Srixon ZX4 Iron £899
GM Verdict
Until recently, the Srixon ZX iron range, comprising the soft-feeling ZX7 and more powerful ZX5, had been targeting the stronger player through compact head sizes and feel-oriented models. But now golfers have a truly out-and-out distance option in the form of the ZX4.
Its 7-iron loft is 28.5° (the ZX5 is 31°), so clearly this is a club designed to produce longer carries and better off-centre forgiveness for the higher handicapper, or someone who wants to look down on a ZX iron that is more inviting to hit.
The ZX4 has a hollow head, so it has infinitely more fizz off the face than the ZX7 and ZX5, too. It doesn’t feel especially firm, but if you like a soft feel you might be left wanting.
It’s noticeably more stable, too. We found it to be very efficient at rescuing a poor strike and the consistency of distance was the evidence of this. Testing on the Flightscope X3 launch monitor, the 7-iron was regularly exceeding 180 yards of carry, only dropping just below very occasionally and topping out at 184 yards.
The other notable feature of the 7-iron was the high trajectory despite the relatively strong loft. This club had no problem getting the ball in the air, even on slightly thin shots, and it was generally very userfriendly. The Tour VT sole is pronounced but not enough to
feel cumbersome through the turf – in fact, it helped on slightly heavy contacts. Don’t expect to take big, tour-style divots with this club, though.
The performance on offer makes it an ideal solution for average golfers, possibly combined with the ZX5 model in the short-irons where distance is less of a factor.