Price
$157 per iron
Srixon ZXiR
Price
$157 per iron
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matt martian photography
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Why We Like It
- The ZXiR has a wider sole, larger face and is more forgiving than the ZXi4.
- The head is made from a proprietary steel alloy called i-alloy that is 10 percent softer and less dense than 431 stainless steel. This results in a better feeling club from a cast construction.
- Although the guts of the company’s variable-thickness face remain intact, a new simulation-driven design reduced face mass by 4.5 grams while preserving durability and ball speed.
- Srixon paid particular attention to performance off the toe because toe strikes are more common for this player type than heel hits.
- The company’s venerable Tour V.T. sole design—more bounce toward the leading edge and less bounce toward the trailing edge—helps chunky shots play more like solid strikes.
- Top 5 in Performance, middle- and high-handicaps
- SPECS: 7-iron: 28.5 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted the club’s V-shaped, split/beveled sole gives exceptional turf interaction, letting the head glide through the ground and stay fast through impact. Shots jump off the brushed face with a high-to-medium, piercing trajectory, best-in-class carry and very tight left-right dispersion; distance and ball speed were frequently outstanding. Sleek, angular head, large sweet spot and solid, responsive feel make it easy to work. One caveat: some found front-to-back distance consistency lacking on severe mis-hits.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed the V-shaped split sole and wider sole delivered excellent turf interaction, letting the head glide through the turf with a sleek, futuristic look and attractive brushed face. Ball jumps off the face with a high, penetrating trajectory and strong carry; distance was among the best in the category and directional dispersion stayed notably straight. The club feels light, well‑weighted and easy to swing with a large sweet spot, though severe heel/toe mis‑hits can lose distance.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted it slices through turf thanks to a beveled sole, producing very fast impact, high medium trajectories and consistently narrow left‑to‑right dispersion—even on mis-hits. Solid strikes delivered strong distance, tight accuracy and controllable spin; ordinary swings still sent the ball on line while good swings excelled. Sound and feel were described as explosive yet buttery, and the thinner topline/sole aided workability. One caveat: some felt the head was slightly smaller/heavier than expected.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
This is one of my favorite clubs. It feels and looks good, and the weight is nice. By far, the longest in this category in terms of consistency. Off-center hits were pretty forgiving, so you didn't sacrifice a whole lot of distance. The V-shape feature in the sole gets the leading edge through the turf so well.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
The pitching wedge performed so much differently, and better, than the longer irons. The sole design really helps the club get through the turf.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
I really like it. The ball jumps off the face, and I'm able to fade it. Ball flight was just high enough, not too high. The only only drawback is that they tried to do too much with the back of the club.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
The defining value of this club is no matter how well or where I hit it on the face, it went dead straight every time. I lost some distance on mis-hits, but I didn't lose my line. I'll take a straight miss any day of the week.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
From the back, you can really see a lot of the engineering that went into it. On my first attempt, the ball took off on its intended line with what I thought was just an ordinary, mediocre swing on my part. Good swings got really, really good results. Bad swings got acceptable results.
