Srixon Q-Star upgrades with lower compression, sleeker dimple pattern

The latest version of the Srixon Q-Star ball, a low-compression, two-piece ball designed to make recreational golfers’ wayward tee shots less offline features changes for this average golfer’s ball coming from tour-proven technology.

Previous versions of the Srixon Q-Star have been received well in the marketplace for its characteristics that reduce slice and hook spin on tee shots but also features a cover coating aimed at improving grab on short-game shots. So largely only small tweaks were made to this, the fourth installment in the Q-Star series. Among the more noticeable is the use of a new 338-dimple pattern designed to reduce drag to extend downrange carry distance, as well as provide better control in the wind. That pattern also debuted earlier this year with the multilayer, urethane-covered Srixon Z-Star and Z-Star XV balls, which already are being played on tour.

“I think we’ve established a good reputation this year already on tour with having a very good ball in the wind,” said Srixon’s Jeff Brunski, director of research and development at Srixon/Cleveland Golf.

The new Srixon Q-Star features a softer core with a slightly lower overall ball compression than its predecessor, dropping to 75 from 77, according to Michael Ross, senior product manager at Srixon. The goal is for softer feel on full shots, as well as less spin on driver shots. The downside of reduced compression is a negative effect on initial energy transfer for less ball speed. But the lower compression also yields slightly higher launch. That combination of higher launch with lower spin is a distance recipe.

“It’s clearly not always the case that a little less ballspeed will be shorter,” Brunski said. “You can make that tradeoff with higher launch and lower spin and have more efficient launch conditions and more distance.”

Brunski also makes the interesting point that the same dimple pattern that works at tour-level ball speeds north of 165 miles per hour will work at amateur ball speeds of 135 miles per hour or even less.

“This is a lower-drag dimple pattern than the previous generation so that’s just good at any speed,” Brunski said. “From a trajectory standpoint, you can use all your other tools in your tool box in terms of core compression, overall compression and even the size of the layers, those are all going to affect trajectory. You just need to marry that with a dimple pattern to get an overall trajectory you’re looking for.”

The Q-Star’s cover features the latest installment of Srixon’s “SpinSkin” coating, which is designed to create more friction at impact for better, more consistent spin in the short game and from the rough. Also seen in the Z-Star and Z-Star XV, more spin in these shots leads to a quicker stopping distance. “The spin tends to trump the descent angle pretty dramatically in how quick it stops,” said John Rae, vice president research and development for Srixon/Cleveland Golf. “Across the board, spin is your better factor to stop the ball.”

The Srixon Q-Star, available in white and yellow, will be in stores August 18 ($25 a dozen).