I tried it: These golf balls offer performance, value and fun

It can be difficult to find a golf ball to fit your game — Do you want a ball that offers tour-level performance no matter the price, or are you looking for something that offers more value while still offering a performance urethane cover and soft feel around the greens?

Well if you’re looking for a best-of-both-worlds scenario, the Q-Star Tour Divide from Srixon could be the ball you’ve been searching for. It offers a three-piece urethane construction and many of the technologies of Srixon’s more premium Z-Star golf balls, and it’s only $39.99 a dozen.

Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide 2 Golf Balls

$39.99

For this generation, Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE features a slightly higher compression rating for powerful ball speeds, coupled with a softer 50/50 matte urethane cover for even more visible spin, easy alignment, and a satisfying, soft feel. FASTLAYER CORE FastLayer leverages a gradual transition from soft inner core to firm outer edge to enhance ball speed, distance, and feel.  50/50 MATTE URETHANE COVER Each DIVIDE cover is yellow on one half and red, blue, or orange on the other. This high contrast, matte finish makes spin visible and putting alignment easy. 

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With the golf season finally kicking off in full force in the North East I needed some golf balls for my first few rounds of the season, and being a golfer who likes to try new things for my own game and help others find value in theirs, I decided to give the Q-Star Tour Divide a shot.

It should almost go without saying but the standout feature of the Divide golf balls from Srixon is their high-contrast two-tone covers that make them easy to spot and helpful to line up when on the tee, or putting.

As a golfer who tends to struggle with alignment off the tee, I created an easy visual by placing the contrasting colors perpendicular to my target any chance I could get. This helped me quickly align my clubface with the ball and inspired extra confidence. It also works great for any golfer who likes to use a long line on their ball when putting — because what’s better than a continuous high-contrast straight line around the equator of your golf ball?

Off the tee, and with my irons the Q-Star Tour felt responsive without ever feeling too soft or clicky, and I would be willing to chalk that up to the slightly lower compression (74) than what is found in Srixon’s Z-Star XV which sits at just over 100.

But he’s where the golf ball shines — especially for the price.

Around the greens.

Thanks to a softer urethane cover than the previous generation and Spin Skin SeRM polymer (Slide-Ring-Material) the Q-Star Tour Divide spins as close to any premium ball around the greens that I have used, and quickly drops and stops on full approach shots too.

Srixon Q-Star Tour 5 Golf Balls

$39.99

For this generation, Q-STAR TOUR features a slightly harder compression rating for powerful ball speeds, coupled with an even softer urethane cover for more approach shot spin and a satisfying, softer feel. FASTLAYER CORE FastLayer leverages a gradual transition from soft inner core to firm outer edge. Srixon gently upped the compression for this generation to promote better ball speeds and distance. SPIN SKIN Made from highly flexible molecular bonds, Spin Skin is a specialized coating that’s designed to help Q-STAR TOUR’s now softer urethane cover dig deeper into club face grooves and maximize spin for more control and stopping power.

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The Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide golf balls come in a variety of color options including blue/yellow, orange/yellow, and red/yellow. For those who might not be ready for the Srixon Divide look but want Q-Star Tour performance, it also comes in a more classic gloss white and yellow.

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Golf.com Editor

Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s senior editor for equipment. He has an extensive club-fitting and -building background with more than 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Before joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, in Toronto, Canada.

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