Srixon Z-Star Divide, Z-Star XV Divide golf balls

Gear: Srixon Z-Star Divide, Z-Star XV Divide golf balls  
Price: $44.99 per dozen  
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf ball (Z-Star); Four-piece, urethane-covered ball (Z-Star XV)  
Available: January 21   

Some golfers may have seen the first Srixon Q-Star Tour Divide, a ball released in early 2021 that is half orange and half yellow, as a novelty. There have been yellow golf balls and orange golf balls for decades, and in recent years some golfers have used golf balls that have patterns or designs on them, but the Q-Star Tour Divide’s neon colors and unique look set it apart.  

And for Srixon, the color pattern was a hit, exceeding sales expectations and leading to an obvious question: When will the Japanese company bring the Divide concept to its premium offerings?  The answer to that question is now, with the release of the Srixon Z-Star Divide and Z-Star XV Divide.   

Both of these balls have the same 50/50 Visual Performance pattern that covers the Q-Star Tour Divide, with one half of the balls being white and the other half yellow.   

Off the tee, the pattern makes the Z-Star Divide and Z-Star XV Divide easier to follow in the air and spot after it lands. On chips and pitch shots, golfers can clearly see how much the balls are spinning, and on the greens the 50/50 coloration creates a vivid alignment line and reveals if putts are hit well or if the player imparted sidespin on the ball and hit it offline.   

The 50/50 pattern conforms with USGA and R&A rules and is legal for play in any sanctioned event.   

Like the standard Z-Star, the Z-Star Divide has a large core that is soft in the center and grows firmer near its edges. Srixon calls it a FastLayer core, and it was designed to provide more ball speed off the tee with a softer feel.     

The 338-dimple pattern is designed to make the ball more aerodynamic and better-performing in the wind. To increase spin on approach shots, chips, and greenside pitches, Srixon added a coating to the ball called SpinSkin. It increases durability and helps the grooves of short irons and wedges grab the ball more effectively.   

The Z-Star XV Divide is a four-piece, dual-core ball designed to feel firmer, fly slightly higher and provide more distance. It has the same 338-dimple pattern as the Z-Star and SpinSkin coating on the cover.