Equipment

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

Published

9 years ago

Jan 23, 2017

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 Topics:golf balls Srixon

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Andrew Tursky

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

Bob Bissonette

Jan 30, 2017 at 7:59 am

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

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
Furious Styles

Jan 23, 2017 at 8:56 pm

Calm down, sparky.

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
Golfandpuff

Jan 23, 2017 at 5:25 pm

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

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- eric
  
  Jan 23, 2017 at 2:32 pm
  
  have you played the chrome soft? curious to how the two may compare.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
- 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….
  
  Reply Report comment
  - blakes
    
    Jan 24, 2017 at 12:22 pm
    
    whatever the reason, i will take it.
    
    Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
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?

Reply Report comment
bonifacj

Jan 23, 2017 at 11:31 am

These guys just make such fantastic stuff, all around.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Feel the Bern
  
  Jan 23, 2017 at 11:37 am
  
  You’ve said so three times now.
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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!!

Reply Report comment
- Dat
  
  Jan 23, 2017 at 4:25 pm
  
  Great, buy the TM ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Furious Styles
  
  Jan 23, 2017 at 8:57 pm
  
  Calm down.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

3 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100

Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400

Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

3 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.

The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.

One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.

Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.

See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:

MySpider Tour

MySpider Tour X

Equipment

Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory

Published

6 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.

McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.

So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?

Driver

2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.

What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)

The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.

Fairway woods

2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.

Irons

2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.

With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.

Wedges

2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.

Putter

2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.

Ball

2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)

As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Grips

2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC

Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.