ASK QUESTIONS: Live Q&A with Srixon Golf Balls!

[knudson81]

 

 

Srixon has updated the Z-Star and Z-Star XV balls for 2017 and are ready to answer your questions. Join us on Friday, February 17th (12 PM ET/9 AM PST) for a LIVE Q&A with Srixon's product experts on all things Z-Star. They'll cover the features of the Z-Star line as well as changes to the new ball from last generation along with a whole lot more.

 

Submit your questions now, and we’ll see you for the chat!

 

Who's on the Srixon Panel:

• Jeff Brunski, Director of R&D
  
• Michael Ross, Senior Product Manager, Golf Balls
  
• Dustin Brekke, Director of Engineering
  

 

 

 

When’s It Happening:

Friday, February 17th, 12 PM ET/9 AM PT

 

Giveaway:

1 GolfWRX member who has their question answered will win a Srixon staff bag autographed by the Srixon tour pros at the Genesis Open!

• 1st Place Winner: Autographed Srixon Staff bag
  
• 2nd Place Winner: 2 Dozen Z-Star or Z-Star XV golf balls
  
• 3rd Place Winner: 2 Dozen Z-Star or Z-Star XV golf balls
  

Winners chosen by random from all questions that are answered.

[MillerLowLife]

First off I want to say thank you for making the new Z-Star line at $40 a dozen.

 

Was this a move to get Srixon golf balls into more peoples hands? Seems like a lot of premium golf balls having been getting more expensive. How did you find ways to improve from last year models to this?

 

Thanks for taking the time and looking forward to the new line.

[ryanandrew_golf]

Is "spin skin" the name of your cover or is it a coating applied to the cover?

[moonshine]

Howdy, I can't wait to try the new ball. I was curious since I just read a great article about JB Holmes where a guy like him comes along in the development phase? I realize you may only be able to give limited answer...however are the balls tested first in Japan market/pros and then maybe following year on our tour/market? My reason for asking is distance will always come up...and JB hits it a tad further than your average player. Thanks and hope to try the new balls soon.

[Jagpilotohio]

Is there any possibility of a future XV version that feels softer off the putter and chipping?

 

I bought some trial 6 packs and have really liked the ball except for the firmness off the putter and chipping. Too "clicky" for my taste. I know the regular version is softer, but I prefer the rest of the characteristics of the XV.

[markheardjr]

Hello, Thanks for taking the time to answer questions. My question, what difference do you see in performance between Z-Star X and XV for a tour pro vs. an amateur? Any specific metrics you gather on distance, spin, carry/roll, etc to quantify that response?

[clemsontiger]

When fitting a tour pro such as Hideki, do they start with putter feel and then work from there? Or are things such as driver spin which are much more important to them? Thanks.

[ChillyDipper]

Thanks for taking the time to do this. I've always wondered, how is it possible to "reduce spin with long clubs, and increase spin on short clubs". Isn't spin, spin? How does the ball know what club is hitting it? Is this merely a more pronounced effect of the friction between the cover and club face on glancing blows vs more direct blows?

 

As well, do you think there will ever be a "self-healing" cover material?

[PapaJohick]

Thanks for doing this guys!

 

My question: what are your thoughts on the compression of golf balls and swing speeds? Is it more in line with what Bridgestone says or Titleist used to (maybe they still do?) say. A little addition as well, any thought of making a tour level (urethane 3 or 4 layer) "softer ball" or lower compression ball?

 

used to play srixon balls, but have really enjoyed the newest line of B300RX and Chrome soft from callaway! looking forward to trying out your new line this year. especially with that price point

[t4t3r]

Thanks Srixon and Golfwrx for taking the time!

 

Do you think golf balls on average are getting softer, or is there at least a trend currently in that direction? Also, what sort of improvements in technology, tooling, materials, etc. might make that possible?

[getair23]

What is more important when bringing out an updated tour ball. Feedback from the guys on tour testing it, or data that is analyzed during development?

[cameronprine]

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. My question is, what has it been like to see the golf ball market evolve and how have you guys tried to forward your own product and keep innovating in such a competitive market?

[kidrobot]

What even is spinskin?

[kidrobot]

Are there any plans for a low-compression/soft ball with a urethane cover?

[Tcann32]

I would echo some others some others in thanking you for pricing a premium ball at a lower cost than others. This has lead to me choosing to play Srixon for a good chunk of my golf seasons, since not only are the balls more affordable, they also perform the best for me.

 

My biggest question: How durable is the "Spin Skin", and when this wears down, how much is the performance of the ball affected?

