Srixon Golf has settled nicely into a biennial release schedule for their new product lines, giving us all new gear to feast our eyes on every two years. The last iteration of the Z-STAR golf ball series was released in 2023, which means it’s time to see what’s coming next. This will be the 9th generation of the Z-STAR series, and we’ve witnessed it evolve nicely over the years. New materials, colors, and even a new model have been part of the Z-STAR story over the years. What will 2025 bring? Let’s jump in to see what the company has cooking with the Z-STAR, Z-STAR DIAMOND, and Z-STAR XV.
Fastlayer DG Core 2.0

Srixon has always been a technological leader in golf ball core design. They’ve utilized a gradational core for some time now with great success. Simply stated, a gradational core has varying levels of firmness that radiate from the center to the outer edges. Generally speaking, the center of the core is softer while the outside becomes gradually firmer.
What’s the purpose of this design? To simplify it, a softer core feels better to many players but tends to be slower off the face. Conversely, a firmer core is fast but often feels harsh. There are other factors to consider as well. A softer center can reduce driver spin, while a firmer outer region can produce more iron and wedge spin. See where we’re going with this? A gradational core offers the best of both worlds.

With the 2025 Z-STAR series Srixon is introducing the Fastlayer DG Core 2.0. Gradational like it’s predecessors, Fastlayer 2.0 has been uniquely designed for each ball in the Z-STAR line. With Z-STAR, Srixon made the center of the core even softer to produce lower driver spin for added distance. For the Z-STAR XV, a ball that is already considered exceptionally long, a firmer area between the center and outer edge promotes more iron spin. On the Z-STAR DIAMOND, the company again focused on reducing driver spin by adding a softer center to its firmer core.

The result, according to Srixon at least, is industry leading distance for each model in both the mid compression category (Z-STAR, ProV1, TP5, Chrome Tour) and high compression category (Z-STAR XV, Z-STAR DIAMOND, ProV1X, TP5X, and Chrome Tour X). Again, it appears that the Z-STAR XV is the longest ball in golf, at least in robot tests at higher swing speeds.
Thin Urethane Cover with Biomass and Spin Skin+ Coating

While distance is always important, many of us choose our golf balls based on how much they spin from both wedge and iron shots. Srixon is acutely aware of how important spin is to golfers of all abilities and they’ve built a new urethane cover that promises to deliver.

The new extra-thin, premium urethane cover has been built with a material called Biomass. Biomass is a plant-derived material that creates fewer carbon emissions to produce while also increasing durability. Srixon is incredibly proud to have created a cover that not only supplies exceptional feel and performance but also is better for the environment.
In addition to the new cover formulation, each ball features the Spin Skin+ coating we’ve all come to love over the years. This thin layer of urethane coating adds friction, which adds spin around the greens. New for 2025, Spin Skin+ will also resist dirt and staining for a longer lasting golf ball.

Robot tests with a wedge swung just under 40mph show top-of-class spin performance with all three Z-STAR golf balls. At 3,850 rpm, the Z-STAR eclipses its nearest competitor by over 200 rpm. The Z-STAR DIAMOND sits slightly under that at 3,740 rpm, well ahead of its nearest high-compression competitor. The Z-STAR XV offers slightly less spin at 3,470 rpm, but again hovers around 200 rpm ahead of its competition.
Z-STAR

The flagship ball of Srixon’s line is the Z-STAR. It’s really the ball that started it all at the Tour level for Srixon and it’s well-loved for a reason. Described by Srixon as being the ball to choose for maximum greenside spin, it’s also going to have the softest feel of the three 2025 balls. With the changes to the Z-STAR’s core in 2025, players can expect even greater distance off the tee via lower spin, along with a mid-trajectory flight throughout the bag.

The Z-STAR will be available in three color options – Pure White, Tour Yellow, and 50/50 Divide. While we’ve always felt that Srixon has no true equal when it comes to yellow golf balls, the Z-STAR DIVIDE is an incredibly fun alternative that provides great visibility and the ability to see your ball spin off the club face.
Z-STAR DIAMOND

Z-STAR DIAMOND is unique ball. Designed with Srixon staffer Brooks Keopka in mind, the Z-STAR DIAMOND masterfully blends distance and greenside spin with its unique design. While it’s firmer than the Z-STAR to provide maximum driver distance, it still manages to provide almost the same amount of wedge spin. Still, it’s not quite as firm as the Z-STAR XV, making it slightly more desirable in the feel department. Additionally, the makeup of the Z-STAR DIAMOND allows it to deliver increased spin on long and mid iron shots, meaning players should be able to control their approach shots better.
The Z-STAR DIAMOND is available in Pure White, and for the first time ever, in Tour Yellow for 2025.
Z-STAR XV

It takes a strong player to get the most out of the Z-STAR XV. Easily the firmest Srixon ball, it’s long been known for being incredibly fast off the driver and with other full swings. It’s going to produce comparable driver spin to the Z-STAR to go along with all that speed. Srixon also tweaked the core to add in some iron spin for 2025, which will surely benefit players looking to better hold greens.

