Who should use Srixon Z Star?

We reveal which Srixon golf ball is best for your game.

Which Srixon golf ball is best? But more importantly which should you be using?

Srixon make a golf ball for everyone, but how do you choose which is best for your game? TG’s Equipment Editor Simon Daddow – who conducted the world’s most popular robot golf ball test – has all the answers.

EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment

Srixon make golf balls for absolutely everyone. New Masters Champion Hideki Matsuyama plays them, as does reigning Open Champion Shane Lowry, US Open winner Graeme McDowell, four-time PGA Tour winner Keegan Bradley and one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, Cameron Champ.

But Srixon know that very few club golfers are suited to tour balls. So they’ve created seven models tailored to satisfy the specific needs of every club golfer.

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We know choosing a golf ball can be seriously confusing; there’s just so many decisions to be made. From cover material, to the number of pieces the ball should have, to the compression and how the ball feels and spins with the driver, irons, wedges and putter. And that’s before you start thinking about which model might suit your budget…

Srixon though have balls to fit not only every player category perfectly, but also every golfer’s pocket, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re happy to pay for performance or not.

Use our simple flowchart to quickly establish which Srixon models best suit your style of play. Then use the information below to compare your best fitting models to find the ball that suits your swing speed, feel and flight preference and, of course, how much you’re happy spending.

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Once you’ve made a selection, commit to using the same ball every round.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls

RRP: £39.99 per dozen | VIEW OFFER

The 2021 Z-Star takes the ball into its 7th generation. Z-star has always been a tour-level ball, so they’re aimed at golfers who refuse to compromise and demand only the best just like Srixon’s staff players Shane Lowry, Hideki Matsuyama, Cameron Champ and Keegan Bradley.

If your driver swing speed isn’t upwards of 90+ mph Srixon has other balls designed specifically for you.

RELATED: How good are the Srixon ZX drivers?

How the Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls compare

What you need to know about the Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf ball

New Fastlayer core
To ensure you don’t get a harsh feel from a super-firm core, or a slow ball thanks to a soft core, the Z-Star’s both have a Fastlayer core. It means the core is softer at the centre and gradually gets firmer towards the edges. The idea gives ultimate speed with great feel, so you play with confidence and distance.

Spin Skin with SeRM
Both the Z-Star and Z-Star XV have extra thin urethane covers to ensure excellent feel and spin on approaches, but Srixon go one step further than the competition. It’s only a few microns thick, but Srixon’s Spin Skin with SeRM tech allows the cover’s durable coating to bite into the grooves of wedges and irons to maximise green side control. It’s especially good on less than full shots

Great in the wind
Tour pros talk a lot about how golf balls perform in the wind. This year’s Z-Star models have new, deeper dimples which help the ball slice through high winds. It means the ball stays on target in crosswinds and maintains distance into head winds.

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How to choose between the Z-Star and Z-Star XV

If your game revolves around maximum greenside spin as you hit lots of short finesse shots and you demand pinpoint accuracy on approaches, play the Z-Star. But if your birdies always start with a mammoth tee shot and you want to push distance to the limit, Srixon’s most powerful ball, the Z-Star XV, is the one for you.

Which ball Srixon’s staff pros choose

Four-time Major champion – Brooks Koepka – Z-Star

Koepka signed to play the Srixon clubs and ball in November and immediately put the Z-Star in play for his exhibition (grudge) match with Bryson DeChambeau in Las Vegas. Koepka had played the Titleist ProV1x throughout his career but has chosen the Z-Star because he still gets the distance but wants the softer feel and higher spin around the greens.

Masters Champion – Hideki Matsuyama – Z-Star XV
Thanks to the Bryson DeChambeau effect more players now opt for slightly firmer golf balls. Masters champ Matsuyama chooses the Z-Star XV for its excellent combination of distance, spin and feel throughout his game.

Open Champion – Shane Lowry – Z-Star XV
Reigning Open Champ Shane Lowry may have grown up on Irish links courses, but he plays Srixon Z-Star XV for unrivalled stopping power when taking on the toughest holes in world golf.

Three-time PGA Tour winner – Cameron Champ – Z-Star XV
Champ is one of the five longest hitters on the PGA Tour. He chooses the Srixon Z-Star XV for commanding distance off the tee.

RELATED: Should you be using Srixon ZX4 hollow body irons?

Verdict: Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls

In 2021, the average club golfer’s driver swing speed is around 93mph, which equates to about 214 yards carry. If you’re anywhere close to this marker, you’re not the Z-Star’s target player. If, though, you muster more speed than Average Joe and are willing to pay for the performance of a tour-level ball, the Z-Star is a brilliant option.

