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

My take

The Srixon ZX5 MKII is a great set for golfers looking to move out of their beginner set or game improvement irons to something with a better feel and sound without sacrificing too much forgiveness. These irons have plenty of distance and suit the majority of mid-handicap golfers out there.

About the club set I own

• Model: 2023 Srixon ZX5 MKII Iron Set
• Loft setting: 2° weak
• Shaft type: Steel - Project X LZ
• Shaft flex: 6.5 (X-Stiff)

About me

• Average score: 95
• Handicap: 21
• Experience: 4 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right
• Typical ball flight: Mid-height, fade
• Golf ball used: Maxfli Tour X
• Club swing speed: 115mph with driver

Test conditions

• When I bought the club set: March 2023
• Days tested: 25
• Where I’ve used it: TrackMan, Indigo Run in Hilton Head, River Ridge in Raleigh, Wildwood Green Golf Club, Wendell CC
• Weather and wind conditions: Warm, mostly sunny, few rainy days. Some very windy days, but most were days with a slight breeze.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was playing TaylorMade P760s and wanted something that offered more forgiveness. I didn’t want to go back to game improvement irons, but I wanted to find something that offered the same feel and spin as the P760s but didn’t punish me as much for the mishits.

Why I chose this club set

I chose these irons because they weren’t the game improvement model (ZX4), and there was an option that was designed for more advanced players (ZX7). I really liked the look of these irons, and in trying them out, the feel was amazing. I looked at the TaylorMade P790s, but ultimately, I felt I was getting the same iron at a lower price.

What I love about it

• Distance: Even with these irons bent 2° weak to match my old set better, these irons fly. I average five yards more of carry for each club, and especially on mishits, these irons give me distance.
• Forgiveness: For an iron designed for mid-handicappers, this is a very forgiving iron. The weight is pushed to the edges, and with a little thicker topline, the center of gravity is moved lower and to the toe to help with forgiveness.
• Feel: Although these irons aren’t completely forged, they feel amazing. Of course, the feel is subjective, but I don't notice a difference compared to my TaylorMade P760s I had previously (which Rory McIlroy uses in his long irons).
• Sound: The sound is very crisp and muted. It doesn’t sound like a cast game improvement iron which, in some cases, is very loud.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft feel is something I am really particular about. Based on my swing speeds, I should be using X-Stiff shafts, but I wanted something that didn’t feel super stiff and void of any feel. With these shafts, the middle is a little softer, which gives me a better feel in my swing.
• Shaft Performance: The shaft is designed to give the ball a mid trajectory, and it achieves that and then some. It also is very consistent and helps me work on my misses.
• Aesthetic Appeal: These irons look great in person. I like the look of the layered metal with the sharp lines. These aren’t overly bulky but are large enough to give anyone confidence when getting ready to hit a shot.
• Grip Feel: I chose a standard Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip. I like the feeling because it isn’t too soft like the CP2 from Golf Pride, but it also doesn’t tear up my hands like some corded grips.
• Launch Angle: These irons are a little higher launching, which I was also looking for. A higher launch angle will help stop the ball on the green, and since I don’t feel like the wind impacts my play a lot, I don’t mind a little extra height.
• Spin: These irons will generate enough spin to stop my ball on the green. When I first moved away from game improvement irons, that was one of my biggest frustrations. I would hit a great shot just to see the ball keep rolling off the green and waste an opportunity to improve my score. However, I’ve made plenty of shots with these irons where the ball takes a soft bounce, stops dead in its tracks, and even spins back in a few cases.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: These irons aren’t the most workable. However, if someone needs to hit a low slinger one way or the other, it can be done, but it requires a little more exaggeration in their swing to achieve it.
• Adjustability: These irons aren’t adjustable. If someone needs a lie or loft change, they will need to take them to a pro shop for adjustment.

Best shot with this club set

My best shot with these irons was my approach shot on a short par 4 with a massive dog leg left. I laid up because I couldn’t safely draw my driver and didn’t want to drive through the fairway. I had a full 8 iron to the green, and the sun was setting. Rushing to get through as many holes as possible, I took one look at the pin location, looked down at my ball, and fired away. A perfect dollar bill divot was left as my ball sailed through the air for what seemed like two minutes. I watched as the ball carried over the creek, over the bunker, and it went straight for the flag. I drew the ball slightly, and it landed just to the left of the pin. It took one short hop to the left and stopped three feet from the hole.

Value for the money vs. other options

In comparison to TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, and Ping, who are some of the other big names, these irons are usually a little cheaper than their player’s distance counterparts (TaylorMade P790, Callaway Apex, Titleist T200, Ping i525). The performance aligns with how these other irons perform except for the P790s, which generally add distance from the other options. These irons aren’t as popular, but they check all the boxes and, for the price difference, allow golfers to get a lesson to help further improve their game.

Final verdict

The Srixon ZX5 MKII set is a great option for golfers looking to graduate from game improvement irons to something that has a better feel, sound, and workability without making golf a chore. These irons perform great and are suitable for most golfers in the mid-handicap range.