[g_winner]

Do you take your specs to a chemical company for the different components of the ball or have a team on hand that develops the different materials? How many different prototypes do you usually go through before getting to the stage where you let the players test the balls to decide?

[GC70]

It's so cool that you guys do these Q & A's!

 

I love everything about Srixon!

 

Here's my problem.

 

Last years Z-star felt great and was unbelievably durable, but I think it spun to much for me and was shorter then I'm use too. How will the new one compare? I'd like to try the XV but my swing speed is only 100.

 

What ball would you recommend?

[scottaz]

hi, thanks for taking our questions.

 

i've found the xv the best wind ball i've played. what's different about the xv that allows it to perform so much better on windy days?

[ocburg17]

I think the Z-stars perform as good or better than any tour level ball available. However, I still don't see a lot of people playing Srixon golf balls where I play. It seems Srixon has the knowledge and technology as I've heard they have the most current patents.

 

Is it true that Srixon leads the golf industry in patents for golf balls?

 

If the technology is there, what do you feel that is preventing Srixon golf balls from being played more at the recreational level?

[DLaake]

Thank you Srixon for doing this! Love your product.!

My question is how long it takes for a ball to really start losing performance. How many holes, hits, wedges, scuffs, etc. before performance is notably affected, and to what degree. I would like to know this without getting into the "durability" competition side of the market. There's such a wide array of how long a tour player will continue to play a ball in a tournament before switching out. Just curious.

[uflorida1]

I've been a huge fan of Srixon balls since the days of the Furyk and the Z-UR!

 

How do you balance the trade off of durability and feel? Do you design the ball with a given useable life in mind?

[3_Putt_Par]

Hi and thanks to Srixon for making great clubs and balls for a long time now.

 

With all of the choices out there, what distinguishes Srixon from the other tour level balls out there?

 

Also

 

I was wondering if there were any advantages or disadvantages to playing a ball outside of your recommended swing speed guidelines for the Z Star and XV. For example, a higher swing speed golfer playing a Z Star ball and a slower swing speed player playing the XV. I guess what I'm wondering is how do you make your guidelines for ball selection recommendations?

 

Thanks again and best of luck in 2017! I thought 2016 was going to be the break out year for Srixon, but I think the brand will go to #1 just like Hideki!

[golf9596]

As a Srixon fan, I've played the Zstar on and off for the last few years. I always liked the performance and found the ball to perform as well or better than all the premium options out there. What improvements have you made to the new ball to make it better? Thanks for all the information and great product.

[TNTlefty]

Thank you for answering our questions Srixon!

 

Has Hideki's recent global success (wins) impacted Zstar sales?

[LeviScot5]

Is compression important when fitting for a golf ball?

[eagle1997]

One of the great things about a Srixon golf ball is the durability. I just played the new 2017 ZStar for 2+ rounds and it continues to look very playable (see below).

 

Is there any durability difference between the yellow and white covers? Any other differences between the two besides color?

 

I previously played the 2014 Optic yellow ZStar and prior gen XVs and those things were damn near indestructible.

 

2017 ZStar after 42 consecutive holes:

 

 

[Rob G 89]

This question is for the product manager how much of a threat was/ is the k sig?

[bu11dog]

I had my first (and only ace) with a Srixon. I love you guys...

 

We've heard that there are different 'versions' of the tour balls that various pros use. Do any of your staffers have golf balls that are specially made for your pro staffers?

 

When R&Ding a premium ball, it seems to me like it would be tough to factor in durability and distance while still offering spin and trying to make the ball sound soft at impact off the putter.

 

You're one of the few companies that has grown tremendously and now you're offering a very appealing club selection. Are you surprised at your success? FWIW, I hope you continue to grow.

[lvmike]

I currently play another manufacturer's ball that's targeted at average swing speeds but as a Srixon iron player, I'm drawn to the brand. I know that one of the big manufacturers tout their ball is for all swing speeds. What's your take on that thought regarding your new line?

 

I found the Z Stars very in line with Pro V1s before but strayed from both due to high spin especially for my average swing speed. How does the new line address this or are they not aimed at a player like me?

[iutodd]

Why does driver swing speed matter so much with regard to ball choice? Why do you market the different balls that way? I've hit "premium" balls and "non-premium" balls and they both seem to go about the same distance off my driver. Isn't short game behavior a lot more important? With that in mind - you should sell a sample ball pack with a sleeve each of Q-Star, Q-Star Tour, Z-Star and XV to let players try out each level of performance on course.