TaylorMade P790 vs Srixon ZXi5 — Head-to-Head Distance Iron Review
Today we’re putting two standout players-distance irons head-to-head: the TaylorMade P790 and the Srixon ZXi5. Both are excellent in their own right, the P790 is a proven favourite and one of the best-sellers this year, while the ZXi5 sits mid-range in Srixon’s lineup and often flies under the radar.
I tested both irons indoors on TrackMan at our Milton Keynes fitting bay using a Modus 105 shaft and Titleist RCT Pro V1 balls to see exactly how they stack up.
Here’s what stood out:
🏌️♂️ Distance: The P790 carried about 6 yards farther on average.
⚙️ Ball Speed & Smash: Virtually identical — both very efficient.
🎯 Spin & Landing Angle: Low spin across both; ZXi5 launched a touch steeper for better stopping power.
📈 Dispersion: P790 was slightly tighter, though both were solid overall.
💰 Value: The ZXi5 comes in around £20 less per iron, offering premium performance for less money.
Verdict:
Both irons are top-tier distance performers. The P790 edges it on pure carry and feel, while the ZXi5 offers almost identical numbers, a softer sensation at impact, and outstanding value.
If you’re shopping for a new set, my advice is simple — hit both on a launch monitor, pay attention to feel, and get custom fit. The differences are small, but the right setup can make a huge difference on the course.
👉 Have you tested either of these irons? Let me know how they performed for you — especially spin, feel, and shaft setup.
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#TaylorMadeP790 #SrixonZXi5 #GolfIronReview #AFGolfGear #TrackManTest #GolfClubFitting #PlayersDistanceIrons
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⬇️ Video Description ⬇️
So guys, we have got another head-to-head review of our players distance iron playlist, our players distance iron category. And today we’ve got two really good irons. We’ve got P790 in the mix again. We’ve seen this iron many, many times, and many of you love this iron and see great gains and great performance from it in the bay. However, today we’re putting it up against the Shrixen ZXI5. So, this is the iron that sits in the middle of their range between four and seven and for me is one of the the best looking distance irons on the market or or players distance irons on the market. Normally produces great speeds, normally produces great feels. So, this one I really enjoyed hitting. You’ll see it in that in previous tricks videos that we’ve done. I love hitting a Shrix and iron. Head-to-head though, it’s going to be interesting how they stack up. So, let’s jump in the fitting bay and see what the numbers say. So, we’ll jump straight in with P790. It’s autumn here in the UK. The weather’s changed. So, we’ve decided to come indoors in the Milton Kings Bay today. Trackman’s on. We’ve got the modus 105 in the shaft. And we know what 790 is all about, don’t we? We’ve we’ve seen it enough times. I’ve hit it enough times in test. Solid, powerful, great look, super feel. It’s why for me it’s probably the number one iron on the market. It’s definitely our number one iron this year across the stores. And I think Tailor Made know what they’re doing with this iron. They don’t mess around with it too much. They keep it pretty simple in the tweaks and the changes that they make to it because it just works. Just comes off like an absolute bullet. Okay, couple more. Oh, nice and fat. Let’s try and hit another one. So, we’ve seen this in some of the headsto heads before. If you look at the some of the uh other episodes in this series, in this playlist, we have had the comments about taking out those douff ones in both. So, we will try and keep doing that and tighten up that data so that the comparison is as tight as possible. So, again, just feels really good off the face. Super solid, great flight. There’s not really a lot else to say about 790. It’s just a good solid iron. So, flipping over to ZedX ii5. Again, this iron does go always go under the radar in my opinion. Such a good quality iron. Really well built. And I tell you what, for the price point they they put these at, it should be in more players bags in my opinion. I think the the price difference is quite incredible. It’s somewhere in the region of 20 an iron if you’re against the 790. So, it’s so much cheaper for a set set of six or seven irons. Well, there’s that thin one to start. I’ve always What you do definitely do get a different sensation in terms of the softness of the face. I love that. I love that feel. It’s just so good. Ah, there’s that horrible left one. I always feel like it’s going to be better than that. Not quite. Bit pulley. Just going to change the numbers a little bit. Hit that little bit further off that pull shot. Let’s try and hit a couple more down the line. Just really good. Just really, really solid iron. Really nice feel. A couple of off center strikes there. A little bit towy. Just try and hold one a little bit. Just try and get one down the line. Be nice. That’s a bit better. Flights always looks good on a strickson iron. I always do love how that flight pops up in the air. So, let’s have a little look at the numbers. So, let’s jump over and have a little look at the numbers. Now, in terms of the data, it’s always interesting for me to have a quick look at the dispersion. Now, both went a little left in the end. The big white circle there is the 790, the yellow one being