It’s an unfortunate fact of life that whenever an OEM launches their latest line of metal woods, the fairways and hybrids always play second fiddle.
To put it in terms many of you understand and more than a few of you do not, fairways and hybrids are the Shemp of this game of passion.
This does not mean that they are not worth your time or attention. Shemp had his moments, after all.
This is the case of Srixon’s new ZXi RKT fairways and hybrids. While the three new pilots get all the headlines, the supporting cast deserves some love as well.
Srixon ZXi RKT fairways and hybrids
As with most OEMs, the Srixon ZXi RKT fairway and hybrid history follows the history of the partner driver almost point for bullet. It launched a real kitchen sink of face technology to the new sticks. Both feature the same RKT face design and i-Flex face thickness architecture with Rebound Frame and Variable Roll Design.
i-Flex is Srixon’s take on AI-designed variable face thickness. It is associated with Rebound Frame, a series of flexible zones supported by rigid zones in the face and head assembly. The idea is to add even more flex to the face and head.
And we can only assume that RKT has to stand for “Rocket”.
As in, Rocket Face. Rocketballz, as you know, was already taken.
Mini drivers do not need to apply (at least for now)
I’m not sure if this is a stop-the-press moment but note that there is no mini driver in the new one Srixon line up.
Is Srixon bucking the industry trend or (more likely) is the company just biding its time? In any case, it is noticeable.
Instead, Srixon stays with a strong 3-wood. The ZXi RKT 3+ fairway is a 13.5 degree 3+ wood that can be sloped up to 12 degrees. From a loft standpoint, this is definitely in mini driver territory. Its shallow face and overall compact profile will make the tee less forgiving than your standard mini driver, but it should be infinitely more playable off the turf.
In addition, the 3+ (along with the standard 3-wood) features a carbon fiber crown to help lower the center of gravity. Add a unique weight closer to the face than the back and you have a player’s iron wood designed for ball speed.
In the big picture, however, the new ZXi RKT fairways represent a continuation of the fairway story that Srixon has been telling for over a decade: they are the same thing as our drivers, just different.
This is not to suggest a lack of creativity or even a lack of performance. We tried the new 5-wood and in another moment of stop-the-press, gives my two year old Wilson Dynapower Carbon 5-wood a bad case of the heebie-jeebies. However, when you look at what Callaway is doing with fairways, hybrids and “utility woods” and compare it to what smaller OEMs like Srixon are doing, you definitely know who’s leading the market and who’s trailing.
Again, this is not to decrease performance. That will come out in the wash next year when we enter the Most Wanted test. It’s just a statement of where Srixon is in the hierarchy of Metalwoods.
Srixon fairways have traditionally performed well in our testing. The previous model, simply called the ZXi, finished in a virtual tie for second generally in 2025, the year it launched.
The hybrid verse, same as the first
We could probably cut and paste these last few paragraphs here to describe the ZXi RKT hybrids. The 19-degree 3-hybrid (cranked to 20.5) found its way into my bag as we plunged into the fall. As a lifelong hybrid hater (I tend to hook them in the next tale), the early returns show the ZXi RKT hybrid very long and, while not bad, it doesn’t want to go west on a northbound flight.
Also, give Srixon credit for making the ZXi RKT hybrid what a hybrid is supposed to be: a true iron substitute and not just a skinny fairway wood. It’s not as forgiving as a 7-wood might be. It, however, flies high, lands softly and does the things you want a hybrid to do.
Its technological history is more of the same. RKT face technology with i-Flex variable face thickness, Frame Rebound and Variable Roll Design. It also features a single interchangeable weight to dial in the swing weight, as well as Srixon’s adjustable hosel system.
Srixon ZXi RKT fairways and hybrids: Specifications, price and availability
The new Srixon The ZXi RKT fairways come in 3, 5 and 7 wood lofts (15, 16 and 21 degrees) as well as 13.5 degree 3+ wood. The 3+ and standard 3 feature carbon fiber crowns. Those lofts are available for the right. Lefties get the standard 3 and 5. Women’s models are available in wood lofts 5 and 7, right-handed only.
The Mitsubishi Kai’li Dark Waves Blue 60 is stock in X- and S-flex. The Dark Waves Red 50 is in stock in R-flex. The lightweight Mitsubishi Bassara PL 40 is stock in the women’s model.
Srixon ZXi RKT hybrids come in 2 to 6 (17, 19, 22, 25, 28) for righties. For the left-handed, it is the hybrids 3 and 4. The women’s models include 4-, 5-, and 6-hybrids only for the right-handed.
The Mitsubishi MMT HY is the stock male tree while the Bassara PL 40 is stock for the ladies.
The stock grips for the hybrids and fairways are the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 for men. For women, it’s the Golf Pride Fine Line of 44 grams.
The fairways will sell for $378.99 each, while the hybrids go for $329.99 each.
The entire line of Srixon ZXi RKT metalwoods hit stores and online on October 16th.
For more information, click on the The Srixon website.
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