Which Srixon Iron Are You? ZXi5 vs. ZXi7Six questions sort you into ZXi5, ZXi7 or ZXiR
Updated: Oct 5, 2026Contains affiliate links
Srixon's 2026 irons, the ZXi5 and ZXi7, went on sale on Sep 12. A six-piece steel set costs ¥171,600 for either, and the 7-iron lofts are 31° and 32°. On paper, they look like almost the same club.
Yet they clearly suit different players, for two reasons: how you take divots on grass, and the weight of the shaft you swing now. In this article, six questions you can answer yourself decide whether you're closest to the ZXi5, ZXi7 or ZXiR. I explain each answer with official numbers. I'm a gear nerd with a scoring average of 72 and a best of 68 who has studied club construction for years. I rechecked every number on the official sites on Sep 29, 2026.
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXi5
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXi7
Rakuten Ichiba / AdSrixon ZXiR
Product images: Rakuten Ichiba (Ad). Tap an image to go to its Rakuten Ichiba product page.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
If you're torn, go ZXi5 The ZXi7 7-iron has 19.5° of bounce. Bounce is the angle that tells you how strongly the sole resists digging into the ground. The more steeply you strike down, the more it helps; for sweepers it gets in the way. The ZXi5 is 16°, an angle that works for both diggers and sweepers. The ZXi5 also lets you choose weights from 391g with graphite to 407g with steel (5-iron, S). Whether it's your angle of attack or your preferred weight, it's hard to get wrong, so I'd look at the ZXi5 first. Its weakness is the heavy end: if anything short of 105g+ steel feels too light to you, the ZXi5 has no stock option.
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
- GZONEゴルフ¥28,600free shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- 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
Srixon ZXi7 Irons (2026) 1 club (sold individually), new, lowest price first
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
- 楽天GORA店 Supported by GOLF5¥28,600+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- JYPER’S(ジーパーズ)¥28,600+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
- アルペン楽天市場店¥28,600+ shippingSee today's price on Rakuten
Comparing the cheapest new prices, the gap is ¥0.
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
- Six questions: are you a ZXi5, ZXi7 or ZXiR?
- The 2026 models launched Sep 12. The 7-iron loft gap is just 1°
- Why Q3: 19.5° bounce is for steep hitters
- Why Q5 and Q6: only the ZXi7 has 105g+ shafts
- Why Q4: the maker itself rates ZXi7 forgiveness a 3
- Why Q1 and Q2: if your 7-iron doesn't reach 150 yards, the ZXiR is closer
- A ZXi5/ZXi7 combo leaves a 5° loft gap at the switch
- PW is 44° vs. 46°, which changes how it links to your wedges
- Who should and shouldn't choose each model
- FAQ
New Srixon Irons 2026: Release Date, Prices and 7-Iron Loft Compared
| Model | Release date | 7-iron loft | Set price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZXi5 | Sep 12, 2026 | 31° | 6 pcs ¥171,600 (steel) |
| ZXi7 | Sep 12, 2026 | 32° | 6 clubs ¥171,600 |
| ZXiR | Sep 12, 2026 | 28.5° | 5 clubs ¥143,000 |
Bottom line
Choose the ZXi7 only if, among the six questions below, all four on divots, miss pattern, late-round fatigue and shaft weight land on the ZXi7 side. If even one doesn't, the ZXi5 is the easier fit. I won't budge on this.
If the first two questions (your current 7-iron loft and 7-iron distance) flagged you, both the ZXi5 and ZXi7 will probably feel short to you. Look at the ZXiR from the same series (7-iron 28.5°) first.
If you're not having trouble with your current irons, you don't need to buy. A 31–32° 7-iron is at least 2.5° weaker than the ZXiR in the same series. Coming from strong-lofted clubs, you'll probably feel you've lost distance.
Six questions: are you a ZXi5, ZXi7 or ZXiR?
