For any variety of causes, some professional and others not, the green/hybrid a part of any product launch is sort of at all times a trickle-down extension of the motive force story. It’s the identical three or 4 expertise bullet factors as the motive force launch however with out the sexiness and headline-making clickbait of the household’s large canine.
This yr’s TaylorMade Qi35 and Callaway Elyte tales take a look at that conclusion to a level.
The brand new Srixon ZXi fairways and hybrids don’t.
That doesn’t imply these new Srixons aren’t value your time. On appears to be like alone, they’re a giant enchancment over the earlier (and disappointing) ZX Mk II fashions. Nonetheless, in order for you a deep dive into the expertise, sashay over to the motive force article to refresh your memory after which come on again.
I’ll wait. (Insert theme from Jeopardy.)
Srixon ZXi fairways and hybrids: A badly wanted repair
Welcome again. I belief you’ve caught up on the advantages of the brand new AI-designed i-Flex variable-thickness face and the trampoline impact of Rebound Body.
Let’s get again to work.
The one solution to decide whether or not a brand new Srixon ZXi fairway or hybrid is best for you is to attempt one and examine it with different contenders. It could give you the results you want; it might not. We will, nevertheless, let you know this yr’s fashions characteristic some badly wanted repairs.
The 2023 Srixon ZX Mk II fairways and hybrids have been, to be type, mediocre. They have been, actually, the epitome of mediocrity and a serious step backward from the 2021 mannequin, which copped top honors in MyGolfSpy testing that yr. Final yr, the ZX Mk II completed 16th out of 29 golf equipment examined. It was neither lengthy nor correct and was first wife-level unforgiving.
The excellent news for the hybrid was that it ranked 14th in our testing.
The unhealthy information? That was out of 23 fashions examined.
“Our hybrids and fairways aren’t extensively used on (the PGA) Tour,” Srixon Engineering Director Dustin Brekke tells MyGolfSpy, “however we proceed to work with our Tour employees to get suggestions.”
Most of that Tour suggestions centered on shaping. It’s simple to consider shaping as easy aesthetics nevertheless it impacts every part from dynamic lofting to turf interplay.
“Sole width, sole curvature and top-down form all play a giant position,” says Brekke.
That’s why the ZXi line is getting a serious kind overhaul. They merely look higher, by so much, than their predecessors.
However will operate observe kind?
That, in fact, is the $64,000 query.
“It’s laborious to determine one particular characteristic main to at least one particular final result,” Brekke explains. “So we hold refining the form and different components which can be vital.”
Refining the form permits for refining these different vital components. Shift some weight and regulate the CG and you may enhance MOI. Improve the face expertise with i-Flex and you may enhance ball velocity.
Maybe the most important improve, nevertheless, is Srixon fairways and hybrids shall be hosel-adjustable.
Holy torque wrench!
“That’s going to be big for us,” admits Brekke. “We will match gamers sooner and supply choices.”
Srixon is doing certainly one of two issues right here. You can say they’re lastly catching up however adjustability isn’t that large of a technological leap. Extra probably Srixon is conceding that whereas being non-adjustable may need given it a weight and/or value benefit, the kind of participant they’re after values adjustability. A possible Srixon participant not solely needs adjustability however they’ll probably use it and profit from it.
“There are extra choices than 99 p.c of the individuals can use,” says Brekke. “The trade has been there for years. The secret is to offer these choices and the data to determine methods to use that adjustability.”
Adjustability simplified, kind of
As with all adjustable hosel, the brand new Srixon model helps you to regulate loft, lie and face angle with 12 completely different settings. Loft could be adjusted 1.5 levels up or down in half-degree increments. As you loft up, the face angle closes. As you loft down, the face angle opens.
Lie adjusts on the similar time however solely down or flat. For instance, should you loft a ZXi fairway or hybrid up 1.5 levels, the face will shut three levels and the lie will flatten by 1.5 levels. Should you loft down by 1.5 levels, the face will open three levels whereas the lie flattens 1.5 levels.
