Can a driver have too much forgiveness? Srixon's new ZXi Max Driver asks the question

With the launch of the new Srixon ZXi Max Driver, the company is changing course with how it offers its driver line-up in 2025. But is there a need for this new choice?

Saying something is ‘the best’ in golf is always tricky. The best drivers in golf for you might be very different from the best drivers for your playing partners, or me, or Tiger Woods, based on our particular wants, desires, and needs. The new Srixon ZXi Max driver is an acknowledgement of that from the company and a new direction for 2025.

The ‘Max’ moniker is being used by virtually every manufacturer this year, mostly to describe their 10K MOI heads, but Srixon, I think, is offering more than just straight-up forgiveness. The company talked about that themselves when we visited them to unveil the new products a few months ago.

The Srixon ZXi Max Driver is not 10K. It could be, and Srixon can make that model without a problem, but they don’t believe that simply moving the weight to the default position of ‘as far back as possible’ will solve most golfers’ difficulties.

Their Max model is still forgiving, don’t get us wrong. Its MOI (Moment of Inertia or resistance to twisting) is in the mid-9000s, but the driver itself is purposed for helping slower-speed golfers more than those who just want more help. If you’re looking for that additional protection but are still generating speed, I firmly encourage you to hit the Srixon ZXi core model which might be the straightest driver I’ve ever hit.

But for those who this will be more relevant for, come to the front of the class and let us have a conversation.

Looks/Feel – 5/5

The Srixon ZXi Max Driver is cleaner than clean. If you’re familiar with last-gen’s ZX5 MKii driver, you’ll see something that you’re used to when looking down at the ZXi Max. The changes though are not insignificant.

The body and crown have both been lowered to help the driver from a performance and aerodynamic standpoint, so there’s more of a swept-back look to the framing on the ground. It’s not a bad design choice, as it helps make the rear of the head appear slightly smaller than it actually is, working well with the matte crown finish to give the impression of a club that’s less bound to the tech and design than the reality.

It’s a great move from Srixon, as many players who are losing power in their game still want to look down at something pleasing to the eye.

For looks, the matt black crown mixes with a gloss black sole that’s wrapped up with some subtle red accenting around the perimeter of the golf club. As with the rest of the Srixon ZXi family, it’s super clean and is meant to appeal to golfers of every standard. I really like clubs that have that timeless look, it’s great for getting a longer bag life out of your kit as they don’t get tired as quickly although that might just be a me thing after getting burned for a trade-in by a certain yellow-and-gray-topped driver in my younger days.

Feedback-wise, this is an all-titanium construction so you’re going to get old-school sound. It’s a great noise to hear if you’ve grown up in the titanium era and haven’t fallen in love with the more muted noise from the modern carbon fiber heads. Sound plays a big part in how you feel about new clubs but this is something that can appeal across the board, letting the Srixon ZXi Max Driver do the talking with its performance over anything arbitrary.

Technology – 4/5

From a technology standpoint, there are some new elements at play as well as some carrying over from the previous generation.

Returning in 2025 is Rebound Frame, which has been one of Srixon’s flagship pieces of engineering in several models now. Rebound Frame is built as an amplifier for energy transfer, meant to allow more flexing across the entire face to improve ball speed on your mishits by decreasing any loss of power from more rigid sections of the clubs.

Also joining us is the Star Frame Crown, which is a complex lattice structure made for reinforcement so that the Srixon ZXi Max can utilize the thinnest titanium crown the brand has ever made. This means they can offer lower CG (Center of Gravity) through the redistributed weight that’s been saved.

You may have been wondering why Srixon hasn’t elected to go the route of carbon fiber like many of its competitors, but the company doesn’t believe it’s necessary. When you use a carbon crown, you also need to use epoxy – or glue – to keep the multiple pieces together. That epoxy has weight to it, and Srixon has found that any mass saved from the lighter carbon fiber simply ends up back in the crown with the glue holding the club together, so you end up with a net zero gain.

