In some unspecified time in the future of their life, each golfer goes to face the identical existential query:
“What happens when I can’t play anymore?”
That’s a jolly approach to begin your day, isn’t it?
I don’t find out about you however I, for one, don’t plan to go gently into that good evening. If Dylan Thomas had been a golfer, my guess is that he’d most likely recreation XXIO.
XXIO is purpose-built from grip to tip to be light-weight weapons for golfers at completely different levels of their battle with Father Time. Everyone knows that rat bastard is undefeated. XXIO is designed to make Father Time work for it, at the very least somewhat bit.
And perhaps flip the sonuvabitch the chook when you’re raging in opposition to him.
2025 XXIO Prime: What’s a XXIO, anyway?
XXIO is the third member of the Srixon-Cleveland-XXIO triumvirate. The trio operates beneath the Dunlop Sports activities America banner and is owned by Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries (the SRI in Srixon).
XXIO itself was launched in Japan in 2000 as a premium light-weight providing for the Japanese market. You’d wish to suppose XXIO represents some legendary samurai warrior however it’s only a kind of acronym. XXI is the Roman numeral for 21 whereas the “O” sound in Japanese stands for king or chief. Put them collectively and XXIO means “king or leader of the 21st Century.”
It might have been higher with a samurai.
The XXIO lineups could be a bit complicated. XXIO 13, which launched final 12 months, is what you would possibly name a “standard” light-weight luxurious providing for “maturing” golfers who don’t fairly swing it like they used to. XXIO Prime is even lighter in weight and much more luxurious (learn: costly). It’s designed for what XXIO calls “seasoned” gamers. That might imply senior women and men or any golfer who wants one thing even lighter.
You may say XXIO Prime is XXIO’s XXIO.
Write that down. There’ll be a quiz later.
The XXIO Prime line
The XXIO Prime line can outfit a slower swing pace participant with every part from an ultra-lightweight driver to an ultra-lightweight sand wedge. As is its customized, the 2025 XXIO Prime line carries a definite Japanese vibe and what XXIO calls a “luxurious” feel and appear. As you’d guess, it ain’t precisely Takomo-level low cost.
The XXIO Prime driver sells for $899.99. Earlier than you choke, perceive that in the event you swing a lot over 85 mph, the motive force will most likely do you extra hurt than good. The entire thing weighs 257 grams. With any type of swing pace, you’d hit it a mile excessive and lifeless left with a loopy quantity of spin.
For the goal golfer, nonetheless, it could be simply the ticket. As swing speeds decelerate with time, it will get more durable to sq. the clubface at influence. XXIO says its anti-slice drivers characteristic a left-biased (sorry, no left-handed fashions) bulge and roll. The top has a flatter bulge towards the toe and a extra rounded bulge towards the heel to maintain the ball comparatively straight on open-face or off-center hits.
The BiFLEX face is comprised of Tremendous-TIX® 51AF premium titanium which is designed to be very gentle, robust and versatile. It has completely different deflection profiles on the toe and heel designed to increase the candy spot and squeeze out no matter distance it might probably.
The 35-gram SP-1300 shaft is proprietary. Srixon-Cleveland-XXIO owns its personal shaft manufacturing facility in Japan and the corporate packs all of its light-weight tech into the XXIO merchandise. Past the Torayca® T1100G carbon fiber and superior Nanoalloy resin, the 2025 shaft encompasses a extra versatile butt finish than earlier fashions. That will increase flexibility and, for the goal golfer, clubhead pace.
Fairways and hybrids
XXIO follows the identical recipe with the 2025 XXIO Prime fairways and hybrids. They’re light-weight and left-biased, comprised of premium supplies with an expensive Japanese vibe. Like the motive force, each characteristic a BiFLEX face (comprised of high-strength HT1770M stainless-steel as a substitute of titanium), the light-weight SP-1300 shaft and one thing referred to as Activwing.
We’ve seen Activwing earlier than, on the brand new Cleveland HiBore XL driver. It’s additionally been a staple of the final a number of XXIO Prime drivers. Activwing is a type of airfoil constructed into the heel aspect of the crown. In accordance with XXIO, it makes use of aerodynamic forces to stabilize the clubhead positioning through the downswing so the golfer can obtain a extra constant clubhead supply at influence.
Though it makes use of the time period “aerodynamic,” the oldsters at Srixon-Cleveland-XXIO will let you know Activwing isn’t meant for swing pace. It’s merely there for stabilization and consistency.
The fairways and hybrids additionally characteristic a XXIO staple referred to as “Cannon Sole.” It’s a cannon-shaped weight pad on the only of every membership to get the CG so low that it’s virtually exterior the membership. Like all low CG characteristic, Cannon Sole is designed to advertise a better launch and decrease spin to get the ball up within the air.
2025 XXIO Prime Irons
In case you guessed that I used to be going to jot down that the 2025 XXIO Prime irons are ultra-lightweight and left-biased, it’s best to most likely win a prize or one thing. The Prime irons are a four-piece development with a skinny, robust and versatile titanium face comprised of the identical materials as the motive force.
The irons additionally characteristic Rebound Body, one other signature Srixon-Cleveland-XXIO expertise designed to create as a lot face flex as potential for the goal golfer’s swing pace vary.
Moreover, the 2025 fashions embody a hefty 50 grams’ price of nickel-tungsten weighting within the 5- by way of 7-irons. As soon as once more, that’s to get the CG as little as potential to assist slower swing pace gamers get the ball within the air with simply sufficient spin to maintain it there however not a lot that it veers left or proper and doesn’t roll.
Who buys these things?
“Moderate” swing pace is code for anybody whose swing pace has dropped under the Mendoza line. In XXIO’s case, it additionally contains golfers who will pay the freight as a result of, as we talked about, the 2025 XXIO Prime line ain’t low cost. It’s a market that’s bigger than you’d suppose: ageing golfers with cash who’re going through that existential query. They wish to profit from no matter golf-playing years they’ve left they usually have the money to do it. For them, value is however a quantity.
We will argue the XXIO’s efficacy and worth all you need. It’s clear there’s a marketplace for ultra-lightweight (to not point out ultra-premium) options. XXIO could not fairly be the Fountain of Youth however it might probably assist golfers discover a couple of misplaced yards.
To not point out flipping off Father Time.
2025 XXIO Prime: Specs, value and availability
We’ve stated a number of occasions already that XXIO Prime ain’t low cost. You already know the motive force goes for $899.99. The fairways retail for $599.99 every and the hybrids are $419.99. The irons are available in four-piece units (7-PW) for $1,199.99 and extra irons (5-, 6-irons, GW, SW) run $299.99.
2025 XXIO Prime iron specs
XXIO is unapologetically courting the posh market. The model has been extraordinarily profitable in Asia. Over the previous 10 years, it has established a stable foothold in North America as effectively. Critically, the market is bigger than you would possibly suppose.
The XXIO Prime driver is out there in 10.5- and 11.5-degree lofts. The shaft is the proprietary 35-gram XXIO SP-1300 in SR-, R- and one thing referred to as R2-flex. 4 fairways can be found: a 15-degree 3-wood, 18-degree 5-wood, 21-degree 7-wood and 25-degree 9-wood. The shafts are the identical however only a tick heavier.
There are 5 hybrids, ranging in loft from a 19-degree 4-hybrid to a 31-degree 8-hybrid.
The 2025 XXIO Prime lineup will hit the shops on March 14.
For extra data, go to the XXIO web site.
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