SEE ALL (24)
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
This is one of my favorite clubs. It feels and looks good, and the weight is nice. By far, the longest in this category in terms of consistency. Off-center hits were pretty forgiving, so you didn't sacrifice a whole lot of distance. The V-shape feature in the sole gets the leading edge through the turf so well.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
The pitching wedge performed so much differently, and better, than the longer irons. The sole design really helps the club get through the turf.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
I really like it. The ball jumps off the face, and I'm able to fade it. Ball flight was just high enough, not too high. The only only drawback is that they tried to do too much with the back of the club.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
The defining value of this club is no matter how well or where I hit it on the face, it went dead straight every time. I lost some distance on mis-hits, but I didn't lose my line. I'll take a straight miss any day of the week.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
From the back, you can really see a lot of the engineering that went into it. On my first attempt, the ball took off on its intended line with what I thought was just an ordinary, mediocre swing on my part. Good swings got really, really good results. Bad swings got acceptable results.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I noticed a lot of consistency throughout in terms of distance—no more than three to five yards difference, albeit shorter than I'd like. Directional dispersion is somewhat tight. A really good looking club. The thicker sole isn't distracting or cumbersome looking at address.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
There's a lot of dispersion from front to back. I didn't find the consistency there. But when you caught it pure, it felt great. I thought the split, V-shaped sole really helped the club get through the ground.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
The lack of any turf inhibition to my swing was awesome. I feel like I could get through anything, and the ball got up very high, very quickly, with a similar carry and descent angle. Very soft landings with this club.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
The weight is well-distributed in this club. It's really light and easy to swing, and not too heavy in any particular place. The head is pretty angular up top, too, which I like.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It has a pretty big sweet spot. The feel is more on the quiet side, but not cushy. Shots launch high, with really good distance. Very, very easy to hit straight.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
I think its best feature is its consistency. The dispersion is fairly tight, even on mis-hits. And while the head is a little bit smaller and heavier than I expected, my distance did not suffer. In fact, it increased. My clubhead speed went down and my ball speed went up!
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
The sole of the club is wider, producing excellent turf interaction. Distance is exceptional. The ball flight is actually higher than most others, although it starts off low. I still got plenty of height once it got out there.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not one of the more forgiving game-improvement irons out there. That being said, when you find the center of the face with it, the ball launches real high with good distance, and stays on line.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A very complete golf club. Solidly struck shots perform well with respect to distance and dispersion, and off-center shots are certainly satisfactory. Very accurate ball flight and good spin on three-quarter wedge shots. I think that's representative of the strengths of this club.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
You can feel the beveled sole working, making the club significantly more efficient. It's super fast through the impact zone. The ball rockets off the club on a nice, medium trajectory, and always in a narrow window of dispersion from left to right. It's a club you can definitely be aggressive with.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
This was just amazing. All the great things you want in an iron that make you feel like a tour player. Both the sound and feeling through the ball were explosive, and buttery smooth. Each shot hit the stratosphere with a lot of velocity.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Clean look. The sound is muted, but the ball jumps off the face pretty hot. High, piercing trajectory, with a good descent angle. It just feels pretty powerful in your hands.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Sleek yet futuristic-like looking head didn't distract at all from the club's performance. It really glides through the turf with a sharp, pleasing feel, sending the ball high and straight. Plenty of punch if you want it, but you will suffer on egregious mis-hits. It can't cover up everything.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It's very rewarding in distance. Some of the longest shots I hit in this category were with this one. It instills confidence at address, makes you want to be aggressive. Takes off like a bullet that keeps going up.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
It has a thinner topline and sole than most others in this category, which I really like. Nice, strong feel off the face. Distance was there, but I felt like I had to work a little harder to get it. Could work the ball both ways.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
The brushed hitting area on the face is beautiful and helps frame the ball well. The head moves through the turf really well, but I didn't find it very forgiving on heel or toe hits in terms of distance. It was, however, consistently straight.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Visually, there are a lot of angles to this club, which is not for me. The club generally produced straight shots, with a lower-than-optimal height. The sound on impact is an assertive crack.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
They weren't the longest or the highest, but they were still better than average in terms of accuracy. The feel was just a little more firm and clicky than I might have liked, probably from the steep undercut cavity that you can see behind the face.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
This is a hot club. Performs really well across the face, and the carry is great—even off the toe and heel. It's weighted very well and moves through the ground so smoothly.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
The defining value of this club is no matter how well or where I hit it on the face, it went dead straight every time. I lost some distance on mis-hits, but I didn't lose my line. I'll take a straight miss any day of the week.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
From the back, you can really see a lot of the engineering that went into it. On my first attempt, the ball took off on its intended line with what I thought was just an ordinary, mediocre swing on my part. Good swings got really, really good results. Bad swings got acceptable results.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I noticed a lot of consistency throughout in terms of distance—no more than three to five yards difference, albeit shorter than I'd like. Directional dispersion is somewhat tight. A really good looking club. The thicker sole isn't distracting or cumbersome looking at address.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
There's a lot of dispersion from front to back. I didn't find the consistency there. But when you caught it pure, it felt great. I thought the split, V-shaped sole really helped the club get through the ground.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
The lack of any turf inhibition to my swing was awesome. I feel like I could get through anything, and the ball got up very high, very quickly, with a similar carry and descent angle. Very soft landings with this club.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
I think its best feature is its consistency. The dispersion is fairly tight, even on mis-hits. And while the head is a little bit smaller and heavier than I expected, my distance did not suffer. In fact, it increased. My clubhead speed went down and my ball speed went up!
