japanese clubs" video the other day that wasn't specific to Srixon but he raved about the irons.

 

I just got my irons and woods yesterday and am going to play a quick round today with them.  Just hitting the irons in the garage simulator last night I can say this much...these are the best feeling Srixon irons I've ever hit.  Never thought I'd say that, especially since the 745's were my favorite irons of all time but Srixon absolutely nailed this new launch in every way.

 

Below are some pics of the clubs.  Only one I don't have yet is the hybrid (it arrives this afternoon).

 

My set make up is as follows:

Driver - ZX5 LS Mk II (8.5 degree)

FW - ZX Mk II (15 degree)

Hybrid - ZX Mk II (22 degree)

Irons - ZX4 (4 iron), ZX7 (5-PW)

 

Thoughts:

Driver - love, love, love the matte finish.  I'm interested to see how the titanium crown feels vs the carbon drivers I've been gaming for a while (SIM and Stealth).  The profile reminds me very much of the Taylormade SIM.  My hope is that it performs a bit more consistent thant he SIM.  With the SIM my good strikes were really good but the dippy, low spin hook was the reason I went to the Stealth.  Really hoping that the ZX5 LS doesn't have that same miss but we'll see as I get time with it.

 

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FW/Hybrid - love the look on these as well.  They don't have a face that looks closed to me like so many fairway woods and hybrids.  Really interested to see how these perform and feel on the course.

 

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Irons - blade length on the ZX7 looks to be a tiny bit shorter heel-to-toe, which I really like vs the Mk1 version.  Not much else is different from a topline perspective that I can see.  Just a super clean looking Srixon iron.  I will say the ZX4 is the biggest change I'm seeing.  The prior version felt very offset and chunky.  This version still looks forgiving but in a much more streamlined "player-type" profile.  It's not clicky either, which was my concern.  Very nice, forged feel on impact.  I could honestly play an entire set of the ZX4 and be really happy with them, which makes me wonder what the point of the ZX5 iron is but that's for another conversation.

 

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ZX4 4-Iron...

 

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ZX7 7-Iron...

 

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Comparing ZX7 to my current gamer Sub70 659 TC...

 

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Excellent report. I like your combo. I also am liking the ZX4 as most improved in the lineup and I would be inclined to skip the ZX5 too. What I like is the ZX4 seems to be forgiving without also having a really long blade length. For my preferences the ZX4 looks to be a spectacular game improver iron that doesn’t look clunky. 

 

I’m comparing the Srixons to the JPX 923 lineup (923 Forged and Hot Metal Pro combo), also excellent. Soles are thinner on the Mizunos, and this 923 generation has a little more bounce (still not a lot) than the 921. I would expect the 923F will be more forgiving than the ZX7 simply due to the hidden slot cavity in the 923, but not something that matters in scoring irons. To my eye the Srixons have more compact blade lengths than the Mizunos but I need to compare them up close. I don’t mesh with long-looking blade profiles. 

[robbie91]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:44 PM, Longdriver295 said:

Mind Blowing as in that Good??

 

To be fair, "mind blowing" for what I was expecting. I love Srixon irons, but I had relatively mild expectations for the woods. I figured they would perform solidly enough, but I wasn't thinking there was much of a possibility that I would game them. Here's a report:

 

I started with the MKII fairway. Admittedly, the crown step is not a beauty contest winner, but the matte finish does a decent job of hiding it. The club feels phenomenal, reminiscent of some of the older fairway woods (V-Steel, J33) and the three wood was easy to hit off the deck. Distance was seriously impressive. I doubt it beats out many of the "bigger" brands but it holds its own right with them. The face sits open, which is a real rarity these days and the forgiveness is confidence inspiring. For the price, it's hard to see how someone goes wrong here unless they can't deal with the looks. 

 

Then I headed into the drivers, namely the 5LS and the 7. I don't have a ton to say here. The looks are fine and the graphics on the face aren't very visible in person which I count as a good thing. I'd call it a relatively benign driver, just a typical pear shaped, matte head that sits a tad open. What I will say though, is that the shapes scream old school to me (like Titleist 909 old school) and I REALLY like that. The feel is good. Again, nothing to write home about but it holds its own and a solid, old school, titanium sound is kind of a luxury in these times. What was "mind blowing" here were the numbers. I was a solid 10-15 yards longer than my gamer and just about anything else I've tried in the store. Put that together with the fact that I can buy one for $100+ less than anything else made on the market from the big brands and I'm pretty dang mind blown. 

