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IronsNew Irons 2026A gear nerd who averages 72 compared 10 major models by 7-iron loft and picked one
Updated: Oct 5, 2026Contains affiliate links
Every time a new iron comes out, I line up all the official spec sheets and stare at them. I'm a gear nerd. If I, a player who averages 72, had to pick one from the 2026 class, it would be the Srixon ZXi5. The 7-iron is 31 degrees. It isn't jacked too strong, so the PW stays at 44 degrees, leaving only an 8-degree gap to a 52-degree wedge. Nothing flashy, but I can't find a weakness. That said, if you own the 2024 ZXi5, you don't need to upgrade: the lofts are identical through the set. The other models are listed below, newest first, with official numbers. Look at the 7-iron loft (the tilt of the face) alone and you can read most of an iron's character.
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXi5
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXi7
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXiR
Rakuten Ichiba / AdPING G740
Rakuten Ichiba / AdMizuno MX FORGED
Rakuten Ichiba / AdCallaway X FORGED
Product images: Rakuten Ichiba (Ad). Tap an image to go to its Rakuten Ichiba product page.
Where to buy it cheapestRakuten Ichiba, as of Oct 5, 2026 10:17
Srixon ZXi5 Irons (2026)1 club (sold singly), new, lowest price first
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
- 第一ゴルフ カスタムクラブ専門店¥28,600+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- あーるアンドえす 楽天市場店¥28,600free shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- GolfShop GREEN JACKET 楽天市場店¥28,600free shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
Bridgestone B-FORGED 200CB+ Irons1 club (sold individually), new, lowest price first
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
- ヤトゴルフ 楽天市場店¥26,400+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- ゴルフセブン¥26,400+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- はやみみ本舗¥26,400free shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
Ad: New units (right-handed) from Japanese retailers found in a Rakuten Ichiba search, lowest price first. Used and grey-import items are excluded. Prices, shipping and stock change. Prices can also differ by loft or shaft, so check the product page before you buy.
In this article
Bottom line
The fall releases are mostly serious, player-oriented forged irons. The Srixon ZXi7 (32°) and ZXi5 (31°) and the Bridgestone B-FORGED 100CB (32°) and 200CB+ (31°) all sit in almost the same 7-iron loft range.
If you want forgiveness and distance, the PING G740 (July) and Srixon ZXiR (28.5°), with 7-iron lofts around 28°, are the ones to look at.
One thing to watch: the ZXi5 and ZXi7 have the same names and the same lofts as the 2024 versions. When buying used, always check the release year.
2026 irons (newest first)
| Model | Release date | 7-iron loft | Construction | Set price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Srixon ZXi7 | Sep 12, 2026 | 32° | Forged soft carbon steel | 6 pcs (#5–PW) ¥171,600 |
| Srixon ZXi5 | Sep 12, 2026 | 31° | Forged soft carbon steel body + chrome-vanadium steel face | 6 pcs ¥171,600 (steel) |
| Srixon ZXiR | Sep 12, 2026 | 28.5° | Investment cast (forged face on #5–7) | 5 pcs (#6–PW) ¥143,000 |
| Bridgestone B-FORGED 100CB | Sep 4, 2026 | 32° | Forged soft carbon steel, one-piece cavity back | 6 pcs (#5–PW) ¥158,400 |
| Bridgestone B-FORGED 200CB+ | Sep 4, 2026 | 31° | Forged soft carbon steel, hollow (tungsten in #4 and #5) | 6 clubs from ¥158,400 |
| PING G740 | Jul 16, 2026 | 28° | Cast stainless steel, cavity back | 1 pcs ¥31,900 (steel) |
| Mizuno MX FORGED | Jun 5, 2026 | 30° | One-piece forged soft carbon steel, cavity back | 5 pcs (#6–PW) ¥121,000 |
| Callaway X FORGED / X FORGED STAR | Apr 10, 2026 | 33° / 29° | Forged soft carbon steel | 5 pcs (#6–PW) ¥154,000 |
| Callaway QUANTUM MAX | Feb 13, 2026 | 29° | Stainless steel, undercut | 5 pcs (#6–PW) ¥148,500 |
| TaylorMade Qi MAX / Qi MAX LITE | Jan 29, 2026 | 28° / 31° | Cast stainless steel | 6 pcs (#6–PW, AW) ¥178,200 |
7-iron lofts span 5°, from 28° to 33°. Five degrees is roughly one full club. They're all called "7-irons," but the stronger the loft, the farther each club tends to go, and the wider the gap to the clubs below it (PW and wedges). See the wedge article as well.
