There’s a number of cool stuff within the golf tools world that doesn’t at all times match neatly into Most Wished Assessments or Purchaser’s Guides. You continue to need to know the way it performs. In our We Tried It collection, we put it to the check and allow you to know if it really works as marketed.
What We Tried
Srixon’s Iron Combo Set Builder. It’s a brand new on-line instrument permitting you to completely customise a Srixon ZX Mk II combo iron set.
Who Did the Making an attempt
John Barba, Mygolfingglow author and senior statesman with wayyyy too many iron units. I’ve tried thinning the herd however I like hitting irons.
Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder
Srixon launched the new ZX Mk II line of solid irons this previous January. On the time, the corporate’s message was clear: We wish you to combo these infants.
The easiest way to construct a combo set is on the vary with an professional fitter stocked to the gills with heads and shafts. It’s a rule, nevertheless, that does have just a few corollaries. For instance, in the event you’ve been fitted not too long ago (and efficiently), your specs can translate from one OEM’s providing to a different. Not completely, thoughts you, however you will get fairly doggone shut.
Mass property variations between the heads would possibly have an effect on really feel and a few minor tweaking could also be wanted. However, in any other case, the transition works.
That’s the function of Srixon’s Iron Combo Set Builder. It’s an internet instrument that permits you to construct an entire set of Srixon Mk II irons from utility iron to hole wedge whereas sitting in your sofa with a bowl of popcorn.
On one hand, it really is that straightforward.
Then again, until you’re 100% sure of what you need, paralysis by evaluation, to not point out an costly misstep, is a transparent and current hazard.
How It Works
You’ll find the Iron Combo Set Builder on the Srixon web site below the “Golf equipment” tab.
In its easiest kind, the Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder is as intuitive because it comes. You may construct your Srixon set in any configuration you’d like. It’s straightforward to mix ZX Mk II utility irons with ZX4 game-improvement irons, ZX5 participant’s distance irons, ZX7 participant’s irons and even Z-Cast II blades.
Earlier than choosing irons, it’s finest to scroll down the primary web page of the web site. Srixon walks you thru the method by first having you discover the fashions. You get some marketing-speak about every possibility together with a chart outlining every head possibility. And it contains handicap suggestions and trajectory, distance, forgiveness and workability comparisons.
Step Two presents some combo set suggestions. For instance, the Max Forgiveness possibility combines the ZX4 and ZX 5 irons. The Zero Compromise bundle options the Zx5 and Zx7. If in case you have some severe recreation, you may go Tour Most popular (ZX Utilities and ZX7 irons) or Whole Management with ZX7 and Z-Cast II blades. Srixon features a helpful spec chart so you may see how your set would possibly stream and whether or not you’ll want any loft changes.
The ultimate step is to decide on your shaft and grip.
When Srixon designed the brand new ZX Mk II collection, it had combo units in thoughts. The ZX4, ZX5, ZX7 and ZX utilities all have the identical topline thickness. Blade lengths and hosel offsets are barely totally different however are shut sufficient to maintain the set from trying hinky.
The Ordering Course of
When you’ve selected the membership combine, you can begin customizing by clicking on the appropriately named “Begin Customizing” button.
Step one asks for lie and loft changes. Loft is especially essential as you transition from one sort of head to the subsequent. For our train, we went with the ZX Mk II utility 3-iron, ZX5 Mk II 5- by 7-irons and the ZX7 Mk II in 8-iron by pitching wedge. The transition from the utility to the ZX5 was easy sufficient however to maintain gapping constant, we had the ZX7’s bent one diploma sturdy.
The subsequent step is shaft choice. The Recoil Dart 90 is inventory for the utility iron however graphite choices embody the KBS MAX and KBS TGI ($10.75 upcharge), the Aerotech SteelFiber ($35.75) and the Graphite Design Tour AD ($75).
The irons are grouped by sort so be sure that to pick the shaft, flex and size appropriately. The ZX5 inventory shaft is the KBS Tour Lite whereas the ZX7 options the Nippon NS Professional Modus3 120. Each are good shafts however hardly appropriate inside a single set.
Once more, Srixon presents a big selection of no-upcharge metal choices from KBS, Nippon and True Mood. Upcharge choices (KBS Tour V, Tour FLT, Nippon Professional Modus3 125 and 130, Dynamic Gold Tour Difficulty) vary from $15 to $25 per membership.
The UST Recoil Dart is the inventory graphite shaft. Upcharge choices embody the SteelFiber, KBS MAX and TGI and the Mitsubishi MMT with costs starting from $10.75 to $35.75 per stick.