 

Now, I've been on this site long enough to know my numbers could be an outlier and I can certainly see how some simply won't like the looks of the clubs. I do find them, perhaps a bit boring. But, even if you don't pick up 10 yards, if these clubs can hold their own for the price point, Srixon has a home run ball.

 

Unfortunately, my golf budget is a bit too tiny to afford a full bag of these woods, but I legitimately had a hard time not ordering them on site and that qualifies for "mind blown" in my book. 

[Longdriver295]

1 hour ago, robbie91 said:

 

To be fair, "mind blowing" for what I was expecting. I love Srixon irons, but I had relatively mild expectations for the woods. I figured they would perform solidly enough, but I wasn't thinking there was much of a possibility that I would game them. Here's a report:

 

I started with the MKII fairway. Admittedly, the crown step is not a beauty contest winner, but the matte finish does a decent job of hiding it. The club feels phenomenal, reminiscent of some of the older fairway woods (V-Steel, J33) and the three wood was easy to hit off the deck. Distance was seriously impressive. I doubt it beats out many of the "bigger" brands but it holds its own right with them. The face sits open, which is a real rarity these days and the forgiveness is confidence inspiring. For the price, it's hard to see how someone goes wrong here unless they can't deal with the looks. 

 

Then I headed into the drivers, namely the 5LS and the 7. I don't have a ton to say here. The looks are fine and the graphics on the face aren't very visible in person which I count as a good thing. I'd call it a relatively benign driver, just a typical pear shaped, matte head that sits a tad open. What I will say though, is that the shapes scream old school to me (like Titleist 909 old school) and I REALLY like that. The feel is good. Again, nothing to write home about but it holds its own and a solid, old school, titanium sound is kind of a luxury in these times. What was "mind blowing" here were the numbers. I was a solid 10-15 yards longer than my gamer and just about anything else I've tried in the store. Put that together with the fact that I can buy one for $100+ less than anything else made on the market from the big brands and I'm pretty dang mind blown. 

 

Now, I've been on this site long enough to know my numbers could be an outlier and I can certainly see how some simply won't like the looks of the clubs. I do find them, perhaps a bit boring. But, even if you don't pick up 10 yards, if these clubs can hold their own for the price point, Srixon has a home run ball.

 

Unfortunately, my golf budget is a bit too tiny to afford a full bag of these woods, but I legitimately had a hard time not ordering them on site and that qualifies for "mind blown" in my book. 

Thanks, I ordered the 5LS with the ventus blue 5 shaft. I'm a big fan of srixon. I play the ZX5 irons and absolutely love them, best feeling and looking irons I've had. So I'm hoping it's a home run for me and I can pick up 10 extra yards!

[bobbyclampett!!]

On 1/20/2023 at 6:50 PM, Orange Hog said:

First round follow up…

 

The ZX5 LS driver performed incredibly well for the maiden voyage.

 

I had a few shots on the range that favored the heel side but the ball ended up right on line.  I tried hitting a couple toward the toe intentionally and saw a similar result.  Feeling out of the middle was so pure.  Trajectory in the 8.5 degree head was awesome! Mid flight that seemed to just carve through the air.

 

I normally hit a draw with my clubs and my miss with the driver is a dippy low spinning over-draw.  With the HZRDUS Blue shaft in this head I literally couldn’t turn over the ball no matter how hard I tried.  I was hitting these sweet little butter fades that dropped on a dime.  This thing is going to be an absolute weapon for me this year.

 

One thing I’m going to have to get used to is the sound.  It’s VERY different than a carbon driver.  Much louder.

 

I hit the fairway wood and hybrid a couple times on the course and several times on the range.  Very predictable ball flight.  Super consistent performance.  Neither wanted to go left which again was exactly what I was hoping for.

