Editor’s note: Looking ahead to where we take our golf equipment coverage in the future, we want to look behind us more frequently. What does that mean, exactly? We want to both place new releases in their historical context and highlight past coverage, as we have done from time to time, by opening the GolfWRX archives.

For this installment, we’re returning to November of 2020 when Srixon announced the launch of its ZX irons (ZX5, ZX7, ZX U). Now, if you fast-forward through the Best Irons and Members’ Choice results in the years hence, you’ll see the ZX parents and children perennially performing well — an exemplary morsel: last year, ZXi7 irons grabbed the top spot (and 20 percent of the vote share) in Members Choice voting. 

How did Srixon do it? Back in 2020, Ryan Barath penned our launch piece. We pick up the piece with an overview of the technology and an answer to that question. 

The Srixon iron story

When you’ve created a winning formula for irons—or a pizza recipe for that matter—you don’t mess with a good thing. You simply refine it by analyzing your strengths and making them stronger, and that is exactly what the team at Srixon has done.

Although most golfers are only familiar with Srixon irons starting with the Z-45 series, the company has a long history of producing some of the best-performing forged irons on the market, dating back to the I series in the early 2000s, which included the 302, 506, and the i-701, which was offered in a standard and tour model (featured above).

More photos of Srixon ZX5, ZX7, and ZX U in the forums. 

Srixon ZX7 7-iron, cavity view

It was around this time when one of the most obvious design features of Srixon irons started to take a front seat: the Tour V.T Sole. Golfers, and more specifically, fitters, took notice of its performance through the turf.

It has gone through some changes and tweaks over the years, resulting in softer lines and smoother edges, but the new ZX Series is returning Srixon irons to its roots with a more aggressively angular VT sole, including the well-defined heel and toe notches for improved turf interaction.

This was driven from the consumer level and from players at the highest level on the PGA Tour since the Z745 was so well-loved and stuck around in players’ bags for a very long time (Srixon Z745 modern cult classic?)

“While the new ZX Irons are gorgeous to look down at, it’s the technology inside that’s even more exciting. Hotter faces designed using AI optimization delivers more speed. Meanwhile, varying grooves throughout the iron set give golfers consistent distance control, and forged construction helps them feel incredible at impact.” – Jeff Brunski, Director of Research & Development

Read the rest of the piece here.