Expert Review: Srixon ZX5 LS MKII Driver

Published on 05/10/2023 · 6 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2023.
Andrew Abbott, Golf Expert
By Golf Expert Andrew Abbott

All photos courtesy of Andrew Abbott

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

My take

The Srixon ZX5 LS MKII driver is perfect for golfers looking to optimize distance and minimize spin. This driver is designed to increase distance and control.

About the club I own

  • Model: 2023 Srixon ZX5 LS MKII
  • Loft setting: 10.5
  • Shaft type: Ventus Black
  • Shaft flex: X-stiff

About me

  • Average score: 70
  • Handicap: +2
  • Experience: 5 years of golf
  • Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
  • Typical ball flight: Mid-Low
  • Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
  • Club swing speed: 120mph

Test conditions

  • When I bought the club: February 2023
  • Days tested: 60+
  • Where I’ve used it: TrackMan simulator and various golf courses
  • Weather and wind conditions: Rain, wind, warm and cold climates

How it performs

Feel
4/5
Distance
3/5
Forgiveness
3/5
Launch
3/5
Sound
3/5
Workability
3/5

What I was looking for

I was looking for a new driver to minimize spin to help me hit the ball further. I also wanted a driver that looked and sounded good.

Why I chose this club

I was between this driver and the TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus. I ultimately went with this driver for a few reasons. The first was that I could get a discount so it was a little cheaper. I also bought the ZX5 LS because it had an extremely low spin, a traditional head shape, and a great sound.

What I love about it

  • Distance: This driver goes extremely far compared to the drivers released in 2023. Due to this driver's low spin features, I can maximize my distance off the tee with a great launch angle and low spin mixed with higher swing speeds. Players who buy this driver will notice an increased distance from their previous model.
  • Forgiveness: Due to the low spin features, mishits are accentuated and are even worse than a high forgiveness driver. Although for this low spin driver model, the forgiveness is on par with the rest of its competitors. I never struggle to keep the driver on line, and the sweet spot is quite large, which is great for helping maximize distance and hit more fairways.
  • Feel: This driver is not the best feeling driver I tested from the 2023 releases; however, it is still very good. The TaylorMade Stealth 2 models were the best feeling and sounding drivers on the market. Although the Srixon holds its own and still feels very good and springy off the face with a soft impact feel.
  • Sound: This driver sounds great. It sounds like tour players when they hit the ball, which is a great sound many players would love to have. However, if one really wants to know what this driver will sound like and have moderate-high swing speeds, look up Brooks Koepka hitting the Srixon ZX5 LS MKII driver in the 2023 Masters, and one will hear what it sounds like.
  • Workability: This driver has been awesome for me to work the ball both ways. My preferred shot shape is a power fade, and I have not had any problems hitting that shot. I sometimes struggle to hit a small draw, but I have not had any problems with this club.
  • Adjustability: This driver has an adjustable loft sleeve allowing players to add or subtract a degree of loft from the standard loft setting and adjust the club to be a degree flat. Furthermore, this allows players to swap out shafts for whatever reason they may need easily. Finally, one can purchase additional weights to adjust the club's swing weight.
  • Shaft Feel: The Ventus Black golf shafts feel amazing. They are extremely stiff, allowing me always to feel where the clubhead is. However, at impact, it provides a strong, powerful feeling that gives me confidence in the power released into the golf ball.
  • Shaft Performance: The shaft has been amazing for me. It is a low spin and low launch shaft to provide me with the optimal numbers to maximize distance without sacrificing spin and control. This allows me to hit this club with confidence that it will go far enough but still spin and hold the green.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: This driver has a very traditional look and design for both colors and shape. The crown is matte black with a small white design along the border. I like this driver's simple and traditional design compared to other drivers like the Callaway Paradym.
  • Launch Angle: This club is designed to launch the ball low, which has been helpful for me, who typically launches the ball too high, and the lower launch angle is great for maximizing both distance and control.
  • Spin: The Srixon ZX5 LS is mainly designed for minimal spin to help players increase driving distance and workability. This driver does all of those things really well. Players who need less spin with their drives will greatly benefit from the low-spin function of this driver.

Issues I’ve encountered

  • Grip Feel: This club came with the Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip when I first purchased the club. Although the grip felt great when I first got it, I have found it wears out very quickly, and within 20-30 rounds, the grip starts to wear away and becomes very slick. I recommend the Z-Grip cord grips for a firm and tacky grip or the MCC for a softer long-lasting grip.

Best shot with this club

The best shot I hit with this club was on vacation in Punta Cana, where I played a short 340-yard par 4. The ball flew much further there, and I chose to hit this driver as hard as I could. I hit it perfectly with a baby fade and ultimately landed just short of the green, and the ball skipped up onto the green, leaving me 20 feet for an eagle putt. Unfortunately, I missed the putt but left myself with a tap-in putt for birdie.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Srixon ZX5 LS MKII driver costs around $500, while other more expensive competitors include the Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond, Titleist TSR 3, and TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus. This makes the Srixon the cheapest option for high-quality, low-spin drivers; however, it does not mean the lowest performance. I personally believe the ZX5 LS MKII driver is the best value-for-money driver on the market. The cost is at least $100 cheaper than competitors with the same distance and workability.

Final verdict

The Srixon ZX5 LS MKII driver is perfect for golfers who want a lower-spinning driver to maximize distance and workability. This driver is a great addition to anyone's bag and will help shoot lower scores.

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get personalized recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!

Shop Golf on Curated

Srixon ZX5 LS MKII Driver
$349.99$499.99
Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons
$914.24$1,257.12
Cleveland CBX Zipcore Wedge
$129.99$159.99

Browse more Srixon Golf

TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons
$799.92$1,028.56
Callaway Apex AI300 Irons
$1,400.00
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Irons
$1,257.12
Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal Irons
$1,049.95
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver
$299.99$599.99
Tour Edge Exotics E723 Irons
$689.99$869.94
TaylorMade SIM2 Max Driver
$299.99$449.99

Browse more Srixon Golf

Read next

New and Noteworthy