ZXi5 3 Iron users out there? Yes a 3 Iron... and compared to Utility iron?

[giogolf]

Hey all, 

 

Finally got my bag set and hope to keep it this way like my last bag which lasted about 5 year (yeah, not very typical WRX behavior.)

 

Irons, got a set of ZXi5/ 7 Combos, and just over the moon with them coming from Wilson FG100 Blades which I never thought would leave the bag.  The ZXi5 is in the 4 iron only and its an absolute weapon, easy to hit and very workable for me... I need to fill a gap for my 3 iron and considering the special order ZXi5 3 Iron as typically I do not get along with Utility irons as they look a bit clunky or feel very dull off the face. 

 

Any of you play the ZXi5 3 iron?  Did you compare it to anything else, did it do anything better or worse?

Last data point (the 3 iron will rotate with my G430 hybrid 3 depending on the course or weather conditions)

 

Ok, your thoughts? 

Edited July 21 by giogolf

[tlehmann]

I ordered a ZX5 3i to match my last gen set of ZX5/ZX7 combos.  I don't use the 3i.  I bumped my 4i to 21*.  

 

For me the 3i launches too low to be as useful into par 5s versus a 5 wood/hybrid.  But otherwise the club is what you would expect if you have the 4i.

 

I do wish the loft gapping made more sense on the ZXi Utility compared to Zxi5.

Edited July 21 by tlehmann

[giogolf]

1 hour ago, tlehmann said:

I ordered a ZX5 3i to match my last gen set of ZX5/ZX7 combos.  I don't use the 3i.  I bumped my 4i to 21*.  

 

For me the 3i launches too low to be as useful into par 5s versus a 5 wood/hybrid.  But otherwise the club is what you would expect if you have the 4i.

 

I do wish the loft gapping made more sense on the ZXi Utility compared to Zxi5.

 

Appreciate the feedback.. I'll stalk 3 Iron around here and the bay (just missed one on the bay). I may try the ZX UT as well, I just think that will fly to close to my 3 Hy.

[Nixhex524]

I still have one, MKii from my older set of ZX7/Z forged combo.  I really liked it, thought it launched plenty high, but my G430 hybrid was just too easy so the 3i never got much play.  I prefer it to the driving iron because of the sole design over the zx utilities.  Really good option IMO.

[giogolf]

1 minute ago, Nixhex524 said:

I still have one, MKii from my older set of ZX7/Z forged combo.  I really liked it, thought it launched plenty high, but my G430 hybrid was just too easy so the 3i never got much play.  I prefer it to the driving iron because of the sole design over the zx utilities.  Really good option IMO.

So same boat here, the G430 Hy, however I want the option to swap it out with a 3i for certain days/courses.  I’ve gamed a P760 3i forever, its great but lacks feel off the face, I put up with it because it performed.  Then I swapped into the Zxi combo this year and they just feel incredible.  I lost nothing with them moving from my Wilson blades but gained a ton of forgiveness.

After smashing the ZXi5 4 iron around the GC the last 3 rounds and it feeling incredible I have to ask myself why keep the P760 if the ZXi5 does what I want it to plus feels 100% better..

 

I guess I just talked myself into it lol. 
 

 

 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

Interesting discussion. I suspect you’re a much better golfer (and ballstriker) than me, but still I have to ask: why not the hybrid? Easier to hit, higher ballflight, better stopping power…I guess you can hit it low into a headwind, too?

And while I list the advantages of hybrids, I just swapped my 4H and 5H with utility irons, and couldn’t be happier. I got serious hooks and inconsistent strikes from the hybrids, and the switch cured that immediately.
 

Curious why you’re not going hybrid. Are you just used to an iron in that spot, or is there another reason?
 

[dsmil]

Just a thought if you're going to order a custom 3 iron. It could be a good idea to order it a bit longer in length, to help with gapping between the clubs. My ZX5 4 iron is an inch longer than my 5 iron and I've really liked that for some extra distance as a driving iron sort of club.

[giogolf]

8 hours ago, LukeDonaldsTiger said:

Interesting discussion. I suspect you’re a much better golfer (and ballstriker) than me, but still I have to ask: why not the hybrid? Easier to hit, higher ballflight, better stopping power…I guess you can hit it low into a headwind, too?