If that’s not flat sufficient for you, Srixon provides FL settings to the combination. Set the hosel to STD FL and the loft and face angle are normal however the lie shall be three levels flat.
Should you are inclined to hook hybrids off the planet, flat with an open membership face could be simply the ticket. Alternatively, in case your off-the-deck fairway wooden photographs are inclined to go proper, a closed face may mitigate the heebie-jeebies just a bit.
Moreover, sole bounce adjusts with loft. You don’t suppose a lot about turf interplay with a fairway or a hybrid nevertheless it does matter. The ZXi line has up to date soles that, when mixed with adjustability, give golfers extra choices to seek out the best mixture.
Once more, Srixon isn’t essentially plowing new floor right here nevertheless it’s not lagging behind anymore, both.
Some on-course observations
Fairway woods and I’ve an understanding. I don’t count on a lot from them they usually’re high quality with it. My relationship with hybrids, nevertheless, is poisonous. Each dalliance has ended badly.
Because it’s the offseason, I made a decision to provide a ZXi 5-wood and 4-hybrid a attempt. I took the 3-wood out of the bag (frankly, it was relieved) and cranked the 5-wood all the way down to 16.5 levels, making it extra of a 4-wood. That loft setting dropped the lie 1.5 levels flat to 57 and opened the face by the total three levels.
I additionally cranked the 22-degree 4-hybrid down to twenty.5 levels and changed my PING i530 5-iron. The lie dropped to 58 levels and the face opened three levels.
Like most “common” golfers, hitting a 5-iron or a 3-wood is a Soiled Harry second for me. Do I really feel fortunate?
Properly, do ya, punk?
Possibly it was nothing greater than the enjoyment of getting out of the New Hampshire chilly for a number of days however I hit extra good photographs with the Srixon ZXi 5-wood and 4-hybrid that one weekend than I had during the last half-season with my Callaway 3-wood and PING 5-iron. After all, the bar was fairly low … however nonetheless.
The apparent, and sure appropriate, conclusion is I’d get related outcomes with any 5-wood and 4-hybrid. As soon as the outcomes are in, then and solely then ought to issues like appears to be like, really feel and confidence matter. Srixon has finished a high quality job of bettering appears to be like and really feel in comparison with the ZX Mk II line. Whereas turf interplay and ball velocity are laborious to quantify on the course, every good consequence led to extra confidence.
That, in fact, led to extra good outcomes.
Humorous how that works.
Srixon ZXi fairways and hybrids: Specs, value and availability
The brand new Srixon ZXi fairway woods are available in 4 adjustable lofts starting from a powerful 3-wood at 13.5 levels to a 21-degree 7-wood. The robust 3 and normal 3 characteristic a carbon-fiber crown whereas the 5- and 7-woods are all high-strength maraging metal. Solely the usual 3- and 5-wood shall be obtainable for lefties.
The Ventus TR Blue is the inventory shaft whereas the Golf Pleasure Tour Velvet 360 is the inventory grip. The ladies’s mannequin options the light-weight Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft and the Lamkin ST Smooth grip. It will likely be obtainable within the 5- and 7-wood with left-handed fashions obtainable by way of customized order solely.
The Srixon ZXi hybrids are available in 5 adjustable lofts starting from a 17-degree 2-hybrid to a 28-degree 6-hybrid. Solely the 3- and 4- hybrids shall be obtainable for lefties. The Ventus TR Blue HB shaft and Tour Velvet 360 grip are inventory.
The ladies’s model once more options the Aldila Ascent PL 40 shaft and Lamkin ST Smooth grip as inventory. They’ll be obtainable within the 4-, 5- and 6-hybrid fashions for righties. The 4-hybrid shall be obtainable for lefties by way of customized order.
Retail pricing is $329.99 for the fairways and $279.99 for the hybrids. They hit the shops on Jan. 24.
For extra data, hit up the Srixon Golf website.
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