The major new technology in Srixon ZXi Max is the dramatically redesigned face, called i-Flex. i-Flex focuses on making the core of the face thinner without losing ball speed from off-center by working with the Rebound Frame mentioned earlier. This has resulted in more ball speed and power from the middle of the club, to the tune of 4.2 yards extra distance over last year’s models.

In modern driver design that’s not insignificant as companies try harder and harder to create additional power from tighter tolerances.

Finally, Srixon has added fully adjustable rear weighting to the ZXi Max Driver. You can’t move it around the head, like with the ZXi Core or the ZXi LS models, but it is changeable. The reason it’s not moveable is because of the purpose-built nature of this club to provide maximum forgiveness. If you want more forward weight, you need to look at the other ZXi family heads.

Performance – 4/5

In my notes for performance, the first thing I’ve written down, in block capitals, is the word ‘HIGH’ so that may give you the clearest indicator of the performance of this club. From the first strike to the last, this driver goes to the moon. I’m sure that with an in-depth fitting, you could figure out a way to bring everything down if you are truly desperate to play the most forgiving head you can but I would then just ask you what’s so wrong with the Core Srixon ZXi.

Even when I slow my speed down to something more appropriate, this driver loves to launch itself higher into the air, which is a great asset to any golfer who needs it. With that launch comes more spin, and, I must say, it’s been really enjoyable to play with a driver that goes against the trend of reducing spin as much as possible.

At my lower speed, the ZXi Max Driver was achieving a consistent landing angle that helped produce better carry as well as more total distance. With too little spin, you might get more rollout when you play in the summer, but when it’s wet you need to be able to rely on the ball carrying through the air to get closer to the green.

My one fault with performance comes back to how I try and judge the category overall. I like to consider how the driver will work for every golfer and not just how I play the game, hence the lower testing speed.

With the Srixon ZXi Max Driver, I just struggle to see how this can work for anyone outside of a specific range of players. There will always be exceptions to that, but for the majority of golfers I think this driver will spin and launch too high, and when I do use my normal speed at 107-ish mph, there’s just too much distance loss compared to the other two ZXi drivers to make the extra forgiveness worth it.

Overall – 4/5

I think it’s fair to say that this head isn’t built for me. That’s okay, not everything needs to work for everyone, and for the golfers that it is designed for, I think you’re going to have a brilliant time with the Srixon ZXi Max.

From the looks to the performance to the technology, every part of the club works well, and I think there’s going to be some big smiles on tee boxes this year with how reliable the ZXi Max plays.

If you’re living in the above-average club speed category, though, I think there will be some very wide eyes to counter those smiles.

Ultimately, you need to try the entire range of Srixon ZXi Drivers to truly know and, if you’ve only got one brand to try from in Srixon, I still you’ll be just as happy as you would be with any other brand. It’s a great product from a quality company and will last the test of time for years to come.

• Srixon ZXi Irons – Everything you need to know

About the author

Lewis Daff

Lewis joined the Today’s Golfer digital team in 2024, having spent more than a decade in both big-box golf retail and independent stores working as a club fitter and builder.

Experienced with every level of golfer, from beginner to professional, he has achieved Master Fitter and Builder status with most major manufacturers, including Mizuno, Taylormade, and Callaway, helping him to cement both a wide and deep knowledge base, ideal for helping guide golfers towards the correct equipment for them. Lewis specializes in Clubs, Shafts, Training Aids, Launch Monitors and Grips.

In Lewis’ bag is Titleist GT3 Driver (9º) with Fujikura Ventus Black, TaylorMade SIM Max Fairway Woods (15º and 18º), Wilson Staff D9 Forged 3-iron, Srixon ZX7 MKii Irons (4-PW), Titleist SM9 Wedges (52º, 60º), Toulon San Diego Putter, and the Titleist ProV1X Left Dash.

Talk to Lewis about why steel shafts are now dead and graphite is the only way forward, or any other equipment you’d like to debate, via his email, Instagram, or Bluesky.

RRP: £549.00 / $549.00

Lofts: 9º (RH), 10.5° (RH/LH), 12.0º (RH)

Head Size: 460cc

Standard Shaft Length: 45.75”

Stock Shaft Options: Project X Denali Red 50g

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360