Srixon ZXiU Utility Iron Review

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The Srixon ZXiU utility iron is visually striking and highly versatile.  Built for the accomplished ball striker.  Capable of hitting any shot but still provides enough forgiveness for the occasional mishit.

Introduction

In their 2025 ZXi lineup, Srixon has several compelling long game options.  For the skilled ball striker, however, the appeal of the Srixon ZXiU utility iron is going to be overwhelming.  With its good looks and versatile shotmaking, this is a club you’ll be excitedly reaching for every time you hit the course.

Looks

With their increasing prevalence, we now see utility irons in all shapes and sizes.  The Srixon ZXiU utility iron sticks to the original script with its “blade-like design.”  Srixon keeps the offset of these irons low.  There’s 4.2 mm across all three lofts, which is only 0.5 mm more than the ZXi7 3-iron.  The top line is about average for a game improvement iron, but the club is compact from heel to toe.  My favorite thing that Srixon did with this club is mirroring the back edge so that it effectively disappears by reflecting the grass.

In the bag, the ZXiU looks equally sharp with a chrome finish, simple geometric design, and moderate branding.  The large loft designation on the toe makes it easy to find, even if you’re bagging more than one.  Having this club in your bag will turn some heads and probably raise expectations about your ball striking.

Sound & Feel

Though the Srixon ZXiU utility iron has a hollow body, like almost all modern utility irons, it feels anything but hollow.  The forged face contributes to a solid impact sensation, particularly on centered strikes.  Moving away from the center makes shots feel a little thinner and less satisfying, which provides good feedback.

There’s only a slight nod to the modern design of the Srixon ZXiU utility iron in the sound.  On pure strikes, the sound is very crisp and snappy.  I like this sound, I think it makes the club seem fast, but it is a deviation from a purely traditional impact experience.

Performance

In the section of the bag between your driver and your irons, you have the most choices – fairway woods, hybrids, and utility irons.  The case for the utility iron is that it offers maximum control and predictability but at the expense of forgiveness.  This is why you typically see utility irons in the bags of faster, more skilled players.  I was excited to test the ZXiU to see just how much forgiveness Srixon could pack into this compact utility iron.

I started my testing of the ZXiU on a pretty solid stretch of ball striking.  The launch monitor was reporting strong ball speed that never got too low or too high on a good strike.  This is a key trait – no player at any handicap level wants to see a good strike “rewarded” with a trip over the back of the green.  As my testing wore on and more poor strikes got into the mix, I was able to observe the ZXiU’s forgiveness.  While a mishit definitely costs you some ball speed, it’s nowhere near as taxing as it would be with a conventional players iron.  Small mishits will have a reasonable chance to roll onto the front of the green.

In addition to ball speed, the major key to utility iron forgiveness is getting the ball airborne.  A thin strike with a players 3I will be lucky to find shoulder height, but the Srixon ZXiU utility iron is much more forgiving thanks to its wider sole and lower CG.  This club isn’t a free pass to towering trajectories, but it should take the worm burners out of the mix.

Speaking of that wide sole, Srixon gave the ZXiU the Tour V.T. Sole.  This is one of the best designs in the game, and a big upgrade to the ZXiU over the ZX Mk II utility iron [review HERE].  You can easily see how they shaved away at the toe, heel, and trailing edge to give the turf less club to grab onto.  This design is a game-changer because it takes the sole from being huge and unwieldy to versatile.  I felt like I could still pinch the ball off thin lies despite the sole width.

Finally, the Srixon ZXiU utility iron will give skilled players all they want in terms of workability.  The stock shot has a powerful, mid trajectory with mid spin, but this club is happy to climb up or down the trajectory ladder.  The Tour V.T. Sole was also a big help for me in shaping fades and draws.  This club is offered with both graphite (Mitsubishi MMT) and steel (True Temper DG Mid 115) shafts.

Conclusion

For my money, no other company blends their utility iron into their iron offerings as well as Srixon.  From the look to the performance, the Srixon ZXiU utility iron is a coherent, sensible progression up from the ZXi7 irons, which is why that’s the suggested “Tour Preferred” combo set featured on Srixon’s website.  No matter what brand of players irons you game, if you want an easier-to-hit long iron replacement, this is worth a look.

Visit Srixon HERE

Srixon ZXiU Utility Iron Price & Specs

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Matt Saternus

Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf

Matt has worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking.

He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.

Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

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