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
Team McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
Rory McIlroy WITB
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X
Irons: TaylorMade Proto (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X 7.0 (4-9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-K @59) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X3 Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol Tour
Ball: 2024 TaylorMade TP5x Buy here.
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Rory McIlroy’s WITB in the forums.
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Shane Lowry WITB
- Shane Lowry what’s in the bag accurate as of the Cognizant Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II (8.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 70 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Buy here.
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZX Utility (3, 20 degrees) Buy here, Srixon ZX5 Mk II (4, 5) Buy here, Srixon ZX7 Mk II (6-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X (3), KBS Tour 130 X (4-PW)
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID) Buy here, Cleveland RTX Full Face (58-8) Buy here.
Shafts: KBS Tour Wedge X Black
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Z Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Pistol 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Srixon Z-Star XV Buy here.
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs 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!!!!