For many who prioritize distance above all, Srixon has unveiled the longest golf ball it has ever made.
I’m not an enormous 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 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 may 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 completely 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 tender golf ball man however none of this (aside from the large distance) sounds satisfying.
Nonetheless, Srixon thought there was one thing to the thought. A number of generations later, the corporate thinks it has discovered tips on 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 fully change every thing from cowl to core.
A decade in growth
The evolution of ULTISPEED required considerably rethinking supplies throughout all three layers of the ball’s development.
And I suppose that brings us to a serious distinction between Q-STAR and Q-STAR ULTISPEED. The brand new mannequin has three layers 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 considering outdoors the field testing issues that you just wouldn’t assume could be in a golf ball,” says Srixon’s Jake Donahue.
As with almost 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 method 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 interior a part of the core the firmest outer portion, ULTISPEED takes a special method.
“It’s tender within the heart of the core after which it steadily will get agency in the direction of the skin 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 of bit nearer collectively. That allowed us to protect power loss which was actually key for us in maximizing ball pace.”
Mentioned one other method: 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 pace.
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 fairly supply the identical variety of SKUs as its bigger rivals so it’s vital to diversify its “non-Tour” golf ball lineup. With the introduction of Q-STAR ULTISPEED, right here’s the place every thing lands.
- Gentle Really feel is for the man who desires … nicely, 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 searching for Tour-level efficiency and the pricing that comes with it.
- ULTISPEED exists in a extra clearly designed house for the golfer searching for most distance off the tee.
At 85 compression Q-STAR ULTISPEED is dramatically softer than its 115-compression ancestor but it surely’s nonetheless considerably firmer than the 72-compression Q-STAR it replaces.
ULTISPEED replaces Q-STAR but it surely’s hardly a one-for-one swap.
Efficiency Expectations
In terms of distance, Donahue doesn’t mince phrases about ULTISPEED. “We are able to 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 type of distance-focused kind of golf balls to do some testing. It’s loopy. We’re seeing greater ball pace, 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 in all probability isn’t the most effective purpose to decide on a golf ball (except you’re the bomber in your scramble group), ULTISPEED was designed to ship extraordinarily low aspect spin, preserving photographs straighter, which is not any small profit for golfers searching for all the assistance they’ll get preserving a ball in, or a minimum of near, the green.
“The theme of this golf ball is lengthy and straight,” says Donahue. “There may be 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?
Apparently, ULTISPEED or, I suppose, UMax, was initially conceived for top swing pace gamers searching for obscene distance. Over time, ULTISPEED’s market place has advanced.
“I feel the place we actually noticed nearly all of the demographics flock to this ball was these average to common swing pace gamers and a few older gamers who perhaps misplaced some swing pace through the years,” 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 the direction of the mid- to high-handicapper, perhaps your on a regular basis golfer who simply desires to go on the market and have enjoyable, not take it too severely,” says Donahue. “Or they do wish to actually enhance however they don’t wish to spend the cash that they’d on a Tour ball.”
That stated, should you’re a sooner swinger searching for much more, at 85 compression, ULTISPEED ought to maintain up higher than something in its class.
Really feel and development
If you happen to’re searching for tender really feel out of your golf ball, ULTISPEED isn’t going to ship something near what you’re searching for. It’s unapologetically agency (loads firmer than Q-STAR), although Srixon thinks the texture is tender 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 value level. It options three-layer development, together with Srixon’s 338 Velocity Dimple sample and what the corporate calls a FastLayer Core.
At $29.99, it presents a novel worth proposition as a three-piece distance ball.
“For that $29.99 value level, we actually assume it is a steal of a golf ball for every thing 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 sport.
“Once I consider this golf ball, I consider it as significant distance. The concept isn’t to only crush drives and outdrive your taking part in companions. Actually, you are able to do that with this golf ball however the concept is de facto for this to essentially simply enhance your sport, make it extra satisfying for the on a regular basis golfer.”
The underside line
With the Q-Star Ultispeed Srixon is betting that golfers searching for sincere distance beneficial properties will discover its mixture of straight flight, distinctive distance, and affordable value compelling.
From its origins as an unplayable Japanese market curiosity to its present kind as a refined distance weapon, the Q-Star Ultispeed’s growth journey displays Srixon’s dedication to pushing boundaries whereas preserving playability in thoughts.
Maybe the advertising tagline for Q-Star Ultispeed sums it up greatest: “Play a spherical and discover out.”
The Srixon Q-Star Ultispeed is on the market now in each white and yellow.
The put up Srixon Q-Star Ultispeed: From Non-Conforming Japanese Curiosity To Your New Distance Ball appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
