An Honest & Complete Review of Srixon ZX7 MKII Irons

In this full review of the Srixon ZX7 MKII irons, I relay the findings of my colleague Morne, a low single-digit handicapper. He took the brand’s latest player’s irons for a spin to check their distance, playability, forgiveness, and spin.

After assessing the Trackman data, acoustics, feel, and limited leniency, we decided they are best off in the hands of skilled ball strikers.

By the end of this post, you’ll know what technology drives these golf clubs, what we like about them, and what Srixon could have done better to enhance them.

Overall Rating and Thoughts

After analyzing my colleague’s data and watching him take the new ZX7 range for a spin, I’m impressed overall. These irons are compact, sound incredible, produce low spin and rapid speed on long shots, and enhanced revolutions around the green, giving you the best of both worlds.

Our honest review of the Srixon ZX7 MKII irons reveals a workable, long, mid-to-high launching golf shot. The results my colleague produced during testing reaffirm that these workable, marginally lenient irons are best left in the hands of low-handicap golfers. If you’re a single-figure player who can handle less forgiveness, take a closer look at the ZX7 MKII irons.

Overall Score: 8.0/10

Features

Players Irons

Looking at the ZX7 MKII irons, I immediately noticed their modern player’s iron construction. Srixon did away with the traditional muscleback or blade structure, instead opting for a cavity back to boost stability.

The cavity back allowed Srixon engineers to pack innovative game improvement technology into the clubhead for improved consistency. Although these irons are less forgiving next to the Srixon ZX4 and ZX5 MKII, they still provide more stability and consistency than other musclebacks I’ve tested recently.

Muscle Back Cavity Back Construction

The muscle back construction provides an extra layer of support on off-center strikes by working to stabilize the golf club. Morne reported that despite a couple of mishits, he still managed to preserve an element of ball speed for a suitable launch under the circumstances.

Despite the consistency of the construction, it still allowed my colleague to work the ball left and right on approach.

1020 Carbon Steel

The Japanese brand developed the ZX7 MKII range with 1020 Carbon Steel which my colleague relished for its soft feel. Morne suggested it was smooth off the clubface and better suited to his needs than the ZX5 distance irons (which you can read a full review of here).

As a lower handicapper, my trusted colleague welcomed the overall feel and feedback induced by the quality 1020 carbon steel. This further boosts the case for the ZX7 MKII, suiting skilled golfers who demand precision.

PureFrame

We welcomed the presence of the PureFrame, which drowned out vibrations on off-center strikes. Although my mid-handicap self isn’t suited to the PureFrame, I found the PureFrame enhanced the consistency and control of these irons over traditional player’s clubs.

Srixon engineers forged the PureFrame directly behind the sweet spot, encouraging cleaner contact with the golf ball. Strikes out of the center were pure, and the energy transfer was better than I achieved with most tour-grade irons.

My lower handicap colleague felt it offered ample forgiveness to help his higher swing speed produce optimal contact on all shots. Morne explained that despite the stability of the PureFrame, the irons still enabled workability.

Tour V.T. Sole

The ZX7 MKII irons sport a Tour V.T. sole, which we found navigated the fairway and cabbage patch unhindered. We discovered that the wedges glided swiftly across the bunker and offered a higher bounce on the leading edge to prevent the clubhead from digging into the sand.

Srixon masterfully applied a lower bouncing trail edge to the club, which made it easier for Morne to manipulate the clubface. When he wanted increased loft on his shot, he felt he could open up the clubface unhindered. Similarly, it was easy for him to close the clubface, strengthen the loft and promote a draw shape.

The versatility of the sole is an asset to skilled golfers seeking to get creative on the golf course and overcome any hazard.

Progressive Grooves

My co-worker raved about the Progressive Grooves on the ZX7 range, which executed a delicate balance of distance and spin. The long irons were kitted with a broader groove structure which helped lower spin in the long and mid-iron shots for optimal speed, launch, and distance.

However, the tables turn from the 8-iron and weaker, where Morne relished the tighter, deeper grooves built to maximize friction. The more friction he imparted onto the ball, the greater his spin levels with the short irons and wedges increased for exceptional distance control and accuracy on shorter shots.

Again, my colleague suggested that the progressive design suits lower handicappers seeking optimal workability, distance on approach, and maximum greenside spin.

Progressive Offset

I’ve already mentioned that the ZX7 MKII irons offer minimal forgiveness for the average player, but it does carry some lenient features. The progressive offset design sees high degrees at the top of the bag before reducing as it reaches the wedges.

Although the lower lofted ZX7 irons are lightly offset, my volunteer reported that it offered an element of reprieve in squaring the clubface at contact. However, as the set progressed into the mid and low irons, the irons feature minimal offset, prompting enhanced workability when attacking the flag.

