Srixon ZXi Prototype irons

Srixon’s New ZX Prototype Irons Spotted on Tour

Exciting news from the PGA Tour as Srixon unveils its upcoming ZX Prototype irons. These new irons are making waves this week at the Procore Championship in Napa Valley, where several Srixon Tour staff members are expected to switch to the prototypes. While currently branded as the Srixon ZXi series, the official name may change ahead of the full release in January 2025.

For now, we’ll stick to calling them the ZXi Prototype irons.

Srixon has provided us with some early images, offering a sneak peek at the ZXi series before the official announcement. As part of Srixon’s typical two-year cycle for their forged irons, these new models appear to be the successors to the ZX7 and ZX5 Mk II irons, which debuted in January 2023.

First Look at the ZXi7 Irons

The images suggest that the ZXi7 irons are forged cavity-back player’s irons, much like their predecessors. Continuing with the "Pureframe" technology—a ridge forged into the cavity for increased mass behind the sweet spot—the ZXi7 looks to have some key upgrades. The mass in the cavity seems larger and more pronounced compared to the ZX7, which could improve feel and control.

Additionally, the ZXi7 features Srixon’s distinctive VT-Sole, designed to enhance turf interaction for a smoother swing. There are also notches on the heel and toe of the sole, which should help reduce drag through the turf, especially for golfers with upright or flat swings.

The ZXi5 Irons: Continuing a Winning Legacy

The new ZXi5 irons look poised to carry on their impressive legacy. Like the previous version, the ZXi5 appears to be a multi-piece forged iron featuring Srixon’s Mainframe technology. This design utilizes variable face thickness, created using advanced computer modeling. Channels, grooves, and cavities are forged into the back of the face to maximize ball speed and optimize launch.

Interestingly, Srixon hasn’t leaned into the industry trend of using "AI" to describe their design process, even though their Mainframe technology could easily be labeled as such. Whether the "i" in ZXi implies some form of intelligence is something we’ll have to wait and see when these irons officially launch.

In terms of construction, the ZX5’s face is forged from SUP10, a high-grade spring steel, while the body is made from 1020 carbon steel. The ZXi5 appears to retain this material combination, though there are slight changes in the cavity design. Given the past success of the ZX5, a complete overhaul wasn’t necessary.

Like the ZXi7, the ZXi5 also incorporates the VT-Sole and includes notches on the heel and toe for better turf interaction.

Blending Options for Custom Sets

One of Srixon’s standout innovations in the 2023 ZX series was the seamless blending of their iron sets. The toplines, blade lengths, sole widths, and offsets across the ZX7, ZX5, ZX4, and utility irons were carefully aligned to allow golfers to create custom mixed sets without noticeable visual or performance differences.

This trend appears to continue with the ZXi series, making it easy for players to combine models like the ZXi7 and ZXi5 into a cohesive set. With around 75% of Srixon’s irons sold as custom orders, this is a smart strategy that is gaining momentum in the industry.

At the moment, only the ZXi7 and ZXi5 models have been spotted on Tour, but updates to the ZX4 and ZX utility irons are expected as part of the 2025 lineup. Srixon’s drivers, fairways, and hybrids from the 2023 collection are already being discounted, hinting at new metalwoods on the horizon.

Final Thoughts on the New Srixon ZX Prototypes

Srixon has been steadily growing in popularity. With their latest ZX prototypes, the brand continues to build on its reputation for producing high-quality, high-performance irons.

What’s your take on the new Srixon ZX prototypes? Are you excited to see how these models perform once they hit the market in 2025? Let us know your thoughts on these upcoming irons and whether they’ll meet the high expectations set by their predecessors.