Equipment Season Kicks Off in Asheville
As the leaves turn and days get shorter, the PGA Tour shifts gears into gear testing mode. The beginning of golf ball seeding and validation is marked by this, not merely fall foliage. Manufacturers need final feedback from pros before rolling out next year’s models. This week, the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, became the testing ground for two major brands. According to GolfWRX, the event serves as the launchpad for companies to get crucial data from tour staff before the next season begins.
The focus here is on Srixon. On Monday, social media saw the Huntington Beach, California-based company tease some new black boxes. These boxes replaced the previous-generation Z-Star XV in a locker, hinting at a mystery product. While the company kept the details tight, a promotional video offered a clear clue about what Lucas Glover might be hitting.
Glover Finds Speed in the New Diamond
Greg Moore, the tour photographer for GolfWRX, confirmed the presence of a new Z-Star Diamond and the existing XV on-site in Asheville. The new ball is designed as a hybrid, combining features from both the standard Z-Star and the Z-Star XV. Srixon created this specific model for former staffer Brooks Koepka, aiming to balance spin control with raw distance. More spin and control on iron shots while maintaining speed are helped by the design’s thicker thermoplastic urethane cover.
Lucas Glover, a current Srixon staffer, was seen testing the equipment. His reaction to the prototype was immediate and positive. “Amazing,” Glover said about the “Diamond” golf ball. He didn’t stop there, noting that the performance felt different from what he’s used to. Glover also mentioned he “hadn’t seen that kind of speed in a while” during the testing session posted. For the brand, this input is crucial because the Z-Star XV continues to offer the stiffest choice for peak ball velocity and superior distance with drivers and irons.
The stakes are high for Srixon. The Z-Star series has earned over 45 wins worldwide in 2025, played by heavy hitters like Hideki Matsuyama, Ryan Fox, Shane Lowry, and Sepp Straka. The company operates on a two-year release cycle, and 2025 marks the ninth generation of the Z-Star since its creation in 2009. Getting the balance right between the tour staff and the mass market is a complex task, but the Biltmore event provides a controlled environment to stress-test the new technology.
Why the Seeding Process Matters
For the average golfer, these testing sessions might seem like a behind-the-scenes curiosity, but they dictate what ends up in the pro shop next year. The validation process ensures that the ball performs consistently under the pressure of competitive play. When a player like Glover notes a significant jump in speed, it signals a potential game-changer for the entire line. The thicker cover on the new Diamond model suggests Srixon is trying to solve the age-old problem of maintaining spin on approach shots without sacrificing the distance off the tee.
This testing phase allows the brand to make final tweaks before the official launch. If the data from Asheville supports Glover’s claims about speed and control, the new ball could become a staple on the PGA Tour. The feedback loop between the equipment manufacturer and the player is the engine that drives innovation in the golf industry. Without these real-world trials, companies would be guessing rather than engineering solutions for the modern game.
The Biltmore Championship in Asheville is the current focus, but the testing cycle continues as the FedExCup Fall Series progresses. GolfWRX reports that this is just the beginning of the validation process for the upcoming season. As the tour moves to the next events, more data will be gathered to finalize the specs for the new release. Fans can expect to see the results of this work when the new generation of balls hits the market in the coming months, following the established two-year cycle that has defined the Z-Star line since 2009.
