Srixon Z-Star of Zee Show
Written: Oct 19 '09 (Updated Oct 19 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Distance, Feel at Impact, Workability, Durability, Spin, Line Holding Capability, Trajectory
Cons: Cover feels slightly plasticy to my hands, but not to my clubs.
The Bottom Line: This ball reminds me of the original Pro V1--not that newer clunkier feeling thing. Better yet, it only takes an 80 MPH Swing to make it do its thing.
|
|
|
| berniez40's Full Review: Srixon Z-Star Golf Ball |
It's been a long time since I did a golf ball review, and considering the luck I had with this ball on the last outing, I figured I'd write a quick one about a ball that deserves a lot more buzz than it's currently getting. For those medium speed swingers who prefer a 3 Piece Tour Level Ball, this one offers a very attractive option.
For openers, it spins better off of my wedges than any other ball I've shot this season. What you need to know is that, thanks to a recent heart attack, I am also talking about a swing that has been slowed back down to 89 MPH, and a set of clubs that includes both Super Game Improvement Wedges (Wilson Di-9's for Pitching Wedge, Approach Wedge, and Gap Wedge,) as well as regular blade wedges (Nickent Arc Blades for Sand Wedge and Lob Wedge.) In other words, unlike the vast majority of Tour Level Balls, this ball will work just as well for the slower swinging mid-capper as it will for the 105+ MPH Blade Swinging Low Capper.
This is the ball to put into your bag if you ever want to get consistent with The Ball On A String/Magic Backwards Dance Trick. Even my 42.5* Pitching Wedge got the ball to back up a good 6 feet. If you ever used to play the original Pro V1----the very first model--you know--the one that could dance backwards all the way up the wrong side of Mt. Everest, this ball will feel extremely familiar. Sadly, Pro V1's have been getting firmer and less spinny, while Pro V1 X's have been getting softer and more spinny. This is the ball they meant to make, and unfortunatley for Titleist, it has a "Srixon" moniker boldly emblazoned on its ultra thin yet durable urethane cover.
Driver---5 Stars
Off the war club, this ball will remind you as to why the Original Pro V1 was once referred to as a distance monster. It has that same soft feel, yet it flies as far as the other tour level balls that are usually more noted for their distance. (i.e.--TaylorMade and Bridgestone). It's not a huge gain in distance over the others, it's just nice to have one that is this soft and this workable go as far as the others. The 324 Dimple pattern is a new one for Srixon. They had been stuck on the 333 Dimple Pattern for many years, and with the change in Their New Flagship Ball's compression (85 vs 90 for the old Z-UR/Z-URS/Z-URC line--a bold move for Srixon) a new dimple pattern was needed to keep a stable trajectory.
Not only is this a softer feelng ball for Srixon, but this is the thinnest cover they've ever used. This ball has that old school "feels like buttah" mojo going on. I found that whether I was really laying into the ball, or backing off a hair or two to work it around a dog leg left or right, the flight line was usually right on with what I had imagined, while the trajectory remained mid-to-high. I had great succes off the tee box, and the ball has that wonderful glide to apex--flat line for a while--glide back down on the descent pattern to it. Good distance---Great Feel--Exceptional Workability.
Fairway Metals/Hybrids/Long Irons--4 1/2 Stars
My metals loved this ball, as did my hybrids. The distance remained very strong. The only ball I hit longer is the now discontinued 3 piece Bridgestone B330-S. When Bridgestone turned a great 3 piece into a mediocre 4 piece they lost me on the deal. There's something to be said for an 80 MPH Swing being able to get a tour level ball to hit optimal performance. At this point, there are no others that can do this. The new Pro V1's are close, but they are the firmest Pro V1's yet, and my personal swing speed needs to be roughly 92-95 MPH to get them to perform as well as these balls do with an 85 MPH Swing. Most people don't realize how much yardage that can translate into for a midcapper. Roughly 10-15 yards depending upon the club involved and their swing du jour.
Though my metals and hybrids were ecstatic, my 2 iron found the ball to be just a bit "too spinny" if you can believe that. I hit some succesful stingers, but they actually screached to a halt a little too easily, or stopped a shade too quickly from long distance. Perhaps I'm just trying to find a way to take a 1/2 star away or something, but I'm just saying. Occasionally, a little more release from a ball can be a good thing. Meanwhile, my mid and short irons, as well as my wedges loved this ball even more than the woods and hybrids. Here's why.
Mid Irons--5 Stars
This ball truly shines with the irons. My mid irons were enamored of the sticking power these things can provide. Sure the ball flew beautifully from all my woods, but when you're 160+ out there, and crank down on a 5 Iron in an attempt to stick the pin, you really want that thing to at least stick the green on impact. This ball does that. Time and again this ball showed me where my ability to hit down on an iron was at. I stuck several greens dead center, as well as a couple of shots that landed close to the pin and just stopped dead. The ball actually looks as if it's tring to burrow itself into the green as it lands. It's a thing of beauty for your irons to behold.
Short Irons/Wedges--5 Stars
Though the ball shines with the mid irons--she absolutely sparkles with the short irons and wedges. There were two "Must Make" chip shots in my game this last week. One was from 65 feet, and the other from 83 feet. (Yes you should always pace off your own yardage from within this range.) The 65 footer bounced once rougly 8 feet from the cup, landed roughly 3 feet from the cup, and rolled on in off of a square faced Sand Wedge from the 2nd cut rough. The 85 footer landed roughly 5 feet from the cup off of a very open faced Lob Wedge, and did a right hand side step into the cup. All of my wedges, whether they be the fat soled Di-9's or the super svelte Nickent Blades were able to get the ball to plop drop and stop, dance backwads, do a cut spin side step, etc..I actually looked like I knew what I was doing this past round.
Flat Stick--4 1/2 Stars
I'd love to give this ball a 5 star rating on the putter, but I have one very minor niggle. Even though the ball feels soft off of the putter's face, for a nice tactile cue, and the ball also sports a tour level muted click at impact, it feels ever so slightly plasticy in the hands. I don't mean cheap plasticy, and I sure don't mean it feels plasticy at impact, but the cover just feels a little firm to my fingers when I pick it up, mark it, and clean it. I realize that this has to be the most minor of all complaints when one considers the overall performance, especially when one watches how this ball holds the line in a putt. It does putt very well, and I sank 2 -30 foot snakes, as well as a couple of Texas Wedges from the fringe. Considering the 2 earlier chip shots, we are talking 24 putts total for my round--and that is a new record!
I'd like to thank my CL Abraham for providing the link that made this review possible.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.