Anyone playing Srixon ZX4/ZX7 mark ii combo?

[Mike_C]

Wanted to know if anybody has experience yet with a combo of Srixon ZX4/ZX7 mark ii irons. 

 

I have been playing a combo ZX5/ZX7 for the past year plus, and before that a 585/785 combo, both with Recoil 95 F4s.  Did have a short run with a full set of 585s with Modus 105 but preferred less bulk in the short irons, don't mind it in the longer clubs. 

 

Anyway, my current set up is ZX5 4-7 iron and ZX7 8-PW, but really want to go back to the ZX7 in the 7 iron, and maybe even the 6 iron.  I was thinking if I did that why not try the ZX4 in at least the 4 and 5 iron?  This generation looks almost as good to my eye and the ZX5 and I wouldn't mind the bit of extra forgiveness in the longer clubs, just worry about gapping.   I don't think the 4 iron would be a problem as its one degree different, but the 5 might and probably the 6 if I went down that far as in the 6 iron its 28 vs 25.5 degrees.   I am actually right now trying out a set of the Cobra MIM Tours with $-taper 120s (loved the looks of these since they came out), and now remember why I went to lighter graphite several years ago due to elbow problems, so I probably am ready to go back to graphite.  I have the new clubs bug anyway and want to see if anyone has experience with this combo.....  My other thought would be ZX4 4 iron, ZX5 5-6, ZX7 8-PW. 

[Jeff58]

Per a recent chat with the local Cleveland/Srixon distributor-

 

The significant reason that the first generation ZX5/7 was so popular was that the ZX5’s large sole area in the short irons didn’t look good or work well for those with steeper attack angles. In the Gen2, the ZX5’s have pretty much eliminated that aspect. An optimal “combination” for a better player who fits the ZX5 model is a full set of ZX5 with graphite shafts in the 4 and 5 irons.

 

The ZX4 has a lot more offset than the ZX7. The result may be an unwanted draw. A more uniform solution is to use ZX utilities, again with graphite.

[mjwidell]

I have a MKII ZX4 4 iron bent 2* weak and then 5-PW ZX7 and I think it pairs really well. It looks great and weakening it reduced the offset. It’s so easy to hit, it was a no brainer as a 4 iron.

[Mike_C]

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning towards a ZX4 4 iron, ZX5 5-6, and ZX7 7-PW.   

 

I had a U85 4 utility when I had the 585/785 combo set up, and didn't like it as I really didn't hit it any further than the 585 5 iron, it just went higher.  The loft was actually 1 degree weaker but was 1/2 inch longer than the 585 4 iron. 

[Mobert19]

18 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

Per a recent chat with the local Cleveland/Srixon distributor-

 

The significant reason that the first generation ZX5/7 was so popular was that the ZX5’s large sole area in the short irons didn’t look good or work well for those with steeper attack angles. In the Gen2, the ZX5’s have pretty much eliminated that aspect. An optimal “combination” for a better player who fits the ZX5 model is a full set of ZX5 with graphite shafts in the 4 and 5 irons.

 

The ZX4 has a lot more offset than the ZX7. The result may be an unwanted draw. A more uniform solution is to use ZX utilities, again with graphite.

I found this exactly my issue

[Mike_C]

Demoed the ZX4, ZX5, ZX7 mkiis today in 7 iron indoors.   Wanted to try the KBS TGI 95 shaft, which the shop said they had, but they didn't.....

 

Anyway, did hit them with Recoils 95s and tried steelfibers too.   The ZX7s are not much different than last generation, hard to improve on them really.  The ZX5s look better, feel a bit better, but not a huge jump from the previous generation.  Now the ZX4, I must say I was impressed.   Looks are much improved, feel to me was even better than the ZX5 with no sense of them being a hollow body, and they just seemed to want to go straight with no draw bias, not a bad thing IMO.

 

Granted the lofts are jacked on the ZX4, and distance was longer as expected vs the others, but they seemed exceptionally long, it was loft and ball speed. the ZX7 was as expected at about 165 carry, ZX 5 more like 170, but the ZX4 was north of 180 up to 185.  Loft is only 0.5 weaker than the ZX7 6 iron, but I would bet I would hit the ZX4 7 as long or longer than the ZX7 six iron.

 

After all of this, I got me thinking, would a ZX4 in 5-7, paired with the ZX7 in 7-PW make sense? In reality pretty close in the traditional sense to 4-PW set for loft progression.   My biggest reason for wanting the ZX7s in the shorter irons is the narrower sole vs the ZX4, same for the ZX5s for that matter, I like wide sole mid to long irons, narrower in the shorter clubs.... Also feel the ZX7s should be able to control trajectory more effectively vs the other models. 

 

The lofts would go 23.0, 25.5, 28.5, 32.0, 36.0, 41.0, 46.0.  Versus a full set of ZX7s in 4-PW I would give up 1 degree in the "4 iron" slot, and 0.5 degree in the 5 and 6 "slots".  I could even see making them 1/2 inch over in the ZX4 to match the ZX7 lengths and bending them 1/2 degree flat to match the lie angles for their respective "slots", don't think I would mess with the lofts.   Don't know what this would do to the swing weight though....

 

Sort of a Frankenbag I know, am I over thinking it?  I would love to do a real fitting but my opportunities close to me are limited. 

Edited May 19, 2023 by Mike_C

[driveandputtmachine]

Find, if you can, where is the break in where you hit the ZX7 more solidly.  Get irons close to what you think they should be loft and length and then get them bent.  I reshaft new irons and go through everything myself because I have a bending machine, that is not an option for everyone.  The great thing with the new ZX models is that in the long irons the looks are such that they blend easily, in looking at the short irons I do not think they blend as easily.