You can answer all of them at home. No range data, no head speed. Head speed tends to vary with the measuring device, and Srixon doesn't label the ZXi5 or ZXi7 as "for X m/s" anyway. Instead, I ask about the weight of the shaft you swing now. Weight you can confirm from the shaft label and the maker's spec sheet.
| Question | Answer → closest model | Official numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 What's the loft of your current 7-iron? | 29° or less → ZXiR 30° or more → go to Q2 | 7-iron: ZXiR 28.5°, ZXi5 31°, ZXi7 32° |
| Q2 How far do you hit your 7-iron? | Under 150 yards → ZXiR 150 or more → go to Q3 | On the official chart, distance and forgiveness are 5 out of 5 for the ZXiR, 4 for the ZXi5 and 3 for the ZXi7 |
| Q3 What are your divots like on grass? | Thin and long, past the ball → ZXi7 side Barely any, or it depends on the day → ZXi5 | 7-iron bounce: ZXi7 19.5°, ZXi5 16° |
| Q4 What do your misses look like? | Consistent strike, want to shape shots → ZXi7 side Strike scattered up, down, left and right → ZXi5 | Official chart forgiveness: ZXi7 3, ZXi5 4. Workability: ZXi7 5 |
| Q5 How tired are you late in the round? | Still making full swings at the end → ZXi7 side Can't make full swings late in the round → ZXi5 | Club weight (5-iron, S): ZXi7 409–427g, ZXi5 391–407g |
| Q6 How heavy is your current iron shaft? | 105g+ → ZXi7 side 90–99g → either 80g or less → ZXi5 graphite or ZXiR | ZXi7: Dynamic Gold S200 118.5g, MODUS3 TOUR 115 S 108.5g. ZXi5 graphite: 79g |
I deliberately made the scoring tough on the ZXi7. If all four of Q3–Q6 are "ZXi7 side," go ZXi7. If even one is on the ZXi5 side, go ZXi5. If Q1 or Q2 pointed you to the ZXiR, stop there and look at the ZXiR.
The reason is how much a wrong pick costs. The ZXi5 sits in the middle on both weight and bounce, so if it's a little off, adjustments can bring it closer. The ZXi7, on the other hand, has more bounce and only comes in heavier weights, so if it turns out wrong for you, a shaft swap is about the only fix left. That gets expensive.
From here, I'll go through why each question splits the way it does.
The 2026 models launched Sep 12. The 7-iron loft gap is just 1°
First, the three models' 7-irons side by side. The ZXiR joins this time, making it a three-model lineup.
| Model | 7-iron loft | 7-iron bounce | 7-iron length | Club weight (5-iron, S) | Set price (incl. tax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZXi7 | 32° | 19.5° | 37.0in | 409–427g | 6 clubs ¥171,600 |
| ZXi5 | 31° | 16° | 37.25in | 391–407g | 6-piece set ¥171,600 (graphite ¥178,200) |
| ZXiR | 28.5° | 16° | 37.25in | 373–400g | 5-piece set ¥143,000 (graphite ¥148,500) |
The loft difference is 1° in the long irons and 2° at the 9-iron and PW, smaller than the gap between clubs (3–5°). That's all. Loft doesn't explain why people say "the ZXi7 is for better players."
The two big differences are bounce (3.5° apart at the 7-iron) and the weights available (36g apart at the extremes). Q3, Q5 and Q6 check these two from the reader's side.
Why Q3: 19.5° bounce is for steep hitters
Bounce is the angle that tells you how far the sole hangs below the leading edge. The bigger it is, the more the head bounces off the ground instead of digging in. Bigger number, more bounce.
This is where people often get it backwards. High-bounce clubs suit players who strike down steeply. When a digger uses a low-bounce club, the leading edge sticks into the ground first and the club stops. A 19.5° sole pushes back against that dig, so the club keeps moving. Conversely, when a sweeper with a shallow strike uses 19.5°, the sole hits the ground before the leading edge, the head lifts, and thin contact becomes more likely.
Simulator maker GOLFZON also explains that high bounce suits players who hit down on the ball and low bounce suits those closer to sweeping. That column is about wedges. Applying it to irons is my own reading, but the way the sole meets the ground works the same whatever the club.
The ZXi5 7-iron, by contrast, is 16°. It covers the wider range, from sweepers to steep hitters. Both models use the "TOUR V.T. SOLE," which has steps at the toe and heel, and Srixon says both share this design for clean turf interaction. Even so, the 3.5° difference remains.
You can't tell which side you're on from a range mat. If you take a thin, long divot past the ball on grass, you tend to hit down. If you barely take a divot, you tend to sweep. The wear on your current irons' soles is also a clue. I also cover how to check in Four numbers to measure before you start lessons.
