The appliance of science
Japanese manufacturer XXIO marries physics with technical innovation to produce exceptional equipment delivering remarkable results
rom the same stable as Srixon and Cleveland, XXIO (pronounced zek-si-oh) specialises in delivering premiumquality clubs to benefit players with moderate to slow swing speeds. The attention to detail in the company’s design and manufacture processes is incredible and generating significant industry interest.
XXIO is clear on its target market – players with a swing speed of below 100mph. The company is not afraid to say that if you’re someone who swings faster, XXIO is not the right option.
But figures show some 54% of male and 96% of female golfers have swing speeds within the parameters targeted by the XXIO ranges – XXIO Eleven, XXIO X and XXIO Prime.
As we grow older, our swing speeds inevitably drop. This coincides with a time in life where many have more free time and are able to play more golf. XXIO’S aim is to help those players continue to get the most from their games, right to the end of a round. With easy-swinging Ernie Els as a brand ambassador helping get the message across to older golfers, XXIO has achieved phenomenal success in Asia, the USA and continental Europe, and word is spreading in the UK.
Fundamentally, XXIO produces extremely lightweight clubs with high balance points that are easy to swing, helping golfers generate greater clubhead speeds and distance.
An average modern driver has a total weight of around 310g. The XXIO Prime driver has a total weight of just 254g. But that’s just part of the story. The typical driver head will make up 66% of total weight, but with Prime it makes up 72.5%. That extra proportional mass combined with a high balance point maximises impact force. The high balance point in the shaft is not a new idea and it’s being increasingly investigated on tour – heavier heads with impregnated shafts, for instance. What XXIO is doing is applying the concept to really lightweight clubs using a counterweight system, allowing slower swingers to generate more power.
As you’d expect from a premium brand, XXIO uses the finest materials in construction: titanium found on superbikes and carbon used in the aeronautics industry, for example.
And, each XXIO club is constructed holistically, from ‘grip to tip’. Each shaft, head and grip is made specifically to deliver the perfect balance.
On to the ranges: XXIO Eleven is the 11th generation of XXIO clubs, with the technologies featured
“If you have a slower swing speed, XXIO could change your golfing life”
The XXIO Eleven fairway wood refined to deliver optimum results for players with swing speeds below 90mph.
The driver head is constructed using two different types of titanium – 811 in the body for lower density (the thickness of the sole is only just more than four sheets of paper!) and 51AF in the face: super-strong and ductile. The shaft weighs in at just 37g, with the high balance point helping to generate notable speeds.
The fairway metals feature a canon sole delivering weight in exactly the right place behind the face, at the right angle for optimum launch.
The award-winning irons feature a multipiece construction and are one of the few on the market with a titanium face. No expense has been spared.
The comprehensive XXIO Eleven ladies range features the same innovation, with specifications tailored to fit women’s requirements in terms of launch and descent angles.
Comprehensive range
The XXIO X range targets the better player, someone whose swing speed is dropping below 100mph and who wants to maximise distance without sacrificing feel and control.
The X driver is also lightweight with a high balance point, but it offers slightly more muted acoustics than the Eleven, as preferred by better players.
There’s a range of fairways and hybrids, as well as the beautiful, forged irons with carbon steel bodies and super-thin maraging steel faces. With cuts and speed grooves, there’s exceptional face flexion. Combined with specifically designed shafts and V-shaped soles, the performance is exceptional.
For players who are really struggling to generate speed, XXIO Prime and XXIO Prime Royal Edition Ladies could be game savers.
These are XXIO’S most lightweight clubs, with grip and shaft weights among the lowest in the industry. Incredible detail has gone into the design, with bulge and roll changes maximising face flexion to help salvage heel and toe strikes.
Although the irons look standard, the performance is akin to a fairway metal. The high density of tungsten and titanium faces help deliver remarkable ball speeds.
If you’re someone with a slower swing speed or your speed is tailing, switching to XXIO could greatly improve your performance. The science is formidable, and the materials and construction processes used are second to none. XXIO could change your golfing life.