Lofts

Contrary to the low-lofted long irons in modern-day distance sets, Srixon kept it traditional with a moderately lofted composition. A 3-iron is the lowest lofted iron in the set at 20°, while the approach wedge is set at 51°.

When I compared the ZX7 MKII to the ZX4 MKII, I found that the latter, more forgiving irons are stronger than the ZX7. The ZX4 4-iron is 21°, a full degree lower than the ZX7, but the loft differences were more notable at the bottom of the bag.

The ZX7 pitching wedge that Morne tested was bent to 46°, compared to the 43° ZX4 wedge. As a lower handicapper, our gracious volunteer felt the traditional lofts delivered a favorable mid-to-high launch.

Club	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	PW	AW
Loft	20°	22°	25°	28°	32°	36°	41°	46°	51°

 

Shafts

Srixon opted for the Nippon N.S. Pro MODUS3 Tour 120 shaft, built for higher swing speeds like Morne. He lets a driver rip at an average of 110 mph, making him an ideal candidate to thrive with the MODUS3 Tour 120.

The shaft carries a stiff flex and produces a low 1.7° of torque, giving my colleague the added stability he needed into impact. Morne found the shaft was easier to control than super flexible constructions.

Nippon fitted the shaft with a high kick point, prompting a lower launching golf shot, perfect for higher swing speeds seeking greater control.

Grip

My colleague tested ZX7 MKII irons with Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grips which he praised for their all-weather control and moisture-wicking tendencies. The rubber-blend compound enhanced his traction and control of the irons owing to their non-slip surface design.

Whenever I’ve held a Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360, I also appreciate the moderate feedback it provides. However, if you’re an arthritis sufferer or prefer a softer feel, I recommend the Golf Pride CP2 range.

Morne swung with a standard-size grip, which works well for experienced, controlled hands like his. If you prefer a thicker grip to promote reduced tension, try a midsize or oversize design.

Performance

Price

The ZX7 MKII are expensive compared to standard game improvement cavity backs. Yet, next to other player irons, I find them priced fairly. A 6-club set consisting of a 5-iron through pitching wedge fetches $1,030 at my local retailer.

However, I suggest considering secondhand or previous edition sets if you hope to find a set of forged player’s irons for less than Srixon.

Feel

Morne described the feeling as “silky smooth” off the clubface, a sensation he welcomed with open arms. He explained that the feeling was softer at impact compared to the ZX5 MKII irons that were heavy and did not offer appealing feedback.

The 1020 carbon steel prompted the pure feel off the face, but my club tester also experienced the value of the PureFrame. He showed that he was human after all and struck the ball off-center, and he was impressed with the lack of vibrations.

When I mishit a blade, I experience a harsh shock running up the shaft. My colleague explained the vibration-damping qualities prevented this experience and offered better protection to his palms.

Sound

After reviewing video footage from Morne’s test, I noticed the irons produced crisp acoustics. The ball leaves the clubface accompanied by an amplified thwack which was constant, and the mark of 1020 carbon steel.

In my experience, Perimeter weighted cavity backs are more likely to produce a clicky sound, which skilled players despise. Despite the ZX7 sporting a muscle back cavity, the engineers avoided impacting the quality of the audio.

Workability

Thanks to the expert design of the V.T. Sole, my colleague found it easy to adjust the angle of the clubface for optimal shape and launch. The lower bounce trailing edge simplified the task of opening and closing the clubface to induce the desired shape.

Although the long irons carried moderate offset, my volunteer found it easy to produce a draw or a fade. As the offset reduced and the loft increased, he reported enhanced workability and control on approach.

Low Forgiveness

Srixon did pack multiple game improvement features into ZX7 MKII irons. However, after examining my colleague’s performance, I noticed that his mishits received a harsher punishment from the ZX7 MKII over the ZX5 range.

The reduced offset of the irons compared to super game improvement irons exacerbated hooks and slices, making it a no-go for high handicappers. My loyal tester explained that the center of gravity (CG) sits directly behind the sweet spot, which is golden for clean contact and a smooth feel.

High handicappers tend to perform best with low CG irons that encourage a hassle-free, elevated launch.

Impressive Distance

My colleagues’ carry and total distance results surpassed his numbers achieved with the ZX5 range. He averaged 174.65 yards with the ZX7 MKII 7-iron, 0.3 yards further than his results with the ZX5 MKII.

The optimal total distance is a welcome sight for low handicappers hunting maximum length on approach. Its adequate velocity, controlled spin and a consistent mid-to-high launch combination aided our volunteers’ quest for increased yards from the fairway.

Additional Roll

I was intrigued to learn the level of roll my colleague produced with the ZX7 irons, increasing his distance on approach shots. He delivered an average of 7.32 yards of roll with his 7-iron on approach, helping him achieve extra length with his irons.

Although the extra distance is generally welcome, he reported challenges in his distance control, as a result. My low-handicap colleague is constantly hunting for birdies and enjoys attacking the flag with mid and short irons.

