Tl;dr When buying Srixon golf balls, consider your skill level, playing needs, and budget. The Z-STAR series is perfect for advanced players seeking control and distance. The Q-STAR offers balanced performance, while the Soft Feel series caters to beginners seeking a softer feel and higher trajectory.

As a self-professed advanced player for the better part of 10 years, I have tried several different golf balls for beginner to advanced players. I put Titleist, Bridgestone, Callaway, and even Nike (when they sold hard goods) brands to the test, so I feel that I can spot the subtle differences between golf balls. I hope to share some of my 20 years of experience in this game with you in this Buying Guide.

Why Srixon?

Srixon, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., is a Japanese golf equipment manufacturer established in 1930. It is known for its premium golf balls, clubs, and accessories. Srixon's products combine tradition and innovative technology. Their golf balls, like the signature Z-STAR series, are favored by professional players for their precision and feel. Offering an optimal blend of performance and durability, Srixon caters to both amateurs and pros. When purchasing from Srixon, golfers invest in a heritage of Japanese craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology to enhance their game performance.

What to Consider When Buying Golf Balls

What is your skill level?

Understanding how well you can perform on the golf course plays a big role in choosing the kind of golf ball you will put into play. If you feel your golf ball is holding you back, perhaps a more premium golf ball with more technology and better components is worth considering. But if you don’t have the swing speed or control to demand a high-performance golf ball, the models with simpler construction will suffice.

What type of ball construction do you prefer?

The components of a golf ball will largely determine its performance. Much like earth, a golf ball can have several layers to it. Three- and four-piece golf balls refer to the inside layers. A 4-piece ball will consist of a core, an inner and outer mantle, and the cover. A 3-piece ball will have a core, mantle (or middle layer), and cover, while a two-piece ball only has a core and a cover. Because of this, the more layers a ball has, the better the ball will perform in the hands of a skilled player. More pieces mean a higher price point. Another difference can be found in what material the golf ball cover is made of, either urethane or ionomer. Urethane-covered golf balls generally give more spin, which is essential for more control. In contrast, ionomer-covered golf balls are more durable but will not spin as much.

Another important factor regarding ball construction is the ball’s compression rating. This affects how soft or firm the ball feels on the clubface upon impact. The higher the number, the less the ball will compress at impact and the firmer the ball will feel. While a more advanced player may prefer a softer-feeling ball, it may impact their performance, negatively affecting characteristics like distance and spin. This is why golf balls for players with higher swing speeds generally have a higher compression rating.

How often do you play?

If you play often, investing in a higher-end model like the Z-STAR could prove more cost-effective because you’ll get the most out of your game with a premium golf ball. Conversely, if you're a casual golfer or prone to losing balls, more affordable models like the Soft Feel series may be a more sensible choice.

What is your budget?

Srixon's golf balls range from around $20 for entry-level models to $40+ for premium models. Lower-priced options, like the Soft Feel, offer good performance for beginners or casual players. On the higher end, the Z-STAR series offers tour-level performance, with superior control, distance, and durability, preferred by advanced players. Budget accordingly for your needs and frequency of play. The Q-STAR line sits happily in the middle in terms of performance and price point.

What Are Srixon’s Different Golf Ball Products?

Srixon has three distinct product lines for a wide range of playing abilities, from the beginner to the seasoned pro. Let’s take a look at them here:

Z-Star Line

The Z-Star line is Srixon’s premium offering, meant for those looking for exceptional performance and construction.

Z-Star

The Z-Star golf from Srixon provides a maximum spin on shorted shots, which matters greatly to the more advanced player. The ball's 92 compression rating comes from the company’s FastLayer DG Core, which is soft at the center. It gradually gets harder towards the outside, providing a soft feel without sacrificing performance or distance. The FastLayer DG Core is an upgrade from the previous generation FastLayer Core. The thin urethane cover is coated with a micronic SpinSkin+ layer, which takes care of providing spin when it matters most. SpinSkin+ is another upgrade from the previous cycle’s SpinSkin technology. A total of 338 dimples cover the ball, using a special Speed Dimple pattern, and maximizing lift while the ball is in the air. At the same time, the design’s low drag coefficient helps keep the ball on line during windy conditions. The Z-Star comes in Pure White and Tour Yellow.

Z-Star Diamond

This offering is in the middle of the three-product Z-Star line, providing the best all-around performance while giving increased spin on long and mid-iron shots. With a 102 compression rating, this ball has all the same technology found in the Z-Star ball: a urethane cover with SpinSkin+, Speed Dimple pattern, and FastLayer DG Core. The Z-Star Diamond comes in Pure White.

Z-Star XV

The Z-Star XV is the players’ distance ball option in the Z-Star line. It has all the same technology found on the previous balls mentioned and a 102 compression rating, but with a 0.01mm thinner cover to provide a maximum distance for a better driver and iron distance while still providing maximum performance around the greens. Color options for this ball come in Pure White and Tour Yellow.

Z-Star Divide

Serving as a visual aid, the Divide version of these balls features a two-tone design, with the two colors divided equally between the two hemispheres of the ball. These balls will have the same performance characteristics and tech featured on the rest of the Z-Star line. The Divide color scheme can be found on the Z-Star and Z-Star XV golf balls, with a yellow/white color combination available.

Q-Star Line

The Q-Star line offers a happy medium between performance and feel for those players with moderate swing speeds.

