Equipment
Srixon ZX Mk II fairway woods, hybrids: What you need to know
JMDM
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The new Srixon ZX Mk II fairway woods and hybrids continue the company’s trend of better-player inspired shapes, but they also again add the benefits of better energy transfer to the ball at impact. The key is surrounding the center of the face with alternating stiff and flexible zones. That construction means the crown and sole support and enhance how the face flexes at impact. The result is more forgiveness on mis-hits even within those more compact shapes.
PRICE: The ZX Mk II fairway woods ($280) come in 13.5-, 15-, 18-, and 21-degree lofts. The hybrids ($250) include five lofts (17, 19, 22, 25, 28 degrees). They will be available at retail Jan. 20.
3 COOL THINGS
1. More energy in the face comes from a more energetic body. Sure, both the ZX Mk II fairway woods and hybrids feature a high-strength steel alloy in the face that is plenty flexible on its own. But these designs double down on that flexibility by employing the same “Rebound Frame” technology seen in its drivers. By alternating flexible and rigid zones around the face, into the crown and all the way to the rear of the body, they direct more energy back into the face so that both on-center and off-center hits fly farther.
2. Fairway woods and hybrids need different interior weighting. Both the ZX Mk II fairway woods and hybrids offer the compact look better players favor, but internally they take a different approach to where the center of gravity should be. That makes sense for better players because a fairway wood needs its weight a little more forward to reduce spin, while a hybrid needs its weight a little farther back from the face so it offers better forgiveness, higher launch and more control than the iron it replaces.
Hybrids need more than a thin face to generate ball speed. These hybrids have a variable-thickness face, but the main source of power is how the body contributes to that flexibility. Alternating the stiffness and flexibility of the surrounding regions in the body allows the face to become a more efficient conduit for power. Srixon’s team achieves a lower and deeper center of gravity through thicker sole sections for a higher launch and more spin to help shots stick the landing on the green.
Inside the sole of the ZX fairway woods, a block of weight is positioned toward the front of the club with the top of that block angling forward almost like a cannon aimed toward the center of the face. Hence the name “cannon sole.” The distinct shape helps to achieve a lower-spinning shot for distance that better players prefer. That low-spin performance is helped by the crown’s step-down shape, which concentrates more mass low. A lightweight carbon-composite crown on the 13.5- and 15-degree lofts means even more low-spin distance performance for the fairway woods designed for the longest shots.
Meanwhile, on the ZX Mk II hybrids, the front-to-back shape is longer than on previous models, shifting the CG slightly rearward but still keeping it low. This ultimately leads to slightly more spin for a higher flight that will be more effective in holding greens.
Spring-like faces matter only if they produce fast ball speeds. That’s why these fairway woods use stiff and flexing regions immediately around the face to create better energy transfer for more distance. They also have a thin, high-strength steel alloy in the face to create more rebound at impact. The final ingredient lies inside the clubhead: A low and forward weight pad lowers the center of gravity to reduce spin.
3. When the tour asks, these answer. The ZX Mk II fairway woods and hybrids cater to Srixon’s tour players’ demands but that also makes them more smartly playable for paying customers, too. Those improvements in shaping this year include cut-out cavities in the heel and toe regions of the sole that improve turf interaction by reducing the contact area of the sole with the ground. On the hybrids, the crown no longer features the step-down look. Instead, the smoother, traditional shape on top with a squared off toe helps with alignment. The notch on the heel side of the sole also helps the hybrid sit more square at address.