Equipment
WRX Spotlight: Srixon Z U85 utility irons
Product: Srixon Z U85 utility irons
Pitch: A versatile utility with Tour optics but enough tech built in to enhance any player’s bag. Per Srixon: “Compact, hollow-body long irons are longer and more forgiving than traditional designs yet still provide total control from the tee or fairway”
Our take on the Srixon Z U85 utility iron
Director of Original Content Johnny Wunder: I have been dabbling in the utility game for about three years now, and it has been a serious process of trial and error with all OEMs. Something was always missing for me — whether it be feel, flight, or performance. This utility definitely checked off all the boxes for me.
My first reaction was to the sound of the golf club: it has amazing acoustics all over the face and delivers that solid hammer sound I like. In the past, with utilities, the hollow construction always bothered me regardless of where the ball was going. The real test on this was off the tee where I would hit it a little higher on the face. Tthe sound was dense, solid, and I had no argument.
The second noticeable feature here is ease of use. Truth be told, this club is Tour-inspired and has all the better player lines you would see in a players utility. However, this is as easy a club to hit as I’ve come across in this category. Perhaps it’s the slight offset that inspires confidence or the aerodynamics of how it swings, but I noticed that with any shot I tried to hit the Z U85 seemed to “sweet spot” itself nicely and hitting in the middle of the face was simple.
I also need to comment on the turf interaction, let’s face it Srixon has REALLY figured out the sole of its golf clubs across the board. Building this into a utility is a challenge. For me, I like to have a utility that I can dig in with and the leading edge and sole allows for great interaction, whether I pinch down on one and take a divot, or If I’m trying to sweep one and get it in the air.
The Z U85 is a “must consider” for ANYONE looking to fill gaps at the top of the bag. The 23 degree 4-iron replacement, which for me is a 215-220 club, consistently hit my numbers and was a perfect compliment as the longest iron in my setup. I would recommend playing with the shafts a bit if you are a higher speed player. The lighter (sub 90-gram) utility shafts didn’t work for me AT ALL. but once I swapped in a Grapite Dynamics Tour AD 105, it literally felt like cheating, which for me is a big compliment that I don’t throw around very often.
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Whats in the Bag
Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)
- Chesson Hadley what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)
Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5
- The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!
3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype
Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X
Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.
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Equipment
Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron
As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)
What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!
View this post on Instagram
I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…
To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”
On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.
Here’s what he had to say:
You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?
MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.
And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.
When did it come back in the bag?
MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.
What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?
MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?
Do you remember how much you paid for it?
MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.
The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?
MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.
It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?
MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.
What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?
MT: Like high 170’s.
Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.
MT: Yeah. The butter knife.
Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons?
MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.
How far do you carry that?
MT: Like 235.
A good little wind club, I’m sure.
MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.
I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man.
MT: Absolutely.
To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.
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Unami Tancock
Mar 9, 2019 at 3:07 pm
I must try this club
JOJOJO
Mar 9, 2019 at 1:39 pm
I just bought one. Great prcie (130USD for brand new including shipping and tax @ ebay). Beatuful looking. Head cover is nice as well. Sound and feel is good for a hollow club head. I totally love it! also, i agree the stock shaft feels light and not as stiff as it is labled. I bought the stock stiff, but feels more like regular/stiff or regular to me.
What i saw in other reviews is zu85 is a little spinny compared to other driving irons, which can help for most people, but not good for the better players and people who want some extra run.
Tom
Mar 8, 2019 at 5:13 pm
WOW…..amazing!!!!