Finding the best golf balls is no easy feat. Even with a good brand, an abundance of models makes getting to the point a tough task. For Srixon, two options jump out. The Q Star and Q Star Tour.
They might share a similar name but there are very real differences between the Srixon Q Star vs Q Star Tour. Each provide a boost to distance, control, and overall performance, but only when used by the right type of golfer. Affordable and durable too. But used by a golfer with the wrong swing type, the benefits are greatly diminished. It will be evident in your scores.
So what type is right for me? Keep reading for our expert golf ball comparison and recommendation.
Overview of Srixon Golf Balls
While not among the big 3 brands on the Tour, they boast an impressive lineup that began in the early 2000s with Jim Furyk and Ernie Els. Today’s Srixon golfers include Brooks Koepka, Keegan Bradley, Hideki Matsuyama, and Inbee Park.
Comparing the Srixon Q Star vs Q Star Tour is tough because you cannot decidedly say one is better than the other. They are each among the best golf balls in terms of quality, value, and performance.
Every brand pays significant amounts of attention to their tour level balls and beginner balls. Tour players attract attention and notoriety. Beginners lose balls left and right making the best repeat customers you could ask for.
Srixon is one of the few that live in the middle, spreading their efforts equally so that the golfer shooting 90 is not forgotten. As a result, they have become one of the elite brands for intermediate golfers.
| Category | Srixon Q Star | Srixon Q Star Tour |
| Construction | 2 Piece | 3 Piece |
| Cover Material | Ionomer | Urethane |
| Compression | 72 | 72 |
| Flight | Highest | High |
| Spin | Low | Moderate |
| Distance | Highest | High |
| Workability | Low | Moderate |
| Swing Speed | 70 – 90 MPH | 85 – 105 MPH |
Design and Construction – and How it Affects Performance
No golf ball comparison is complete without a look at how design and technology affect performance.
Core
One of the biggest challenges for high and mid-handicap golfers is improving their launch angle which leads to increased carry and total distance. The Q Star features a fastlayer core which sets out to solve this. With lower compression than previous models, hitting your irons higher is made easy. This also goes a long way in attacking greens and having the ball come to rest shortly after landing. Because of the increased angle of descent, you can focus less on stopping the ball and more about direction and distance.
Golfers playing Q Star Tour get a different benefit from the core. A varied design of the fastlayer core, this version focuses on distance through speed. By increasing firmness as the core moves outward, your ball speed is greater with the same swing speed than it would be with a Q Star.
Cover
Q Star uses ionomer. Q Star Tour uses urethane. Ionomer is much thicker. Pretty standard for two and three-piece balls. Both balls also utilize the same Speed Dimple pattern designed to fight through wind and keep your ball in the air longer. But how do the different cover materials affect performance?
Despite each option having the Srixon Spin Skin, the cover materials make them play differently.
The ionomer cover of Q Star does not offer much in terms of spin but makes up for it with an abundance of control. A reduction of spin for a lesser skilled golfer means minimizing side spin—your slices and hooks. It will not help you hit the ball in the direction you want, but the shots you hit will be straight. As for direction, that is something only you can control.
For more skilled golfers, side spin is not always a bad thing. This is what enables you to hit purposeful cuts and draws. The urethane cover of Q Star Tour’s helps the process along. The expectation is that since more skilled golfers are using these balls, this is a positive. As a result, golfers are able to work the Q Star Tour into tighter spaces with more precision.
Suitability for Different Golfers
Intermediate golfers are the best fit for Srixon Q Star. Engineered for slower and mid-speed swings, this ball was built to amplify that specific type of golfer. Swinging harder than the ball is designed for leads to missing shots both ways and unpredictability. Lean into who the ball is meant for and stay under control.
The Q Star is a great option for beginners as well. However, there are more affordable options if you’re still losing a handful of balls per round. For those switching to the Q Star from $1 balls, it will likely be the first time you notice a difference in performance based on the ball you’re hitting.
The Q Star Tour does not have as broad of a group that should be playing it. This ball is intended for advanced players only. These are the golfers who hit draws and cuts—on purpose. Aided by an extremely thin cover, a low-handicap golfer will be able to manipulate its flight and operate with a high level of precision on all shots.
An easy way to think about Q Star vs Q Star Tour is what type of shafts you have on your irons. Regular shafts? Q Star every time. Stiff shafts? You’ll be able to get the most out of the Q Star Tour. This is of course assuming you are fitted to the right material shaft. (Go with the option for slower swing speeds if you’re on the edge.)
Durability and Longevity
In a one-to-one Srixon Q Star vs Q Star tour, the Q Star is more durable because of its thicker cover and materials used in construction.
When it comes to the Q Star, damage is far more likely because of the players using them.
If you’re taking nice smooth 75 mph swings, you have nothing to worry about. Start dialing up the speed, and you get yourself into a trickier spot. If club contact damage starts to become a regular thing, that’s when you need to change balls.
Golfers with too strong of swings can scuff the Q Star solely by making contact. It won’t take trees or cart paths to cause the damage, just a very hard swing. However, this is the case with all golf balls designed for slower swings.
Someone who avoids trees and pavement all day can expect to play an entire round with the Q Star Tour without trouble. On the other hand, any contact with those course features we try so desperately to avoid will leave a mark. The type of mark that makes you swap balls on the next tee.
The best golf balls for durability will be ones that match your game. Make a selection that aligns with your skills, and you will have no issues using the same ball for full rounds. This is the case whether you’re using Srixon or anything else.
Price Comparison
Following the trend of these Srixon golf balls sharing a similar name, and not much else, prices vary too.
A dozen Srixon Q Star runs a few dollars under $30, with slightly different prices based on where you shop and the time of year. Q Star Tour’s will cost a bit more, with a box of those running around $35.
The price difference of about $.50 per ball might not seem significant, but over the course of a golf season will add up.
Compared to the entire Srixon golf ball lineup, the Q Star series falls in the middle. They are less expensive than their tour model balls, the Z Star series. And they are more affordable than the beginner-geared Soft Feel line.
Looking at the balls other top companies offer for intermediate golfers; Srixon offers a reasonable price and matches the quality of competitors.
Pros and Cons
Let’s look at some key points and what makes the Q Star vs Q Star Tour what they are.
Srixon Q Star
Pros
- Design helps you elevate the ball.
- Spin levels promote straighter shots.
- Can withstand one or two dustups with branches or pavement.
Cons
- Less control around the greens.
Srixon Q Star Tour
Pros
- Top choice for golfers with moderate to slightly above average swing speed.
- Easy to shape shots with driver and irons.
Cons
- Unpredictable shot shapes will be amplified.
- Damaged easily after making contact with anything but club or grass.
Final Recommendation
At the end of the day, there is not much overlap between users of these two Srixon golf balls.
The Q Star is a great option for the average golfer. It’s two-piece construction, ionomer cover, and mid-level compression make it so. You’ll be able to hit the ball further than with a three piece and control it better than with a urethane cover. All this together means finding more fairways and hitting shorter clubs into greens. The tangible result? Fewer double and triple bogeys. If high, straight shots are what you’re looking for, you’re a Q Star golfer.
Q Star Tour golfers are a little different. You swing a little harder, demand more on your approach and wedge shots, and your natural ball flight does not need improvement. This is the group of players who can work the ball left and right a bit, but not on every shot. It’s also the group who can confidently land a shot on the green without fear of it running off. And don’t forget affordability. When it comes to golf balls for this tier of golfers, paying $4/piece is standard. Not with the Q Star Tour.
