For individuals who prioritize distance above all, Srixon has unveiled the longest golf ball it has ever made.
I’m not a giant exclamation level man however I really feel prefer it’s value saying once more.
ULTISPEED is the longest golf ball Srixon has ever made!
Changing the favored Q-STAR, the brand new Q-STAR ULTISPEED isn’t simply one other incremental replace. It represents a realignment of Srixon’s “non-Tour” golf ball lineup and a reimagination of what a distance golf ball could be.
From non-conforming to authorized (and playable)
The UltiSpeed story begins with a Japanese mannequin referred to as the Xmax. The primary-generation Xmax was something however standard. It was a 115-compression fully non-conforming distance machine that supplied completely no really feel (or spin) across the inexperienced.
Lengthy? Oh, hell sure.
Playable? Not a lot.
I’m not a smooth golf ball man however none of this (aside from the large distance) sounds gratifying.
Nonetheless, Srixon thought there was one thing to the thought. A number of generations later, the corporate thinks it has discovered learn how to keep many of the distance that outlined that first Xmax whereas creating one thing it believes golfers will precise take pleasure in hitting.
All it took was to utterly change all the things from cowl to core.
A decade in improvement
The evolution of ULTISPEED required considerably rethinking supplies throughout all three layers of the ball’s building.
And I suppose that brings us to a significant distinction between Q-STAR and Q-STAR ULTISPEED. The brand new mannequin has three layers (together with an ionomer cowl) whereas Q-STAR was extra of a textbook two-piece ionomer providing.
ULTISPEED’s layers leverage what Srixon says are proprietary new supplies that took 10 years of analysis to develop. “We had been pondering exterior the field testing issues that you simply wouldn’t assume can be in a golf ball,” says Srixon’s Jake Donahue.
As with practically each proprietary factor in golf, Srixon isn’t saying precisely what the brand new supplies are however they’re distinctive to the ULTISPEED ball, though this stuff typically have a approach of filtering into different fashions.
What makes the ULTISPEED notably attention-grabbing is how its core differs from different balls with graduated core know-how. The place most three-piece “Tour” balls search to create a big gradient from the softest internal a part of the core the firmest outer portion, ULTISPEED takes a unique method.
“It’s smooth within the heart of the core after which it progressively will get agency in direction of the surface of the core. That’s in all our golf balls,” says Donahue. “With this new materials, it allowed us to vary that hardness distribution. It’s not as drastic so it doesn’t have that soft-to-firm transition that the others do. It’s a bit bit nearer collectively. That allowed us to protect vitality loss which was actually key for us in maximizing ball velocity.”
Stated one other approach: Whereas most graduated core designs work to tune spin by means of the bag, with ULTISPEED, Srixon used related know-how to create softer (that’s a relative time period right here) really feel with out sacrificing velocity.
A brand new becoming matrix
The Q-STAR ULTISPEED introduction is a part of a strategic realignment of Srixon’s “non-Tour” ball lineup.
As a smaller firm, Srixon can’t moderately supply the identical variety of SKUs as its bigger rivals so it’s essential to diversify its “non-Tour” golf ball lineup. With the introduction of Q-STAR ULTISPEED, right here’s the place all the things lands.
Comfortable Really feel is for the man who desires … effectively, that one’s form of on the nostril, isn’t it?
Q-STAR Tour is for the golfer who desires a bit extra spin however isn’t essentially in search of Tour-level efficiency and the pricing that comes with it.
ULTISPEED exists in a extra clearly designed area for the golfer in search of most distance off the tee.
At 85 compression Q-STAR ULTISPEED is dramatically softer than its 115-compression ancestor nevertheless it’s nonetheless considerably firmer than the 72-compression Q-STAR it replaces.
ULTISPEED replaces Q-STAR nevertheless it’s hardly a one-for-one swap.
Efficiency Expectations
With regards to distance, Donahue doesn’t mince phrases about ULTISPEED. “We will safely say it’s undoubtedly our longest golf ball we’ve ever made.”
