Srixon ZX5 Vs Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons Comparison Overview

Srixon ZX5 Vs Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons

One of the reasons we decided to compare the Srixon ZX5 irons to the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons in this overview was because we have experience with both of these irons.

We know that they perform similarly in key departments.

And while we have used both of these irons before, we have never tested them side-by-side.

So we went out and played both of these irons to give you a better idea of which one may be best for your game.

Srixon ZX5 Irons Overview

“The ZX5 irons are impressive in almost every way. We love these irons for their feel and all-around performance.”

And they rival the performance of the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons. For example, the ZX5 irons have the Tour VT sole which is tapered to make turf interaction smooth as silk.

The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons also offer great turf interaction; but for a different reason we will get into shortly.

The ZX5 irons also have forged faces, tungsten weights in the toes of the long irons and forged 1020 soft carbon steel bodies – this is a combination that is hard to beat.

The ZX5’s feel amazing. They’re soft and respond acutely to all of your shots.

The scoring irons also have tight, sharp grooves that allow for amazing spin control. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons also allow for a lot of short game spin…

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons Overview

“The shorter irons in the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal set have a slightly rounded leading edge.”

This is what gives them their excellent turf interaction. The short irons in this set also afford the player a lot of spin control and stopping power.

However, the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons aren’t forged like the ZX5’s. The overall feel is a bit deader and certainly less soft.

The blade lengths here are also a bit shorter which would appeal more to mid handicap players.

However, the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons retained ball speed better around the perimeter of the face than the ZX5’s.

“This was a tough one to call. In one way, it seems that the Srizon ZX5’s do everything that the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal’s do; only better.

However, the Hot Metal irons were more forgiving overall. Still, we like the feel and overall performance of the ZX5’s just a smidge more than the Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal irons.”

Srixon ZX5 Irons – First Impressions

The Srixon ZX5 irons are a major improvement over the Srixon Z585 irons which had a cheaper, more game improvement look about them.

The first thing we noticed about these irons is how nice they look. Srixon got rid of the back insert which made the previous Srixon irons look a bit cheap. The Srixon ZX5’s on the other hand have the look of a premium set of forged irons.

They have a sharp, sleek look even as the cavity back pokes out a little more noticeably in the long irons.

Another reason we think the Srixon ZX5 irons would be good for mid handicappers is the amount of offset you see at point of address. The Srixon ZX5’s have a moderate amount of offset that is enough to inspire confidence but not enough to make these look like a pure set of game improvement irons.

Srixon did a good job of making the Srixon ZX5’s occupy the middle ground between player’s performance and game improvement irons. When compared to the ZX7’s you will notice that the top line is a bit thicker.

The Srixon ZX5’s also have longer blades than the ZX7’s. However, this is to be expected. The ZX7’s are definitely more of a pure set of player’s performance irons and emphasize workability over forgiveness. Still, the Srixon ZX5’s aren’t much bigger than the ZX7’s.

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons First Impressions

Straight out of the gate the JpX 923 look great, they are not big and chunky like some game improvement irons, but they are not the most forgiving irons on the market either. One thing is for sure, the 923 Hot Metal irons are built for distance.

The irons come in 3 flavors:

JPX 923 Hot Metal High Launch – for slower swing speeds to get the ball in the air.

JPX 923 Hot Metal – Perfect for Mid Handicappers looking for distance, forgiveness and stability.

JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro – Aimed at consistent iron strikers with more precision, control and workability. Likely to compete with the forged version and the

The next thing that stands out is the V-Chassis on the back which completes the excellent looks of the irons.

It also adds stability to the club face, improves the feel and dampens vibrations on any mishits.

These clubs are faster thanks to the new Nikol Chromoly material that the cup face, and cavity back designed clubs are made with.

It is 35% stronger which a stronger impact and more distance. It also allows the club face to be 8% thinner meaning a better energy transfer. The thinnest point of the face is now also 18% larger and the bigger sweet spot results in better shots on the off-center strikes.

More bounce and stronger lofts also add to the effect of more distance and a higher loft. The extra bounce helps to generate a higher ball flight.

While not being the most forgiving of game improvement irons, they look excellent at the address and offer a ton of distance for players with moderate to average swing speeds and beyond.