You can too order the shafts hard- or soft-stepped if wanted.
Grip choices run the gamut from the complete Golf Delight, Lamkin and Winn strains to a few JumboMax choices for the large-mitted.
Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder: Personalization
We’ve mentioned it for years however the Srixon-Cleveland personalization possibility is perhaps the perfect deal in golf. In the event you like a touch of coloration, Srixon will allow you to add coloration to a few totally different paint fill areas: the membership quantity, the emblem and the mannequin. They’ve 20 totally different colours to select from.
At $15 per membership, you’ll wind up paying an additional $105 for a seven-piece set so it does add up. However it’s a pleasant method so as to add slightly spice to your recreation.
We went with the inventory shaft within the ZX utility and with no-upcharge Nippon Professional Modus3 105 shafts (R-flex) and no-upcharge Golf Delight MCC commonplace grips. With paint fill, the entire got here to $1,373.51 which, minus the paint fill, is similar as you’d pay at retail.
Srixon says roughly 75 % of its irons enterprise is custom-ordered which is sensible. Whereas all OEMs function {custom} departments, massive canines TaylorMade and Callaway dominate conventional golf retail and promote a ton of off-the-rack units. Srixon’s {custom} division occupies a big part of the corporate’s facility in Huntington Seaside, Calif., and, as with most OEMs, {custom} units are constructed one by one. After hitting “Purchase Now” on the Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder website, it took roughly 10 enterprise days for that lengthy brown field to hit my doorstep.
Head-To-Head Efficiency
As talked about, there’s no substitute for a dwell out of doors becoming. However, in the end, becoming specs are becoming specs. They can translate from one OEM to a different so long as each iron units are in the identical class.
Membership specs, nevertheless, are by no means absolute. “Commonplace” varies from one OEM to the subsequent. And what’s delivered doesn’t at all times line up with what’s on the spec sheet. That’s simply actuality. With that in thoughts, let’s evaluate the Srixon ZX5/ZX7 irons to the set upon which the order was based mostly, a COBRA KING Tour/KING CB combo set.
The COBRA set was {custom} fitted in individual open air by COBRA grasp fitter Brandon Dickinson. It options the KING TOUR 5- by 7-irons and the TOUR CB 8-iron by pitching wedge. Each units function the identical Nippon Professional Modus3 105 in R-flex
A spec verify by Steve Thomson at Golftec in Danvers, Mass., exhibits the 2 units are shut however not precisely the identical. The Srixon ZX5 7-iron measures 37.25 inches with 61 levels of lie and 31.5 levels of loft (the spec says 32). Swingweight is D4 with a frequency of 293 CPM. The COBRA, in the meantime, is 37 inches (27.25 is spec) with a 61-degree lie and 32-degree loft. The swingweight is D3 and CPM is 298.
Shut. Not precise however shut.
Efficiency-wise, they have been remarkably shut.
The Srixon ZX5 Mk II is a participant’s distance iron whereas the COBRA KING Tour is a crossover between a participant’s iron and a participant’s distance. Surprisingly, the distinction in ball velocity didn’t translate right into a distinction in distance, most certainly as a result of decrease spin with the COBRA. The 2-degree distinction in descent angle would additionally point out a bit extra stopping energy for the Srixon.
And for the reason that 7-irons are from totally different classes, we determined to check the ZX7 Mk II and COBRA KING CB 8-irons. Each are participant’s irons.
The variations throughout the board are virtually actually loft-based. The Srixon ZX7 was bent one diploma sturdy to 35 levels whereas the COBRA, additionally bent one diploma sturdy from commonplace, was 37 levels.
The 1,000 RPM delta between the Srixon 7-iron and 8-iron is a little bit of a head-scratcher, indicating these specific strikes might need been a bit skinny.
Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder: Ultimate Ideas
This one’s straightforward.
If you realize your specs, your tools and your golf recreation, the Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder is a no brainer. We’re speaking Srixon so you realize the irons might be distinctive performers. And since Srixon is on the market at retail, you may actually give them a whack or two if you have to.
The Srixon Iron Combo Set Builder is straightforward to make use of and also you’ll get just about precisely what you need.
If you realize what you’re after.
In the event you don’t know what you’re after, dropping in extra of $1,300 on a set of irons would possibly simply be a wee bit reckless. However don’t assume for a second that Srixon considers this new instrument the one and solely resolution to switch all others. It’s an possibility. If you wish to hit before you purchase, there’s retail. If you need a full-on {custom} becoming, you’ve got choices for that.
And when you’ve got specs in hand, know what you’re after and are snug shopping for on-line, it doesn’t get a lot less complicated to order up a {custom} set.