 

In the last iteration I tried the ZX4 as a 4 iron, and the length was great, but the offset was not.  Bending weak helped offset some, but killed distance.  So I switched to a ZXU.

 

In this instance I would go

4 Iron - ZX4

5 Iron - ZX5

6 Iron Down - ZX7

 

For me and my delivery the hollow ZX4 @ 21 and the ZX5 one degree weak and the ZX7 I would bend the 6 one degree strong and the 7 iron down would probably stay stock.  I also play the 7 iron roughly + 1/2" longer than standard and go up and down 1/4" length gaps, so what I do won't help you a ton.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that all manufacturers say specs are +/- 1*.  So no matter how you order they could be off, do not worry about that, worry about distance gaps.  So figure out what you hit the best in the clubs if you can, with length gaps between them you like and order them.  After hitting them on the course(not the range), noting your distance gaps, then have them bent to close any gaps.   Do not worry about what is measured and the like, find a club builder/fitter than can bend and have them bent.  It might take more than one trip unless the builder/fitter has a good LM on site to validate and correlate what you see on course vs what you see on his machine. There are pros that play two of one numbered iron in different models, me I am too borderline OCD for that. 

[Petroguy]

I ordered a ZX combo that shows tomorrow.  I will let you know how it goes.  Similar to what has been discussed, I went:

 

ZX4 4 iron (1 weak)

ZX5 5-8

ZX7 9-AW (1 strong)

 

I realize gapping may not be spot on given the tolerances at the factory, but I wanted to hedge my bet.  It also helped to line up with my existing wedges (54 and 58) that I am happy with as well.  I played a set of DCI's in college that I swear were the only clubs that were ever gapped spot on.  It seems there is always at least one club that is a hair strong or weak in every set since.  

[Mike_C]

I ended up ordering a more standard setup about the 1st of the month. 

 

ZX4 4 iron 

ZX5 5-6 iron

ZX7 7-PW 

 

Told them stock other than KBS TGI 95 shafts and 3 extra wraps under lower hand on grips. 

 

Was surprised they showed up last Friday, excited to open the box, then pissed that  Srixon put the wrong shafts in them, they put the KBS TGI 90s, not the 95s.   Had the store double check they ordered them right, and they did.  They should have as the store manager called me the day after I ordered them to double check that is the shaft I wanted.   Now I don't know how long I have to wait, do they have to ship them back first?   They should remake them right TODAY, and overnight them to me, but I doubt I will get them this week. 

 

[gsrjc]

9 hours ago, Mike_C said:

I ended up ordering a more standard setup about the 1st of the month. 

 

ZX4 4 iron 

ZX5 5-6 iron

ZX7 7-PW 

 

Told them stock other than KBS TGI 95 shafts and 3 extra wraps under lower hand on grips. 

 

Was surprised they showed up last Friday, excited to open the box, then pissed that  Srixon put the wrong shafts in them, they put the KBS TGI 90s, not the 95s.   Had the store double check they ordered them right, and they did.  They should have as the store manager called me the day after I ordered them to double check that is the shaft I wanted.   Now I don't know how long I have to wait, do they have to ship them back first?   They should remake them right TODAY, and overnight them to me, but I doubt I will get them this week. 

 

This is exactly what I have. 

[Mobert19]

4 minutes ago, gsrjc said:

This is exactly what I have. 

Same but I pulled my ZX5 4 iron and put in the ZX 20 degree in that slot. I found the ZX5 4 and 5 irons were too close in gap and the lighter recoil 95 shaft in the utility feels nice as well. Honeymoon perhaps. 

[Mike_C]

Well, a follow up.   Went back to Edwin Watts yesterday to see what was going on.  They said Srixon told them the TGI 95 is being phased out and is  back ordered until October.  Well, if that is so, why didn't the call back and  say so instead of building the set with a different shaft and shipping it out?  If you go onto the Srixon site, you can still pick the TGI 95 as an option to build a set, and the ship date is only one week out....  Watts said to go ahead and try the 90s and if I don't like them we will work something out, they do have the 90 day return policy so that is not a problem. I was at first actually considering the 90s but wanted to stay with the weight I've been using, or even go heavier, I could have gotten the 100s and soft stepped them if they are available.   

 

I did go out and hit some balls with them, I can tell they are a just a bit lighter, but not by much, I really only noticed it the short clubs.  I looked up the Recoils and they are slightly ascending weighted, the 4 iron is 92 grams while the PW is 96, so still not that different really,   I'll give them a shot, based on the KBS fitting suggestions on their website, I am probably right in between the 90 and 95 anyway....

[sloansav62]

Just went to ZX7 4-PW in July from 2021 T200/T100S combo.

Very happy with change but gonna make one tweak and go ZX4 in 4 iron. Same shaft DG 120 S300. 
Will report back on results.

[kjmtthws]

My current set is: 

 

ZX4 -- 4iron

ZX5 -- 5, 6, 7, iron

ZX7 -- 8, 9, P (1 degree strong to help with gapping)

 

Got the TT AMT white x100 in them -- freaking amazing set up for me.. The transition from the ZX4 to the ZX5 looking down at the ball is only very minimal to my eye (there is some more offset for sure though) and I don't find myself having to swing hard at the 4 iron at all. It just gets up and goes. I like a slight fade with my irons and its not hard to produce this. The gap from the 5 iron to the 5 wood is perfectly split with the 4 iron.. I was somewhat reluctant to get the ZX4 in the 4 iron, but after reading a lot of reviews I took the plunge and am very happy that I did