About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2023.

My take

The Srixon ZX5 MKII Driver is a great club for high to mid handicappers searching for more forgiveness off the tee. This club has a high launch ideal for increasing distance and accuracy off the tee, and is geared towards all players searching for more consistency and fairways off the tee.

About the club I own

• Model: 2023 Srixon ZX5 MKII Driver
• Loft setting: 9.5°
• Shaft type: Project X Hzdrous Smoke Black RDX 6.5
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff 65g

About me

• Average score: 82
• Handicap: 9.2
• Experience: 12 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Draw
• Golf ball used: Prov1, TP5x
• Club swing speed: 115 mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2023
• Days tested: 14
• Where I’ve used it: Courses, ranges, simulators
• Weather and wind conditions: Windy, cold North Carolina days with light rain

How it performs

What I was looking for

I have never been a strong driver of the ball, so I have been searching for a forgiving driver with some playability in it. I usually use a 3 wood or 3 hybrid off the tee. But I wanted to find a club that I can both get more distance and hit the ball straighter with, so that I’m not losing strokes on hitting tee shots out of bounds.

Why I chose this club

I decided on this club because I have been reading great things about it. Plus, I’d been playing with Srixon ZX5 irons, so I wanted to give a Srixon driver a chance. I tried last year's model and did not like it, but wanted to give this year’s model another try. I chose the ZX5 MKII over the Titleist TSr2 and the TaylorMade Stealth because I found I could hit it much straighter and consistently. The Rebound Frame technology fits my swing, and I notice that I am hitting more fairways and keeping more balls in play with the ZX5 MKII.

What I love about it

• Distance: The Rebound Frame technology really increases the distance on this driver. Srixon is the only brand to have a rebound frame, and it acts like a spring within a spring. Once the clubhead makes contact, the absorption of the second frame increases energy transfer to maximize distance.
• Forgiveness: Due to the star-frame crown within the driver head, a thin titanium line helps with lighter weight within the club head—which maximizes the spin and launch angle for ultimate forgiveness.
• Feel: The impact feels great with this driver. The dual flex zones created in the clubhead helps with dispersion and softens the feel of the ball contact to the golfer. It feels very smooth at impact.
• Adjustability: The sole of the club comes with a standard eight-gram weight. For a heavier feel, Srixon offers additional weights sold separately. The loft, lie, and face angle of the head is also adjustable.
• Shaft Feel: I always receive a better feel from the Project X Hzdrous Smoke Black RDX shaft, as it is a low-spin and low-launch-angle shaft. This helps me smoothly transmit more energy through for a longer ball flight.
• Shaft Performance: I’m able to produce the same ball flight on all the proper swings I make.
• Grip Feel: I use the Golf Pride MCC Black. I use this grip in midsize grip because I feel a slightly larger grip helps me maintain less grip pressure.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: The sound of the titanium Rebound frame is very sharp and piercing, but I prefer a softer-sounding driver.
• Workability: Since this is the forgiving model, it is not Srixon’s most workable driver. It mostly favors a draw to maximize distance.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The MKII seems like a big clubhead at address, which does not suit some players. Though a bigger clubhead helps with forgiveness to increase the surface area available at contact.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle at standard is high in order to increase accuracy. However, this will consequently shorten distance for better ball strikers.
• Spin: The spin is medium to high in order to maintain forgiveness. For those looking for a low-spin driver, the LS model is better suited for these purposes.

Best shot with this club

Here in North Carolina, there is a local course I like to play called Glen Oaks Golf Club. On this particular day, I started on the back nine and made my way to the front. Because I was not playing too well, I wanted a birdie to get me back into things. The second hole is a dogleg left par 5. If I could hit a good draw over the corner, I’d set myself up nicely. I pulled out the ZX5 MKII and took aim, knowing I could hit a big draw with a lot of roll with this driver. I hit a beautiful draw around the corner and the ball rolled out to where I had 122 yards left to the pin. It’s always a great feeling to use a PW on the second shot of a par 5.

Value for the money vs. other options

Compared to other name-brand models on the market, this driver is worth its price. It also retails for roughly $100 less expensive than the Titleist TSr2 and TaylorMade Stealth 2. But, those other options offer slightly more forgiveness and straighter tee shots. Compared head to head, I think they all perform similarly, but I find that the ZX5 MKII’s Rebound Frame really helps with my consistency.

Final verdict

Personally, the Srixon SX5 MKII Driver has given me a new meaning for straighter and more forgiving off the tee. Even when I feel I do not make solid ball contact, I am seeing a baby draw and consistently hitting fairways.