Srixon's New ZXiU Utility Iron Barely Differs From Last Year's Model
Golf Monthly's testing of Srixon's second-generation ZXiU utility iron found virtually no difference in look, feel or launch monitor data compared with its predecessor.
Srixon's new ZXiU utility iron, part of the brand's second-generation ZXi range, performs almost identically to the club it replaces, according to testing carried out by Golf Monthly.
The club was introduced with the usual promise of a high-launching, forgiving alternative to a long iron. But side-by-side testing against the previous ZXiU found the two clubs functionally indistinguishable, with only a cosmetic refresh applied to fit the new 2026 ZXi family aesthetic, Golf Monthly reports.
The technology beneath the surface remains built around Srixon's i-FORGED platform, the publication notes. The one genuine change is a claimed refinement to the forging process, said to strengthen the material around each groove while keeping the face itself soft.
Srixon's stated aim is improved face durability and longevity compared with the first-generation club. Golf Monthly was clear that short-term testing cannot verify claims about long-term groove wear, and made no judgement on that point at this stage.
What could be assessed straight away was the set-up and strike, and the reviewer described a strong sense of familiarity. Viewed from address, the two generations were said to be impossible to tell apart, sharing the same profile, blade length and mirrored bulge on the back of the club.
During testing, Golf Monthly's reviewer reported genuine difficulty keeping track of which generation of the club was in hand at any given moment.
Data gathered on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor reinforced that impression. Feel, launch angles, spin rates and ball speed were described as effectively identical between the old and new models.
Given how closely the performance and visual profile match the outgoing club, Golf Monthly suggested there was little value in producing a fresh, detailed breakdown, and pointed readers instead towards its review of last year's model for the fuller technical picture.
The publication was careful to frame this as no knock against Srixon. The previous ZXiU was rated as an excellent long-iron alternative, and a cosmetic update to align it with the rest of the 2026 range was described as a sensible, low-key move rather than a shortcoming.
For golfers who already own the first-generation ZXiU, Golf Monthly found no compelling case for upgrading. Anyone assembling a new set from scratch, however, was told the 2026 version remains among the strongest utility irons currently available.