2023 Srixon Z-Star XV

[bomberman]

The covers are extremely thin on the zstar line of balls hence the durability isn’t as high as the Prov1 line etc…the “cracked seam” is the cover wearing along the seam line and not an actual crack. I am sure there are minor performance losses from any wear as there is on a scuffed ball of any manufacturer (as seen on the MGS testing).

 

My home course is a notorious ball eater, where even the best players lose a couple balls a round, as a near scratch myself I can go though 3 on a good round☹️so when I get zstars for 30$ Canadian ( stock up on 241 sales) vs 73$ for prov1s that at best can get 443 sale, with the same performance for me it’s a no brainer. 
 

anyway, loved the 21 and the 23 XV seems the same to me, in distance, launch and spin. I’ve waffled back to the regular zstar recently for the lower ball flight and somewhat better partial shot spin ( this could just be a mental thing due to soft feel, but they seem to check up more on chips and pitches a touch less spin on full shots just generally slightly lower).

[phizzy30]

13 minutes ago, bomberman said:

The covers are extremely thin on the zstar line of balls hence the durability isn’t as high as the Prov1 line etc…the “cracked seam” is the cover wearing along the seam line and not an actual crack. I am sure there are minor performance losses from any wear as there is on a scuffed ball of any manufacturer (as seen on the MGS testing).

 

My home course is a notorious ball eater, where even the best players lose a couple balls a round, as a near scratch myself I can go though 3 on a good round☹️so when I get zstars for 30$ Canadian ( stock up on 241 sales) vs 73$ for prov1s that at best can get 443 sale, with the same performance for me it’s a no brainer. 
 

anyway, loved the 21 and the 23 XV seems the same to me, in distance, launch and spin. I’ve waffled back to the regular zstar recently for the lower ball flight and somewhat better partial shot spin ( this could just be a mental thing due to soft feel, but they seem to check up more on chips and pitches a touch less spin on full shots just generally slightly lower).

Do you have any idea why the covers on the XV, TP5x and Tour B X are so thin and fragile?  I love the way all three perform, but they all have durability issues with the XV being the worst IMO. 

[bomberman]

7 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Do you have any idea why the covers on the XV, TP5x and Tour B X are so thin and fragile?  I love the way all three perform, but they all have durability issues with the XV being the worst IMO. 

Not sure the tp5 definitely is pretty much as crappy as the Zstars probably either thin covers compared to Prov1s or different urethane. Calloway’s seem a bit better but worse than titleists, not sure on Bridgestones. But I’ve dropped a brand new titleist and a hard wedge or thin bunker shot and they can also be trashed. I’d likely play a prov1 if my course allowed me to play a ball on average of more than 18. I’m not cheap but hate wasting money.

[Baconator]

My driver swing speed is around 95 and I've noticed a seam after playing the same ball for a few rounds. In my personal experience it hasn't been indicative of imminent failure because either retire the ball or lose it before anything else happens. 

[IUPGolf]

I’ve been trying both the XV and the Diamond.  The diamond spins way too much for me with my short irons and wedges but the feel is great.  The XV is definitely a little longer off the tee for me and spins the amount I’m looking for.  I might use the diamond ball if I’m playing a course with really firm greens but other than that it will be the XV for me.  No seem issues either 

[phizzy30]

Just now, IUPGolf said:

I’ve been trying both the XV and the Diamond.  The diamond spins way too much for me with my short irons and wedges but the feel is great.  The XV is definitely a little longer off the tee for me and spins the amount I’m looking for.  I might use the diamond ball if I’m playing a course with really firm greens but other than that it will be the XV for me.  No seem issues either 

Love the avatar.  Who is she? 

[vietnameeh]

Can confirm I am getting the “crack” along seams on the 23 XV 

 

moms was played 20 holes then I saw the crack

 

next showed up in 7 holes but I kept playing it with no noticeable issues… if anything I almost thought the ball felt hotter off the driver …

 

[Londo]

Srixon for whatever reason (I think its been speculated their supplier?) has had seam issues. Depends on player and batch but usually the ball is out of play before it shows up

[phizzy30]

Just now, Londo said:

Srixon for whatever reason (I think its been speculated their supplier?) has had seam issues. Depends on player and batch but usually the ball is out of play before it shows up

Not sure if it's supplier issue.  I think it may have to do with putting the best product out there even if it means sacrificing durability.  TP5x doesnt't have the cracked seam issue but durability isn't good and they are outstanding from a performance issue similar to the XV. 

[Duffman57]

I finally decided to do the ballnamic fitting for fun and it's come back with Z star XV as the top dog with the 3 different times I've ran it with similar (not quite the same) selections.  Ended up with ProV1, AVX and XV all three times.  I'm still working through the diamonds I got from last year during fathers day, but I think next year during the same sale I'll pick up the fathers day deal with the XV and if I run out of balls this year I'll pick up a dozen.  Definitely a high spin iron player so I could definitely bring that down from the Diamonds.

[BigtimeHC]

On 7/26/2023 at 11:46 AM, Duffman57 said:

I finally decided to do the ballnamic fitting for fun and it's come back with Z star XV as the top dog with the 3 different times I've ran it with similar (not quite the same) selections.  Ended up with ProV1, AVX and XV all three times.  I'm still working through the diamonds I got from last year during fathers day, but I think next year during the same sale I'll pick up the fathers day deal with the XV and if I run out of balls this year I'll pick up a dozen.  Definitely a high spin iron player so I could definitely bring that down from the Diamonds.

