For any variety of causes, some authentic and others not, the golf 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 know-how bullet factors as the motive force launch however with out the sexiness and headline-making clickbait of the household’s huge 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 seems to be alone, they’re an enormous enchancment over the earlier (and disappointing) ZX Mk II fashions. Nonetheless, if you’d like a deep dive into the know-how, sashay over to the motive force article to refresh your reminiscence 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 method to decide whether or not a brand new Srixon ZXi fairway or hybrid is best for you is to strive one and evaluate it with different contenders. It might give you the results you want; it might not. We are able to, nevertheless, inform you this yr’s fashions function some badly wanted repairs.
The 2023 Srixon ZX Mk II fairways and hybrids have been, to be form, mediocre. They have been, the truth is, the epitome of mediocrity and a serious step backward from the 2021 mannequin, which copped high honors in MyGolfSpy testing that yr. Final yr, the ZX Mk II completed sixteenth 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 dangerous 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 workers to get suggestions.”
Most of that Tour suggestions centered on shaping. It’s straightforward to consider shaping as easy aesthetics but it surely impacts every thing from dynamic lofting to turf interplay.
“Sole width, sole curvature and top-down shape all play a big role,” says Brekke.
That’s why the ZXi line is getting a serious type overhaul. They merely look higher, by quite a bit, than their predecessors.
However will operate observe type?
That, after all, is the $64,000 query.
“It’s hard to identify one specific feature leading to one specific outcome,” Brekke explains. “So we keep refining the shape and other parts that are important.”
Refining the form permits for refining these different vital elements. Shift some weight and regulate the CG and you’ll enhance MOI. Improve the face know-how with i-Flex and you’ll 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 huge for us,” admits Brekke. “We can fit players faster and provide options.”
Srixon is doing one among two issues right here. You can say they’re lastly catching up however adjustability isn’t that huge of a technological leap. Extra probably Srixon is conceding that whereas being non-adjustable may need given it a weight and/or worth benefit, the kind of participant they’re after values adjustability. A possible Srixon participant not solely desires adjustability however they’ll probably use it and profit from it.
“There are more options than 99 percent of the people can use,” says Brekke. “The industry has been there for years. The key is to provide those options and the information to figure out how to use that adjustability.”
Adjustability simplified, form of
As with all adjustable hosel, the brand new Srixon model enables you to regulate loft, lie and face angle with 12 totally different settings. Loft might 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, in the event 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. If you happen to 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.
If you happen to are inclined to hook hybrids off the planet, flat with an open membership face is likely to be simply the ticket. Then again, 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 assume a lot about turf interplay with a fairway or a hybrid but it surely does matter. The ZXi line has up to date soles that, when mixed with adjustability, give golfers extra choices to search out the correct mixture.
Once more, Srixon isn’t essentially plowing new floor right here but it surely’s not lagging behind anymore, both.
Some on-course observations
Fairway woods and I’ve an understanding. I don’t anticipate 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 strive. 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 “regular” golfers, hitting a 5-iron or a 3-wood is a Soiled Harry second for me. Do I really feel fortunate?
Nicely, do ya, punk?
Perhaps it was nothing greater than the enjoyment of getting out of the New Hampshire chilly for a couple 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 plain, and certain 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 seems to be, really feel and confidence matter. Srixon has achieved a high-quality job of bettering seems to be and really feel in comparison with the ZX Mk II line. Whereas turf interplay and ball velocity are arduous to quantify on the course, every good outcome led to extra confidence.
That, after all, led to extra good outcomes.
Humorous how that works.
Srixon ZXi fairways and hybrids: Specs, worth and availability
The brand new Srixon ZXi fairway woods are available 4 adjustable lofts starting from a robust 3-wood at 13.5 levels to a 21-degree 7-wood. The sturdy 3 and normal 3 function 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 out there 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 Delicate grip. It is going to be out there within the 5- and 7-wood with left-handed fashions out there through customized order solely.
The Srixon ZXi hybrids are available 5 adjustable lofts starting from a 17-degree 2-hybrid to a 28-degree 6-hybrid. Solely the 3- and 4- hybrids shall be out there 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 Delicate grip as inventory. They’ll be out there within the 4-, 5- and 6-hybrid fashions for righties. The 4-hybrid shall be out there for lefties through 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 info, hit up the Srixon Golf web site.
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