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The Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons are a big improvement on the original in terms of sound and feel. Forgiveness is good but not exceptional. A solid option in combo sets with the ZX5 and ZX7.
Introduction
While Srixon gave the ZX5 and ZX7 only minor tweaks for the Mk II versions, the Srixon ZX4 Mk II is a complete departure from the original. In this review, we’ll set out to determine if those drastic changes are a good thing. Were they able to pack all the hollow-body forgiveness into a traditional cavity back? Let’s find out.
Looks
A discussion of the looks of the Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons has to start with the cavity. The first generation [review HERE] was a hollow body iron. Mk II brings this club in line with the traditional cavity back look of the ZX5 and ZX7. As something of a traditionalist, I prefer this look, and I think it will make it easier for people to imagine combo sets that include the ZX4.
On that note, the address look of the ZX4 Mk II irons transitions smoothly from the ZX5 Mk II. The top line is thicker, and there is more offset, but it’s not a night-and-day difference from the ZX4 to ZX5. Zooming out, I’d put the Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons firmly in the game improvement category.
Sound & Feel
The change in the sound and feel of the Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons is almost as stark as the aesthetic change. To me, these changes are all good. Impact creates a “snap” which is much quieter than the original ZX4. Also gone, predictably, is any hint of hollowness in the sound. This is a satisfying impact sound that changes very little until you get to the outer reaches of the face.
The feel of impact mirrors the sound with the sensation that the ball is springing off the face. Your hands will also receive more feedback on strike quality. Mishits don’t get the satisfying snap of a pure strike, and thin shots can sting a bit.
Performance
With the dramatic change in construction, I was curious to see if the Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons would retain the same strong performance that Matt Meeker found in the original. What I found was that both the ZX4 and ZX5 – powered by the same MainFrame technology – perform similarly. MainFrame is “a variable thickness pattern of grooves, channel and cavities” milled into the backside of the iron faces. It helps the irons to create more ball speed across a larger area and redistributes weight to the toe and heel for more stability. The ZX4 Mk II is slightly larger with a wider sole which helps elevate thin shots, but it’s not dramatically more forgiving than the ZX5 Mk II [review HERE].
Where the two irons are more noticeably different is in their lofts. The ZX4 Mk II is as much as 2.5 degrees stronger than the ZX5, powering the “Long” distance touted by Srixon. This also creates a slightly lower ball flight with a bit less spin. That loft gap between the ZX4 and ZX5 does shrink to just one degree in the 9I, PW, and GW.
A trait shared by all of the Mk II irons is Srixon’s Tour V.T. Sole. This is one of my favorite features in these irons, and one of my favorite sole designs, period. The leading edge has more bounce to prevent digging, but the “back” half of the sole has less bounce to let the club pass through the turf more easily. The latter part is particularly beneficial on a wider sole like that of the ZX4 Mk II.
Finally, Srixon is making a strong push for golfers to consider combo sets with their Mk II line. On their website, they even have an Iron Combo Set Builder. It offers some suggested combinations, such as the ZX4 in the long irons and ZX5 in the short irons for a “Maximum Forgiveness” set. None of the recommended combos span more than two models, but you are able to order anything from the ZX Utility [review HERE] to the ZX7 Mk II irons [review HERE] or Z-Forged II in one set.
Conclusion
The change in construction makes it easier than ever for golfers to build combo sets that include the Srixon ZX4 Mk II irons. With stronger lofts and wider soles, they offer the most distance and forgiveness in Srixon’s Mk II iron models. This is not a set I’d recommend to high handicap players, but it’s a solid choice for mid handicappers or for stronger players looking for more help in their long irons.
Visit Srixon HERE
Srixon ZX4 Mk II Irons Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Are they still about the same size, heel to toe length, as the originals?
I didn’t have the originals to compare side by side, but my recollection is that they are similar.
Best,
Matt
Maybe I missed it, but heel to toe is it much bigger than the ZX5’s?
Will,
It’s bigger, but I don’t think the difference is enormous.
-Matt
How would you compare these to the PXG 0211 XCor2 irons you reviewed in the past? As far as forgiveness and also size of irons? thanks
Will,
I haven’t put the two side by side, but my sense is that they’re similar in size, but I think PXG does a better job hiding that size, particularly in the top line.
With regards to forgiveness, again, I haven’t tested them side by side to know for sure, but I think the PXG is noticeably better. I was not that impressed with the forgiveness of the ZX4 Mk II.
-Matt