Latest news with #Z-Star
USA Today
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
New Srixon golf balls: What you need to know about Q-Star UltiSpeed
New Srixon golf balls: What you need to know about Q-Star UltiSpeed An additive in the core helped Srixon get more speed from this three-piece ball to help recreational players get linger and straighter off the tee. Gear: Srixon Q-Star UltiSpeed golf balls Price: $29.99 per dozen Specs: Three-piece, Surlyn-covered golf balls available in white and yellow Who it's for: Golfers who want more distance off the tee combined with a soft feel and less spin. What you should know: The newest version of the Q-Star provides more speed off the tee and less drag, which should produce longer, straighter drives and help the ball hold its line more effectively in the wind. The deep dive: Earlier this year, Srixon released updated versions of its premium golf balls — the Z-Star, Z-Star XV and Z-Star Diamond — which are already in play by pros like Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. The brand also released an update to its budget-friendly, distance-oriented Soft Feel golf balls in February. Between those offerings lies one of the most competitive and challenging categories in the golf ball market. Many golfers want more performance than a distance ball can offer, but they don't want to pay the premium price of a tour-level ball. For designers, providing a compelling option in that space can be tricky. Enter the Srixon Q-Star UltiSpeed, a new ball that builds on last season's Q-Star Tour model. The Q-Star UltiSpeed has a three-piece construction consisting of a large rubber core, a casing layer and a thin ionomer cover. The most significant change Srixon made to this version is the addition of an additive to the core formulation. The FastLayer core is gradational, meaning it is especially soft in the center but gets firmer toward the perimeter. Srixon states that the new formulation allows the company to manage the firmness transition more effectively. The overall compression is 85, which is lower than the Z-Star balls, so the UltiSpeed should feel softer at impact, but it is higher than the Soft Feel. Srixon designed the ionomer cover with a 338-dimple pattern to create lift off the tee while reducing drag as the ball reaches its apex. In windy conditions, the Q-Star UltiSpeed should hold its line better. All these design elements should make the Q-Star UltiSpeed fast off the tee while reducing spin and providing a high launch, leading to more distance and straighter shots, according to Srixon. While golfers won't get the same high level of greenside spin as with the urethane-covered Z-Star balls, the Q-Star UltiSpeed should offer more spin on chips, pitch shots and approach shots than the Soft Feel.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Srixon Soft Feel golf balls get more distance and less spin for 2025
Srixon Soft Feel golf balls get more distance and less spin for 2025 An updated gradational core makes these budget-friendly balls faster off the tee and spin less, so your drives fly straighter. Show Caption Hide Caption Tiger Woods, Jupiter Links talk about 'embarrassing' TGL wedge shot "That was one of the most embarrassing things to ever happen. I can't believe that just happened." Srixon's updated Soft Feel golf ball offers a softer feel and straighter flight at an affordable price point. The ball features a new core design that increases ball speed while maintaining a low compression for a softer feel at impact. Available in various colors, including matte options, the Soft Feel caters to golfers seeking both performance and visual preference. Gear: Srixon Soft Feel golf balls (2025) Price: $24.99 per dozen Specs: Two-piece, Surlyn-covered balls in white, yellow, pink, matte orange, matte green and matte red Who it's for: Golfers who want a soft feel and the moment of impact, reduced spin and a mid- to high-flight. What you should know: Srixon modified the core of Soft Feel for 2025 to give this two-piece ball more speed while retaining its low compression and feel. The deep dive: While elite golfers like Hideki Matsuyama, Shane Lowry, Brooks Koepka and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley opt for Srixon's premium Z-Star, Z-Star Diamond and Z-Star XV balls, with a $49.99 price tag per dozen, those balls are simply out of reach for many players. Plus, they all have high compression and can feel overly hard to moderate and slower-swinging players. Srixon's Soft Feel balls, however, have always been made for budget-conscious players who want a ball that feels soft at impact and that flies straight, and with the updated version for 2025, the Japanese brand has tried to deliver more of that. At the heart of the Soft Feel balls is an updated, gradational FastLayer core. It is softer in the center and gradually gets firmer toward the edges, so while it is one piece of rubber, it behaves like a core that has lots of layers. That means it can be compressed more easily and give more ball speed to a wide range of players. At the same time, the overall compression, 58, is significantly lower than Srixon's tour balls, so it will feel and sound softer when golfers hit it. The 338-dimple cover pattern is designed to reduce drag, and the ball's soft core reduces overall spin, so Soft Feel should create less side spin and decrease the severity of hooks and slices, so golfers should hit straighter shots off the tee. Soft Feel has been designed with a thin Surlyn cover, so it will not provide the level of greenside spin golfers can achieve with the urethane-covered Z-Star balls, but the material is durable and should hold up well throughout your round. In addition to being available in white and yellow, Soft Feel will be available in matte orange, green and red for players who like a high-visibility option. A Soft Feel Lady version, with a 56 compression and even higher launch, is also available in white and pink.
