The Srixon ZX5 Mk II irons occupy a genuinely interesting sweet spot in the iron market — one that most manufacturers talk about but few actually nail. You want a set that bails you out on the bad ones, still fires the good ones straight at the flag, and doesn’t look like a kitchen spatula when you set up over the ball. That’s the pitch here, and after spending several weeks putting these through their paces on the range and the course, I can tell you Srixon has done something special with this second generation.

Whether you’re a mid-handicapper tired of chunky cavity-backs that embarrass you visually, or a lower-handicapper who needs a bit more help than a blade can give — the ZX5 Mk II deserves a serious look. Let’s get into it.

Srixon’s Place in the Iron Market

Let’s be honest: Srixon doesn’t get the marketing budget that TaylorMade or Callaway throws at the wall every season. They’re not sponsoring every YouTube personality with a swing tip channel. But what they do have is a quiet, consistent track record of making irons that serious golfers keep coming back to.

Multiple major champions have put Srixon irons in the bag. The ZX line launched with the original ZX5 and ZX7, and both earned cult followings among players who were fed up with paying a premium for a flashy logo over actual performance. The Mk II iteration takes what worked and refines it — sharper looks, improved face technology, and better weighting throughout.

This is a company that started as a Japanese rubber company (Sumitomo), pivoted into golf, and now makes some of the most technically interesting irons available. They’re not trying to out-shout anyone. They’re just trying to out-build them.

What’s Actually Inside the ZX5 Mk II

MainFrame Face Technology

The big engineering story here is the MainFrame face. Srixon uses computer modelling to map out variable thickness patterns across the face — not just a thinner face overall, but strategically thicker and thinner zones that control how the face flexes at impact. On centre strikes, the face loads and releases to maximise ball speed. On off-centre hits, the surrounding zones flex more independently to preserve speed where you’d normally be bleeding it.

This isn’t just marketing copy. You can feel the difference between a centred strike and a mishit, but the gap in actual yards is much smaller than you’d expect from a set that looks this tidy. More on that in the forgiveness section.

Tour V.T. Sole

The sole is often the last thing a golfer thinks about until they start chunking shots from tight lies. Srixon put real thought into the V.T. (Variable Thickness) sole design here. The leading edge is V-shaped, which means it cuts into the turf cleanly rather than slamming the leading edge and decelerating the club.

Practically speaking, this means the ZX5 Mk II is a forgiving iron from sketchy lies — thin turf, hard pan, even fairway divots. The sole glides rather than digs. Players who struggle with fat contact will find this one of the more forgiving soles in this category.

Multi-Material Construction

This is where Srixon gets clever. The face is forged from SUP10 steel — a softer alloy that produces that buttery feel at impact. The body is cast, which gives Srixon more freedom to shape the cavity and position weight precisely. Then tungsten weights are added in the toe to drop the centre of gravity and add stability.

The result is an iron that’s soft to the touch but structurally solid. Forged face, cast body, tungsten weights — each material doing the job it’s best suited for, instead of one material trying to do everything adequately.

Progressive Design Through the Set

The long irons (3-5) have more offset, a lower CG, and a slightly wider sole to help get the ball in the air. As you move into the mid-irons (6-7), the offset reduces, the blade length tightens slightly, and the feel becomes more precise. By the time you reach the scoring irons (8-PW), you’re holding something that wouldn’t look out of place in a better player’s bag. This progressive approach means you get the right kind of help in the clubs you actually need it in.

How They Look at Address

I’ll say it plainly: these are beautiful irons. Sit the 7-iron behind the ball and there’s a thin topline, minimal visible offset, and a clean back cavity that doesn’t scream “game improvement.” The chrome finish is satin rather than mirror-polished, so you don’t get any distracting glare on sunny days.

The blade length is compact — not blade-compact, but not wide and boxy either. There’s a small amount of offset that helps mid-handicappers square the face, but it’s not the exaggerated offset you find on entry-level cavity backs. Players who have abandoned game-improvement irons because they felt embarrassed looking down at them will feel immediately comfortable over the ZX5 Mk II.

The topline is thin enough to suggest precision without being razor-thin like a true player’s iron. It’s a confidence-builder at address without being deceptive about the iron’s true nature. Srixon knows exactly who this club is for and designed the look accordingly.

Performance: What You Actually Care About

Distance

The ZX5 Mk II is not a distance iron. It’s not trying to be. The lofts are traditional — a 7-iron sits around 31 degrees — so you’re not getting the inflated carry numbers that strong-lofted irons like the P790 advertise. What you do get is honest distance that matches predictable ball flights.

