Srixon:
Z-URC Golf Balls
I-701, I-701 Tour Irons
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Golfers at all levels, in particular low-handicap amateurs and professionals, are loyal to their golf balls. When Srixon burst onto the scene with its Z-UR family of golf balls, the company won instant accolades for its innovation and performance. Here at London Ontario Golf, we’ve reviewed the Srixon Z-URS ball – one of, if not the, most explosive balls off the clubface.

Now, Srixon is winning more fans with its latest ball from the Z-UR family, which includes the Z-UR and Z-URS: the new Z-URC golf ball. Want proof of its performance? Jim Furyk went from 7th to 2nd in the Official World Rankings while winning twice and amassing 11 Top-4 finishes with the Z-URC.

Designed for enhanced spin control, without sacrificing distance off the tee (and you know we’re all distance monsters these days), the Z-URC features the softest urethane-elastomer cover Srixon has ever developed: just 0.2-in. thin, one of the industry’s thinnest. Also packing the same punch as the Z-UR and Z-URS, the Z-URC offers a large energetic gradient growth core. What does this mean? Tremendous velocity, combined with optimal launch conditions. The result? Pinpoint precision, incredible feel, and still long bombs off the tee.

Nine-iron spin with the Z-URC is ranked highest, with trajectory tracked very high, too. It’s at the mid point on the driver spin chart, and while not the softest ball on the market, still plenty soft for such an all-around performance ball.

Testing this golf ball, I found it to be at its best when finding the scoring zone – wedges from 100 yards and firing at the pin. The spin was outstanding. So was the feedback off the clubface. And, here’s a solid plus: this ball is longer than the Z-URS.

Three cheers for Srixon’s trio of Z-UR family of balls. The new Z-URC, in our books, leads the pack for Srixon.

I-701, I-701 Tour Irons

It seems a new set of irons hits the market as often as John Daly puffs on a cigarette or pops open a diet soda. But, here’s a new iron from Srixon which compliments Srixon’s existing quality lineup of clubs: the new I-701 and I-701 forged irons.

Quite simply, these are some of the best irons we’ve ever tested here at London Ontario Golf. Their aesthetics are outstanding, and performance wise they rank amongst the best.

First, the I-701 irons. Made for the mid- to low-handicap golfer, the I-701 set, 2 iron through PW is a forged cavity back iron, but with much more technology than the typical cavity back club. The pocket cavity structure lowers and deepens the CG, offering a stable clubhead through impact, and making it easy to get the ball airborne. The clubhead is a two-piece design of forged 1025 carbon steel body, and extremely soft and responsive forged 1020 carbon steel face – thin to offer a very large, high COR. This means the club is amazingly forgiving, making hooks and slices almost a thing of the past.

I really like these clubs. It was almost impossible to produce a shot which even remotely resembled an off-centre hit. The ball trajectory was consistently high, and the pill landed very softly. Because the clubface isn’t too large i.e. ultra game-forgiving for high handicappers, you can still work the ball somewhat, although not as much as the Tour version. But, as a low-handicapper, I would have no problem putting these clubs in my bag. They weren’t the longest irons I’ve ever hit, but their myriad of pluses more than make up for a few yards lost in distance.

Onto the I-701 Tour irons – again, some of the best looking and most productive Tour-type irons I have ever hit. Their looks are outstanding – a modern forged club on which players like Furyk, Robert Allenby, Tim Clark and John Rollins depend on the PGA Tour.

But here’s the great thing about these player’s clubs: low-handicap amateurs like you and me can still produce consistent solid shotmaking with these sticks, and here’s why. A unique Face Press Milling design allows for maximum workability. A thinner topline and minimal offset are still forgiving enough for mortals like you and I to put in our bags. Soft 1025 forged carbon steel heads offer great feel and amazing feedback. The very shallow filled cavity design still brings forgiveness to the table, despite the compact blade design. And the sole has cuts in the toe and heel to reduce turf profile, allowing the club to pass through almost any lie with ease – very innovative.

The I-701 Tour irons are a classic example of today’s forgiving player’s clubs: a compact blade with oodles of modern technology. They’re so easy to hit, even an improving mid-handicapper could learn to use these sticks. They’re extremely long, produce a boring trajectory when commanded, and look fantastic. Both the I-701 and I-701 Tour irons are fitted with True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts.

For more information on all of Srixon’s products, visit www.srixon.com.