Also, on September 3 Callaway released an "unplated version" of the APEX MB in limited, made-to-order quantities. It's a different finish, not a new design, so I've left it off the list.
Fall releases: Srixon ZXi and Bridgestone B-FORGED
Srixon ZXi (September 12)
The ZXi7 puts feel first, the ZXi5 balances distance, control and forgiveness, and the ZXiR focuses on distance and forgiveness. The hollow ZXi4 from the 2024 lineup is gone, and the ZXiR has been added.
The ZXi5 and ZXi7 have exactly the same lofts as the 2024 versions throughout the set, yet the 6-piece steel set costs about ¥20,000 more (ZXi5: ¥151,800 → ¥171,600). If you're happy with your 2024 set, the lofts give you no reason to upgrade. I compare them in detail in Srixon vs. XXIO irons. If you're torn between the ZXi5 and ZXi7, ZXi5 vs. ZXi7 sums up the differences in bounce, length and weight.
Bridgestone B-FORGED 100CB / 200CB+ (September 4)
The 100CB is a one-piece forged soft carbon steel iron built to tour pros' requests, and Bridgestone says the impact area of the 7-iron is about 20% thicker than on the previous 241CB. The 200CB+ is a hollow-body iron that adds forgiveness to the 100CB concept. Both cost ¥158,400 for 6 clubs. I cover the differences between the two, and how they compare with the previous models, in Bridgestone B-FORGED 100CB vs. 200CB+.
If you've settled on a brand, you can jump ahead from here: Srixon (ZXi5 vs. ZXi7), Bridgestone (B-FORGED 100CB and 200CB+), Titleist (the only 2026 release is a limited finish). To see rankings across brands, go to Best Irons 2026.
FAQ
What's the newest iron as of Sep 2026?
The Srixon ZXi7, ZXi5 and ZXiR, released on September 12. Just before them, the Bridgestone B-FORGED 100CB and 200CB+ went on sale on September 4.
When did Srixon's new 2026 irons come out?
According to Sumitomo Rubber Industries' news release, three models (ZXi7, ZXi5 and ZXiR) plus the ZXiU utility iron have been on sale since September 12, 2026. A 6-piece steel set of the ZXi7 or ZXi5 costs ¥171,600, and the ZXiR comes as a 5-piece set for ¥143,000 (checked September 19).
What's the difference between the 2024 and 2026 Srixon ZXi5?
The lofts are identical throughout the set (7-iron: 31°). The manufacturer's price for the 6-piece steel set went up from ¥151,800 to ¥171,600. Since the name hasn't changed, check the release year when buying used.
What's the latest forgiving iron?
The PING G740 (July 2026), Srixon ZXiR (September, 28.5°) and TaylorMade Qi MAX (January, 28°), all with 7-iron lofts around 28°, are the models built for distance and forgiveness.
Are there new irons from TaylorMade or Titleist?
As of Sep 14, TaylorMade's newest is the Qi MAX (January), and in the better-player P Series it's the P8CB (August 2025). Titleist's T-SERIES is still the August 2025 release; all that came out in 2026 was the limited-edition “Oil Can finish” on Mar 27. For details, see Titleist New Irons 2026.
Ready to choose? Start here
Related reading
Sources for this article
- Sumitomo Rubber Industries: ZXi irons launch (2026)
- Dunlop official: ZXi5 (2026)
- Dunlop official: ZXi7 (2026)
- Dunlop official: ZXiR
- Bridgestone news release (B-FORGED, Jul 29, 2026)
- PING: G740 irons
- Mizuno official online store: MX FORGED
- Callaway: X FORGED / X FORGED STAR
- Callaway: QUANTUM MAX irons
- TaylorMade: Qi MAX / Qi MAX LITE irons
- GDO Gear Catalog (irons, newest first)