The Hot Metal irons are not going to be the best option for beginners and inconsistent strikers but they will be excellent for anybody looking for maximum distance and excellent control, especially in the shorter irons.

Srixon ZX5 Irons Selling Points

Multi-material construction
Tungsten toe weights in the long irons
“V” shaped sole
Narrower, deeper face grooves in the scoring irons
Milled back side

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Iron Selling Points

New Nikol Chromoly Material
3 Versions To Suit Different Golfers
50 Custom Shaft Options
Stronger Lofts & More Bounce
Around 10% More Distance Than The JPX 921’s
8% Thinner Face
18% Bigger Sweet Spot

Who Are the Srixon ZX5 Irons for?

Srixon isn’t wrong when they say that the Srixon ZX5’s will have something to offer players of all skill levels. But after testing these irons, it’s clear that the players that stand to gain the most from these irons are mid handicappers.

They offer a moderate degree of workability which will suit the needs of players who are just starting to learn how to work the ball to their advantage on the fairway. Both the long and short irons have enough stopping power for the mid handicapper as well.

While the longer irons sacrifice a bit of spin control in favor of forgiveness and distance, we think most mid handicappers will be able to overlook this minor flaw. And since most mid handicappers will still want a moderate degree of forgiveness, the longer blades and thicker soles of the Srixon ZX5’s will suit them better than the ZX7 irons.

The Srixon ZX Family of Irons

The Srixon like of ZX irons also includes the popular Srixon ZX7 irons. The ZX7 irons have less offset, thinner top lines and thinner soles across the board so at point of address, they may scare some mid and high handicappers away.

However, you do get acute spin control from the scoring irons and excellent workability. Like the Srixon ZX5 irons, the ZX7’s are also fully forged. They also feature tungsten weights in the toes of the longer irons to help keep the blade from turning over.

As you might expect from a set of player’s performance irons, the ZX7’s also have stronger loft characteristics than the ZX5’s. Everything is the same up until the five iron: the Srixon ZX5 5-iron is 24 degrees while the 5-iron of the ZX7 set is 25 degrees.

So you do get slightly higher launch and sharper descent angles from the Srixon ZX7 irons starting with the 5-iron. Again though, this is pretty much to be expected from a set that is geared towards lower handicap players.

Distance: 94/100

Accuracy: 93/100

Forgiveness: 93/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 93/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Who Are The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons for?

The 923 Hot Metals are for players looking for a lot of distance from a highly stable club that offers a lot of control and workability in the shorter irons.

The High Launch version is more offset, more forgiving and easier to get into the air for slower swing speeds.

The Regualr version will suit high to mid handcappers looking for distance, easy launch and consistency.

The Pro version is more compact and workable with a smaller blade and is aimed towards the better strikers who will also have other options from Mizuno for their handicap range like the Forged and Tour versions which will be released in early 2023.

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
4 Iron	19°	60	“0.233”	“38.5”
5 Iron	22°	60.5	“0.22”	“38”
6 Iron	25°	61	“0.208”	“37.5”
7 Iron	28.5°	61.5	“0.196”	“37”
8 Iron	33°	62	“0.18”	“36.5”
9 Iron	37.5°	62.5	“0.159”	“36”
PW	42.5°	63	“0.135”	“35.5”
GW	48°	63	“0.098”	“35.25”
SW	54°	63	“0.082”	“35.25”
LW	60°	63	“0.065”	“35.25”

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
5 Iron	25°	60.5	“0.257”	“38”
6 Iron	28°	61	“0.245”	“37.5”
7 Iron	31°	61.5	“0.233”	“37”
8 Iron	35°	62	“0.204”	“36.5”
9 Iron	40°	62.5	“0.176	“36
PW	45°	63	“0.147”	“35.5”
GW	50°	63	“0.127”	“35.25”
SW	55°	63	“0.106”	“35.25”

Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Club Specs

Club	Loft	Lie Angle	Offset	Length
4	19°	60	“0.155”	“38.5”
5	22°	60.5	“0.147”	“38”
6	25°	61	“0.139”	“37.5”
7	28.5°	61.5	“0.131”	“37”
8	33°	62	“0.122”	“36.5”
9	37.5°	62.5	“0.114”	“36”
PW	42.5°	63	“0.106”	“35.5”