Titleist Pro V1 vs Srixon Z-Star Golf Balls: Read Our Head-To-Head Verdict

Titleist Pro V1 vs Srixon Z-Star Golf Balls: Read Our Head-To-Head Verdict

Golf balls are one of the most important pieces of golf equipment that you take to the course, but (hopefully) unlike your golf clubs, they run the risk of disappearing forever into the woods after just one swing. That’s one of many reasons a golf ball’s price point matters, and there are several golf balls out there today that offer an attractive balance of price and performance while remaining very much in the premium golf ball category.

The Srixon Z-Star ball is one such example, filling out a high-performance range alongside its tour siblings the Z-Star Diamond and Z-Star XV. To be considered one of the best golf balls in the business, a ball needs to go up against proven quality - and there’s no better yardstick than the Titleist Pro V1, a ball that has led from the front in both professional as well as amateur golf for more than two decades.

So, how does the 2025 Srixon Z-Star compare against the long-time king of golf balls, the Titleist Pro V1? I’ve put them both to the test on the course and in the Golf Monthly Performance Lab to find out.

Technology

Both of these balls have a three-piece construction, and they’re also the softer-feeling balls in their respective ranges - and from a technological perspective, there are a few similarities in terms of where the two manufacturers are focusing their innovation efforts too.

Titleist’s focus with its 2025 Pro V1 range is on optimizing spin across the range of shots you play. In other words, lowering spin (and increasing distance) with the driver and increasing spin down the bag to give you more control as you get closer to the green. The main improvements to this version of the ball come via a re-engineering of the golf ball’s core, while its soft cast Urethane Elastomer cover is a must-have for spin with shorter clubs.

The 2025 Srixon Z-Star features a reformulated FastLayer DG Core 2.0, which is soft at the center and gradually firms outwards to create an optimal combination of distance and speed for the amateur player. A Spin Skin+ coating attempts to increase friction along the cover for added greenside spin, and the headline story’s right next door: a new, extra-thin premium urethane cover derived from corn rather than petroleum for a greener footprint that Srixon estimate will cut down on 31 million plastic bottles’ worth of CO2 emissions.

Long game

The first thing to watch out for if you want to put the Srixon Z-Star into your bag is the effect of its lower compression core. I’m no Tour pro, but even at a 108 mph clubhead speed, I saw that I was losing yards compared to the other, higher compression balls in the Z-Star range as well as the Titleist Pro V1.

Lower compression balls are generally the best balls for slow swing speeds, and although the difference wasn’t huge, 12 yards of total distance lost with the Z-Star means hitting one more club into a green. This might be a dealbreaker for a lot of players, especially golfers who can move it with their driver but aren’t confident with mid and long irons.

The Titleist Pro V1 didn’t offer any surprises, though. It’s quick off the face, and while I only carried the ball 5 yards more on average than I did with the Z-Star, a whole 300 rpm less spin translates into a tangible gain in roll in normal conditions, and likely a lot more in firm, dry conditions. The 2025 version of the ball offers a low, powerful flight that the wind really struggled to affect in any way.

Irons

With iron in hand, I found the Srixon Z-Star a much more appealing prospect than off the tee. It flies nice and high, holding its line well, but the most stand-out feature of the ball is its feel - it’s one of the softest premium balls I’ve tested off the face, making it very pleasant to hit, especially with a set of high-quality irons. The cover also held up well despite being so soft, and I only noticed a few minor scuffs after a full 18 holes.

As good as the Z-Star is with the irons, the Titleist Pro V1 is an outstanding ball off the fairway. Despite being on the low side off the tee, I was able to really launch my irons, even gaining a couple of extra yards on my usual gamer, the Titleist Pro V1x. Given how stable the Pro V1 is in the wind, this height and power on approach shots is a very appealing characteristic in my eyes, especially tied to just how consistent my carry distances were on center strikes.

Short game

The feel of both these balls is probably the first thing most players will notice near and around the greens, and they’re both on the soft side - although again, the Srixon is on the extreme end of that softness for sure. It’s not for everyone (and I do personally enjoy a more ‘clicky’ ball) but performance and speed off the face is reliable. I could also see players who use firm-feeling putters such as milled models enjoying a softer ball like the Z-Star.

On and around the greens, the Z-Star and Pro V1 are both excellent examples of what a premium ball should do, giving you plenty of spin and control with your wedges but not quite turning the dial up to 11 like their higher-spinning siblings, the Pro V1x and the Z-Star Diamond.

You certainly don’t lose out around the green by using a Pro V1, it’s just designed to be the slightly lower-spinning option in a very high-performance pair, and as my 50-yard pitch data with the Srixon Z-Star range (pictured above) shows, the Diamond is also a clear outlier among tour-quality options.

Conclusion

In my opinion, the Srixon Z-Star is arguably the most limited of the balls in its range, but that might be because I’m just slightly outside of the model’s target market in terms of club speed off the tee. Beyond that, it’s an enjoyable ball to play, especially off the face of a well-struck iron. If you want to put one of the best soft feel golf balls in the bag, it’s hard to look past the 2025 Srixon Z-Star as long as its compression profile suits your swing.

The 2025 Titleist Pro V1 is an all-round powerhouse of a ball, likely to the surprise of exactly no one. It’s extremely stable in the wind, and matches a low, penetrating ball flight off the tee with long, high iron shots that I felt in complete control of. If that’s music to your ears, then you’ll absolutely love the Pro V1.

Which ball should you choose?

Choose the Titleist Pro V1 if...

- You want a powerful, penetrating flight with your driver
- You love the idea of precise, high-flying iron shots
- You need all-round performance from your golf ball

Choose the Srixon Z-Star if...

- You enjoy a soft-feeling ball on all shots
- You want good control of spin around the greens
- Your clubhead speed with driver isn’t too fast

For more golf ball buying advice, have a read of our guides on the best golf balls for high swing speeds, best distance golf balls, and best premium golf balls.