By: Dylan Thaemert
50 Words or Less
The Z U85 is Srixon’s update of the Z U65, the most popular utility iron on tour. With a clean look and a variety of lofts available, this club could find its way into a wide variety of players’ bags.
Introduction
For players who want a little bit of help in their longer irons but don’t love the look of a hybrid, the Z U85 checks all of the boxes. It has the look of an iron at address while its forged steel construction and hollow body provide an excellent combination of performance, feel, and forgiveness.
Looks
The Z U85 is a sharp, classic-looking club. Most of the club has a shiny chrome finish, while the laser milled face and the top line have a matte look. This is helpful in minimizing glare at address.
Down by the ball, the Z U85 has a fairly compact blade length that is comparable to the company’s other irons. The top line is considerably thicker and there is some help visible behind the ball. Visually, all of these aspects combine to give confidence in the shot you are about to execute.
One difference from last year’s model is the color of the shaft. While the previous iteration of this club came with an orange shaft, the Mamiya UST Recoil 95 is a platinum-grey that could pass for steel. I find it a lot less distracting to look at.
Sound & Feel
The sound and feel that this club provides are excellent. The sound is a solid and definitive thwack. It does not come off muffled or tinny.
On a mishit you will notice a slightly less pronounced noise and more feeling in the hands, but you’ll have to stray pretty far from the center of the club face to see a drastic downturn in performance.
Performance
Hitting this club is a lot of fun. Whether you need a reliable 200 yard club off the tee or something that will help you feel confident in getting the ball up in the air in a long approach situation, the Z U85 is going to get the job done.
While it’s not as easy to hit a low punch as with a traditional iron, that’s really the only area that this club isn’t going to be the ideal performer. When it comes to consistently high-launching shots that are going to max out your personal distance capabilities and still come down with a chance of stopping on the green, this club answers the call.
Conclusion
This is the third club I have reviewed from the 2018 Srixon lineup, and I have to say I am a convert. As an average player striving to get better at this game, I want to rely on equipment that dispenses with gimmicks and instead relies on quality design, materials, and construction. That’s exactly what Srixon does with the Z U85 and its other 2018 irons. If you are in the market for a new utility club, I recommend you give this one a try.
Srixon Z U85 Price and Specs
Dylan Thaemert
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For those with the ZU65 iron, do you see any reason to upgrade?
Mike,
Per Dylan: It’s not a must-upgrade, but it’s a perfect replacement if you want/need one.
Best,
Matt
The U-85 has a deeper undercut cavity than the U-65. Loved my U-65’s and picked up a couple yards with the new ones. Probably due to shaft change. Went from project x 6.0 to Nippon ns pro 105s. Less weight = faster. 6 iron was 170-175 carry, now 175-180 carry. Love em even more!
Matt, thinking of getting the U85 as replacements for the long irons in a set of 585 irons. Any thoughts or comparisons would be appreciated.
Butch,
If you’re looking for more forgiveness, it’s a fine move. Just make sure you get the shaft works as well as whatever you’re using in your irons.
Best,
Matt
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Matt is the U85 available in a steel shaft?
I’m getting new 585 irons with Nippon 950 shafts, but not sure about graphite standard offering or steel on U85?
Bill,
I believe the stock offering is graphite, but Srixon or a builder like Club Champion can fit any shaft you’d prefer.
Best,
Matt
Hey Matt!
Picked up a 5-PW set of Srixon z565s and love them, currently just wanting to round out my bag with a long iron – would you recommend spend a bit more dough and invest in the u85 or is a u65 a solid choice as is?
Thanks!
Liam
Liam,
Both of those Srixon utility irons are excellent. The New Level 4955 HB is a great choice, too. The biggest issue is finding the right shaft to pair with the head, and that requires either a good fitter or some experimentation.
Best,
Matt
Great Review, currently playing the Z585 Irons and need something between the 3wood and 4iron. Thank you. #SecretGiveaway2021
Matt,
Always great reviews – Thank you.
I am looking at a U85 / Z585 combo set. The lofts on U85 4-6 are 23-29, the Z585 7i is 31. Hitting them seems like they gap ok from 6 to 7 , my question is why are the U85s on the weaker side of lofts? Despite this do you believe they gap well?
Terry,
I would think that the U85s are lofted slightly weaker so that they gap well despite having slightly higher ball speeds than “regular” irons.
Best,
Matt
Purchased the Srixon ZU85 2 Utility, and 6 Utility. They performed outstanding. They are the best long utility clubs . They are for any golfer , pro or amateur who like irons better than hybrids. completely satisfied with my choice of these clubs and has improved my golf game. Instantly.