The two models are the highest spinning balls in the Srixon line up. Just remember though that as swing speed drops, spin drops too, so if you generate less speed, it’s likely a ball designed for your particular speed will perform better in terms of spin. We’ve tested every version of the Z-Star and on every occasion it’s been a leading competitor for driver distance, wedge spin and very good feel when putting. A new lower price tag just makes them an even more solid choice in 2021.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

Srixon Q-Star Tour golf ball

RRP: £34.99 per dozen | VIEW OFFER

The club golfer’s performance golf ball. Srixon tour pros need to get ahead of the competition off the tee while also having enough approach and greenside spin to attack the toughest pins. But that means tour-level balls come with higher compressions and a firmer feel.

The Q-Star Tour breaks that mould. It is specifically designed using the same premium materials as Srixon’s tour-level Z-Star balls, but it comes with a softer feel that club golfers really appreciate.

RELATED: Srixon Q-Star Tour vs Titleist Pro V1

What you need to know about the Srixon Q-Star Tour golf ball

Tour-calibre cover
The bare minimum for a tour-level ball is a urethane cover. But just like the Z-Stars, Srixon take the Q-Star Tour a step further with Spin Skin and SeRM.

Think of SeRM as making the Q-Star Tour’s urethane cover elastic enough to bite into the grooves of irons and wedges, even on half shots, and you realise it has the ability to add extra stopping power on the shortest, most delicate approaches.

Softest core, but tour performance
The Q-Star’s graduated core, which has a soft centre and firm outer edges, creates a core that behaves like it has a thousand layers. It means you get distance with soft feel but also the same short game spin you see on tour. The softer core also reduces long game side spin, to improve accuracy.

Drag less, glide more
Just like the Z-Star’s the Q-Star Tour has Speed Dimples which are aerodynamically designed to flight shots more efficiently, they also cut through the wind to help keep shots online. A higher lift coefficient also helps keep the ball in the air for longer during descent, which is great for maximising carry distance at average speeds.

RELATED: How good is the award winning Srixon ZX hybrid?

Verdict: Srixon Q-Star Tour golf ball

The invention of a club golfer’s ball that boasts all the same tech as a tour model was a masterstroke by Srixon, and every major golf ball brand now makes a ‘tour ball’ that’s aimed at club golfers.

In reality, the idea gives a good majority of golfers what they’ve needed for years – a ball which works best at their speed. We love the softer feeling Q-Star Tour (it’s 20% softer than the Z-Star) and that extra feel comes with absolutely zero trade-offs when your driver swing speed is between 75 and 90+ mph – a no-brainer in our book.

It feels great on iron approaches and short pitches and chips, while also giving good feedback on the greens – and with no trade in distance. A new alignment side stamp also means you don’t need to draw a sightline on your golf ball.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

Srixon AD333 golf ball

RRP: £27.00 per dozen | VIEW OFFER

Until Srixon arrived in the UK market, two-piece golf balls were cut-price, hard, low- spinning distance rocks. But the AD333 seriously challenged those perceptions. Now in its ninth generation, the AD333 has found a place among our hearts as a brilliant value for money ball that doesn’t skimp on performance.

For average and above speed, mid-high handicap players, the AD333 often has zero discernible compromises to pricier tour-level alternatives, which makes it a great option for those of us prone to losing a few!

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What you need to know about the Srixon AD333 golf ball

Cover material
Urethane-covered tour balls don’t come cheap, so to hit the AD333’s £24 price point there’s a less expensive ionomer blend. Expect increased durability, which means the ball won’t need replacing after hitting a tree, finding the sand or bouncing off a rock.

No slouch when it comes to wedge spin
‘Two-piece’ and ‘spin’ were two terms never uttered in the same sentence until we ran our robot golf ball test. The AD333 was our fifth-highest wedge spin ball, out-gunning some serious tour-level opposition. At this price you still get the brand’s Spin Skin with SeRM to help control the shortest approaches.

Great all-rounder
Srixon say if the urethane-covered Z-Star and Q-Star Tour balls offer five- and four-star spin respectively, think of the two-piece AD333 as serving up three-star spin. It’s a great blend of across-the-board performance; distance with the driver, spin with irons and wedges.

If your swing speed is more moderate, or you prefer a softer feel, look at the UltiSoft or Soft Feel Brite.

Verdict: Srixon AD333 golf ball

When Srixon first introduced the AD333, 2-piece golf balls weren’t really a serious playing field for most major golf ball brands. It’s where the brand spotted their gap in the market. And boy did they exploit it. The AD333 was the best-selling 2-piece ball for a good many years.

