2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“It doesn't get straighter than that... I'm going to take this one home with me.”
Fitters' choice winner for players distance in 2026, quick off the face with Srixon's V sole helping steep swingers, and it produced dead-straight shots with excellent spin consistency in testing.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Fitters' choice winner in the players distance category
- +Fast face helps recover distance for steep, cut-across swingers
- +V sole gets in and out of the turf easily
- −Ball speed drops off more noticeably on toe strikes than the G440
For: Players blending game improvement help with a players look, especially steep swingers who lose distance cutting across it
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“The Tour VT sole for me is one of the best soles in golf”
Classy, premium and very soft, with the Tour VT sole delivering what he calls one of the best turf interactions in golf.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Very soft feel, the ball melts off the face
- +Tour VT sole gives exceptional turf entry and exit for both shallow and steep players
- +Premium, refined better-player looks with minimal offset and thin top line
- −Angular, boxed-off head shape won't suit everyone
For: Better players who value soft feel, turf interaction and a classy compact look
Mark Crossfield
Coach, famously hard to impress
“Five absolutely crosses over from anyone”
The sweet spot of the range: nearly indistinguishable from the ZXi7 in looks and feel but with more help, and where he thinks most people should settle.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Hard to tell apart from the ZXi7 unless you look closely
- +Ridiculously solid feel with more forgiveness than the seven
- +Easy to hit with distances of 180 to 190 yards on his 6-iron shots
- −Expensive, top-end pricing
- −Very close to the prior model, not an obvious upgrade
For: Almost anyone: the crossover set from tour player to newer golfer who wants player looks with help
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“I think it works really, really well for a substantial amount of golfers.”
The fitter's bonus personal favorite, a MainFrame-face cavity-style iron that keeps ball speed and blends neatly with the ZXi7 for combo sets.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Maintains ball speed via MainFrame face technology
- +Blade length blends really well with the ZXi7 for the top of the bag
- +Strong distance even on poor strikes
- −Lower spinning than the other picks this season
For: Better players wanting a combo-set-friendly distance iron without a hollow body