HEAD TO HEAD
Honma TR20 P
7-iron loft: 30°
Shaft: Nippon N.S.PRO Modus3 Tour 105 stiff
It is a distance iron concealed in a way that doesn’t scream game-improver. The profile is compact enough to not be chunky, but also not intimidating and very traditional in shape. There’s less offset, but the unpainted scorelines makes alignment tricky.
Has more mellow acoustics and while it didn’t feel quite as powerful as the Srixon, it still delivered a pleasing hitting experience. Shots from the middle seemed to stay on the face for longer.
The high launch and low spin this club produces means well-struck shots travel far with a strong, rainbow flight and carry distances were comparable to the ZX5. It’s a combination that golfers who spin the ball too much will love to see.
Stable, but we didn’t generate enough ball speed to keep mishits in the air for long enough to not see sizeable drop-offs in carry distance. The low spin also exaggerated the effect of poor strikes.
This iron is long and flies straight, which the midand high-handicapper will love. The low spin is a concern, but can be managed via a fitting, and the aspirational looks will certainly draw you in on the shelf.
Looks
8 ~8 Feel/sound
8 ~9 Ball flight
9 ~8
Forgiveness
8 ~9 Overall appeal
8 ~9
Totals/50
Srixon ZX5 £149.50 per club
7-iron loft: 31°
Shaft: Nippon N.S.PRO Modus3 Tour 120 stiff
Noticeably more offset, but it’s still very pleasing on the eye and the white grooves really stand out, helping you aim the face. The back of the sole just starts to poke out from behind the topline from the 6-iron down, which we don’t care for.
If pushed, we would say the ZX5 felt a little more lively off the face, especially out of the middle but also away from it too. The sound was fairly loud, but not overbearing, nor was it harsh or clicky.
The 500rpm higher spin on average means this club delivers more stopping power to hold the greens, while still achieving good distance and a penetrating flight. Slower swingers may want to see more launch assistance though.
The Srixon ZX5 converted club speed into ball speed more efficiently overall, which meant that carry distances were more consistent. The extra stability was obvious, exceeding our expectations given the modest size of the head.
The ZX5 was more consistent and user-friendly overall. Factor in the powerful feel and easy alignment, as well as the lower price point, and you have got a mightily appealing prospect for a wide spectrum of golfers.