First Look: Srixon Q STAR TOUR Golf Balls

Busy month for Srixon-Cleveland, wouldn’t you say?

In the past 30 days, we’ve seen the new RTX-4 Wedges from Cleveland, as well as updated Srixon metal woods and irons.

Anything left?

Oh yes, balls.

According to multiple sources, Srixon’s U.S. ball market share in units sold (i.e., number of balls) hit an all-time high in July at roughly 8% after hovering around the 4% range for the last few years. The bulk of those sales are reportedly in the value/lower-priced ball category, as opposed to the higher priced, Tour-level ball category (Not for nuthin’, the value end is where the bulk of the money is made in the ball biz). Srixon’s balls are top sellers in the UK, South Africa, Australia and elsewhere, but they’ve been just one of the crowd here.

“We’re basically huge everywhere, but under-indexing in the US,” says Srixon Marketing Director Brian Schielke. “We’re pricing slightly below the competition, and we’re aggressively trying to grow market share.”

The Q STAR TOUR – Srixon’s urethane covered, Tour-level 3-piece ball priced to move at $29.99 per dozen – was introduced nearly two years ago, serving as a bridge between low-priced value balls and higher priced Tour balls. As we head into fall, the Q STAR TOUR is getting a bit of a facelift for its next two-year cycle.

Best Value in Golf?

That’s what Srixon calls the Q STAR TOUR, with near Tour-level performance for golfers with what would be considered normal swing speeds: somewhere in the 75 to 95 MPH swing speed range. How it compares in terms of value to, oh, say the Snell MTB’s is a conversation we can have another day, but Srixon says it’s happy with Q STAR TOUR sales in its first sales cycle, and is jazzing it up a bit for the encore.

The most obvious upgrade – if you can call it that – is the Q STAR TOUR will now be available in Tour Yellow as well as the traditional Pure White color. While it’s not the Day-Glo Lucy-in-the-sky-with-diamonds color trip of Wilson or Volvik, a little color never hurt anyone.

There’s also a new dimple pattern – 338 dimples versus 324 in the old version. You wouldn’t think 14 dimples would matter that much, but the Q STAR TOUR’s new dimple pattern is the same as the Z STAR’s and is designed for better aerodynamics and wind performance.

Srixon has also made the ball a bit softer, with a 72 compression compared to 75. Industry-wide, balls are getting softer, which can result in a slight loss in ball speed. However, that’s usually mitigated by lower spin, which can result in more carry, making it a wash mathematically but a plus in terms of feel.

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SpinSkin & EGGs

The new Q STAR TOUR also features Srixon’s 3rd generation of SpinSkin, the same coating that’s found on the Z STAR (the original Q STAR TOUR features an older SpinSkin version). SpinSkin is an elastic coating Srixon says enhances friction between the cover and clubface for better greenside and approach spin.

Srixon, of course, is a division of the Sumitomo Rubber Company, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. Like Bridgestone, Srixon leverages its parent company’s rubber technologies for golf ball R&D, and the result is what Srixon calls its Energetic Gradient Growth Core.

It’s a single rubber core that’s softer on the inside and firmer on the outside, kind of like a Tootsie-Pop. Bridgestone’s Gradational Core is basically the same idea and purportedly allows the moderate swing speed golfer to more fully compress the ball.

“It helps maintain ball speed while maintaining higher launch and lower spin off the tee,” says Schielke. “It’s the same concept as what other people doe with multi-piece balls. A 4-piece ball has a softer center, then a firm mid-core, then a firmer mantle layer.”

What that means is what other companies do with layers, Srixon (and Bridgestone) can do with a core with varying firmness – basically a different route to the same destination.

Tour Level Performance?

Srixon’s unique selling proposition for the Q STAR TOUR is Tour-level performance with a softer feel and a lower price. To back it up, Srixon commissioned its own independent study comparing the Q STAR TOUR head-t0-head with both ProV1 and Chrome Soft.

OEMs aren’t in the habit of sharing studies that don’t show their products are better than their competition, and this one’s no different. From a strategic standpoint, Srixon is clearly trying to position the Q STAR TOUR is a viable alternative to ProV1 and Chrome Soft for us normal golfers in terms of distance, spin and accuracy.

The Value Proposition

While not an official combatant in #BallWar, Srixon’s unit share is growing. There’s momentum there, even if it is primarily fueled with lower-priced balls. Smart Business 101 says momentum is a hungry beast and needs constant feeding. To that end, you’ll see Srixon’s Field Service Reps in stores and at courses this fall with ball fitting events. These won’t be launch-monitor, Bridgestone-style fittings, but instead discussion-based, educational, interview-style sessions to help fit golfers into the best ball for their game.

