Is this the most innovative forged iron series in 2025? Srixon ZXi Irons

The Srixon ZXi Irons family

The new Srixon ZXi irons are finally here, but has Srixon capitalized on its well-earned position in the market, or is this just a release with a new badge on the back?

In 2025, Srixon is not only recognized as a good manufacturer of irons, but possibly the best in the game right now. The new release of the Srixon ZXi irons, therefore, comes highly anticipated, especially given how the Japanese company lives and breathes by the concept of continuous, positive development, or ‘Kaizen’ to be accurate.  

It’s this ethos that has helped Srixon see year-on-year performance gains over the last decade and attract the signatures of the very best in the game including Brooks Koepka, as well as retain the interests of some of the game’s best ball strikers in Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, and Inbee Park. 

The Srixon ZXi irons build on the incredible success of the ZX MKii irons by using new and innovative forging techniques to improve what many never thought they would be able to progress further. Here’s how they’ve done it… 

Srixon ZXi Irons: The Technology 

The major addition across every model this year is the new i-Forged Construction technique. Srixon is labeling this as a proprietary technology that allows them to be more precise with weight placement in key areas – slightly different per head – to both enhance performance as well as give them a chance to improve feel through both material changes. 

What i-Forged amounts to is something called Condensed Forging, and it’s essentially an extra step in the forging process used to increase strength within the structure of the metal used.  

When irons are forged, and the metal is rapidly pressed into the shape of the club head using an extremely heavy hydraulic press (anywhere from 800-2000 tonnes) there is a certain amount of the metal that escapes the Mold. Condensed Forging is an extra step that re-concentrates that excess into the key positions that it’s lost from, namely the low heel and neck. 

This strengthening process also allows for Srixon’s engineering team to switch to a softer metal in their irons, including the S15C (or 1015 Carbon Steel) used in the ZXi7 model, for increased feel and response for every golfer. 

This is Srixon’s main goal with the new construction, to allow for an even softer feeling product while strategically moving weight across the new head series to help further optimize CG (Center of Gravity) location and make gains over the previous ZX MKii’s limits.

Working alongside the i-Forged design is the return of Srixon’s Pureframe and Mainframe structures. 

Both Pureframe and Mainframe perform different roles across the range, with an even split in the Z-Forged blades and ZXi7 offering Pureframe, and ZXi5 and ZXi4 coming with Mainframe tech in their designs. 

Pureframe is Srixon’s way of centering more mass directly behind the strike zone on their ‘better player’ irons. This increases the ‘sweet spot’ performance in terms of vibration and face deflection – this relates to better feedback from the middle, which is placed high on the list of desires from the golfer that this iron is aimed at. 

The Z-Forged ii bladed irons share the Pureframe design but without any changes as the Z-Forged irons are continuing over without an update. Srixon feels a two-year cycle isn’t necessary for their muscleback offering compared to the improvements to the rest of the iron range. 

Mainframe technology is what you’ll see in the more forgiving sets, and with good reason, as it creates a more stable structure. 

It’s been designed in a similar way to driver faces, with a variable thickness on the inside of the ZXi5 and ZXi4 faces to help out further on mishits with this iron without sacrificing the solid feeling that you’d expect from a forged head.

Srixon ZXi Irons: Turf Interaction and Consistency 

Across every model in the ZXi range is a Progressive Groove design, one which features wider and shallower grooves in the longer irons up to 7-iron while the 8i onwards has deeper and closer-set grooves for consistent spin across the full range. 

You’ll also see laser milling in between every groove as well, for improved control in different conditions. 

There’s also been some tuning to the shape of each iron head to better optimize the look for the intended golfer. ZXi7 will feature thinner toplines and a narrower sole, and ZXi5 and ZXi4 see slightly longer blade lengths and wider soles for improved help. The full range is also designed to be blended (as you’ll see in the bag of players like Shane Lowry, who uses a mixture of the both ZXi7 and ZXi5 models) so you’ll find consistency between the lines. 

The final piece of the puzzle is the now-bordering-on legendary status of the Tour VT Sole. 

VT is the wedge-shape detail you’ll notice on the bottom of every ZXi model and its purpose is to aid with ground interaction. The front section, from the leading edge to the apex of the wedge in the middle of the sole, is designed to stop the iron from getting ‘stuck’ into the turf on steeper swings, while the rear section of the sole works to get the club back out of the ground with minimal resistance. 