 

On 1/23/2023 at 5:10 PM, robbie91 said:

Then I headed into the drivers, namely the 5LS and the 7. I don't have a ton to say here. The looks are fine and the graphics on the face aren't very visible in person which I count as a good thing. I'd call it a relatively benign driver, just a typical pear shaped, matte head that sits a tad open. What I will say though, is that the shapes scream old school to me (like Titleist 909 old school) and I REALLY like that. The feel is good. Again, nothing to write home about but it holds its own and a solid, old school, titanium sound is kind of a luxury in these times. What was "mind blowing" here were the numbers. I was a solid 10-15 yards longer than my gamer and just about anything else I've tried in the store. Put that together with the fact that I can buy one for $100+ less than anything else made on the market from the big brands and I'm pretty dang mind blown.  

I got to try a 5LS yesterday on an indoor bay at PGATSS. I was testing compared to Paradym Triple Diamond and Wilson Dynapwr Carbon, which had beat out Stealth 2 Plus and TSR3 for me. First hit with 5LS was, after hitting the Paradym and Wilson, shockingly loud and high pitched, like people turned their heads and were like... WTF? And I said "Nope!" and went to hand it back to the fitter, but then I though, oh, hit a few more. The next five I hit were more out of the sweet spot (I think the first loud one was maybe a bit high on the face?), and they were still loud, but tolerable, but the thing is.... gave me the highest ball speed, the lowest spin, the tightest dispersion, and the best ball flight. Damn you, Srixon! Now what am I going to do? Sound and feel are a big deal, and the other two drivers weren't far behind. The 5LS would probably be fine outdoors. I'm going to keep testing, but I can tell you the shots out of the middle of the 5LS were incredible.

[terapins]

Does anyone know what other shafts are available for irons and woods, besides what available on the website?  Thanks so much!  

[Orange Hog]

On 2/18/2023 at 8:08 AM, bobbyclampett!! said:

 

I got to try a 5LS yesterday on an indoor bay at PGATSS. I was testing compared to Paradym Triple Diamond and Wilson Dynapwr Carbon, which had beat out Stealth 2 Plus and TSR3 for me. First hit with 5LS was, after hitting the Paradym and Wilson, shockingly loud and high pitched, like people turned their heads and were like... WTF? And I said "Nope!" and went to hand it back to the fitter, but then I though, oh, hit a few more. The next five I hit were more out of the sweet spot (I think the first loud one was maybe a bit high on the face?), and they were still loud, but tolerable, but the thing is.... gave me the highest ball speed, the lowest spin, the tightest dispersion, and the best ball flight. Damn you, Srixon! Now what am I going to do? Sound and feel are a big deal, and the other two drivers weren't far behind. The 5LS would probably be fine outdoors. I'm going to keep testing, but I can tell you the shots out of the middle of the 5LS were incredible.

 

Got a couple more rounds under my belt this past weekend with the ZX5 LS.  Kind of a mixed bag.  Saturday I was nuking the ball all day.  Monday was a little more off for me.  I wasn't striking anything well that day with any club in the bag.  While I was still getting decent performance from the driver and hitting the fairway most of the time the sound was noticably louder.  I ended up going to the range after my round to work on a few things and hit about 8-10 balls with the driver.  A guy next to me was hitting his Stealth and the sound was night/day different.  I'm not giving up on the Srixon by any means but if anything forces it out of the bag it'll be the sound.

[bobbyclampett!!]

23 minutes ago, Orange Hog said:

 

Got a couple more rounds under my belt this past weekend with the ZX5 LS.  Kind of a mixed bag.  Saturday I was nuking the ball all day.  Monday was a little more off for me.  I wasn't striking anything well that day with any club in the bag.  While I was still getting decent performance from the driver and hitting the fairway most of the time the sound was noticably louder.  I ended up going to the range after my round to work on a few things and hit about 8-10 balls with the driver.  A guy next to me was hitting his Stealth and the sound was night/day different.  I'm not giving up on the Srixon by any means but if anything forces it out of the bag it'll be the sound.

Doesn't surprise me at all. The first ball I hit with it, I think it was a little high on the face, was like one of the craziest sounds I'd ever heard, having come straight from hitting the Tirple D and Carbon Dynapwr. The sweet spot hits sounded much better, but still ouder than the other two. The overall performance was great, perhaps better than the other two. Just not sure I can live with that sound on mishits, cause lord knows I don't hit the sweet spot every time...