This year has been all about drivers, but if the incredible prototypes popping up on the PGA Tour are any indication, 2027 is going to be all about irons.
Over the past month, we’ve seen both Srixon and Mizuno, the two biggest names in Japanese forged irons, release protos on Tour of their upcoming ZXi and Pro S-4 irons, respectively.
Last week at the BMW Championship, I got to see the new ZXi and Pro S-4 models for the first time — and there’s much to like. Here are some observations we can make so far.
Srixon’s new ZXi7, ZXi5, ZXi5+ and ZXiU
Srixon’s ZXi line of irons has been one of the more popular both on Tour and at retail since it debuted in 2025, and all indications are that the next iteration also will be well received.
Cosmetically, it seems Srixon has worked hard to make these irons look super-clean with straight and smooth lines. The company appears to be sticking with what works, keeping the classic shapes for which they’re known.
But the club might not be only a utility option — it might also well be a new players distance iron to replace the ZXi4, which never was that popular. Titleist does something similar, offering both a larger U505 utility-iron option and a utility build of its T250 players distance irons.
Either way, cosmetically, Srixon has done really well with this new line, and I look forward to learning more about them as we get closer to whenever they launch.
Mizuno’s new Pro S-4
Got to see a couple of upcoming Japanese forgings for the first time today on the trucks the BMW.
First up is the new Mizuno Pro S-4. Check the thread for the new Srixon ZXi5 and 7.
I am really excited for both of these sets of irons to hit retail.
Mizuno launched its new Pro S-4 iron, the third member of the Mizuno Pro Signature Series, at the Open Championship.
With both the Pro S-1 muscle back and Pro S-3 cavity back on the more compact side, the Pro S-4 looks to be a more forgiving cavity-back that Mizuno has lacked for the last few cycles. Next to an S-3, the S-4 seems just a touch larger, with a deeper cavity.
Like the other clubs in the line, we can safely assume this is a one-piece forged iron; at address, the club reminds me of the MP-18 MMC I played eight years ago.
This S-4 probably is going to fill a hole in Mizuno’s lineup between the existing Signature Series irons and the new Modern series irons that were released earlier this year.
As a former Mizuno irons player, I’m fired up.
What else could be coming?
While Mizuno and Srixon have already released their irons on Tour for seeding, the calendar tells us other brands also could be due for a refresh.
Come next spring, TaylorMade’s P790, P770 and P7CB all will have been on the market for over two years. Ping’s Blueprint irons are going on three years old. And Titleist’s two-year cycle for irons will turn over in 2027. Mizuno also has more goodies in store, likely with new JPX irons coming this winter.
3 Things I’m thinking
Spin to win: I’ve always had a good short game but never been big on spin. But with TaylorMade and Callaway’s new full-face wedge options — WOW! If you need spin, that’s the way to go.
Tour success leads to retail: Scotty Cameron just took Cameron Young’s Phantom 9.5R to retail, answering the call of many fans who have been aching to try Young’s gamer. Finally!
Ping has been rolling: Ping has something really cool with its Scottsdale TEC putter line and its Onset models in general. Wyndham Clark won again last week, and slowly but surely more TECs are making their way into the hands of staffers. I also happen to love mine.
