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

My take

The Srixon ZX5 MKII Single Iron is made for golfers moving from their starter or game improvement set into something that provides more feel and more control without sacrificing too much forgiveness.

About the club I own

• Model: 2023 Srixon ZX5 MKII
• Loft setting: 2° weak, 46° PW
• Shaft type: Project X LZ 6.5, steel
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff

About me

• Average score: 94
• Handicap: 21
• Experience: 4 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-flight, fade
• Golf ball used: Maxfli Tour X
• Club swing speed: 115mph with driver

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2023
• Days tested: 10
• Where I’ve used it: Range and courses
• Weather and wind conditions: Warm days, some with a lot of wind, others not as much

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for an iron that would be more forgiving than the set I was currently playing (TaylorMade P760s), but I didn’t want irons that would be low-lofted and get 200 yards out of my 7 iron and roll past the green.

Why I chose this club

I heard great things about the previous generation of the ZX5 and read loads of reviews about how well these performed. I loved their look; they were a little less expensive than other irons. I could customize everything to my spec, too, which was nice. I considered the P790s from TaylorMade, but I liked the look of these more, and the price was a little lower.

What I love about it

• Distance: It provides a ton of distance even though it is a forged design. My 9 iron carries about 155, and my P760s that I had previously only carried 145. This is partly due to the increased forgiveness from the larger clubhead and the Mainframe technology behind the clubface.
• Forgiveness: Off-center strikes go a long way, and my ball flights are straighter than with my old irons. The sole is thick enough to help with chunked shots as well.
• Feel: These irons feel very soft and provide some feedback on mishits.
• Sound: The sound is a satisfying thwack against the golf ball, making me feel like a professional on good strikes.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft feels great. I needed a stiffer shaft with my swing speed, but it doesn’t feel like a board. I can feel the shaft load and unload.
• Shaft Performance: The ball flight trajectory is right where I want it, and the stiffness helps keep my dispersion tighter.
• Aesthetic Appeal: It’s a beautiful iron to look at. The back of the clubhead has a great design with the various thickness of the clubhead shown.
• Grip Feel: The Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips are great, and they didn’t cost extra to be put on. They provide comfort and grip (no pun intended) without being too soft such as the CP2 grips from Golf Pride, and not too harsh like corded grips can be.
• Launch Angle: The launch of the ball is exactly what I was looking for—not a super low-piercing flight, but not a ball sent into space, either.
• Spin: There’s plenty of stopping power with this iron. The spin, combined with the descent angle, helps stop balls on a dime when using scoring clubs.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: Not the easiest to work the ball with. I find myself trying to exaggerate to get the desired effect, and it usually ends in a poor result when trying to shape a shot.
• Adjustability: None. This isn’t adjustable unless one goes to the golf shop and has it bent.
• Other: The ZX5 MKII feels a little heavier than others on the market. I don’t mind it, but some people I’ve played with noticed it when looking at them.

Best shot with this club

There was a par 3 that was picturesque. The tee box overlooked the hole with a pond dividing the two. I hit a pitching wedge that stayed in the air forever as it dropped below and landed a little past the pin. The ball had just enough backspin to catch the downslope, roll down the green, and just past the hole. I had a putt from two feet left for birdie.

Value for the money vs. other options

The ZX5 MKII iron provides great value for the money. Srixon often prices their products a little cheaper than the big names (TaylorMade, Callaway, etc.), but the product doesn’t suffer. The ZX5 reminds me a lot of the P790s or P770s from TaylorMade and would be a good comparison.

Final verdict

If someone is looking for a set of irons that will give them more control and prevent those low-spinning hot shots from a game-improvement set, this is the iron for them. The Srixon ZX5 MKII feels great, looks great, performs great, and is at a price that’s really tough to beat.