And that features the entire Z-Star lineup.
In testing in opposition to aggressive distance balls and even premium “Tour” choices, ULTISPEED has impressed.
“We took all these kind of distance-focused kind of golf balls to do some testing. It’s loopy. We’re seeing larger ball velocity, we’re seeing decrease spin for essentially the most half off the tee and we’re seeing a pair yards of distance.”
Maybe extra shocking had been comparisons with premium tour balls. Srixon discovered that ULTISPEED can match Left Sprint mph for mph, however due to the decrease spin charge, it’s a few yards longer.
Whereas distance off the tee most likely isn’t the most effective purpose to decide on a golf ball (until you’re the bomber in your scramble group), ULTISPEED was designed to ship extraordinarily low aspect spin, holding photographs straighter, which is not any small profit for golfers in search of all the assistance they’ll get holding a ball in, or at the least near, the golf green.
“The theme of this golf ball is lengthy and straight,” says Donahue. “There’s simply actually minimal aspect spin so that you’re not seeing these large left-to-right or right-to-left trajectories with this golf ball.”
Who ought to play Q-STAR ULTISPEED?
Curiously, ULTISPEED or, I suppose, UMax, was initially conceived for prime swing velocity gamers in search of obscene distance. Over time, ULTISPEED’s market place has advanced.
“I believe the place we actually noticed nearly all of the demographics flock to this ball was these average to common swing velocity gamers and a few older gamers who possibly misplaced some swing velocity over time,” explains Donahue.
The corporate now positions ULTISPEED for mid- to high-handicappers who prioritize distance and straight ball flight over greenside spin and workability.
“This golf ball goes to be marketed extra in direction of the mid- to high-handicapper, possibly your on a regular basis golfer who simply desires to go on the market and have enjoyable, not take it too significantly,” says Donahue. “Or they do need to actually enhance however they don’t need to spend the cash that they’d on a Tour ball.”
That mentioned, should you’re a quicker swinger in search of much more, at 85 compression, ULTISPEED ought to maintain up higher than something in its class.
Really feel and building
Should you’re in search of smooth really feel out of your golf ball, ULTISPEED isn’t going to ship something near what you’re in search of. It’s unapologetically agency (lots firmer than Q-STAR), although Srixon thinks the texture is smooth relative to its compression quantity and, so far as the aggressive set (most notably, Titleist Velocity), it’s no firmer than anything on the market.
Greater than something, ULTISPEED stands out for its worth level. It options three-layer building, together with Srixon’s 338 Velocity Dimple sample and what the corporate calls a FastLayer Core.
At $29.99, it presents a singular worth proposition as a three-piece distance ball.
“For that $29.99 worth level, we actually assume this can be a steal of a golf ball for all the things you’re getting,” Donahue says. “There’s not one other ball that’s a three-piece $29.99 providing.”
Significant distance
Past pure numbers, Donahue emphasizes that ULTISPEED isn’t nearly “excessive distance” or outdistancing taking part in companions. It’s about what that distance means for a golfer’s total recreation.
“Once I consider this golf ball, I consider it as significant distance. The concept isn’t to simply crush drives and outdrive your taking part in companions. Actually, you are able to do that with this golf ball however the thought is absolutely for this to essentially simply enhance your recreation, make it extra gratifying for the on a regular basis golfer.”
The underside line
With the Q-Star Ultispeed Srixon is betting that golfers in search of sincere distance good points will discover its mixture of straight flight, distinctive distance, and affordable worth compelling.
From its origins as an unplayable Japanese market curiosity to its present type as a refined distance weapon, the Q-Star Ultispeed’s improvement journey displays Srixon’s dedication to pushing boundaries whereas holding playability in thoughts.
Maybe the advertising tagline for Q-Star Ultispeed sums it up finest: “Play a spherical and discover out.”
The Srixon Q-Star Ultispeed is out there now in each white and yellow.
The publish Srixon Q-Star Ultispeed: From Non-Conforming Japanese Curiosity To Your New Distance Ball appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
