Srixon ZXi5+ Irons Review: Serious distance with surprisingly soft feel

How far should a seven iron actually go?

That's a question you could reasonably ask after testing the Srixon ZXi5+.

This is Srixon's players-distance iron, and the numbers I saw during testing were seriously impressive. But the ZXi5+ isn't simply about chasing distance.

What surprised me most was how much forgiveness and feel Srixon has managed to build into an iron with this much speed.

I tested the ZXi5+ alongside the ZXi5 and ZXi7 in a simulator, comparing distance, ball speed, spin, launch, consistency and mishit performance.

The result is an iron that should appeal to golfers who want maximum distance and forgiveness without moving into a traditional chunky game-improvement head.

Check out our video review below and scroll on to read our detailed thoughts. Let us know what you think of the new Srixon ZXi5+ irons in the comments below.

Key Features

• MainFrame iQ
• 29.5-degree seven iron
• Tour V.T. Sole
• Progressive grooves
• Laser milling
• Forged construction
• Slightly larger profile than ZXi5
• Forged in Japan

Review

The ZXi5+ is designed to sit above the ZXi5 in terms of distance and forgiveness.

But if you put the two clubs down next to each other, you might struggle to tell them apart.

The ZXi5+ is slightly larger, but the difference isn't dramatic. At address, it still looks much more refined than the typical game-improvement or super-distance iron.

That's important because players-distance irons can sometimes look intimidatingly large.

The ZXi5+ doesn't.

Then you look at the loft.

The seven iron is 29.5 degrees, which immediately explains some of the distance you're about to see.

Srixon uses MainFrame iQ to help the face flex and improve energy transfer, while the Tour V.T. Sole, progressive grooves and laser milling are carried over from the rest of the ZXi family.

How did it perform?

The first few shots told me exactly what this iron was about.

I saw total distances around 169-173 yards, with ball speed reaching approximately 106-107mph on some shots.

That's serious seven-iron distance.

And the really interesting thing was how easy the distance felt.

I wasn't hitting every shot perfectly, yet the ZXi5+ continued to produce impressive numbers.

The forgiveness was particularly noticeable when I deliberately moved impact away from the centre.

One low-toe strike produced around 162 yards of raw distance. The carry dropped, as you'd expect, but the shot didn't completely unravel.

That's the sort of performance I want from a forgiving iron.

You aren't necessarily looking for every strike to produce exactly the same number. You're looking for the club to keep the shot playable when your swing isn't perfect.

The ZXi5+ did that very well.

The feel surprised me

This might have been my biggest surprise from the testing.

I expected a players-distance iron producing these sorts of ball speeds to feel extremely hot and explosive.

Instead, the ZXi5+ felt considerably softer than I expected.

It still has that sensation of the ball jumping from the face, but it doesn't feel harsh or overly 'poppy'.

That gives the club a more premium character than I was expecting.

There is also enough feedback to know when you've missed the middle.

A particularly poor heel strike felt noticeably clunky compared with a centre strike.

That's useful because it means Srixon hasn't completely removed the relationship between strike quality and feel in the pursuit of forgiveness.

The trade-off: stopping power

There is, however, an obvious downside to all this speed.

Spin.

I saw backspin figures around 4,000-5,000rpm, depending on the strike, and the gap between carry and total distance was significant.

In practical terms, the ZXi5+ can behave more like a traditional six iron than a traditional seven iron.

That is fantastic if your objective is to hit longer approach shots.

If you're currently hitting a seven iron 140 yards, suddenly carrying it 145-150 yards can mean taking a shorter club into the green.

But you need to consider what happens when the ball lands.

More distance and stronger lofts don't automatically mean better scoring.

If the ball is running through the back of greens because you can't generate enough spin, the extra yardage may not actually help.

That's why I'd strongly recommend getting fitted rather than simply choosing the ZXi5+ because the launch monitor says it goes furthest.

What’s better?

The ZXi5+ delivers more distance and forgiveness than the ZXi5 while maintaining a very similar visual profile.

It is also considerably more refined than I expected for a players-distance iron.

The feel is a genuine highlight.

What’s missing?

The biggest weakness is stopping power.

The strong lofts and relatively low spin make the ZXi5+ less suited to golfers who prioritise precision, trajectory control and working the ball into specific areas of the green.

Who is the ZXi5+ for?

I'd recommend the ZXi5+ to mid- and higher-handicap golfers, distance seekers and anyone who wants to make their approach shots easier by hitting shorter irons into greens.

It's also worth considering for golfers who naturally struggle to generate ball speed.

Verdict

The Srixon ZXi5+ is an extremely impressive players-distance iron.

It produces serious ball speed and distance while offering excellent forgiveness, yet somehow retains a surprisingly soft feel and refined appearance.

The compromise is control.

The 29.5-degree seven iron and relatively low spin mean you'll get plenty of rollout, and the club won't offer the same stopping power or workability as the ZXi7.

But if your priority is distance and forgiveness without wanting a chunky-looking iron, the ZXi5+ is a very compelling option.

It's a genuine distance weapon, but one that still feels like a premium Srixon forged iron.