However, 7.32 yards of roll can complicate this mission, forcing him to readjust his swing and set up to account for the increased propulsion on the ground. It is easier when your ball bites rapidly and stops dead, preventing you from altering your approach shot to account for the roll.

Mid – High Apex

Despite the reduced forgiveness in these irons, my buddy found them relatively easy to launch. His launch degree angle was over 3 degrees higher than a PGA Tour pro achieves with a 7-iron. Moreover, his apex soared to 33.68 yards, 1.68 yards higher than average 7-iron apex on the PGA Tour.

My colleague leveraged the stability of the PureFrame and clean turf interaction of the V.T. Sole to launch the ball high and long. Naturally, an elevated apex won’t always be welcome by fast swing speeds due to the reduced flight control.

However, they offer a consistent way of getting airborne for slower swing speeds and low handicappers such as seniors.

Rapid Clubhead Speed

My trusted club tester conjured up a speedy 95.3 mph average clubhead speed with the ZX7 7-iron. After comparing Morne’s ZX7 and ZX5 results, we discovered that his ZX7 numbers outperformed the ZX5 by 1.3 mph.

The explosive speed down to impact helped my colleague optimize energy transfer and maximize energy transfer to boost compression. The ball left the clubface with explosive pace and low spin to maximize carry and total distance, owing to enhanced ball compression at contact.

Low Long and Mid Iron Backspin

While I watched the Trackman data on my colleague, I noticed him generating exceptionally low long and mid-game backspin. Morne typically produces less backspin than most golfers, given his ability to thoroughly compress the ball at contact.

He generated 6016 rpm backspin with the ZX7 range, over 600 rpm lower than his results with the ZX5 range. When I compared my buddy’s results to the Trackman PGA Tour averages, I found him producing 1000 rpm less backspin with the ZX7 MKII 7-iron than most tour pros.

The reduced spin combined with an explosive ball and clubhead pace, prompts powerful flight and extra roll upon landing. These factors guided my colleague to increased distance on approach.

What I Like About The Srixon ZX7 MKII

Distance

The combination of rapid ball speed, reduced spin, and a mid to high launch gifted my volunteer impressive distance. Morne gained marginally more with the ZX7 irons over the ZX5 range highlighting his optimal energy transfer at contact for a powerful launch, flight, and increased roll.

Workable Flight

As I watched my colleague launch iron shots into the air, I noticed he could effortlessly shape his ball on approach. The lower bounce trailing edge helped him adjust the clubface position to induce a draw and a fade.

A draw is his go-to shot, and I certainly saw more right-to-left curving strikes. However, he still produced a controlled fade on a few occasions.

Clubhead Speed

After deliberating with my buddy, we agreed that the ZX7 MKII irons produce outstanding clubhead speed compared to their peers. Compared to the ZX5 range, Morne conjured up 1.3 mph faster clubhead speed, which did wonders for his compression at contact.

The explosive clubhead ignited rapid speed and low spin on the golf ball for a medium high launch and long distance.

Progressive Grooves

The Progressive Grooves were a stroke of genius from the Dunlop Sports sister brand. I noticed they helped Morne lower his spin revolutions and preserve ball zip with long and mid irons before ramping up the rpm around the green.

The progressive design gives superior golfers distance on long shots before enhancing spin and control on shorter strikes.

Compact Profile

Despite featuring a muscle back cavity design, I was impressed by the clean, compact appearance of the Srixon ZX7 MKII irons. They aren’t as refined as a traditional blade set because space was needed to insert game improvement technology.

However, they’re a prime representation of modern players’ irons which embrace technology without hampering appearance and workability.

What I Dislike About The Srixon ZX7 MKII

Increased Roll

My colleague Morne welcomed the distance produced by the added roll on approach but ultimately despised the character trait. The added roll made it challenging to attach flagsticks and optimize distance control.

On a few occasions, my colleague misjudged the roll, and the ball ended up running off the back of the dancefloor.

Lower Mid Iron Spin

The reduced mid-iron spin proved challenging to achieve optimal distance control on approach. When my colleague failed to account for the roll, he found his ball running off the green, leaving him to scramble to get up and down instead of attempting a birdie putt.

Less Forgiving

Compared to other modern-day iron sets, the Srixon ZX7 MKII offers limited forgiveness over the ZX4 or ZX5 range. It wasn’t a train smash for the fast swing and clean ball striking of my colleague. However, the average mid and high handicapper will be severely punished for off-center strikes.

Moderately Expensive

My final gripe about the Srixon ZX7 MKII irons is their price tag. It’s not as ludicrous as other players’ iron sets, but they are pricey compared to cavity-back game improvement irons. Unless you’re a serious golfer who plays regularly, you might struggle to justify spending approximately $1,000 for a set of irons.