Why Q5 and Q6: only the ZXi7 has 105g+ shafts
Here are the maker's stock shafts, heaviest first. This is where the difference is biggest.
| Model | Shafts | Shaft weight (S) | Club weight (5-iron, S) | Swing weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZXi7 | Dynamic Gold S200 (steel) | 118.5g | 427g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXi7 | N.S.PRO MODUS3 TOUR 115 (steel) | 108.5g | 418g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXi7 | N.S.PRO MODUS3 TOUR 105 (steel) | 98g | 409g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXi5 | N.S.PRO MODUS3 TOUR 105 (steel) | 98g | 407g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXi5 | N.S.PRO 950GH neo (steel) | 94.5g | 406g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXi5 | VENTUS TR ZXi-II for IRON (graphite) | 79g | 391g | D0 / D1 |
| ZXiR | N.S.PRO 950GH neo (steel) | 96.5g | 400g | D2 / D3 |
| ZXiR | Diamana ZXi-II for IRON (graphite) | 70.5g | 373g | C9 / D0 |
Only one shaft overlaps: the 90g-class MODUS3 TOUR 105. Above that it's ZXi7 only; below, ZXi5 (and ZXiR) only. Q6's split, "105g+ means ZXi7 side, 80g or less means ZXi5 graphite or ZXiR," follows this lineup directly.
Weight should be decided before the flex letter. Even within the same "S," shafts range from 118.5g to 79g. I explain why choosing by the letter alone goes wrong in Shaft flex: S vs. R.
Q5's "late-round fatigue" is the same weight question. If you can still make full swings with your current clubs on the 18th hole, that weight suits you. If you can't late in the round, there's no reason to go heavier. The ZXi5 with graphite (391g, swing weight D0–D1) is 18g lighter than the lightest ZXi7 combination, with its swing weight set lighter too.
Why Q4: the maker itself rates ZXi7 forgiveness a 3
The official site has a five-point chart. I've converted the ★ positions straight into numbers.
| Item | ZXi7 | ZXi5 | ZXiR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spin (more to the right) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Workability | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Feel (softer to the right) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Distance | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Forgiveness | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The ZXi5 sits at the middle 4 in all five categories. The ZXi7 rates higher on workability, spin and feel, and lower on forgiveness and distance. For players with a consistent strike who want to control height and curve themselves, the ZXi7's 5 pays off. Players whose strike scatters lose out on the forgiveness 3 before they can use that 5. That's what Q4 asks. I think it's honest of the maker to rate the ZXi7's forgiveness a 3 itself.
The construction points the same way. The ZXi7 head is forged from S15C soft carbon steel, and Srixon explains that strengthening the neck with "condensed forging" made it possible to use the soft S15C. The ZXi5 has a CNC-machined chrome-vanadium steel face and a forged S20C soft carbon steel body. According to the maker, its "MAINFRAME iQ" face thickness design frees up about 4g of extra weight versus the previous model to lower the center of gravity. Both are made in Japan. I haven't hit them side by side, so I won't comment on which feels better.
Why Q1 and Q2: if your 7-iron doesn't reach 150 yards, the ZXiR is closer
Both have 31–32° 7-irons and come in six-piece sets starting at the 5-iron.
Coming from a club whose 7-iron is 29° or less, the same "7" gets 2–3° weaker. Using the common rule of thumb of about 3 yards per degree of loft (not measured by this site), that works out to roughly 6–9 yards shorter. Compare by loft angle, not by the number on the club. This is easy to overlook.
The 150-yard line is my own cutoff. My measured 7-iron is 160 yards, and I set the guide 10 yards below that. If your 7-iron doesn't reach it, a 31–32° head tends to leave you short on both height and distance. For those players, the ZXiR's 28.5° 7-iron and its forgiveness rating of 5 on the official chart will work better. The ZXiR is 373g at the 5-iron with graphite, and the five-piece steel set is ¥143,000.
A ZXi5/ZXi7 combo leaves a 5° loft gap at the switch
You can also build a set with "ZXi5 in the long irons, ZXi7 in the short irons." But if you use a ZXi5 #6 and a ZXi7 #7, loft jumps 5° from 27° to 32°, and length shrinks 0.75 inches from 37.75 to 37.0 inches (normally 3–4° and 0.5 inches). Bounce also jumps from 15° to 19.5°. That's three steps stacked on top of each other.