In testing, a mid-swing-speed player (85-90 mph with a 7-iron) was consistently carrying the 7-iron 165-170 yards with a repeatable, mid-high flight. These are solid, real-world numbers. Carry a rangefinder? You can trust these distances — they’re not going to change on you from shot to shot the way strong-lofted irons do when they balloon.

Where the ZX5 Mk II genuinely stands out is speed consistency across the face. Centre strike, toe strike, slightly thin — the carry numbers hold up. That’s a real performance advantage when you’re not hitting 18 perfect shots per round.

Club	Carry (yds)	Total (yds)	Launch Angle	Spin (rpm)
5-iron	190	202	16.1°	4,700
6-iron	179	190	17.5°	5,400
7-iron	167	177	18.8°	6,100

Feel

The forged SUP10 face is where Srixon earns its reputation. Hit this iron flush and it’s one of the better-feeling irons in the game-improvement category — a solid, satisfying thud that sits somewhere between the softness of a Mizuno and the crispness of a Titleist. There’s feedback on mishits but it’s not punishing. A toe strike feels slightly hollow and a thin shot vibrates a little, but neither is unpleasant.

The sound is muted and premium — not the loud “click” you get from hollow-body irons like the P790 or Apex. If you’ve played forged players irons before and been spoiled by that feel, these will make you feel at home. If you’ve been gaming a standard cavity back, the jump in feedback quality will be noticeable immediately.

Srixon’s whole identity in the iron market is built on feel. They could have gone for more distance by thinning the face more aggressively, but they’ve clearly decided to prioritise the tactile experience. For most golfers reading this, that’s the right call.

Forgiveness

This is where the ZX5 Mk II really earns its stripes. For a set that looks this clean, the forgiveness numbers are impressive:

• Toe misses: Lost approximately 7 yards — excellent for this category
• Heel misses: Lost approximately 8 yards — equally impressive
• Thin strikes: Lost approximately 11 yards — very good, and the ball still got airborne

To put those numbers in context: a true player’s iron will lose 15-20 yards on toe mishits. A chunky game-improvement iron might only lose 5-6 yards, but it looks like a brick. The ZX5 Mk II splits the difference and then some. You’re getting near game-improvement forgiveness in a package that looks like a player’s iron. That’s the whole promise and they’ve delivered on it.

The tungsten toe weighting plays a big role here. By pushing the CG away from the hosel, Srixon increases the moment of inertia (MOI) significantly without widening the sole or puffing out the topline.

Workability

Here’s where we need to be straight with each other. The ZX5 Mk II is not a workability iron. If you’re a 5-handicapper who shapes the ball both ways and needs precise shot shaping, you want the ZX7 Mk II or something like a Titleist T100. The ZX5 is designed to go mostly straight, and it does that very well.

That said, it’s not completely dead. A deliberate draw or fade setup will produce the shape you’re looking for, and the ball flight is high enough that you can work the ball around obstacles when you need to. But don’t expect blade-like responsiveness. The MainFrame face and cavity design prioritise consistency over shot-shaping precision — which is exactly right for the 8-15 handicap player this iron is aimed at.

If you’re at the stage where you’re trying to shape every shot, you probably need a different club. If you’re trying to hit more greens and stop bleeding double bogeys, the ZX5 Mk II is your iron.

Shaft Options

The stock shaft option — Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 105 in steel — is genuinely excellent and one of the better stock choices in the market. It’s what a lot of fitting professionals would point you toward anyway, so you’re not immediately behind the eight ball by playing stock. Graphite options include the Nippon Modus 80, which suits players with slower swing speeds who need help launching the longer irons.

If you’re between flex options, go stiffer. The Modus 105 plays slightly softer than its label suggests, so a regular-flex player with a swing speed north of 80 mph should be fine in stiff.

Custom shaft options through Srixon’s fitting programme include True Temper Dynamic Gold, KBS Tour, and various graphite alternatives. If you’re spending $1,200 on a set of irons, get fitted — even a 30-minute fitting will dial in the lie angles and shaft flex and make a meaningful difference.

Price and Value

At around $1,199 for a 5-PW set, the ZX5 Mk II comes in meaningfully cheaper than its main competitors while matching or exceeding their performance. You’re looking at $200-300 less than a comparable P790 or Apex set, with a premium stock shaft already included. For players who are brand-agnostic and let performance data drive their decisions, this is one of the best iron values on the market right now.

The secondary market is also strong for Srixon irons. If you buy these and decide they’re not for you in 18 months, you’ll recover a reasonable percentage of your investment.

