© Srixon Golf

Spin: Mid

Dimples: 338

Compression: Mid

Category Comparison: Premium

Spec: (Three) 3 Piece / Layers

Cover: Urethane Cover

Core: Energetic Gradient Growth Core

Price: $29.99

Srixon is a company well known in the golf industry for its very affordable golf balls, which play (and win decisively) in the best bang for the buck category. Enter the latest Srixon Q-Star Tour 2019 golf balls, which are pushing the definition even further. Yes, I am talking about the “best bang for the buck” thing, as these new golf balls are made softer than ever before, for less spin on full shots, yet they're incredibly cheap. The story of the Q-Star Tour goes something like this: initially, Srixon hit the world with the “original” Q-Star Tour golf ball a while ago, and took the world by surprise, as these babies were playing in the high-end category due to their unique 3-piece construction and their urethane cover. However, they were significantly cheaper compared to other “premium offerings”, $10 cheaper respectively. Srixon themselves described the Q-Star Tour along the lines of “most spin for your money”, which was kind of cute. Now, there's a new sheriff in town, and I mean the latest-gen Q-Star Tour, which is sold at the exact same price-point as the older generation, yet it comes with a significant number of improvements and upgrades, compared to the “original”. As expected, one may add.

© Srixon Golf

The old Q-Star Tour was soft, but the new kid on the block is even softer, and that's awesome news for both golf pros and “amateurs” looking for less spin on full shots. Srixon's latest Q-Star Tour is aimed at pleasing golfers with average swing speeds to launch the ball faster, straighter and higher via the ball's soft core (softer than the original Q-Star Tour) but firmer urethane-made outer layer. According to the company, the new Q-Star Tour is everything about more spin on greenside shots and less spin on full shots, which would make this baby the best thing since, I don't know, sliced bread?

The softer core of the Q-Star Tour works together with its state of the art “spin skin” coating, the 3rd generation that is, which is elastic, according to Srixon, hence it delivers more spin around the greens, as the new “spin skin” is designed to interact more efficiently with the grooves of your wedge. The traditional 338 dimple pattern, which is to be found in Srixon's “more premium” offerings is available in the Q-Star Tour too. This particular dimple pattern works wonders in terms of increasing lift and reducing drag, thus making for a penetrating and stable flight. And to close it up with the most important piece of intel for our readers, the new Srixon Q-Star Tour retails for $29.99 per dozen and it's available in Tour Yellow and Pure White colorways.

- Compression Video

- Spin Video

- Dimples Video

- Golf Ball Brands Video

- Titleist Video

- Understanding Spin Video

© Srixon Golf

Srixon Launches All-New Q-Star Tour Golf Ball

The third generation of Srixon Q-Star Tour is built around what the company calls a FastLayer core, a proprietary technology obviously, and delivers a softer feel at impact compared to the previous model. Moreover, the new Q-Star Tour features a 3-piece construction and a cutting edge SeRM urethane cover, as well as a novel stamping design, which is meant to aid with alignment. So far, so good, right? Here's Srixon's Vice President of Research and Development Jeff Brunski:

Srixon Launches All-New Q-Star Tour Golf Ball

"The new Q-STAR TOUR is a tour caliber golf ball, delivering a softer feel at impact. We've enhanced this generation with the new FastLayer Core to drive more ball speed and distance, while the SeRM urethane cover offers maximum spin and stopping power."

© Srixon Golf

Basically, the new Q-Star Tour is aimed at golfing pros and advanced “amateurs” looking for a softer feel to go hand in hand with Tour performance. If you want an automotive comparison, the Q-Star Tour is for the world of golf what the Porsche 911 Turbo is for the automotive enthusiast. As in, the Q-Star Tour is “drive-able” even if you're not Tiger Woods. Arguably, the main feature of the new Srixon golf ball is the FastLayer Core thing, which is crafted with a gradual transition from the soft inner core to firm outer edge. Also, it's worth mentioning that the new Q-Star Tour FastLayer Core makes for the company's largest and softest to date, and truth be told, this seems to be the new trend in golf-ball design.

However, this peculiar core design created a golf ball that acts like it has a core with hundreds of distinct layers, and this feature promotes soft feel and increased distance. Just like the previous generation, the latest Q-Star Tour combines a patented urethane compound, the now-famous Spin Skin technology with Slide-Ring Material (SeRM), and this compound coats the cover of each golf ball in the Q-Star line-up. In case you were wondering, the SeRM stuff, which is just a fancy name for a high-end urethane cover, has a special particularity: it acts like a high-performance rubber on a sports car, i.e. it digs deep into the grooves of irons and wedges, and this clever design works wonders in improving friction on ball impact, thus promoting spin and control.

There's also a new stamping design in Srixon's new addition, which helps golfers with alignment issues for improved accuracy, aim and confidence, plus a proprietary 338 Speed Dimple Pattern, for added distance, reduced drag and increased lift. Finally, if you're already sold on the Q-Star Tour concept, the good news is that you won't have to break the piggy bank, as this awesome golf ball retails for $32.99 per dozen MSRP, and it's available in Tour Yellow and Pure White in North American markets since January 17th.

- Compression Video

- Spin Video

- Dimples Video

- Golf Ball Brands Video

- Titleist Video

- Understanding Spin Video