It’s no accident Srixon, in its internal testing and promotional material, is comparing Q STAR TOUR  head-to-head with ProV1 and Chrome Soft, and is targeting those comparisons for what’s best categorized as the average golfer – the 75- to 95-MPH swinger who’s gaming a ProV1/Chrome Soft and likes urethane-covered, Tour-level performance. Even though Srixon’s data shows the Q STAR TOUR outperforms both balls, it’s fair to say we average golfers will probably find performance to be fairly similar. With that, Srixon is banking on its lower price – roughly $18 lower – will be a compelling reason for golfers to at least give the Q STAR TOUR a whack or two.

Another business truism, however, is that in the minds of consumers, a higher price equals higher performance – or at least, it should. That truism, however, has been broadsided over the last three years by the direct-to-consumer barrage and the Kirkland phenomenon, and everyone from the scratch player to the weekend warrior has more options at more price points than at any time in recent memory.

Depending on how you buy your golf balls, you can find Tour-level performance, or at least close enough to it, for under $30 a dozen. If you don’t mind volume buys online, it’s hard to beat the value of Snell or Vice. At $29.99 a dozen, the Q STAR TOUR is a solid value for golfers who prefer to buy by the dozen.

The Q STAR TOUR is available online and at retailers now.

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5 of the Best Exercises to Ease Your Back Pain

Having lower back pain is very common these days. According to the National Academy for Sports Medicine, about 80 percent of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lifetimes. It is the most common cause to visit doctors. Core muscles get weakened due to sedentary lifestyles and poor postures. Things worsen for your lower back when you undergo strenuous weekend workout followed by a negligibly active weekday routine. Try these back exercises to get rid of your back pain starting today.

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First Look – Mizuno ‘Prototype’ Drivers

Three new Mizuno Prototype drivers have landed on the USGA conforming clubs list. Listed separately as versions 1.1, 2.1, and 3.1, they could be an indicator of what’s to come in 2019. Of course, given Mizuno’s propensity for reserving portions of its catalog for the Japanese market, the probability is that these particular models will never hit shelves in the USA.

Photo Credit: @TourSpecGolf on Instagram

Photos posted on Instagram by TourSpecGolf suggest the new models are already in the hands of Mizuno’s Japanese tour staff with the suggestion that the designs are close to final.

The Prototype 1 appears to be a compact, undersized design reminiscent of the MP Type-1.

The 2 (which oddly has a 5 on the trailing end of the sole) and the 3 appear to be larger, more conventional, higher MOI designs. My guess is that only one of them finds its way to retail.

All three models feature hosel adjustability, and given that none have a stated loft specification, it’s reasonable to assume 3°-4° of adjustability.

As you can see from the photos, the PROTOTYPE drivers feature a no-nonsense black finish (also in line with the current MP series).  Wave (sole) technology is also included along with what appears to be a pair of weight ports. For now, we’ll assume CG movement is the purpose, but that’s subject to change once more information becomes available.

Have Your Say?

The current generation of Mizuno drivers tested well for us, and with market share ticking up slowly, there does appear to be growing interest in Mizuno metalwoods? Based on what you see here, would you like Mizuno to bring these PROTOTYPES to the USA (and Europe) or would you be happy to see them stay in Japan?

 

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6 More Creative Ways To Strengthen Your Story Idea

Has this ever happened to you? You come across a new word — let’s say, omphaloskepsis — and suddenly you’re hearing it every time you turn around. Okay, so that was a bad example, but you get my point. This occurs because you become hyper aware of the new word, now that it has relevance for you.

The same thing happens to me all the time with my writing and the works of Stephen King. I love Stephen King, but the man is so prolific, and my reading time so limited, that I haven’t come anywhere close to reading all his books. Whenever I can, I add his audiobooks to my Overdrive queue.

At least a dozen times, I’ve written a scene or a short story, closed my laptop, and gone for a jog with my headphones, only to hear that Stephen King has beaten me to the punch. This is because I’m hyper sensitive to what I’ve just written, seeing it reflected everywhere I look, making me paranoid that I just inadvertently committed an act of plagiarism.

6 Ways to Distinguish Your Story Idea

Nearly every story you care to name has bits and pieces or elements from other stories. It’s unavoidable, since we’ve been telling stories from the dawn of human existence. Most of your story ideas are going to resemble existing stories in some way.