Like the Z-STAR, the Z-STAR XV will be available in the almost pearlescent Pure White, Tour Yellow, and Divide. In addition to the other benefits Divide brings to the table, we’ve found it to be a great way to line up putts and gauge the quality of your putting stroke. If the Divide stays stable, you know you’ve put a great roll on the ball.
Details
Srixon’s 2025 line of Z-STAR golf balls will be available online and at retailers on January 24, 2025. They are priced at $49.99 per dozen.
For more information, see the company’s website, us.dunlopsports.com/srixon.
[QUOTE=”That post, post: 12909405, member: 65950″]
The only club that’s changed for me so far this season is driver. I feel like the cover is just a tad bit softer than previous model. Or it could be the increased speed that I put on. I know speed will change feels for a lot of people.
I really like it.
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Hmmmm this is interesting if it is a tad softer. I have been off and on with the diamond the last few years and I think it’s a good ball for me. If it really is just a bit softer feeling, I would be all for that.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12929160, member: 62865″]
What about the XV didn’t make it the ball for you? The comment about more approach spin has caught my attention.
(And skimmer police can sheath their batons as I catch up in the thread in case this was previously answered 😉 )
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Honestly, it’s just too firm for me.
I played a few rounds over the weekend and I’m loving my yellow diamond. I have to say I also played one round in really windy conditions and for a few holes I played the XV. It also performed really well. While it is firmer than the diamond, it held it’s line in the wind really well. As far as spin on approach shots, I found the XV to be a one hop and stop kind of a ball. I prefer the diamond and the one hop and spin back a little, but the XV seemed to have a little more stopping power than previous models for my game. I’m sticking with the Diamond as my ball, but the increased spin and feel around the green along with the low spin in the long game makes the XV a really good ball as well.
[QUOTE=”Bjornjorg, post: 12929318, member: 9006″]
I played a few rounds over the weekend and I’m loving my yellow diamond. I have to say I also played one round in really windy conditions and for a few holes I played the XV. It also performed really well. While it is firmer than the diamond, it held it’s line in the wind really well. As far as spin on approach shots, I found the XV to be a one hop and stop kind of a ball. I prefer the diamond and the one hop and spin back a little, but the XV seemed to have a little more stopping power than previous models for my game. I’m sticking with the Diamond as my ball, but the increased spin and feel around the green along with the low spin in the long game makes the XV a really good ball as well.
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I wish they’d sent some yellow Diamonds when I did this review. Definitely going to pick some up.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 12929335, member: 1193″]
I wish they’d sent some yellow Diamonds when I did this review. Definitely going to pick some up.
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I’m getting older and I see the yellow so much better, and they feel just as good as the whites contrary to what some may believe…..
[QUOTE=”Bjornjorg, post: 12929318, member: 9006″]
I played a few rounds over the weekend and I’m loving my yellow diamond. I have to say I also played one round in really windy conditions and for a few holes I played the XV. It also performed really well. While it is firmer than the diamond, it held it’s line in the wind really well. As far as spin on approach shots, I found the XV to be a one hop and stop kind of a ball. I prefer the diamond and the one hop and spin back a little, but the XV seemed to have a little more stopping power than previous models for my game. I’m sticking with the Diamond as my ball, but the increased spin and feel around the green along with the low spin in the long game makes the XV a really good ball as well.
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Those are the two I am waffling between thinking about testing right now.
[QUOTE=”Wonger, post: 12929197, member: 74038″]
Hmmmm this is interesting if it is a tad softer. I have been off and on with the diamond the last few years and I think it’s a good ball for me. If it really is just a bit softer feeling, I would be all for that.
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You should try it. To my feels it’s softer than the previous model. Previous model played nicely for me but I didn’t enjoy the feel. I do now.
I played with a guy on Saturday that recently switched from Pro V1X to the XV, and he said that he wasn’t going back. He tried the XV on a whim and said that he found his ball.
[QUOTE=”JDax, post: 12930847, member: 22002″]
I played with a guy on Saturday that recently switched from Pro V1X to the XV, and he said that he wasn’t going back. He tried the XV on a whim and said that he found his ball.
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Did he elaborate much on why he made the move?
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12930888, member: 62865″]
Did he elaborate much on why he made the move?
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The whim started because he’s a yellow ball player and where he went to buy was out of ProV1X yellow, the guy in the store recommended the XV yellow.
He put the XV in play and said they were longer off the tee for him and he felt the same around the greens.