And while I list the advantages of hybrids, I just swapped my 4H and 5H with utility irons, and couldn’t be happier. I got serious hooks and inconsistent strikes from the hybrids, and the switch cured that immediately.
 

Curious why you’re not going hybrid. Are you just used to an iron in that spot, or is there another reason?
 

 

I'm not giving up on the hybrid, I swap out my 3 iron or hybrid depending on the course or weather conditions.  The G430 3H is easy club to hit, but doesn't do everything I need on certain days.

 

Utility irons usually feel pretty dead to me;  I am very sensitive to impact feel and feedback, the P760 3/4 irons I used to game always felt like marshmallows off the face, just like most of the P79* series.  I like to feel the ball come off the face and know where I hit it, thats the beauty of the ZXi series, they feel as pure as my blades, and give me incredible feedback on off center contact, but tons of forgiveness. 

 

[giogolf]

2 hours ago, dsmil said:

Just a thought if you're going to order a custom 3 iron. It could be a good idea to order it a bit longer in length, to help with gapping between the clubs. My ZX5 4 iron is an inch longer than my 5 iron and I've really liked that for some extra distance as a driving iron sort of club.

 

Yeah, I was considering .25" over my spec length, but not much longer, I don't want to give up to much forgiveness.  

[Rory4Pres]

zxi5 will be lower launch, lower spin than utility.  Personally, I find it harder to hold the green with the zxi5.

[giogolf]

30 minutes ago, Rory4Pres said:

zxi5 will be lower launch, lower spin than utility.  Personally, I find it harder to hold the green with the zxi5.

Yep that's what I want, not looking for something to hold the green on any given day, although I suspect I would hit my same Apex Window as my ZXi4 Irons at 95 feet with the same shaft.  I need to swap it out with my Hy on windy or soft days.

[Brentwood]

On 7/21/2025 at 12:37 PM, giogolf said:

Hey all, 

 

Finally got my bag set and hope to keep it this way like my last bag which lasted about 5 year (yeah, not very typical WRX behavior.)

 

Irons, got a set of ZXi5/ 7 Combos, and just over the moon with them coming from Wilson FG100 Blades which I never thought would leave the bag.  The ZXi5 is in the 4 iron only and its an absolute weapon, easy to hit and very workable for me... I need to fill a gap for my 3 iron and considering the special order ZXi5 3 Iron as typically I do not get along with Utility irons as they look a bit clunky or feel very dull off the face. 

 

Any of you play the ZXi5 3 iron?  Did you compare it to anything else, did it do anything better or worse?

Last data point (the 3 iron will rotate with my G430 hybrid 3 depending on the course or weather conditions)

 

Ok, your thoughts? 

My experience is in regards to the OG zx5 irons and not the newest zxi5. However, I have done quite a bit of comparison with my zx5 3i and the srixon utility irons (OG and mkii). Obviously none of them are going to be as easy as a Ping hybrid, but I have always really enjoyed the zx5 3i for some of the reasons you mentioned throughout this thread. Specifically, I have always preferred the feel of the zx5 over the equivalent hollow structured utility iron. Another point is the sole interaction. The zx5, to me, was superior in terms of hitting off the turf as it has the v-sole. With that said though, I think the newest edition of the Srixon utilities have more of that sole than previous iterations (I have not hit the newest version of the utility, only seen online). 

 

After some tweaking, I determined that it best filled my gapping by having the 3i loft bent 2* strong @ 18* and to have my 4i 1* strong @ 21*. So really my 3i is more like a 2i but I wanted to maintain 3* gaps between the 3, 4, and 5. This worked well for my OCD and the performance on the course. When I had the 3i @ 20*, the 4i @ 22*, and the 5i @ 24* (which is what their stock specs are), the gaps were a little bit too bunched. Ultimately, I think it comes down to how you want to use it. If you only want an off the tee iron, then its a toss up between the 3i and a Srixon utility iron equipped with a shaft that fits you well. If you plan to use it off the turf, I would go with the zx5 3i over the utility no doubt. I would just recommend to keep your gapping in the back of your mind when you look to custom order.

[stratgolf]

Perhaps doesn't help all that much, but given this is a specialty spot in the bag trying to gap between your 4i and a wood (not sure on bag breakdown), I would really be trying to get fit to hit ideal carry numbers/flight profile. Suggest you will be able to find a better fit in a usable 2nd shot on par 5 club elsewhere than an iron set matching 3i.

