50 Words or Less
The Srixon ZXi RKT driver is the fastest and straightest driver I have ever used. If Srixon drivers aren’t on your radar, they will be soon!
Introduction
In last year’s review of the Srixon ZXi driver [find it HERE], Matt made the case that Srixon’s 2025 model was a turning point for the brand that will help it break into the woods market in a serious way. This year, the Srixon ZXi RKT driver builds on last year’s model with a new RKT Face that offers faster ball speeds and greater consistency. The upgrades to the 2026 driver bring impressive performance. The combination of distance and accuracy were mouth watering, and after testing, I put this club straight into my bag.
Looks
With a driver, I prefer to be able to see the face at address. When I can’t, I feel like I have to help the ball up in the air which does not help my results. In the past, I have raised the loft of my driver simply so I could see more of the face.
For me, the most notable part of the look of the Srixon ZXi RKT driver was how much of the face I could see from the address position. I tested the 9 degree head and was very surprised as I’ve never been able to see this much of the face at address with a 9 degree driver. I know from a physics point of view, 9 degrees of loft is 9 degrees of loft, but this one looks different to me. At address, this driver inspires confidence as it feels like it’s going to launch the ball high and far.
The crown of the driver has a matte black finish with a subtle carbon fiber pattern. The texture from last year’s model has been removed. The RKT Face has sharp silver lines on the heel and toe. The lines criss cross, running vertical and horizontal, and this pattern must contribute to the address appearance I am so fond of.
This year there is a “S” logo that has replaced the previous Y-shaped alignment aids. As with the ZXi model, the alignment aid is not in the geometric center. I found myself naturally hitting the ball off the toe of the club until I noticed the logo was slightly towards the heel. When I focused on hitting it near the S, I was able to produce center strikes.
In the bag, the matte black crown is offset by a shiny black triangular shaped sole. There is more carbon fiber on the toe and heel and interchangeable weights with red accents. The head cover is predominantly a soft black velvet material. There is a carbon fiber pattern along with a vertical red stripe. There is a nice big flap to pull, which makes it easy to take the head cover on and off. [See Price / Buy]
Sound & Feel
I had a friend standing next to me as I hit my first shot with the Srixon ZXi RKT driver. “That’s different,” we both said in unison in response to the sound of the strike. The driver produced a medium-high pitched “shink” sound, which was much different than the lower pitched crack we are used to in our gamers.
At impact it feels like the ball immediately jumps off the face. It is like the difference between a tennis ball bouncing off concrete and a tennis racket. This driver felt like the tennis ball bouncing off concrete, as the ball felt like it was repelled away from the face immediately. At first this was a strange feeling. It felt like right after impact the ball was already 10 yards away from me and flying towards the target. Over time I got used to it, and began to associate the feeling with a powerful drive.
The Srixon ZXi RKT driver offers solid feedback, which is an important characteristic to me in all clubs. I want to be able to feel where I hit it on the face, for better or worse. I was easily able to feel the difference in my hands between a solid strike, a slight mishit, and an awful shot. The feeling became more harsh the farther away from the center I got.
Srixon’s biggest change this year is the RKT Face technology. They write that this new face provides faster ball speeds and greater consistency. As you’ll see below, I think they achieved this. I didn’t hit the Srixon ZXi driver, but Matt was enamored with the sound and feel. The Srixon ZXi RKT driver left me wanting in both categories, so Srixon may have sacrificed some sound and feel for better performance – a decision I am ok with!
Performance
The Srixon ZXi RKT driver is the straightest and longest driver I have ever used. For me, the ball starts on line and never leaves it. In my gamer I hit a fade on my best shots. With the Srixon ZXi RKT driver, a swing that felt like it should fade stayed dead straight, and a swing that felt like it should slice produced a slight fade.
The ball speed is elite. In my launch monitor testing, I routinely produced smash factors of 1.50, and ball speeds above 160, which I am not used to seeing. On my normal toe mishit, the ball speed stayed high, and the spin stayed high enough to keep the ball on line.
