Srixon Z-Star Vs Titleist Pro V1 Vs TaylorMade TP5

Golfers have been debating the best golf ball for years. With so many great options on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. In this article, we’ll compare three top contenders: Srixon Z-Star, Titleist Pro V1, and TaylorMade TP5.

I’ll give you all the facts and figures you need to make an informed decision about which one is best for your game. 

Whether you’re just starting out or a low handicapper, these balls will help you improve your game. So let’s dive in and see how these balls stack up!

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Overview Of The Different Golf Balls

Your choice of golf ball can make a big difference to your game. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, it’s important to find the right golf ball for you.

Balls fall into two main categories based on their cover. “Distance” balls that don’t spin as much with ionomer covers and “Tour” balls with urethane covers that produce plenty of spin but still go a long way.

These three balls fall into the latter category.

Unless you are a very good player I doubt you would notice that much difference between the performance of these balls without the aid of a launch monitor like the Garmin R10 or FlightScope Mevo.

In terms of popularity on professional tours, the Pro V1 and Pro V1x are streets ahead of their rivals which should make you think. If people trying to make a living are using that ball then it must be reasonably good.

Driver Robot Testing

Slow Swing Speed (85 mph)

	Spin	Launch	Carry (yards)	Ball Speed
Pro V1	3307	17.1°	189.1	121.3
Z-Star	3336	17.1°	188.8	121.3
TP5	3408	17.1°	189.1	121.6

As you can see there’s not much to choose from in terms of carry distance (0.3 yards), launch angle, spin or ball speed for players with slower swings.

Medium Swing Speed (100 mph)

	Spin	Launch	Carry (yards)	Ball Speed
Pro V1	2445	14.1°	247	144.4
Z-Star	2515	14°	244	143.6
TP5	2571	14°	245	144.3

Again not massive differences between the performance of these balls which of course is no great surprise as the manufacturers will have done extensive testing to try to produce a ball that is similar to the Pro V1.

High Swing Speed (115 mph)

	Spin	Launch	Carry (yards)	Ball Speed
Pro V1	2271	13.3°	294.5	144.4
Z Star	2275	13.3°	291.7	143.6
TP5	2342	13.3°	292.7	144.3

Just to hammer home the point there’s still less than 3 yards difference between these balls even at 115 mph clubhead speed. No doubt someone will argue that 3 yards will make a difference to your strokes gained figures over the course of a season but in reality, I just don’t see it.

These numbers back up my own play on the course and using my FlightScope Mevo where with solid strikes I see comparable numbers on the balls and similar performance off the tee.

Irons

With irons, the robot testing again showed little to choose between these 3 balls. The Z-Star carried slightly further and had a little less spin than either the Pro V1 or TP5.

With wedge shots, the TP5 spun the most and the Z-Star the least but there was only 150 rpm between them!

Again when I use these balls I can’t really see any meaningful difference at my level (5 handicap). Although I have always tended to use the Srixon as I am able to get some good discounts on that ball compared with the other two or indeed most urethane balls.

Who Are These Golf Balls Suitable For?

The three golf balls we looked at – the Srixon Z Star, Titleist Pro V1, and TaylorMade TP5 – are some of the best golf balls on the market but are they right for you?

To get the most out of these balls you will need to be a consistent striker with a reasonably fast swing – say 90+ mph. That being said even players who lack consistency would probably still benefit from the additional spin that these balls provide since many players struggle to create enough spin to keep the ball in the air.

If you attend a Titleist for fitting your find that the majority of people are fitted to either the Pro V1 or Pro V1x models irrespective of handicap. Of course, depending on your level of interest in golf you may not want to spend four dollars-five dollars on a single golf ball.

What Are The Differences Between TP5 And Pro V1?

The obvious difference in terms of construction is that the TP5 is a 5-piece ball while the Pro V1 is a 3-piece golf ball. 

However, in terms of performance, there is little to choose between these two models. Both are great golf balls used by some of the top players in the world. They feel pretty similar off the clubface which is no surprise given how close their compression ratings are although many players will allude to the fact that the TaylorMade ball is more stable in windy conditions.

What Are The Differences Between Z-Star And Pro V1?

As you have already seen based on the numbers these balls are pretty similar in terms of performance. These are premium golf balls made by two of the largest manufacturers in the world and given the success of the Titleist ball over the past 20 years it’s no surprise that other companies have produced balls to complete.

Ultimately, it’s up to you as a golfer to decide which one will work best for your game but the reality is anyone of these will probably work quite well for a wide range of golfers.

Alternative Options To The Pro V1

If you are looking for a higher ball flight and more spin on your shots then the Titleist Pro V1x is the obvious alternative. Other quality golf balls that you might want to consider include:

• TaylorMade TP5x golf balls
• Srixon Z-Star XV
• Callaway Chrome Soft X

You might want to look at my comparison of the 3 main Titleist urethane balls.

Cheap Golf Balls Comparable To Pro V1

While there’s no doubting the performance of balls in this category they can also be pretty expensive especially if you are the sort of player that loses several new balls per round.

Probably the cheapest urethane ball you can find is the Kirkland Signature V2 from Costco. While the performance isn’t quite up to the best balls you can’t argue with the price. I have covered a few other options in this article about alternatives to the Titleist Pro V1.

Softer Balls Than The Pro V1

If you like the idea of a urethane golf ball but find the Pro V1 to be too firm for you a good option to consider would be the Callaway Chrome Soft ball. It is arguably the softest urethane-covered ball on the market and should be plenty soft for the majority of golfers. Be aware that you will probably be giving up a few yards off the tee, however. For other “soft” balls take a look at this low-compression ball guide.

Best Golf Balls For Low Handicappers

If you’re a low handicapper, you know that your choice of golf ball is important. You want something with great accuracy and distance, without sacrificing other aspects of your game. Whether you are looking for maximum spin around the green or the ability to generate distance off the tee the Pro V1 golf ball is always a great option but you won’t be disappointed with either of the other balls.

Best Golf Balls For Mid-Handicappers

Golfers of all levels love trying out different golf balls to see which ones work best for their game. Mid-handicappers, especially, have a lot of choices when it comes to finding the perfect ball. Depending on your clubhead speed you may not get the absolute maximum benefit from these models. A tour golf ball is designed for higher swing speeds but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use a high-quality ball particularly if you are looking to improve your game.

No matter what type of golfer you are, there’s sure to be a ball out there that can help improve your game.

Best Golf Balls For High-Handicappers

If you’re a higher handicapper, finding the right golf ball can make a huge difference in your game. Assuming you don’t mind spending $50 on a dozen golf balls then these balls will represent a big step up from the two-piece golf balls that you are probably currently using. If you like the idea of a urethane ball but would prefer to keep your costs down then the Kirkland ball is worth checking out. This will be true particularly if you struggle to generate much spin as the Signature V2 is one of the spinniest balls available.

Whichever ball you choose, make sure to practice with it until you find one that fits your game!

Srixon Z-Star Vs Titleist Pro V1 Vs TaylorMade TP5: Summary

For the majority of players looking for a premium ball, any one of these three will do a fine job.  If you really want to eke out as much as possible from your equipment then you may find it best to visit a ball fitting specialist such as Titleist who will look at your all-around game to find the best ball. 

I’ve also done a comparison of the Pro V1 vs Z-Star and the TP5 vs Pro V1.

If you want to see all the Srixon golf balls compared then check out this Srixon ball guide.