For any number of reasons, some legitimate and some not, the straight/hybrid portion of any product release is almost always a fluid extension of the driver’s history. It’s the same three or four points of technology as the driver’s launch, but without the sex and creative bait of the big family dog.
This year’s TaylorMade Qi35 and Callaway Elyte stories test this conclusion to some extent.
The new Srixon ZXi roads and hybrids do not.
That’s not to say these new Srixons aren’t worth your time. From looks alone, they are a vast improvement over the previous (and disappointing) ZX Mk II models. However, if you want a deep dive into the technology, skip to the driver article to refresh your memory and then come back.
I will wait. (Insert topic from Risk.)
Srixon ZXi Roads and Hybrids: A Much Needed Fix
Welcome back. I believe you have realized the benefits of the new AI-designed variable thickness face, i-Flex and the Rebound Frame’s trampoline effect.
Let’s get back to work.
The only way to determine if a new Srixon ZXi road or hybrid is right for you is to test drive one and compare it to other contenders. It might work for you; it may not be. However, we can tell you that this year’s models have some much-needed fixes.
The 2023 Srixon ZX Mk II Roads and Hybrids were, to put it mildly, mediocre. They were, in fact, the epitome of mediocrity and a huge step back from the 2021 model. which has received the highest honors in MyGolfSpy testing that year. Last year, the ZX Mk II finished 16thth out of 29 clubs tested. It was neither long nor precise and was unapologetic on the level of the first lady.
The good news for the hybrid was that it placed 14thth in our testing.
The bad news? This was out of 23 models tested.
“Our hybrids and fairways are not widely used on the (PGA) Tour,” Srixon Director of Engineering Dustin Brekke tells MyGolfSpy, “but we continue to work with our Tour staff to get feedback.”
Most of the tournament feedback focused on the shaping. It’s easy to think of shaping as a simple aesthetic, but it affects everything from dynamic lift to terrain interaction.
“The width of the sole, the curvature of the sole, and the top-to-bottom shape all play a big role,” says Brekke.
That’s why the ZXi line is getting a major facelift. They just look better, by a lot, than their predecessors.
But will form follow function?
That, of course, is the $64,000 question.
“It is difficult to identify a specific feature that leads to a specific result,” explains Brekke. “So we continue to refine the shape and other parts that are important.”
Refining the shape enables the refinement of those other important parts. Shift some weight and adjust the CG and you can improve the MOI. Upgrade the face technology with i-Flex and you can improve ball speed.
Perhaps the biggest upgrade, however, is the Srixon fairways and hybrids will be adjustable from the hosel.
Holy spinning grief!
“That’s going to be huge for us,” Brekke admits. “We can adapt players quicker and provide options.”
Srixon is doing one of two things here. You could say they’re finally catching up, but adaptability isn’t a huge technological leap. More likely, Srixon is admitting that while it is not adjustable, it may have given a weight and/or price advantage to the type of player they are after adjusting the values. A potential Srixon player not only wants the fit, but is likely to use it and benefit from it.
“There are more options than 99 percent of people can use,” says Brekke. “The industry has been around for years. The key is to provide those options and the information to understand how to use this flexibility.”
Streamlined adjustability, sort of
As with any adjustable putter, the new Srixon version allows you to adjust the loft angle, lie and face with 12 different settings. Loft can be adjusted 1.5 degrees up or down in half degree increments. As you rise up, the angle of the face closes. As you move down, the corner of your face opens up.
The lie is adjusted at the same time, but only down or flat. For example, if you raise a ZXi freeway or hybrid up 1.5 degrees, the face will close three degrees and the lie will flatten 1.5 degrees. If you rise 1.5 degrees, the face will open three degrees, while the lie flattens 1.5 degrees.
If that’s not flat enough for you, adds Srixon FL blend settings. Put the hose in STD FL and loft and face angle are standard, but the lie will be three degrees flat.
If you tend to connect hybrids from the planet, the flat with an open club face may be just the ticket. On the other hand, if your shots from the wood off the deck tend to go straight, a closed face might soften the heebie-jeebies just a bit.
In addition, the toe jump adapts to the loft. You don’t think much about the terrain interaction with a freeway or a hybrid, but it matters. The ZXi line has updated soles that, when combined with adjustability, give players more options to find the right combination.
Again, Srixon isn’t necessarily breaking new ground here, but it’s not lagging behind either.
Some observations on the course
Fairway woods and I have an understanding. I don’t expect much from them and they are fine with that. My relationship with hybrids, however, is toxic. Every dance has ended badly.
Since it’s off-season, I decided to try a ZXi 5-wood and 4-hybrid. I took the 3-wood out of the bag (honestly, it got easier) and bumped the 5-wood up to 16.5 degrees, making it more of a 4-wood. This loft setting lowered the lie 1.5 degrees to 57 and opened the face a full three degrees.
I also lowered the 22-degree 4-hybrid to 20.5 degrees and replaced my PING i530 5-iron. The lie dropped to 58 degrees and the face opened three degrees.
Like most “regular” players, hitting a 5-iron or a 3-wood is a Dirty Harry moment for me. Do I feel lucky?
Well, yeah, punk?
Maybe it was nothing more than the joy of getting out of the New Hampshire cold for a few days, but I hit more goodies with the Srixon ZXi 5-wood and 4-hybrid that one weekend than I had in the last half-season with my Callaway 3-wood and PING 5-iron. Of course, the bar was very low … but still.
The obvious, and likely correct, conclusion is that I will get similar results with any 5-wood and 4-hybrid. Once the results are achieved, then and only then should things like look, feel and confidence matter. Srixon has done a great job of improving the look and feel compared to the ZX Mk II line. While ground interaction and ball speed are difficult to measure on the course, every good result led to more confidence.
This, of course, led to better results.
Funny how it works.
Srixon ZXi Roads and Hybrids: Specs, Price and Availability
The new Srixon ZXi wood comes in four adjustable lofts ranging from a solid 3-wood at 13.5 degrees to a 7-wood at 21 degrees. The hard 3 and standard 3 have a carbon fiber crown, while the 5 and 7 woods are all high-strength maraging steel. Only standard 3 and 5 wood will be available for lefties.
The Ventus TR Blue is the stock shaft while the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 is the stock grip. The women’s model features the lightweight Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft and Lamkin ST Soft grip. It will be available in 5-wood and 7-wood with left-handed models available by order only.
The Srixon ZXi hybrids come in five adjustable lofts, ranging from a 2-degree 17-degree hybrid to a 28-degree 6-degree hybrid. Only the 3- and 4-degree hybrids will be available for lefties. Ventus TR Blue HB shaft and Tour Velvet 360 grip are stock.
The women’s version again features the Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft and Lamkin ST soft grip. They will be available in right-hand drive 4-, 5- and 6-hybrid models. 4-hybrid will be available for left-handers on order.
Retail price is $329.99 for freeways and $279.99 for hybrids. They hit stores on January 24th.
For more information, click on Srixon Golf website.
Post New Srixon ZXi Roads and Hybrids: Worth Your Time? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