 

Same with me, all three times

[Duffman57]

I’m not sure if it was the ball reducing some spin, me changing my swing or the fact that it was stupidly hot and humid yesterday but I played my first round with this ball and airmailed 4 greens to the point where I went OB long. I started playing one club down and still airmailed greens. My ballstriking was as good as I have hit the ball in a long time. But I was 2.5 clubs above my normal distance. I barely caught the back of the green on a par three that was 167 to the pin with a 9 iron. Like 5-10 yards long. 150 has been my typical 9 iron distance for a while now. 
 

I don’t think I was loosing that much distance with the z star diamond but maybe I was spinning the irons that much. I really have no idea what happened yesterday. 

[kasting333]

10 hours ago, Duffman57 said:

I’m not sure if it was the ball reducing some spin, me changing my swing or the fact that it was stupidly hot and humid yesterday but I played my first round with this ball and airmailed 4 greens to the point where I went OB long. I started playing one club down and still airmailed greens. My ballstriking was as good as I have hit the ball in a long time. But I was 2.5 clubs above my normal distance. I barely caught the back of the green on a par three that was 167 to the pin with a 9 iron. Like 5-10 yards long. 150 has been my typical 9 iron distance for a while now. 
 

I don’t think I was loosing that much distance with the z star diamond but maybe I was spinning the irons that much. I really have no idea what happened yesterday. 

All the launch monitors reviews show that XV is around pro v1x level of high spin off the irons. For me, in the real world it plays like one of the most low spin/piercing balls out there 

[greenlight]

Which Titleist is XV most similar to?

[Bsudgolf]

12 hours ago, greenlight said:

Which Titleist is XV most similar to?

V1x

[Duffman57]

46 minutes ago, Bsudgolf said:

V1x

From what I heard they switched the v1 and v1x so that XV would be more similar to the ProV1.  But I'm not totally sure about that.  

[Bsudgolf]

55 minutes ago, Duffman57 said:

From what I heard they switched the v1 and v1x so that XV would be more similar to the ProV1.  But I'm not totally sure about that.  

Oh ok thatay be True but to me the XV feels much harder than V1 but I'm speaking of Last years V1 

[leegee38]

13 hours ago, Bsudgolf said:

Oh ok thatay be True but to me the XV feels much harder than V1 but I'm speaking of Last years V1 

That is exactly the problem in answering the question.  The XV probably spins more like a V1 but feels more like a V1X.  So which is it more like?  Well ... kinda neither ... or both.  JMO anyway.

[Duffman57]

10 hours ago, leegee38 said:

That is exactly the problem in answering the question.  The XV probably spins more like a V1 but feels more like a V1X.  So which is it more like?  Well ... kinda neither ... or both.  JMO anyway.

I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem.  It plays like the prov1 but is higher compression. I don’t know if it’s me playing way better or the ball But I’ve played a few rounds with it now and absolutely love it. 

[phizzy30]

1 hour ago, Duffman57 said:

I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem.  It plays like the prov1 but is higher compression. I don’t know if it’s me playing way better or the ball But I’ve played a few rounds with it now and absolutely love it. 

XV is lower launch than the V1x much like the V1.  It's a very firm ball though which I prefer.  I didn't find it to spin a ton with irons which is what I need.  It's a great ball but durability is a problem. 

Edited August 2, 2023 by phizzy30

[Kacy]

On 8/2/2023 at 11:37 AM, phizzy30 said:

XV is lower launch than the V1x much like the V1.  It's a very firm ball though which I prefer.  I didn't find it to spin a ton with irons which is what I need.  It's a great ball but durability is a problem. 

How does the XV compare to pro V1x greenside spin?

[phizzy30]

11 minutes ago, Kacy said:

How does the XV compare to pro V1x greenside spin?

ProV1x spins more compared the XV. 

[Kacy]

20 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

ProV1x spins more compared the XV. 

I have tested the diamond and z star but  not the XV. Want the diamond to work because of the feel and greenside spin, but low driver/long game spin is a must. So far Prov1x has been the best of both.

[phizzy30]

Just now, Kacy said:

I have tested the diamond and z star but  not the XV. Want the diamond to work because of the feel and greenside spin, but low driver/long game spin is a must. So far Prov1x has been the best of both.

Diamond spun a ton for me off irons which is why I'm playing the XV atm.  I'm not a big stickler for feel but prefer firmer balls. 

[dkoeller88]

a lot of people referencing the "cracking".  i noticed the same thing a couple years ago and emailed them about it.  they told me its how the covers are fused together and there isnt a performance issue...they did also send me a free dozen.  i will say, ive hit the longest drives of my life (by a long way) with the XV yellow. just cant figure out why they changed from a 4 piece to a 3 piece...i dont like change  

[MiloMalt]

21 hours ago, dkoeller88 said:

a lot of people referencing the "cracking".  i noticed the same thing a couple years ago and emailed them about it.  they told me its how the covers are fused together and there isnt a performance issue...they did also send me a free dozen.  i will say, ive hit the longest drives of my life (by a long way) with the XV yellow. just cant figure out why they changed from a 4 piece to a 3 piece...i dont like change  

Why don't you like the change? I haven't noticed a feel or performance difference between the 2021 and 2023 versions of the XV.

[dkoeller88]

it was a bit tongue and cheek but i havent tried the new version yet as i have plenty of the prior gen.  just seems odd to me they went from 4 piece to 3 piece...so ill prob try to find more of the prior gen balls for the time being 

[seemore88]

I’m a fan of the 2023 XV. It’s slightly softer for me from putter to full shots. I think it has slightly more spin and I don’t have as much seam durability issues as the prior version. 

[Bsudgolf]

9 hours ago, dkoeller88 said:

it was a bit tongue and cheek but i havent tried the new version yet as i have plenty of the prior gen.  just seems odd to me they went from 4 piece to 3 piece...so ill prob try to find more of the prior gen balls for the time being 

If anything that should make it a bit easier to compress and also make it feel a bit softer. Probably a good move on Srixon part.