Sri Sports has long rivaled Bridgestone and Mizuno for sports equipment supremacy in Japan. As 3 of the biggest brands, their battle for a share of the lucrative golf market here pushes each brand to continually raise the bar when it comes to technology, design and performance. It’s no secret in the golfing world, that when Sri purchased Cleveland Golf over 2 years ago, they wanted Cleveland’s line of top performing wedges. Sri Sports now has a trifecta of top golf brands within their stable with Srixon as the athlete brand, XXIO as the average golfer brand and Cleveland as an all around brand especially with a strength in wedges which neither Srixon or XXIO has ever had.
Cleveland with its wedge expertise has benefited as well from becoming part of Sri by being able to take advantage of Srixon’s forging expertise, production and premium materials even if it is in many cases only for Japan market releases. Here in Japan we’ve seen many JDM only forged releases like the 588 Forged, CG-F1 Forged, CG15 Forged and now for 2011 the new CG16 Forged and CG-F2 Forged. Premium forged wedges along with Cleveland’s zip grooves make for some pretty good feel and spin. Japan also gets a new gun metal Tour Action 588 C for conforming grooves this year to go along with the now conforming 588 Forged. Never Compromise also showed off their new NCX PLY series putters which get released next week here in Japan.
Srixon continues to evolve their Z-TX line with a new release of drivers, woods and utilities including a new Z-UTI forged utility iron which you see in the picture above. They’ve also released an all new GiE line which is a more forgiving Srixon, though I always question why GiE existed when Sri already had XXIO. The Z-TX line continues to be a favorite of athlete golfers in Japan especially their soft forged small Z-TX cavity back.
XXIO has expanded their line up of premium clubs for the average golfer and senior player with a new XXIO Prime lineup as well as a new XXIO Forged lineup to compliment their best selling standard XXIO line. The XXIO line now goes something like this, XXIO Forged line for the better player, standard XXIO for the average golfer and XXIO Prime for the senior or slower swinger. As always the XXIO clubs screamed quality and good looks even if some of the iron heads are on the larger side. With XXIO you can expect nothing less than premium distance and ease of use as they have always provided.
Please click on the album below to see the rest of the Sri Sports pictures from the Japan Golf Fair!
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Never Compromise is making drivers?
Haha whoops…. meant putters. (^_^)
I just don’t understand SRI Sports marketing. For the sake of conversation, remove new acquisition Cleveland. Why do they still split their marketing between Srixon and XXIO? With Srixon having the G series which is Game Improvement, it would seem that having a second game improvement brand would confuse the Japanese consumer.
The XXIO stuff seems to be high tech as well. Where U.S. based OEMs tend to consolidate and abandon what would be competing brands (i.e. Ben Hogan/Callaway), it is difficult to see the advantage of keeping both names, Srixon/XXIO. Very interested in your take, Tario.
XXIO is the bigger brand (sales wise) in Japan, In Japan it would make more sense to eliminate Srixon. Also the GiE is what I would consider budget compared to what XXIO produces, a bit cartoony as well. It is Game Improvement but not the same at all
A few U.S OEMs play the same game. Callaway golf is in a similar position with Odyssey and they have an even bigger identity crisis within the line.
588 Forged are conforming? They have the old zip groove logo, not the ‘tour zip groove’ logo.
They were available in both conforming and non-conforming however they have already been discontinued. Originally released in 2009 with non conforming grooves, updated to conforming last year then discontinued for 2011.
Is there a way to tell the difference if I come across them? I sure would love a set of the conforming ones.
Hi,
I am an 18 handicapper having used ping k15s for last 2 years. I am very seriously considering shifting to the XXIO 7’s in irons/hybrids/woods and driver.
I have tried the XXIO’s and was impressed. My only concern is the very different types of club heads etc… Driving range trials seemed great but will/ could it be too big a change on the course?….
@ Prashant
I just posted the latest XXIO7 driver review. If you are looking for an automatic type high performance club, the XXIO line is a very good option. Every club needs adjusting to on the course and its a process we all need to go through when we chance clubs. I think it’d be a nice upgrade from your K15’s.