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2021 Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 drivers: Rebound Frame Technology for maximum energy transfer

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The new 2021 Srixon ZX7 and ZX5 drivers may be the ones that gets the company a steady seat at the head table.

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to “pound for pound” performance across the board, Srixon is quietly as competitive as anyone in the game. Ask any fitter across North America, and when mentioned, the Srixon driver constantly brings a nodding of the head and knowing smile. Why? The product is always good.

If there is one area that Srixon hasn’t quite busted loose yet, it would be the metal woods—not for lack of competitive offerings—more so awareness, and Tour presence, which yes, does make a difference.

2021 Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 drivers: The details

New 2021 Srixon ZX7 driver – sole view

New 2021 Srixon ZX5 driver – sole view

The Tech Story: Rebound Frame Technology

In simple terms, Srixon Rebound Frame Technology optimizes points on the clubhead that can maximize energy transfer and direct it back exactly where you need it: into the golf ball.

By tuning in the flexibility and rigidity of regions of the ZX drivers, Srixon can now take the 1.21 Gigawatts of energy powered by the speed of the head, and give the golfer a club that wants to release it—almost like pulling back a slingshot cemented into the ground with elastic made out of Spider-Man Web (best analogy that came to mind).

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Make sense?

Both models have a strong, yet lightweight, carbon crown (15 percent larger than previous models), which allows Srixon to place more weight down and around the clubhead stabilizing the face, creating higher MOI.

Flex Zone 1: Club face built with very strong and flexible Ti51AF titanium 

Flex Zone 2: Ring of flexible material behind the clubface

Rigid Zone 1: Directly behind the clubface 

Rigid Zone 2: Strong but light carbon fiber crown

“Rebound Frame is a speed-enhancing technology. Our objective is to have the best ball speed of any driver available – especially for high swing-speed, better players. We’ve engineered regions of stiffness and flexibility into the face and clubhead, producing a driver that returns an unprecedented amount of energy into the ball.” -Jeff Brunski Srixon R&D

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Srixon ZX5 vs ZX7 driver: Tale of the Tape

Breaking down the two models is quite simple as most OEMs follow this tried and true method

  • ZX5 is your high MOI, rear weighted, fairway machine. Comes stock with an 8g back weight but can be replaced for the desired launch with 4g, 6g, 10g, or 12g depending on the desired swing weight
  • ZX7 is your fine-tuned, forward CG, low launch players driver although both will see action on TOUR. Comes stock with an 8g and 4g weight system to fine-tune shot shape preference. The heavy weight in the toe helps it fade and vice versa.

New 2021 Srixon ZX5 and ZX7 Drivers

Looks

ZX7: Compared to the ZX5, the ZX7 has rounded shaping and a flatter crown to give better players that square-to-open flow at address.

ZX5: Has a more triangular shape with a higher crown to inspire a bit more confidence for the player looking for forgiveness.

Feel

TG2 host Brian Knudson had a chance to test the ZX Drivers and this is what he had to say on the feel of each

ZX5: “The ZX5 slightly shallower face and longer heel to toe than the ZX7, giving you confidence in the club at address. At impact, the ZX5 offers you the feel of the golf ball compressing and then firing off the face for great ball speed. The impact sound is slightly louder than I expected but was a low pitched tone that is far from hollow or tinny.”

ZX7: “The deeper face and more compact, rounded shape of the ZX7 is going to appeal to most better players. Offering great responsiveness the ZX7 allows you to really feel the difference between center contact and slightly missed shots. Ball speed across those hits is very high and met with a similar low pitched bang that the ZX5 offers.”

The Tour

I had the chance to chat with Srixon Tour Rep Michael Jolly on the new 2021 Srixon ZX Drivers and this is what he had to say:

JW: What has been the overall reaction to the new driver on TOUR and what specifically have the players responded positively to?

MJ: Across all tours, the ZX drivers have been more widely adopted than any Srixon driver we’ve introduced. We really built on the positives of the Z85 series driver.  In the Z85 series, we had WAY more adoption than the Z65 series with countless wins across all tours, including a British Open win. We had a driver in the Z85 that was very fast, and continues to be played and liked by the guys—most just felt the misses needed to be better. There was less dropoff in ball speed and tighter dispersions when struck off-center.  The rebound frame is a really cool technology that we have seen first-hand make a difference.  Tour Pros are finding this driver incredibly fast while seeing mis-hits stay between the lines with less distance dropoff.

JW: With Major Champions on staff like McDowell, Lowry, and Bradley, how much input do you get from them in regards to shape and performance?

MJ: Quite a bit, really.  The three you mentioned are wonderful brand ambassadors that genuinely want to see us make the best equipment possible. The performance input/evaluation part is constant.  There isn’t any time that their feedback, input, and testing results whether qualitative or quantitative isn’t documented and relayed to the R&D team.  In terms of shape, that falls into the greater process of product development.  These guys will see very early (not hit-able) prototypes of future products and we ask them to identify what they like and do not like about what’s in front of them. As we move through that process and testing begins, taking into account their feedback (performance or cosmetic), the product evolves into that final form. These guys are definitely a valuable resource in our product development.

srixon zx7-left-srixon-zx-5-right-comparison

Srixon ZX7 (L), Srixon ZX5 (R)

Overall

General Info

The ZX7 driver comes standard with the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black Shaft, while the ZX5 driver features the Project X HZRDUS EvenFlow Riptide Shaft.

Every model in the new ZX Woods family features the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Grip.

Retail Information

ZX7 driver: $529.99

ZX5 driver: $499.99

Retail Launch Date: January 15

More photos and discussion in the forums.

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4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Pingback: SPOTTED: Srixon ZX5 “Mk II LS” and ZX7 “Mk II” drivers being tested in Napa – GolfWRX

  2. Luis Dix

    Dec 7, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    Has anyone won with a Srixon driver?

    • Brad Wall

      Dec 7, 2020 at 9:22 pm

      Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowery (British Open). Their irons are the best in golf. These new drivers are the real deal.

    • JWM

      Dec 9, 2020 at 11:24 am

      X7 has 3 wins on the corn ferry tour this year.

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Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

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Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

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TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

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Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

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In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.

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