WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The three-piece Z-Star and the four-piece, dual-core XV both feature core designs that start soft but get decidedly firmer towards the perimeter to give higher swing speed players more potential for longer driving distance. The fifth generation of its “Spin Skin” cover also employs the use of a superpolymer known as SeRM allows the thin cover to dig into the grooves for better grab and spin control on approach shots and shorter shots around the green.
PRICE: Z-Star & Z-Star XV – $59.95 per dozen, available late February.
THE DEEP DIVE: Srixon understands that some players using tour-calibre balls want as much greenside control as they can get, and some want as many yards as they can grab. The one thing both player types want is as little sacrifice to the other playing attribute in order to get what they most want.
Srixon has addressed those players with its new versions of its Z-Star and Z-Star XV.
The three-piece Z-Star and the four-piece, dual-core XV both feature core designs that start soft but get decidedly firmer towards the perimeter to give higher swing speed players more potential for longer driving distance. The key, however, is that if you get too firm, the feel becomes harsh – a non-starter with this discerning consumer.
To address that concern, the company produced a reformulated inner core design for the Z-Star XV it calls “FastLayer” where a special heat treatment “bakes” additional speed into the outer edges of the core while maintaining the softness of the core’s inner layer.
For the cover, Srixon continues its use of an ultra-thin urethane cover design (0.5 millimetres on the XV) meaning the Z-Star balls use less of the naturally slow urethane material in the ball’s design. For the Z-Star, the company actually thickened the cover to 0.6 millimetres for better spin on the short irons and wedges.
The secret sauce for both models, however, is that both covers receive an extra coating designed to create more friction for more spin.
The fifth generation of its “Spin Skin” cover also employs the use of a superpolymer known as SeRM (Slide-Ring Material) that changes the molecular structure of the coating to create stronger and more flexible molecular bonds that give at impact taking on what Srixon calls “unprecedented levels of shearing force.” Srixon engineers says this material allows the thin cover to dig into the grooves for better grab and spin control on approach shots and shorter shots around the green.
“We’ve been able to minimise the tradeoffs in ball design,” said Jeff Bunski, VP of research and development. “The FastLayer core delivers the necessary speed and by making the cover slightly thicker on the Z-Star, it delivers the control around the green that player wants. And SeRM is a competitive advantage for us.”
The dimples also received an upgrade with new, deeper dimensions, designed for a penetrating launch. After launch, the dimples generate lift, driving the ball upward and maximising distance during descent. In windy conditions, the dimples’ low drag coefficient helps the ball move through the turbulent air.
