Srixon Z-Star Diamond Review: Inside a U.S. Open Winning Ball
J.J. Spaun's 2025 U.S. Open ball is $23 less than Pro V1. Here's what it actually does.
J.J. Spaun won the 2025 U.S. Open playing a Srixon Z-Star Diamond. That's a fact Srixon is proud of, and rightfully so. But major wins don’t always translate to your game.
The Z-Star Diamond sits at the top of Srixon's ball lineup — a firmer, 3-piece urethane ball built for better players. That puts it in the same general category as the Titleist Pro V1 and Callaway Chrome Tour, balls that run $57 a dozen. Z-Star Diamond starts at $54, but plummets to $34 a box for a double dozen.
So how does it actually perform? We put it through the same 43-ball test we ran on every ball in our 2026 lineup to find out.
How We Tested Srixon Z-Star Diamond
We put the Srixon Z-Star Diamond through our published golf ball testing protocols using the SkyTrak ST Max launch monitor. That means human swings under strict bands for swing speed, impact quality, and delivery dynamics.
To see performance from tee to green, we test driver, 7-iron, and 50-yard wedge shots with each ball.
We tested 43 golf balls in total for 2026 then translated the raw data into 1-10 scores in the categories that matter most to your game. That lets you easily see how each ball stacks up to the field.
See the complete list of every golf ball we've tested or dive into the full Srixon Z-Star Diamond test data here.
Srixon Z-Star Diamond Specs, Pricing & Performance
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Cover: Urethane
Layers: 3 Layers
Price: $54/dozen (bulk: $34/dozen, 2-dozen minimum)
The Z-Star Diamond trades distance for stopping power, and that tradeoff is crystal clear in our data. Its high-spin driver profile isn't optimized for carry distance. It's designed to give better players the trajectory and shot-shaping ability they’re looking for off the tee. In the iron and wedge game, that premium spin profile pays off.
The result is a ball that ranks 7th out of 43 in stopping power, 22nd in wedge control, and 17th in accuracy, but only 29th in distance. The question is whether you're the player it was designed for.
|
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
Spin |
Launch |
|
Driver |
High |
Mid |
|
7-Iron |
Mid |
Mid |
|
50-Yard Shot |
Mid |
Low |
Distance: 7.3/10
A 100-compression ball with a high-spin driver profile isn't built to be a distance machine, and Z-Star Diamond doesn't pretend to be. At our mid-90s testing swing speeds, it posted 137.1 mph of ball speed and 222.9 yards of carry. Respectable numbers, but near the bottom third of our 43-ball field in distance score.
That high driver spin results in a higher peak height than the average ball in our test, and trades raw distance for control. Players who want to hit the ball in a higher window, or who prioritize being able to work the ball, will likely find it fits their game better than the distance numbers suggest. But if you're looking for maximum distance off the tee, this isn't it.
|
Category |
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
|
Ball Speed |
137.1 MPH |
|
Carry (yds) |
222.9 |
|
Total (yds) |
240.6 |
|
Distance Score |
7.3 |
Stopping Power: 8.4/10
This is where Z-Star Diamond earns its stripes. The mid-spin, mid-launch profile from our 7-iron test produced a steep enough descent angle to stop quickly. It peaked about five feet higher than the average ball in our test and produced just 9.0 yards of roll. When you all that up, Z-Star Diamond tied as the 6th-best ball for stopping power of the 43 we tested.
To put that in context, it stopped shorter in our test than TaylorMade TP5 and Callaway Chrome Tour, balls that cost $57 a dozen. For a ball that you can get for $34 in bulk, that's compelling performance.
|
Category |
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
|
Apex (yds) |
25.1 |
|
Descent Angle |
43.0° |
|
Roll (yds) |
9.0 |
|
Stopping Power Score |
8.4 |
Wedge Control: 8.6/10
Z-Star Diamond showed up in our 50-yard wedge test with a mid-spin, low-launch profile that rolled out a manageable 2.8 yards. That's a top-quartile result in our field, and it keeps company with balls like the Callaway Chrome Tour and Bridgestone Tour B X S in the short game.
It's not a high-spin, suck-back ball like Chrome Tour X, but for most players, that’s just fine. If you hit solid wedge shots, Z-Star Diamond will stop. If you depend on maximum spin so you can fire at tucked pins, you might want something with maximum zip around the greens.
|
Category |
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
|
50-Yard Spin (RPM) |
6,949 |
|
50-Yard Launch |
31.3° |
|
Wedge Control Score |
8.6 |
Accuracy: 8.2/10
Z-Star Diamond was one of the better accuracy performers in our test, ranking 17th out of 43 overall. Its 295 RPM of driver sidespin and 6.9 yards offline were solid. It carried that composure into the iron test where it averaged just 134 RPM of sidespin, veering 7.0 yards offline.
That's a ball that plays predictably when you miss, which is exactly what better players need.
|
Category |
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
|
Driver Sidespin (RPM) |
168.0 |
|
Driver Offline (yds) |
6.2 |
|
7-Iron Sidespin (RPM) |
134.5 |
|
7-Iron Offline (yds) |
7.0 |
|
Accuracy Score |
8.2 |
Value: 8.5/10
The Z-Star Diamond's value case is straightforward: it's a tour-caliber ball, and at $34 in bulk, it costs about $23 less per dozen than a Pro V1x. I also love that you only have to buy two dozen to get that bulk discount. Some competitors make you buy six dozen to score the lowest price.
It’s fair to compare Z-Star Diamond to Titleist Pro V1. It’s actually a little longer off the tee, and gives up a little ground in wedge control and stopping power. But while those performance gaps are minor, the price gap is massive.
|
Category |
Srixon Z-Star Diamond |
|
1-Box Price |
$54/dozen |
|
Bulk Price |
$34/dozen (2-dozen min.) |
|
Value Score |
8.5 |
Who is Srixon Z-Star Diamond For?
Z-Star Diamond is built for the better player who wants a high-spin tour ball without paying top price. If you already know you should be playing something firmer with high iron spin, then Z-Star Diamond deserves a serious look.
The distance numbers are the one caveat. If you're a mid-swing-speed player who needs every yard off the tee, this probably isn't your ball. But if you've already got enough speed and you're shopping for control, short game feel, and accuracy at a price that doesn't sting when you rinse one in the water, the Z-Star Diamond is a legitimate tour ball at an affordable price.