How It Compares

The mid-handicap iron market is genuinely competitive right now, so here’s how the ZX5 Mk II stacks up against the irons you’re most likely cross-shopping it against:

ZX5 Mk II vs TaylorMade P790

The TaylorMade P790 is the distance king in this bracket — strong lofts and SpeedFoam Air combine to produce carry numbers that will make your regular playing partners suspicious. If raw distance is your top priority, the P790 wins that fight. But the ZX5 Mk II counters with noticeably better feel, more traditional lofts (so you know your actual distances), and a lower price. The P790 also has a slightly hollow, clicky sound that divides opinion. If you’ve tried P790s and wished they felt a bit more like proper irons, the ZX5 Mk II is probably your club.

ZX5 Mk II vs Titleist T200

The Titleist T200 is the premium option in the mid-handicap category and the ZX5 Mk II’s closest direct competitor. Both offer excellent forgiveness with good looks, and both prioritise feel over maximum distance. The T200 has a slightly more premium aesthetic and the Titleist badge carries weight on the course. The ZX5 Mk II matches it on feel and forgiveness at a lower price point. This one really does come down to brand preference and which one feels better in your hands at fitting — they’re that close.

ZX5 Mk II vs Callaway Apex Pro 24

The Callaway Apex Pro 24 uses AI-optimised face milling to squeeze performance across the face, and it’s a genuinely excellent iron. The Apex Pro plays a bit more like a player’s iron — slightly less forgiveness, a bit more workability — which makes it better suited for lower-handicap players. If you’re a 6-handicapper with a consistent ball-striking pattern, the Apex Pro is worth a look. The ZX5 Mk II is the smarter choice for the 10-15 handicapper who needs a bit more help on mishits.

ZX5 Mk II vs Mizuno JPX 923 Forged

Mizuno’s feel reputation is legendary and the JPX 923 Forged may nudge ahead on raw tactile feedback for pure ball strikers. But the ZX5 Mk II is more forgiving and comes in at a better price. If you’re choosing on feel alone with your eyes closed, Mizuno might win. Factor in everything else, and Srixon holds its own easily.

Who Should Buy the Srixon ZX5 Mk II

This iron was built for a specific kind of golfer and it’s important to know whether that’s you:

• Mid-handicappers (8-16 handicap) who want real forgiveness but can’t stomach chunky-looking cavity backs
• Golfers transitioning down from standard game-improvement irons who are ready for something that rewards better strikes
• Feel-first players who’ve been told they need game-improvement irons but refuse to sacrifice tactile feedback
• Value-conscious buyers who want premium performance without paying a premium-brand tax
• Players building combo sets — pair these with ZX7 Mk IIs in the scoring irons for a very serious setup

You should probably look elsewhere if:

• You’re a high handicapper (18+) who needs maximum forgiveness — the ZX4 Mk II or a dedicated game-improvement iron will serve you better
• Distance is your number-one priority and you don’t care about feel — get the P790
• You’re a low-handicapper who shapes the ball both ways — step down to the ZX7 Mk II or something in the players category

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Exceptional feel from the forged SUP10 face	Not the longest iron in the category (traditional lofts)
Forgiveness that punches well above the visual weight	Limited workability for shot-shapers
Looks like a player’s iron at address	Less brand recognition than Titleist, TaylorMade, or Callaway
Premium stock shaft (Nippon Modus 105) included	May feel too demanding for high handicappers
Strong value at $200-300 less than key competitors	Tour V.T. sole is a touch wide if you like to work the ball low
Consistent ball speed on off-centre hits
Progressive design optimises each iron in the set

Final Verdict

The Srixon ZX5 Mk II is one of the most honest irons I’ve tested in this category. It does exactly what it says it will: forgiving enough to save you on bad days, precise enough to reward good ball-striking, and handsome enough that you won’t be embarrassed pulling it out of the bag at a decent club.

The feel is the headline. In a market full of distance irons with hollow bodies and foam-filled cavities, the ZX5 Mk II’s forged face is a breath of fresh air. You always know where you hit it — and more often than you’d expect, the penalty for getting it wrong is surprisingly small.

If you’re a mid-handicapper who’s been settling for chunky game-improvement irons because you thought that was your only option, spend some time with these. Get fitted, hit a few buckets, and I suspect you’ll have a hard time putting them back on the rack.

Rating: 4.6 / 5

The ZX5 Mk II sits in that rare category of irons that a 12-handicapper could game happily today and still find useful at a 6-handicap in two years. That kind of longevity is hard to find, and it makes the price tag very easy to justify.

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Looking at other options in this bracket? Check out our full reviews of the TaylorMade P790, the Callaway Apex Pro 24, and the Titleist T200 to find the right fit for your game.