Q-Star

The Q-Star employs FastLayer Core technology, a gradient core with a soft center that becomes progressively harder toward the edge. This composition leads to a high initial ball speed off the clubface for greater distance while providing a soft feel for improved control. It also comes with SpinSkin, a proprietary coating on Srixon balls that enhances friction at impact, increasing spin rates for improved control, especially around the greens. Coupled with SpinSkin is SeRM (Slide Ring Material), a unique material that creates molecular bonds across the ball's surface. As a result, your shots tend to stop faster on the green. Srixon’s 338 Speed Dimple pattern is also present. This two-piece ball with an ionomer cover has a compression rating of 72. The Q-Star is available in Pure White and Tour Yellow.

Q-Star Tour

The Tour ball uses a three-piece construction instead of the two-piece Q-Star, giving better performance while maintaining the 72 compression rating. Consider it an upgrade from the Q-Star, while still keeping all the tech plus a urethane cover. Pure White and Tour Yellow are the color options for the Q-Star Tour.

Q-Star Divide

Like the Z-Star Divide color scheme, the Q-Star Tour also has the same color scheme. It comes with color combinations of yellow/blue, yellow/red, and yellow/orange.

Soft Feel Line

As the name implies, this Srixon line has the softest feeling, thanks to its simple two-piece construction. These balls are for those with more moderate swing speeds or those struggling to compress the ball properly on impact.

Soft Feel

The FastLayer Core and 338 Speed Dimple pattern appear again on this ball, along with an even softer 60 compression rating for this two-piece ionomer-covered offering. The Soft Feel comes in Soft White and Tour Yellow.

Soft Feel Lady

Like the Soft Feel, this ball has a 58 compression rating, meant for those with slower swing speeds to help the most distance possible while maintaining that soft feel. The Soft Feel Lady is available in Soft White and Passion Pink.

Soft Feel Brite

Brilliant colors paint this ball while still providing the same performance as the Soft Feel product. Colors available include Brite Red, Brite Orange, and Brite Green.

How to Choose the Right Srixon Ball for You

Now that you have a better understanding of what to look for in a golf ball, it’s time to choose your preference, based on your golf game as a whole. I’ve listed a few personas down below, along with their playing characteristics and examples of what ball they should be gaming. See if any personas fit you, and consider the recommendations I’ve outlined.

Beginner: Alex

Alex has just started to play golf and needs a lot of help from his equipment to hit the ball high. He needs a relatively inexpensive ball that will fly as straight and far as his swing allows him to.

Features Alex should look for:

• Low compression factor to aid with distance and feel
• Dimple pattern that helps keep ball on line
• Affordability

Srixon Golf Ball Recommendations for Alex:

• Soft Feel/Soft Feel Lady: As the name suggests, the Soft Feel golf ball provides a soft yet solid feel, thanks to the FastLayer Core. The Speed Dimple pattern improves aerodynamic lift through the air while helping maintain the ball’s flight, even in windy conditions. The Soft Feel compression rating is 60, while Soft Feel Lady is 58.
• Q-Star: The Q-Star is a better two-piece ball with a special SpinSkin coating, helping enhance spin on all shots, especially around the greens. The slightly firmer feel compared to the Soft Feel ball may take some getting used to, but the higher 72 compression rating will help contribute to distance gains.

Intermediate: Martin

Martin generally knows how to hit a golf ball, though he may still lose some occasionally. For him, it’s all about finding a happy medium between performance and forgiveness, which means finding a golf ball that will help him hit it straight but still spin when needed.

Features Martin should look for:

• Three-piece construction
• Relatively low compression rating

Srixon Golf Ball Recommendations for Martin:

• Z-Star: This ball is best for those with an average driver clubhead speed of 90mph and higher; the Z-Star is a three-piece urethane-covered golf ball that performs well in all facets of the game for a wide range of players while providing more spin on short shots and around the greens compared to the other two golf balls in the Z-Star line. The FastLayer DG Core, SpinSkin+ coating, and 338 Speed Dimple pattern cover all the bases for a high-performing golf ball.
• Q-Star: This two-piece ball suits players with moderate swing speeds. It comes with an ionomer cover and SpinSkin coating, contributing to spin around the greens. A slightly firm feel is achieved thanks to a 72 compression rating, which also helps provide slight distance gains compared to the Soft Feel balls.

Advanced: Shane

Shane knows how to hit all kinds of golf shots on command and requires a golf ball that will allow him to do that. He has a high swing speed and can hit it far and straight and stop it on the green when he needs to. Using a lesser ball will hamper his performance, so he needs the best of the best.

Features Shane should look for:

• At least three-piece construction
• Special aerodynamic dimple pattern
• High-spin characteristic for maximum control

Srixon Golf Ball Recommendations for Shane:

• Z-Star XV: The Z-Star XV is for the best of the best, providing maximum performance for those with an average driver clubhead speed of over 100mph. This three-piece golf ball has a very slightly thinner urethane cover compared to the Z-Star Diamond, which will help generate more distance for the longer clubs without sacrificing feel and control on the shorter shots.
• Z-Star Diamond: The Z-Star Diamond is best suited to those with an average driver swing speed of 90mph or higher. The three-piece urethane-covered ball is designed to spin slightly more on mid and shorter-length shots than the XV.
• Q-Star Tour: The Q-Star Tour golf ball is the three-piece counterpart to the Q-Star ball, suited to a wide range of players with moderate swing speeds. This is thanks to the low compression characteristic and FastLayer Core.

Find the Right Srixon Golf Ball for You

Srixon has many offerings for a wide range of players. While any option is available, knowing which product best suits your game will help make playing a lot more fun and enjoyable. Should you need more help discussing which product you should purchase, please feel free to reach out to me or any of our super-knowledgeable Golf Experts here at Curated, who would be more than happy to help you. Happy golfing!