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A very complete golf club. Solidly struck shots perform well with respect to distance and dispersion, and off-center shots are certainly satisfactory. Very accurate ball flight and good spin on three-quarter wedge shots. I think that's representative of the strengths of this club.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
You can feel the beveled sole working, making the club significantly more efficient. It's super fast through the impact zone. The ball rockets off the club on a nice, medium trajectory, and always in a narrow window of dispersion from left to right. It's a club you can definitely be aggressive with.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
This was just amazing. All the great things you want in an iron that make you feel like a tour player. Both the sound and feeling through the ball were explosive, and buttery smooth. Each shot hit the stratosphere with a lot of velocity.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Sleek yet futuristic-like looking head didn't distract at all from the club's performance. It really glides through the turf with a sharp, pleasing feel, sending the ball high and straight. Plenty of punch if you want it, but you will suffer on egregious mis-hits. It can't cover up everything.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
It has a thinner topline and sole than most others in this category, which I really like. Nice, strong feel off the face. Distance was there, but I felt like I had to work a little harder to get it. Could work the ball both ways.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Visually, there are a lot of angles to this club, which is not for me. The club generally produced straight shots, with a lower-than-optimal height. The sound on impact is an assertive crack.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
This is one of my favorite clubs. It feels and looks good, and the weight is nice. By far, the longest in this category in terms of consistency. Off-center hits were pretty forgiving, so you didn't sacrifice a whole lot of distance. The V-shape feature in the sole gets the leading edge through the turf so well.
Anand
43, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
The pitching wedge performed so much differently, and better, than the longer irons. The sole design really helps the club get through the turf.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
I really like it. The ball jumps off the face, and I'm able to fade it. Ball flight was just high enough, not too high. The only only drawback is that they tried to do too much with the back of the club.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
The weight is well-distributed in this club. It's really light and easy to swing, and not too heavy in any particular place. The head is pretty angular up top, too, which I like.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It has a pretty big sweet spot. The feel is more on the quiet side, but not cushy. Shots launch high, with really good distance. Very, very easy to hit straight.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
The sole of the club is wider, producing excellent turf interaction. Distance is exceptional. The ball flight is actually higher than most others, although it starts off low. I still got plenty of height once it got out there.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Not one of the more forgiving game-improvement irons out there. That being said, when you find the center of the face with it, the ball launches real high with good distance, and stays on line.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Clean look. The sound is muted, but the ball jumps off the face pretty hot. High, piercing trajectory, with a good descent angle. It just feels pretty powerful in your hands.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It's very rewarding in distance. Some of the longest shots I hit in this category were with this one. It instills confidence at address, makes you want to be aggressive. Takes off like a bullet that keeps going up.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
The brushed hitting area on the face is beautiful and helps frame the ball well. The head moves through the turf really well, but I didn't find it very forgiving on heel or toe hits in terms of distance. It was, however, consistently straight.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
They weren't the longest or the highest, but they were still better than average in terms of accuracy. The feel was just a little more firm and clicky than I might have liked, probably from the steep undercut cavity that you can see behind the face.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
This is a hot club. Performs really well across the face, and the carry is great—even off the toe and heel. It's weighted very well and moves through the ground so smoothly.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Range Results
We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
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