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Srixon launches new Z-Star, Z-Star XV and Q-Star Tour golf balls

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In the last year, Srixon has become one of the winningest golf balls globally with its Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls. It doesn’t hurt that Hideki Matsuyama had the Srixon Z-Star XV in the bag for his five worldwide wins in 2016; but staffers Graeme McDowell (Z-Star XV) and Russell Knox (Z-Star) also recorded wins with Srixon golf balls in 2016.

Despite their success, and even reluctance from Tour players to change, Srixon has made tweaks to both the core and the cover of the Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls for 2017. Srixon expects that the majority of Tour players will make the switch due to the improvements.

The company has updated the core of the Z-Star to make it a bit softer to improve feel, launch conditions and distance. The Z-Star XV golf balls also have a redesigned dual core for better launch conditions and more distance.

“I’m a guy who really can’t give up any yardage off the driver, so I feel like with the Z-Star XV I can keep the ball speed up, but still have the touch and feel around the green,” says Srixon staffer Graeme McDowell.

Both golf balls use a redesigned 338 “Speed Dimple Pattern,” which uses five different-sized dimples as opposed to the seven of its predecessors. It’s said to be more aerodynamic, leaving the player with more control and distance on full shots — especially in windy conditions. Due to the dimple layout, the balls are said to maintain flight better and fly farther by reducing drag and increasing lift.

SrixonDimplesSkinCoat

Also, a third-generation “Spin Skin Coating” was made softer and with more elasticity for a softer feel at impact, while generating more greenside spin and more predictable spin on approach shots — especially out of the rough. The urethane coating works by helping the cover stretch more at impact, increasing the amount of impact points between the face and ball, thus causing more friction.

Srixon’s Z-Star and Z-Star XV — each available in White and Yellow — will sell for $39.99 per dozen starting on February 17.

For golfers who have “moderate speed” with their drivers, Srixon is also bringing much of the same Tour technology into a lower-compression golf ball called the Q-Star Tour. Lower-speed players will likely find a higher launch and lower spin with this golf ball for more distance, but won’t lose much by way of feel due to the three-piece construction with a urethane cover. The Q-Star Tour, which is only available in White, will sell for $29.99 per dozen starting on April 14.

Learn more about the three new golf balls below. 

Z-Star

SrixonZStar

“I attribute much of my recent success to the trust I have in my Z-Star golf ball,” says PGA Tour pro Russell Knox. “I love how this ball feels. It gives me complete confidence in my ability to control the spin on greenside pitches and chips.”

Compression was reduced in this three-piece golf ball, giving it a slightly softer feel that also encourages a higher launch and lower driver spin from the tee. Its Energetic Gradient Growth (E.G.G.) core is designed to be the softest in the middle, and gets progressively firmer toward the outer edge of the golf ball. This design is said to maximize energy transfer at impact and optimize launch conditions for the player.

Compared to the Z-Star XV, golfers can expect the Z-Star to launch higher and spin more overall — about 200 rpm at 36 mph of club head speed, and 500 rpm at 112 mph — and have a slightly softer feel. Srixon suggests this golf ball for golfers who swing more than 90 mph with their driver.

Z-Star XV

SrixonZStarXV

“I trust the total performance of the Z-Star XV,” says Hideki Matsuyama. “I have excellent distance and spin control on my iron and wedge shot, but what I like most about this new Z-Star XV is its pleasant sound and feel on all shots — especially the superb feedback on putts and chips.”

The redesigned dual E.G.G. core, which now has a softer inner core and firmer outer core, helps to decrease driver spin but also increase ball speed on this four-piece construction. Golfers can also expect their launch angle to be higher than with the Z-Star XV predecessor due to the changes.

Compared to the Z-Star, the Z-Star XV will spin less, provide a lower launch for most golfers and have a slightly firmer feel. Srixon suggests this golf ball to golfers who swing more than 100 mph with their driver.

Q-Star Tour

SrixonQStar

This three-piece golf ball has a urethane cover and was made with a softer feel and lower compression to optimize distance and greenside feel for golfers with lower swing speeds. Like the Z-Star and Z-Star XV tour balls the Q-Star is also built with a E.G.G. core, but will be easier to compress than the Z-Star or Z-Star XV. Also, the Q-Star has a 324 dimpled cover, rather than 338 in the Z-Star and Z-Star XV, making the golf ball spin more and stay in the air longer for golfers who need the extra boost.

Srixon calls the golf ball the “most spin for your money,” as it sells for $10 less than its Z-Star family members, but has many of the same technologies.

Related: Our review of the Z-Star and Z-Star XV 2015 golf balls

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He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. Bob Bissonette

    Jan 30, 2017 at 7:59 am

    This new Q-Star is the European AD333 Tour of yesteryear?

  2. Kim

    Jan 24, 2017 at 6:02 pm

    It seems a lot of us understand why the golf balls cost so much (R&D, cost of patents, and important getting balls in play on tour). Really less then 10% of us need a tour ball, but thank goodness the fun of golf leads to the fun of getting balls and equipment we just got to have. I say the Q-Star in Yellow has my vote.

  3. Furious Styles

    Jan 23, 2017 at 8:56 pm

    Calm down, sparky.

    • Mikec

      Jan 24, 2017 at 11:01 am

      Why? OEM’s follow these boards, as a customer trying to get their attention.
      As noted, TM responded and released a yellow Project (a). As noted I only meant to post once.

  4. trebird

    Jan 23, 2017 at 6:23 pm

    Been gaming the XV ball on and off for a couple of years. I thought the 2015 version was better than the 2016. Looking forward to trying these and the TP5’s.