You can build one; re-adjusting loft and length takes care of it. But if you just buy and bag them as they are, your distance steps break down, so budget for that adjustment too.
PW is 44° vs. 46°, which changes how it links to your wedges
The PW loft is 44° on the ZXi5 and 46° on the ZXi7. If you carry a 52° wedge and switch to the ZXi5, there's an 8° gap between 44° and 52°. With the 46° ZXi7, it's 6°, so it links up as is. The official single clubs are AW 50° and SW 56° for the ZXi5, and AW 51° and SW 57° for the ZXi7.
If you keep your 52°, the ZXi5 needs one more wedge in between; the ZXi7 doesn't. I cover how to decide the count in How many wedges do you need?
Who should and shouldn't choose each model
Choose the ZXi7 if
- You take thin, long divots on grass. The 19.5° bounce pushes back for you
- Your strike lands in almost the same spot on the face, and you want to shape shots
- You can swing Dynamic Gold or MODUS3 TOUR 115 for 18 holes
Skip the ZXi7 if
- You're a sweeper who barely takes a divot. The sole tends to hit the ground first
- You can't make full swings late in the round. Even the lightest ZXi7 combination is 409g
Choose the ZXi5 if
- Your angle of attack varies from day to day. The 16° bounce gives more leeway
- You want to dial in weight between 391g and 407g, or you want graphite
- You're undecided. It rates 4 in all five categories, so a wrong pick costs less
Skip the ZXi5 if
- Anything short of 105g+ steel feels too light. There's no stock option
- Your 7-iron doesn't reach 150 yards. The ZXiR is closer
I cover the whole lineup in Srixon and XXIO irons, and the ZXi5's specs and shopping links on the ZXi5 page. If you answer the six questions at home before a demo at a shop, you can spend your demo time just confirming the fit. Which way did your answers lean, ZXi5 or ZXi7?
FAQ
What's the difference between the Srixon ZXi5 and ZXi7?
The 7-iron loft is 31° on the ZXi5 and 32° on the ZXi7, just 1° apart. The big differences are 7-iron bounce (16° vs. 19.5°) and the weights available. Club weight (5-iron, S) is 391g (graphite) to 407g for the ZXi5 and 409–427g for the ZXi7, and only the ZXi7 offers stock shafts of 105g or more. Materials differ too: the ZXi7 is S15C soft carbon steel, while the ZXi5 has a CNC-machined chrome-vanadium steel face (official specs, checked Sep 29, 2026).
What are the release date and prices of Srixon's 2026 irons?
According to Sumitomo Rubber Industries' news release, the ZXi7, ZXi5 and ZXiR went on sale Sep 12, 2026. Six-piece sets (#5–9, PW) are ¥171,600 for the ZXi7 and ZXi5 in steel, and ¥178,200 for the ZXi5 in graphite. The ZXiR comes as a five-piece set (#6–9, PW) at ¥143,000 in steel and ¥148,500 in graphite (MSRP, incl. tax, checked Sep 29, 2026).
Is the ZXi7 a difficult iron?
On the maker's own chart, forgiveness is 3 out of 5 for the ZXi7 and 4 for the ZXi5. But in my view, when it doesn't suit someone, the bounce is often to blame. With 19.5° of bounce on the 7-iron, the ZXi7 helps steep hitters, but for sweepers the sole hits the ground first. Whether you take divots off grass will tell you a lot.
Can I choose between the ZXi5 and ZXi7 by head speed?
Srixon doesn't label the ZXi5 or ZXi7 as "for X m/s head speed." In this article, instead of head speed, I split them by the weight of the shaft you swing now. If you can swing 105g+ steel for all 18 holes, the ZXi7 has options for you; at 80g or under, the ZXi5 graphite (79g) or ZXiR graphite (70.5g) is closer.
How many new Srixon iron models are there for 2026?
Three models, the ZXi7, ZXi5 and ZXiR, plus the ZXiU utility iron. All went on sale on Sep 12, 2026. The hollow-body ZXi4 from the 2024 lineup is gone, and the ZXiR (28.5° 7-iron), built for distance and forgiveness, was added.
Ready to choose? Start here
Related reading
How to Read a Golf Club Spec Sheet