If you can’t justify paying for the performance of the Q-Star Tour, or don’t feel your game sees the benefits on offer from a urethane cover, the AD333 is a very solid alternative. Our robot golf ball test showed how against the very firmest compression balls, the AD333 gave up just 5 yards with a driver, while maintaining a small dispersion circle and excellent wedge spin.

For club golfers who just don’t feel their game justifies the cost of a more expensive ball, the AD333 is a great across-the-board performer that won’t break the bank.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

Srixon UltiSoft golf ball

RRP: £25.00 per dozen | VIEW OFFER

There’s been a huge shift towards soft feeling, low compression balls among club golfers over the last five years. The thinking is to give golfers the feel they desire, as feel is something experienced on every single shot, and it can dramatically boost your confidence.

The UltiSoft is the softest ball in Srixon’s line-up, and if low compression is your No.1 priority when choosing a ball, it simply can’t be beaten.

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What you need to know about the Srixon UltiSoft golf ball

Higher launch
At slower swing speeds, the UltiSoft’s higher launch is a great option to maximise carry distance over both the Q-Star Tour and AD333. It also guarantees the brand’s softest feel.

Slow and steady
Srixon’s online ball selector shows that if you classify your swing as anywhere close to a slow and steady pace, and you don’t want to pay for a performance ball, the UltiSoft is a great option. We thoroughly agree.

Ionomer cover
The UltiSoft’s ionomer cover works together with the FastLayer core to ensure nothing is left behind in terms of ball speed and distance. Srixon like to say the UltiSoft offers feel and distance without compromise.

Verdict: Srixon UltiSoft golf ball

You may have heard it said that ‘soft golf balls are slow golf balls’, but our testing over the years has shown that slow doesn’t necessarily mean short, especially at slow to average swing speeds.

If you love the feel of a softer ball and you don’t own an average or above swing speed, we, like tons of club golfers, believe low compression golf balls can be an absolute godsend.

At slower speeds distance and performance gaps narrow, so you may as well play a ball that feels great, as essentially you’re trading nothing for the extra feel. That’s how we see golfers deciding between the AD333 and UltiSoft, both of which are two-piece balls, with ionomer covers.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

Srixon Soft Feel golf ball

RRP: £25.00 per dozen | VIEW OFFER

So you want a soft feeling golf ball, but your driver swing speed is average or above.
And you’ve established you don’t want to pay for the performance of a urethane tour ball.

Well, there’s still two choices in the Srixon line-up to decide between: the Soft Feel and AD333. So how do you choose? Srixon say if you want extra control (the AD333 is three-star spin ball where the Soft Feel comes in with two stars), go with the AD333. But if your preference is for a softer ball, the Soft Feel is the route to follow.

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What you need to know about the Srixon Soft Feel golf ball

Optimised to be fast with feel
Srixon’s FastLayer core may run through the whole ball family, but it’s the combination of the overall compression and the ball’s cover thickness that allows tailoring of each ball to suit different player demands.

Optimised for women
Srixon’s Soft Feel Lady is specifically modified to perform for the more average speeds of female golfers. Compared to the men’s ball, compression is reduced to 58 and there’s a slightly thinner cover for a feel win on two fronts.

Get some colour in your game
Coloured golf balls have come of age, so much so that the Soft Feel isn’t just available in white. For those wanting to inject some colour into their game, Soft Feel Brite comes in yellow, orange, red, green and even a Soft Feel Lady in pink.

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Verdict: Srixon Soft Feel golf ball

If you’re a club golfer who swings the driver at less than 90mph, there are four very credible Srixon golf ball options to choose between, and that’s before we even start looking at the colour choices and women’s models.

A decade ago that just wasn’t the case, so today we really are spoilt when it comes to golf balls. So much so that you really can choose what’s most important to your own game, and select a ball based on your personal preferences.

If you decide the Soft Feel’s a good fit for your game, it’s also available in six colours so you can choose which best suits your mood. That’s serious personalisation for £25 a dozen.

Jump to: Z-Star and Z-Star XV / Q-Star Tour / AD333 / UltiSoft / Soft Feel

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor at todaysgolfer.co.uk
Simon has worked in the golf industry for 30 years. Starting out as trainee professional at Downes Crediton GC where he learned the art of golf club making, before going onto work for Clubhaus Plc and Tony Charles Ltd as a golf club maker, and running Product Development at Benross Golf.
Joining EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) in 2006 as Equipment Editor Simon has worked for Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines and the Today’s Golfer website.
Simon is 46 years old, he’s played golf for 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.

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