It looks like new Srixon ZX Prototype irons are hitting the PGA Tour.
Srixon is giving us a sneak peek at its new ZX Prototype irons. According to information provided by Srixon, it’s anticipating “several” of its Tour staff will switch to the new irons this week at the Procore Championship in Napa Valley. The branding indicates the new 2025 irons will be called the Srixon ZXi line. That, however, could change by the time the irons are officially released in January.
For simplicity, we’ll refer to them as ZXi.
These pictures are supplied to us by Srixon as a sort of unofficial tease for the new line. Srixon has been on a two-year life cycle for its signature forged irons and the new ZXi7 and ZXi5 look to be the direct replacements for the current ZX7 and ZX5 MkII irons, which were released in January of 2023.
Srixon ZX Prototype Irons: the ZXi7
If these pictures are an indication, the new ZXi7 is a single-piece forged cavity-back player’s iron. Like its predecessor, the ZXi7 features “Pureframe,” a ridge forged into the cavity to add extra mass at the sweet spot. The biggest difference we can see between the ZX7 and the new ZXi7 is that the mass appears slightly larger and more pronounced in the new model.
The ZXi7 also appears to include Srixon’s signature VT-Sole for better turf interaction. We also see sole notches on the heel and toe to reduce drag and get through the turf better if you’re upright or flat.
The last several iterations of Srixon irons have been premier performers in MyGolfSpy testing. The current ZX7 Mk II finished second overall in player’s Iron testing in 2023 and fifth in 2024.
ZXi5: Even bigger shoes to fill
The Srixon ZX5 Mk II ranks as one of the very best irons MyGolfSpy has ever tested. It copped top honors in the player’s distance category in 2023 and 2024, making it one of the few back-to-back champs in our testing history.
The Srixon ZXi5 has all the hallmarks of its predecessor. It appears to be a multi-piece forged iron with Srixon’s Mainframe face technology. Mainframe is Srixon’s take on computer-designed variable-face thickness. Grooves, channels and cavities forged into the back of the face are designed to optimize both launch and ball speed.
Srixon could have used the industry buzzword “AI” when describing Mainframe. However, it’s consistently avoided using the term. Whether the “i” in ZXi stands for some sort of intelligence, artificial or otherwise, we’ll learn in January when the irons are officially released. For what it’s worth, both irons have “i-Forged” on the hosel.
The ZX5 face was forged from SUP10, a high-grade spring steel. The body was 1020 carbon steel forged.
There appear to be slight differences in cavity geometry in the new ZXi5 compared to the 2023 model. However, when you have a two-time Best Player’s Distance Iron champ, you don’t need a major overhaul.
Like the ZXi7, the ZXi5 also features Srixon’s VT-Sole, as well as heel and toe sole notches.
Srixon ZX Prototype Irons: Made for blending?
Srixon specifically designed the ZX Mk II series in 2023 for seamless set blending. The toplines on all four models, including the game-improvement ZX4 and the ZX utility irons, were identical. Blade length, sole width and offset differences between the sets were incremental, making the transitions from one iron to the next smoother.
It’s a wise move that’s gaining momentum in the industry. For its part, Srixon says 75 percent of its irons sales are custom orders.
Only the ZXi5 and ZXi7 are showing up on Tour this week. However, we can anticipate updates to the ZX4 irons and the ZX utility iron series for 2025. Additionally, it shouldn’t be too long before new Srixon drivers, fairways and hybrids also appear on Tour.
The 2023 metalwood lineup is already being discounted on Srixon’s website. The ZX Mk II irons, however, remain at full price for the time being.
Your thoughts?
Srixon has been a brand on the rise for the past five years. It has also rapidly become a cult favorite among MyGolfSpy readers. Therefore, we have to ask …
What are your impressions of the new Srixon ZX prototypes?