With my last driver, whenever I hit the ball on the toe the spin would drop, and the gear effect would send the ball tumbling to the left – a dreaded miss when you are setting up for a fade. With the Srixon ZXi RKT driver, a center strike spun around 2,600 rpm and the toe miss stayed above 2,000. This is an ideal combination for me, and the reason the club went straight into my bag.
It was difficult for me to hit draws and fades with Srixon ZXi RKT driver. This is something I don’t usually have a tough time with. My issues with driver is having the ball curving too much right or left. With this driver, the ball wanted to stay straight no matter what I tried to do.
On a launch monitor I was able to produce draw and fade club numbers, but the ball stayed much straighter than I am used to. Shots that in the past would curve 20 yards were now curving only 5. I was able to quickly get used to a ball flying straighter than I expected. If you are someone who wants to curve your driver both ways, the LS model might be right for you. [See Price / Buy]
Conclusion
The Srixon ZXi RKT driver produces elite ball speeds, very straight flight, and great forgiveness. The feel leaves something to be desired, but I get more and more used to it with each amazing drive this club helps produce. For anyone in the market for a new driver, the club must be included in your testing. [See Price / Buy]
The ZXi RKT Driver combines fast, forgiveness, and feel with high ball speed and high MOI while keeping spin relatively low. Adjustable Sole Weights in the heel and toe can be calibrated to promote your preferred trajectory.
Srixon ZXi RKT Driver Price & Specs
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Join the Conversation | 13 Comments
Good morning Andy,
Thanks for the write up. I recently bought a Cleveland HiBore XL on clearance, the last driver under the Cleveland name (at least, for now) so I am not in the market for a new one. As a Cleveland fan, Srixon always seemed like the more expensive “big brother” and I never paid much attention to their clubs. Sort of a “Lexus and Toyota” situation, if you will.
And yet, every review I read of their irons and woods just makes it seem like I should be giving them more consideration. I think that’s the lowest offline dispersion I’ve seen on a review here.
Don’t give the driver all the credit, Andy is the best player here! :)
-Matt
Good point, Matt! I apologize. I’m sure the driver helps, but I’ve learned that great golfers can play with just about anything. One of the best players in our regular foursome plays cheap 2-piece balls and some old DTC irons that I’ve never heard of. And yet, he makes the rest of us look foolish.
I may be the best player here– but this was the straightest driver I’ve hit. I really liked how the mishits still flew really straight.
I had an opportunity to hit these a week ago at a Srixon fitting event. I concur, they are going to put Srixon on the map when it comes to drivers! I hit both the Max and normal models extensively with stock Kali Blue and Red shafts and was blown away by the distance, straight ball flight and consistency on good and bad swings. Sound and feel were nice also. The Max was just so effortless to hit and for my meager 90-92 swing speed was getting my 250 every swing. My GTS 2 has been put on notice!
That was my experience too!
Higher or lower ball flight than accustomed too?
It was the usual ball flight, but I had a 9 degree head in the Srixon, when I am used to playing a 10.5. So I guess, it’s relatively higher than accustomed to when the loft of the club is accounted for.
Nice!! Looking forward to testing this one out! What shaft did you pair it with if you don’t mind me asking?
It was the stock Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 60S. It’s lighter and softer than I am used to, but it performs wonderfully.
How much do you credit to the head and shaft on this performance?
Hi Bruce – In my opinion the most credit goes to the head, the part of the club that makes contact with the ball :) Regarding the shaft – I had an expensive custom fit shaft in my last driver, and this club with the stock shaft that I wasn’t fit for performed better for me. What put this driver over the top for me was how straight and far it still goes on mishits, so that would be much more due to the head than the shaft.
Can’t wait to see the review of the max and Ls. Good review. Look forward to hitting these. That left to right miss is crazy.