Review: Srixon Z 545 driver

SRIXON'S Z 545 driver is aimed at players who demand maximum distance and forgiveness, mid-high launch and low spin from the tee.

So all of us then...

This all-ability driver features a sleek, aggressive 460cc head design that once placed next to the ball and tee peg instantly makes you want to take a slighter wider stance than usual and rip the urethane out of it.

Placing clubhead in palm of glove, the dark head oozes class with the giant 'Z' in the middle of the sole and the new Quick Tune System becomes instantly noticeable. 

Adjusting the Z 545 driver is easy thanks to Srixon’s QTS, allowing anyone to easily adjust the loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity settings. A 12-way hosel design tunes face angle and lie along with loft, while the adjustable weight port comes standard with a 7 and 3-gram weight (11-gram weights are also available to precisely tune the centre of gravity to give you optimal launch and spin).

Using my normal 10.5-degree spec with a standard premium Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black HBP 60 shaft, I honestly couldn't be more impressed with not only the distance and forgiveness on offer, but also the sound and feel through the ball.

This is the best sounding driver I've tested in all my time at Golfmagic. It's not tingy or loud, it's just a nice dull sound at impact whether catching it out the middle or slightly out the toe.

Many of you will know, however, I do love an alignment aid, and unfortunately there isn't one on the Z 545 driver. While I cannot fault the forgiveness on offer, several times I was aligned well left of my intended target. It's more of a personal preference but it's certainly something that helps me get set up over the ball.

• Launch:  Mid-High
• Player Type:  All Ability
• Dual Speed Technology™ increases ball speed and distance by maximizing the driver’s rotation efficiency.
• QTS™ adjustability precisely tunes ball flight with 36 unique settings for loft, lie, face angle and center of gravity.
• 35% larger sweet spot through strong yet light 6-4 Ti cup face.
• Available Lofts:  8.5? I 9.5? I 10.5?
• Shaft:  Mitsubishi Rayon Kuro Kage™ Black HBP 60
• Grip:  Lamkin UTx Full Cord Red

Dual Speed Technology (DST™) maximizes a player’s rotation efficiency while also delivering more kinetic energy at impact. This is accomplished with the help of a high-balance-point shaft (Kuro Kage Black HBP) and a heavier head-weight. The end result: More head speed, more ball speed, more distance.

Ball speeds have been maximized with advanced face constructions. The Z 545 and 745 drivers feature a cup-face construction, which enlarges the sweet spot, made with a Ti body and a high speed 6-4Ti face.

The face designs create faster, more resilient impact surfaces with added forgiveness thanks to enhanced variable face thicknesses. Thinner heel and toe portions have created larger sweet spots in all Srixon Z Series woods – in the case of the Z 545 driver, it is 35% larger than the previous generation.

Fast, simple QTS™ allows anyone to easily adjust the loft, lie, face angle and center of gravity settings. Use the 12-way hosel to tune face angle and lie along with loft. The adjustable weight port comes standard with a 7-gram weight, and 3- and 11-gram weights are also available to precisely tune center of gravity for optimal launch and spin.

The Z 545 driver is a mid-high launch fully adjustable driver with low spin suitable for all abilities. With a sleek, aggressive design, the Z 545 is for players who demand maximum distance. The 460cc profile inspires confidence over the ball and aids forgiveness. 

Ball speeds have been maximized through the advanced face construction of the Z 545, which features a Booster cup-face construction and variable face thickness technology to enlarge the sweet spot by 35%, increasing forgiveness and distance.

Distance is increased further through Srixon’s Dual Speed Technology which maximises a player’s rotation efficiency while also delivering more kinetic energy at impact, resulting in more head speed, more ball speed, more distance.

Adjusting the Z 545 driver is easy thanks to Srixon’s Quick Tune System™, which allows anyone to easily adjust the loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity settings. A 12-way hosel design tunes face angle and lie along with loft, while the adjustable weight port comes standard with a 7 and 3-gram weight. 11-gram weights are also available to precisely tune the centre of gravity to give you optimal launch and spin.

RRP £325

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SRIXON Z 545 driver is aimed at players who demand maximum distance and forgiveness, mid-high launch and low spin from the tee.

So all of us then...

This all-ability driver features a sleek, aggressive 460cc head design that once placed next to the ball and tee peg instantly makes you want to take a slighter wider stance than usual and rip the urethane out of it.

Placing clubhead in palm of glove, the dark head oozes class with the giant 'Z' in the middle of the sole and the new Quick Tune System becomes instantly noticeable. 

Adjusting the Z 545 driver is simple thanks to Srixon’s QTS, allowing anyone to easily adjust the loft, lie, face angle and centre of gravity settings.

A 12-way hosel design tunes face angle and lie along with loft, while the adjustable weight port comes standard with a 7 and 3-gram weight (11-gram weights are also available to precisely tune the centre of gravity to give you optimal launch and spin).

Using my normal 10.5-degree spec with a standard premium Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black HBP 60 shaft and decent Lamkin UTx Full Cord grip, I honestly couldn't have been more impressed with not only the distance and forgiveness on offer, but also the sound and feel through the ball.

First Look: Srixon Z Series family

This is the best sounding driver I've tested in all my time at Golfmagic. It's not tingy or not too loud, it's just a nice dull, pure sound at impact, as you can hear in the video above, whether catching it out the middle or slightly out the toe.

Many of you will know, however, I do love an alignment aid, and unfortunately there isn't one on the Z 545 driver. While I cannot fault the forgiveness on offer, several times I was aligned well left of my intended target line. It's more of a personal preference but it's certainly something that helps me get set up over the ball.

Another slight niggle, despite the darkened finish, there's a little bit of glare on the crown when out in the sun.

In terms of distance, however, this chauffeur racks up the mileage. Although this is a first look review and I will be compiling more shot data when conducting our TOTB: Drivers Test 2015 in the coming months, I was easily averaging around the 270-yard mark - about par with my current driving distance - so I'm more than happy with that.

Power from the Srixon Z 545 driver is achieved through Srixon's very own Dual Speed Technology. This, according Srixon, maximises a golfer's rotation's effiency while also delivering more kinetic energy at impact. From testing, there's no doubt the high balance point of the Kuro Kage Black HBP shaft and slightly heavier head weight was helping me create strong levels of head speed and ball speed.

In terms of forgiveness, this is up there with the very best. On a few squiffy swings where the club didn't get out my skirt, Srixon has created a Booster cup-face construction made with a Ti body and high speed 6-4Ti face that enlarges the sweet spot to make it all but impossible to strike poorly. According to Srixon, the Z 545 driver is now 35% larger than the previous generation.

Verdict

The best Srixon driver I've had the pleasure of testing. One of the most forgiving on the market right now, so it will be interesting to see how it fares when all the brands send us in their latest big dogs for our upcoming 2015 Drivers Test. From a first look perspective, however, this has a bit of everything with strong looks (aside from no alignment aid), superb distance, a terrific combination of sound and feel characteristics and most importantly, forgiveness to help the golfer find more fairways. A little pricey at £325 right now, but well worth a look if you're in the market for a new premium driver for 2015.

Click here for Srixon Z 545 driver owner reviews

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