Equipment
Srixon ZXi drivers: What you need to know
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: With a new face technology leading the way, the all-new ZXi drivers (standard, LS, Max) cater to golfers with specific wants and needs in three redesigned head shapes. The level of adjustability is unlike anything Srixon previously has produced and features various weight port locations to adjust shot shape and spin, along with a 1.5-degree hosel sleeve (12 different positions) that tunes loft, lie and face angle.
AVAILABILITY/PRICING: $550. ZXi (9, 10.5 degrees); ZXi LS (8, 9, 10.5 degrees); ZXi Max (9, 10.5, 12 degrees). All with 12-way adjustable hosel. Available at retail Jan. 24.
3 Cool Things
1. Golden ticket. Improve CT efficiency and improve ball speed across the entire face structure. Those remains the ultimate goals for club designers in the industry. The trouble is most manufacturers are already bumping up against the speed ceiling, which makes it difficult to squeeze meaningful distance gains out of a new driver. Creativity becomes your biggest weapon.
For Srixon, engineers created a proprietary method for “decomposing the waveform of a simulated CT acceleration response and relating it to the vibrational modes of the clubhead.” In layman’s terms, they were able to identify how to improve CT efficiencies by utilizing different face thickness patterns and switching to a stronger Ti 72S titanium alloy.
In the end, the thickness pattern changes produced a “cleaner” CT acceleration, while the stronger (and thinner) titanium alloy increased face flex and lowered stress without any durability concerns.
“With i-FLEX technology inserted into ZXi, we were able to unlock an extra level of performance we’ve never had before,” said Jeff Brunski, Srixon’s vice president of research and development. “The flexibility of these clubs enables a more efficient transfer of energy, which in turn, generates more power at impact.”
A laser milling also was added to the face to increase roughness for better spin control in wet conditions. The performance lasering is applied under the PVD to create consistent roughness and minimize the spin difference between dry and wet conditions for predictable launch and flight conditions.
The rebound frame and star frame crown are two ZX MkII carryover technologies that made the cut for ZXi. The rebound frame creates multiple areas in the head for the face and body to seamlessly flex for better energy transfer to the ball, resulting in more ball speed and distance. Think of the flex zones like double-stacked trampolines.
The star frame serves a completely different purpose in the crown, removing unwanted mass from high in the head that's placed elsewhere for stability and performance benefits. While it isn’t visible at address, the crown design is comprised of ridges and latticework that offer design integrity to the thin structure.
2. Adjust all day. Adjustability is nice to have, provided it offers a meaningful benefit to golfers who typically buy a driver and never consider using the wrench to make minor modifications in the first place.
The range on the adjustable 12-setting loft sleeve has been increased from 1 to 1.5 degrees for all ZXi drivers, fairway woods and hybrids. Although the addition of an extra half-degree might seem trivial, Srixon believes it increases the potential for even more loft, lie and face angle possibilities to enhance trajectory and control.
According to the equipment manufacturer, a two-degree change in face angle can result in 15–35 yards of lateral dispersion change, depending on swing speed, so having the ability to fine tune the face angle to your swing is key.
Adjustable sole weights can be found in all three models (ZXi, ZXi LS, ZXi Max), beginning with heel and toe weights in the ZXi. The driver can be set to a draw bias or fade bias depending on where the 4- and 10-gram weights are positioned.
The ZXi LS, Srixon’s low-spin offering, has adjustable weight ports situated in the front and rear of the sole. When the heavier 10-gram weight is positioned far forward, launch and spin are lowered. Spin can be added by flipping the weights and placing the lighter 4-gram option in the forward position. Additional weights can also be purchased to adjust spin up to 350 RPM.
Built with an extra layer of stability, the ZXi Max features a single weight port in the sole housing a beefy 14-gram cartridge. Additional weights can be ordered to adjust swing weight, but if you’re looking to go heavier than 14 grams, just know the stoutest weight is 16 grams.
3. What’s in a name? It has nothing to do with technology or adjustability improvements, but it still bears mentioning in a product rundown: Srixon changed the ZXi naming.
Some golfers were left confused by the decision to have two ZX5 drivers in the lineup, even if one had an “LS” stamped on the head to denote it was the lower spin offering. It can be difficult to determine which model is right for you if the names and numbers are the same.
However, there’s no confusion this time around with ZXi. The standard ZXi, low-spin ZXi LS and generous ZXi Max are easy to figure out.