[giogolf]

1 hour ago, Brentwood said:

My experience is in regards to the OG zx5 irons and not the newest zxi5. However, I have done quite a bit of comparison with my zx5 3i and the srixon utility irons (OG and mkii). Obviously none of them are going to be as easy as a Ping hybrid, but I have always really enjoyed the zx5 3i for some of the reasons you mentioned throughout this thread. Specifically, I have always preferred the feel of the zx5 over the equivalent hollow structured utility iron. Another point is the sole interaction. The zx5, to me, was superior in terms of hitting off the turf as it has the v-sole. With that said though, I think the newest edition of the Srixon utilities have more of that sole than previous iterations (I have not hit the newest version of the utility, only seen online). 

 

After some tweaking, I determined that it best filled my gapping by having the 3i loft bent 2* strong @ 18* and to have my 4i 1* strong @ 21*. So really my 3i is more like a 2i but I wanted to maintain 3* gaps between the 3, 4, and 5. This worked well for my OCD and the performance on the course. When I had the 3i @ 20*, the 4i @ 22*, and the 5i @ 24* (which is what their stock specs are), the gaps were a little bit too bunched. Ultimately, I think it comes down to how you want to use it. If you only want an off the tee iron, then its a toss up between the 3i and a Srixon utility iron equipped with a shaft that fits you well. If you plan to use it off the turf, I would go with the zx5 3i over the utility no doubt. I would just recommend to keep your gapping in the back of your mind when you look to custom order.

 

7 minutes ago, stratgolf said:

Perhaps doesn't help all that much, but given this is a specialty spot in the bag trying to gap between your 4i and a wood (not sure on bag breakdown), I would really be trying to get fit to hit ideal carry numbers/flight profile. Suggest you will be able to find a better fit in a usable 2nd shot on par 5 club elsewhere than an iron set matching 3i.

 

I'll kill 2 birds here with one answer, as they are somewhat similar.

 

My 4 wood goes about 267y carry @16.7* and 42" long(carry is really the number I go by because I get no roll out on my home course's; way to soggy.)  

4 iron @ 23* @38.75" with the ZXi5 carry around 216y.  

My G430 3 Hy set to @20* @39.5" carries 238y.

P760 3 iron @20* @39.25" carries 230y with a Fuji Tour Spec i115 shaft.

The ZXi5 seems hotter than the P760, so I am expecting it creep close to my G430, but this remains to be tested.

 

 

[Nixhex524]

23 hours ago, Rory4Pres said:

zxi5 will be lower launch, lower spin than utility.  Personally, I find it harder to hold the green with the zxi5.

 

I have had the opposite experience while playing mine.  DI do not launch for me for whatever reason... Much preferred the flight and control with the ZX5.

[Rory4Pres]

2 minutes ago, Nixhex524 said:

 

I have had the opposite experience while playing mine.  DI do not launch for me for whatever reason... Much preferred the flight and control with the ZX5.

Did you have the same shaft in your utility as your zx5?

[Nixhex524]

No, I have a CTL 110 in my zx5 and utilities have always been a lighter weight graphite DI type shaft.  So everything on paper, I would expect the DI to be higher and spinnier.   Was not the case for me.  I believe the ZX5 irons are still built for some control and spin while the hollow body design of the ZX utility is designed for lower spin and distance so it comes out hotter and flatter.

[giogolf]

1 hour ago, Nixhex524 said:

No, I have a CTL 110 in my zx5 and utilities have always been a lighter weight graphite DI type shaft.  So everything on paper, I would expect the DI to be higher and spinnier.   Was not the case for me.  I believe the ZX5 irons are still built for some control and spin while the hollow body design of the ZX utility is designed for lower spin and distance so it comes out hotter and flatter.

 

I have to agree.. I have both 3 and 4 iron in the P760 that I no longer play, both of these irons launch bullets for me, 10 feet below my normal window.  I attempted a shaft change with slightly lighter graphite 90g versus my TI X100 and oddly noticed the flight come down even more.  However, with the ZXi5 4 iron with my TI X100, I'm hitting my windows beautifully, no bullets, unless I try to hit one.  

 

So as you say, the low spin nature of Utility or Hollow irons aren't all necessarily high launch.