  5. Golfandpuff

    Jan 23, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    drop prices on current “old” ball any time now please!

  6. Mikec

    Jan 23, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    Apols for the multiple posts.
    That’s because my first 2 times did not post, now they “all” seem to have posted.
    Not intentional.
    I like Srixon balls and have loyally played them over the years (Z Star, ZS XV, and Q-Star, all in yellow). Last year I moved to the B330RX, as my SS is now just around 100, and I found that I got better feel over the ZS XV with the RX. However, the Q-Star Tour really has my attention, and I would be trying it, if it were in yellow. Not sure I agree with all the marketing research and think some of this is purely arbitrary in some respect. Take Titleist, NXT Tour S in both colors, but Tour, only white. B330RX in both colors, but B330RXS, only in white. To me, Srixon was the first company stateside to offer premium urethane balls in yellow (ZStar and XV, Volvik was just entering the US market), so to “not” offer it in one of their lines is a departure of their philosophy IMO. Also, it seems that most of the balls offered in “yellow”, cater to the mid to high cappers and/or value shoppers and those not needing “as much” spin, with the exception of Srixon and Volvik. So personally was a bit surprised and disappointed. No big deal though, will wait and see. TM in example eventually released the Project (a) in yellow. Basically that and the B330RX yellow are my current gamers.

  7. Uhit

    Jan 23, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    I read Srixons press release:

    http://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia/20170122/282355449451754

    as if Matsuyama and others already played the 2017 version in the 2016 season…
    …and that they already had a total of 18 wins (with the new balls) as of the middle of November 2016.

    You write, as if they would have played the former version of the ball:

    “Despite their success, and even reluctance from Tour players to change, Srixon has made tweaks to both the core and the cover of the Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls for 2017. Srixon expects that the majority of Tour players will make the switch due to the improvements.”

    …which seems to be wrong, according the press release.

  8. blakes

    Jan 23, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    been gaming the xv for 2 years now and absolutely love the performance. can’t imagine how they could have improved the current version but will certainly give the ’17 model a whirl. Love the $39.99 price point too! If you haven’t tested Srixon Balls I highly recommend testing them against your current gamers.

    • eric

      Jan 23, 2017 at 2:32 pm

      have you played the chrome soft? curious to how the two may compare.

      • blakes

        Jan 24, 2017 at 12:20 pm

        I have not but would def give the chromesoft a whirl. I tested the XV against my old gamer: Prov1. XV spun less off driver, more distance with driver, and spun more around greens. Only spot the V1 outperformed the XV was on midirons. V1 got a bit higher launch, more spin, and slighter steeper landing angle.

    • Kim

      Jan 23, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      Can charge less then PROV1 as they only need to supply 5% of tour players balls for playing and practice, PROV1 must provide balls for up to 90% of touring pros can you imagine how much it cost them to supply thousands of balls for driving range and tournament play each week? You can bet that $9.00 difference in price all goes to supply Tour Players….

  9. Uhit

    Jan 23, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    I read Srixons press release:

    http://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-star-malaysia/20170122/282355449451754

    as if Matsuyama and others already played the 2017 version in the 2016 season…
    …and that they already had a total of 18 wins (with the new balls) as of the middle of November 2016.

    You write, as if the played the former Version of the ball:

    “Despite their success, and even reluctance from Tour players to change, Srixon has made tweaks to both the core and the cover of the Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls for 2017. Srixon expects that the majority of Tour players will make the switch due to the improvements.”

    …which seems to be wrong, according the press release.

  10. S Hitter

    Jan 23, 2017 at 11:52 am

    This new Q Star Tour is the shiznit. Why would anybody ever pay almost double for the Pro-V1? And both balls are 3-piece. Don’t believe the hype on the Pro-V, y’all. That’s just advertising. There have always been balls that are better than the Titleist ones. And this new Q Star Tour should take a nice bite out of Titleist

  11. Robert

    Jan 23, 2017 at 11:50 am

    So is it correct to say that the new XV is going to feel softer than the prior gen XV?

  12. bonifacj

    Jan 23, 2017 at 11:31 am

    These guys just make such fantastic stuff, all around.

  13. Mikec

    Jan 23, 2017 at 10:29 am

    No yellow Q-Star Tour??
    Big miss IMO, as your target user is mid-low cap seniors like myself who like yellow for vision.
    Listen to your customers Srixon!!
    I will not be trying this ball, as I do not play white.
    I will be playing TM Project (a) Yellow this year, thanks for listening TM.

    • Feel the Bern

      Jan 23, 2017 at 11:37 am

      You’ve said so three times now.

    • Double Mocha Man

      Jan 23, 2017 at 12:37 pm

      Mike… they look at overall sales and, apparently, you are not their customer… at least not one they can make revenue from. Stock up on last year’s model on ebay. They are not going to make a golf ball essentially just for you. That is free enterprise/marketing life. Notice, no CAPS were used in the making of this post.

  14. Mikec

    Jan 23, 2017 at 10:26 am

    C’mon SRIXON, listen to your customer!!
    Yellow is a popular color w seniors like myself for vision, as will be the Q-Star Tour.
    HOW COULD YOU NOT RELEASE THIS IN YELLOW????
    BIG BIG MISS IMO!!
    Will be playing 2016 Project (a) Yellow.
    Good job TM, YOU LISTENED!!

  15. Mikec

    Jan 23, 2017 at 9:36 am

    No Q-Star Tour in yellow? BIG MISS SRIXON, BIG MISS!!
    Yellow is very popular w senior golfers (vision) like myself as will this ball.
    WHO MAKES THESE DECISIONS?
    OBVIOUSLY NOT LISTENING TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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