50 Words or Less
The Srixon ZXiR HL irons launch high with loads of forgiveness. Super game improvement clubs designed for slow to moderate swing speeds and playable distance. Attractive family looks add to the appeal.
Introduction
With their new super game improvement iron, the ZXiR HL (High Launch), Srixon truly has an iron model to fit every golfer’s needs. Six distinct models, all with family aligned aesthetics. The new lineup offers golfers the flexibility to create a combo set that addresses specific performance needs with a cohesive look in the bag. How do the Srixon ZXiR HL irons differ from the also newly released game improvement ZXiR [full review HERE]? Let’s find out.
Looks
Befitting the super game improvement categorization, the Srixon ZXiR HL irons exhibit a thick topline and ample offset from an address position. Sitting beside the non-HL version (left), the ZXiR HL have a more sizable appearance as shown below.
Some of that is simply face visibility due to the ZXiR HL 8 iron loft being 32.5° versus 28.5° in the ZXiR. I’ll discuss lofts more in the Performance section.
In keeping with the ZXi family looks, the ZXiR HL have a multi-faceted cavity badge with a speckled finish. The positioning and size of the branding maintains a modern, classy look. The soles of the ZXiR HL are slightly wider than the ZXiR, but far from being as wide as many irons in this category. Overall, the ZXiR HL irons look pretty nice in the bag.
Sound & Feel
I had the opportunity to hit both the ZXiR and the ZXiR HL together several times and found them to be very similar in both sound and feel. The Srixon ZXiR HL irons produced a mid-pitch ‘crack’ that was consistent across the face. The sound was a little louder than average, maybe a 6.5 on a 1- 10 scale.
Tactile feedback was reasonable – it was easy to distinguish where on the face contact was made. True mishits didn’t sting – a nice feature for clubs designed for higher handicap golfers. I believe that Srixon would attribute that feature to their use of a softer steel alloy they refer to as i-Alloy.
Performance
I need to note one key design aspect of the Srixon ZXiR HL irons beyond being super game improvement – they’re “optimized for low to moderate” swing speeds. That’s a nuance that golfers need to keep in mind when evaluating new clubs – or even choosing their first set.
While most models in the super game improvement category strive to maximize distance and forgiveness, the ZXiR HL are a little different on the distance front. This is where the High Launch moniker comes into play. Srixon designed these irons to be more green holding friendly – via height and spin – at the sacrifice of a few extra yards.
My numbers backed up the design intent nicely. Compared to the ZXiR, the ZXiR HL launch and landing angles were a degree higher, and peak trajectory slightly higher – not surprising based on the loft differences alone. Spin for the ZXiR HL was consistently 5% more. None of those differences are huge, but when factored together, distances for the ZXiR HL were around 5 yards less than the ZXiR.
As you’d expect, Srixon engineered their signature MainFrame design specifically for the ZXiR HL. First, they lowered the sweet spot on the face to aid in the launch. Second, they milled the back of the face to increase MOI for more forgiveness and boost ball speeds. Reviewing my TrackMan dispersion, the ZXiR HL showed very good forgiveness.
It’s not easy to see in my photo of the face of the ZXiR HL, but between the grooves are etched lines. According to Srixon, these laser milled lines add “bite” for better spin consistency on the various lies golfers encounter – and in wet conditions. The ZXiR HL irons also feature progressive grooves, where the width and depth are tailored to the club. Srixon doesn’t share the exact specs other than stating that grooves are wider in the longer irons, and tighter in the higher lofted clubs.
A final design feature worth noting is the Tour V.T. Sole. The combination of higher bounce on the leading edge and relief on the trailing edge truly helps the playability of the Srixon ZXiR HL irons. The V.T. Sole gave me confidence on executing shots from varied turf conditions – including playing out of sand and on hard packed dirt.
One note regarding shafts. According to their website, the stock shaft for the Srixon ZXiR HL irons is the KBS 80 HL. My testing was conducted with the KBS Tour Lite as provided by Srixon.
Conclusion
Looking at the irons comparison chart on the Srixon website I see the typical low, medium, and high designations for a variety of performance attributes. But for forgiveness, the Srixon ZXiR HL is listed as “Highest +.” I guess when you add a new club, sometimes you have to get creative. Interestingly, for distance, the ZXiR HL is listed as “Mid-High,” the same as the ZXi5. Personally, I’m always happy to sacrifice a few yards to better hold greens. If your swing speed isn’t what would be called fast and you’re needing all the forgiveness you can find, the new Srixon ZXiR HL irons need to be on your short list.
Visit Srixon HERE
Srixon ZXiR HL Irons Price & Specs
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