the ZXi5. Straight away you can see although they’re left the dispersion pattern was tighter was 790 and carry distance. Let’s just flip that over to carry. Carry distance was a fractionally longer overall. So if I look at the comparison we’re talking about a six yard carry increase on 790 versus ZXi5. So a little bit quicker a little bit further. Sorry. Land angle, however, is better with the with the ZXI 5. There was a couple of miss strikes in there. You can see that first one. If I take that out, it tightens the pattern up a little bit because I caught that one a little bit thin. Overall, 790. I did catch one a little heavy, but it didn’t really change the data too much. You do get a little bit more jumpers in the 790. It does feel like it pops off the face a little bit quicker and faster. But land angles a lot better with ZXi5, which for me is always a big sort of red flag. Ball speed on both is very very similar. But one thing that’s come out is the spin on both is very very low. So we could argue that’s the ball a little bit. I mean there is a spin rate in there that is definitely probably a little bit of a misread if I’m honest in that that one there at 3 and a half th000 revs. Um if we take that out they’re both sitting at about 5,000 which is quite low. We are using the RCT tightless prov ball so on the Trackman indoor. So it shouldn’t be a misread. It’s just coming out very very flat and very low. Smash factor on both is very very good, very very stable. Um, overall these irons are both equally as powerful as each other. I’d probably just want to play with the loft of it, change it, maybe weaken it a little bit. The the distance and the both of these irons is so long that actually I could afford to weaken the loft off a little bit on both, increase the spin a little bit and really not sacrifice that much in terms of distance. So, there’s some alterations that we could make with both those irons. I think if we were looking at these irons and you were hitting them in the bay, you’re definitely going to get a similar feel, but you are going to also notice a in my opinion that the ZX5 is a little bit softer. It does feel like the ball sticks to the face a little bit longer. That’s just a feeling. Um, it also feels that 790 is hotter. It does feel like that. It feels like it jumps and it is a super powerful iron. So, if you’re looking for a distance iron in terms of look, however, there’s not much in it. I love the look of Shrix. I do love the look of the Shrix and iron. 790 is class. It is just an absolute brilliant looking iron. So, I think that when it comes when you’re looking at these numbers, it really is going to come down to one thing and one thing only. Carry distance about the same. Spin rates, you’re going to have to play with the loft a little bit in my opinion. Smash factor ball speeds pretty much the same. Although 790 wins purely on the numbers, little bit longer in carry, little bit more ball speed. I think these two clubs are so tight together. And with the benefit of the ZXi5 being that little bit cheaper per iron, I think you’re going to have to put these in play, put them on a fitting bay, put them on a Trackman, give them a test, and really ask yourself the question, which one do I like the look and feel of the most? So, great test. Two great irons. I hope that was helpful. I hope you’re going to get into a fitting bay as soon as you can and put those to the test yourselves. Please make sure you comment on this video if you have tested those irons and give us your feedback on how they perform for you and your thoughts and views on the fields as well. It’s always great to hear from you guys. Remember, thanks for watching and hit that subscribe button.
1 Comment
I want to preface this with I think you do a fantastic job of the review and data portion. I’ve watched many of your comparison vids.
However, myself and others are getting tired of the “get fitted, try them for yourselves, both great irons” at the conclusion of every single video.
We know that. That’s like Golf 101. I understand nobody wants to create bad ties with manufacturers, but I wish for once someone would just put their foot down and give their subjective answer.
Titles like “VS” and “Showdown” and “Who’s the Winner” and then never actually answering that.
I don’t understand what is so hard for a reviewer to explicitly and clearly state “the iron that won for me is “X” because I have a steep swing and “X” sole worked for me better, and lastly since I don’t need the extra face speed, the deciding factor was “X” iron just felt better and softer.”
Golf channels views, likes, and subs are down because we already know before clicking on the video there’s not going to be an answer and it turns into the cliche hit them for yourselves”
The whole point of the video should be you, as a reviewer, having your own opinion and not repeating what every single reviewer says, otherwise there’s nothing that sets it apart.
That aside, I really appreciate your in depth data and comparisons. Lastly, about 65% of golfers swing their 7 iron slower than 80mph. Golf is exploding and full of beginners, people who only have a chance to play on weekends, women, seniors, people with chronic pain or injuries. 90mph is someone who is a very good, very low handicap golfer. So sadly, many reviews are not applicable to the average golfer wanting to buy their next set. Thanks for a good video.