It works a lot like bounce on a wedge, and the idea is one that’s earning the attention and respect of many golfers at the elite level, even ones not contracted to Srixon (whisper it, but Srixon irons were the most played model at the PGA Tour Championship, a sign of the trust from some of the world’s most elite players). 

The models for this year break down as follows… 

Srixon ZXi Irons: Z-Forged II

Retail Launch: Can be ordered today

Unchanged as a model, we’ve included the Z-Forged II in our line-up as the muscleback still continues as Srixon’s purest offering. Manufactured using 1020 Carbon Steel (10 refers to the type of steel – in this case, plain carbon steel – and the 20 refers to the percentage of carbon in the structure, 0.20% in this case) and featuring the Purframe technology, the Z-Forged irons are designed for golfers seeking completely unaided performance, where the swing can do the talking. 

 VT Sole is still featured for ground interacting, but in a much smaller package than the rest of the ZXi series, and the bladed set features the Progressive Grooves, deeper and closer-set in the 8-PW, for spin control. 

Stock Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 120g 

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 

Srixon ZXi Irons: ZXi7

Pre-Sale: January 13th 2025 | Retail Launch: February 2nd 2025

The ZXi7 is in many ways the flagship model. Played by the majority of Srixon’s Tour staff, including Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, the ZXi7 offers a premium feel alongside improved off-center performance and tweaked turf interaction via the VT Sole. 

The ZXi7 features Pureframe technology and is made from 1015 Carbon Steel, which is 5% Carbon less than the Z-Forged II. The less Carbon within the mixture, the softer the metal will be, so this represents a real statement from Srixon on where they believe they stand in the market. 

There’s also the Progressive Groove design for consistent spin, regardless of the club in hand, as with the Z-Forged, and other ZXi models. 

Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115g 

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 

Srixon ZXi Irons: ZXi5 

Pre-Sale: January 13th 2025 | Retail Launch: February 2nd 2025

This iron represents the crossover point between forgiveness and feel within the Srixon ZXi series. The ‘5’ is designed to appeal to the golfer who’s looking for clean lines and professional-style shaping (Shane Lowry uses these in his long irons) while also gaining some additional ball speed across the face. 

Srixon achieve the help wanted via Mainframe technology, the design protecting speed on off-center strikes, along with a multi-material construction S20C body (1020 Carbon Steel, like the Z-Forged II) and a SUP10 (a composite steel) face. 

ZXi5 also utilizes the VT Sole and Progressive Grooves, as with previous models and the rest of the ZXi line. 

Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115g 

Stock Graphite: KBS TGI 60g 

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 

Srixon ZXi Irons: ZXi4 

Pre-Sale: January 13th 2025 | Retail Launch: February 2nd 2025

The final full set model in the series, ZXi4 is built with Mainframe, just like ZXi5, but there are some additional details. This is the option for the golfer whose game is best with a Game Improver-style iron but wants to play a softer forged iron for feedback. The head is also the only model in the ZXi series with a hollow construction, offering increased speed from either side of the center to ensure maximized help.  

The body, constructed from SUS17-47 material, a Stainless Steel, and the HT1770 are both hardened steels designed to better transfer energy into the golf ball and produce more distance. 

Once again, Progressive Grooves and VT Soles feature to bring the player-preferred turf interaction to this confidence-inspiring head. 

Stock Shaft: KBS Tour Lite 

Stock Graphite: KBS TGI 60g 

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 

Srixon ZXi Irons: ZXiU – The redesigned Utility iron 

Pre-Sale: January 13th 2025 | Retail Launch: February 2nd 2025

The utility model in the ZXi line-up has had an overhaul compared to the previous ZXU Mk II release. While the keys to the model’s previous success haven’t dramatically changed. 

There’s still the VT Sole for better turf interaction, a big reason for the success over the years, including being seen in the bag of several significant non-contracted players in the world, one of whom may or may not be a current world number one. The clean, mirror-finish back also returns, helping give the head a smaller profile than the reality of it. 

The iron shaping has been reworked to fit closer to the U85 model, a demand from the best in the world, and the Mainframe technology has been purpose-engineered specifically for this series’ Utility iron. 

Stock Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold 115g 

Stock Graphite: Mitsubishi MMT Utility 

Stock Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 

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.