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.
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