Equipment

What is i-FORGED? A deep dive into Srixon’s impressive new iron technology

Published

1 month ago

Jul 23, 2025

GolfWRXers are well acquainted with Srixon’s history of superior iron designs. One need look no further than the perennial top performer status of the company’s ZX, ZX Mk II, and now, ZXi irons in our annual Members Choice voting.

We also see plenty of ZXi irons in professional bags, such as U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun who plays a blended set of ZXi5 and ZXi7 irons.

Following the release of its ZXi iron lineup, Srixon is pulling back the curtain on a groundbreaking innovation designed to elevate the company’s signature feel to unprecedented levels: i-FORGED technology.

At the heart of i-FORGED is an advanced forging process called Condensed Forging, which is a method that allows Srixon to soften the iron’s body while reinforcing critical areas to maintain durability and performance. According to the company, the innovation marks a new era for forged golf clubs, promising not only best-in-class feedback but also the precision that skilled players demand.

Again, tour performance and GolfWRXer sentiment would seem to validate these claims, but let’s dig a little deeper into i-FORGED.

Feel first: Listening to the player

Before diving into metallurgy, Srixon turned to its most valuable resource: its players. In a wide-reaching survey of over 1,700 golfers, nearly 95 percent ranked feel as “very important” in their iron-buying decisions. Even more telling? Feel was the top reason respondents said they chose Srixon Irons over other brands.

That insight shaped the entire i-FORGED initiative. Improving feel was the mandate, not just the goal.

The challenge: Make it softer, but stronger

In the world of forged irons, feel and durability are often at odds. Softer materials may offer superior feedback at impact but risk bending out of spec over time. For Srixon, solving that puzzle meant pushing their forging capabilities further than ever before.

Enter Condensed Forging, the centerpiece of i-FORGED.

Developed via exhaustive simulations run by both the Japan and U.S. Srixon teams, this breakthrough process strategically strengthens vulnerable areas of the iron head — such as the hosel, topline, or toe — by imprinting raised protrusions during the first forging phase. These ridges are then smashed flat in a final forging step. On a microscopic level, this creates structural imperfections (known as “dislocations”) that dramatically increase strength without compromising feel.

The result? Irons that are softer where it counts and stronger where it matters.

The process in more detail

First forge: In which forging dies imprint Condensed Forging’s signature protrusions onto the iron. Raised ridges are pressed into the areas of the clubhead most in need of extra strengthening, Srixon says.

Reheat: Trimming and cooling follows, then the iron head is reheated in a “carefully tuned” reheating tunnel.

Final forge: Raised elements are “smashed smooth” in the final forging step of the process. As Srixon says: “When we smash these ridges flat the metal’s structure changes at the microscopic level. This smashing increases strength by adding imperfections at the atomic level (referred to as “dislocations” in material science).”

Model-specific improvements across the ZXi line

Each iron in the new ZXi family benefits from i-FORGED in a tailored way, designed around its target player profile and construction style:

ZXi7

Srixon’s one-piece forged player’s iron now features hosel-specific Condensed Forging, enabling the use of S15C steel, a material that’s seven-percent softer than the previous generation. Expect buttery-smooth contact and pinpoint precision, with the durability required for elite performance.

ZXi5

With a multi-piece construction, the ZXi5 required Condensed Forging along the topline and toe-side of the blade. This reinforcement allowed engineers to soften the face plate by 14 percent, yielding a crisper, more responsive strike without giving up strength or distance.

ZXi4

The hollow-body ZXi4 is designed for forgiveness and distance. Thanks to a new hosel material, SUS 17-47, and localized heat treatment, it now offers 30-percent greater hosel bendability. This gives fitters more flexibility while maintaining playability for a wide range of golfers.

Final thoughts: The feel is real

i-FORGED is more than a new buzzword; it’s a new forging process and a technical leap forward that redefines what a forged iron can deliver. By enhancing durability head-on through Condensed Forging, Srixon has unlocked the ability to use softer, more responsive materials across the board.

The verdict? A family of irons that’s deeply tuned to player feedback, with real science behind every swing.

Learn more about Srixon’s ZXi irons in our launch piece.

Equipment

BK’s Breakdowns: Cameron Young’s winning WITB, 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Brian Knudson

Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!

Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX

Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X

Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype

Whats in the Bag

Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X

7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

Check out more in-hand photos Malnati’s clubs here.

Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow

Check out more in-hand photos Malnati’s clubs here.

Equipment

GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best driver of 2025

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.

What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.

Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.

Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.

Best driver of 2025: The top 5

5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%

Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.

4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%

Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.

3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%

Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”

@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.

2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%

Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”

@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.

1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%

Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”

@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”

You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.

Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote

Driver	Vote percentage (%)
Cobra DS Adapt Max K	4.85%
Ping G430 Max 10K	3.85%
Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond	3.68%
TaylorMade Qi35	3.51%
Callaway Elyte	3.18%
Cobra DS Adapt X	2.34%
Cobra DS Adapt LS	2.17%
TaylorMade Qi35 LS	2.17%