So, how do you take the seed of a story that feels too much like it’s already been done, and make it your own?

A couple of months ago, I wrote an article showing you six ways to do it, and today I’ll share six more. I’ll refer to a lot of movies in my examples, because chances are good you’ve seen it, or at least heard about it.

1. Spin a story idea another way

There are several approaches you could use to achieve this. For instance, you could cross genres.

Look at Hitchcock’s thriller, Strangers on a Train, and its comedy twin, Throw Mama From The Train. Forbidden Planet is the science-fiction retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, while Outland puts a science-fiction spin on the classic High Noon. The satirical Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe both deal with the concept of an accidental nuclear war, but one is comedy and the other one drama.

Rather than genre, you could change up the setting. Broadcast News is basically All About Eve, set in the world of television news. The movie Identity shares a whole lot in common with Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but in a different setting, and with an extra twist. The Lion King takes Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet out of Denmark and spreads it over the African savanna.

Or time period. Think about how this has been done before.

Arthur Laurents took Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and came up with West Side Story. 10 Things I Hate About You is a modern version of Taming of The Shrew. Jane Austen’s Emma was the inspiration for the movie Clueless. And the Coen brothers drew upon Homer’s Odyssey when they came up with O Brother, Where Art Thou?

You could change the main character’s gender, age, or relationship to other characters. Or try this favorite trick of mine — look at a story through the eyes of another character and see where that takes you. Did you know that the movie Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is the story of Hamlet, told from the point of view of two minor characters? A new perspective can lead to a whole new story.

You may argue that these stories are derivatives, but I ask you, “What isn’t?” Instead of worrying about how your story idea is the same as someone else’s, concentrate on how you can apply your unique talents and personality to making it different.

2. Put a unique twist on an old story idea

Ask yourself how you can twist your idea in a way that hasn’t been done before. For instance, both Nightmare on Elm Street and Dreamscape deal with the ability to break into a sleeping person’s dreams. Nightmare used that power for evil, while Dreamscape aimed to use that power for good.

Likewise, Back To The Future and Peggy Sue Got Married deal with an age-old idea in different ways.

You might change it up with a unique setting: The Martian, Titanic, The Gods Must Be Crazy. Or maybe it’s your main character that makes the story unique: Willy Wonka, Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button.

Find something unique about your story idea and capitalize on it.

3. Contrast your characters

If you’ve studied art or graphic design, you know how important contrast is in creating a stunning piece. The same goes for story.

You can create contrast with your characters. Try developing two characters with very different personalities and forcing them to work together, or travel together, or live together. Think: The Odd Couple, When Harry Met Sally, Lethal Weapon, Thelma and Louise, Face/Off, Annie Hall.

Throwing your contrasting characters together will set off sparks, facilitate the use of exposition as ammunition, and help spawn new ideas for how to keep your story fresh.

4. Contrast character with environment

Remember, story is about conflict, so these contrasting techniques are a great way to strengthen your story idea. Here’s another one to try. Take your main character, cast him into an alien environment, and you’ve got instant conflict and the bones for an exceptional story.

Developing this kind of contrast is a hugely powerful device. Think: ET, Arrival, The Wizard of Oz, North by Northwest, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, In The Heat of The Night, Jurassic Park, Witness, City Slickers, Splash, Crocodile Dundee.

I could go on and on. If your story idea feels stale, brainstorm to come up with settings that will challenge your character.

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If you story idea feels stale, put your character in an environment that will challenge them in unusual ways.

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5. Use combinations and hyperbole.

If you’ve got a story idea that seems a little flat, or a little overdone, see what happens if you mesh two ideas and take it to the max.

For instance, Michael Crichton didn’t just write about a theme park or a zoo. He combined the two concepts and went extreme, creating the ultimate theme park experience in Jurassic Park.

Indiana Jones is not just an archeologist or an adventurer. He’s both, to the extreme. Rebecca De Mornay didn’t just play a nanny and a seductress in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. She played the seductive nanny from hell. James Bond isn’t just a spy and a ladies’ man, he’s the ultimate on both counts.

6. Create an irresistible inciting incident

You can go a long way on the strength of a particularly intriguing story opening. If you can come up with a really interesting way to kick off your story, it will hook the reader. But beyond that, it can energize the whole creative process and start a domino effect of story ideas for you to explore.

Remember Newton’s First Law of Motion — an object in motion tends to remain in motion. Once you start the momentum rolling, it’s often enough keep the old idea mill churning out the good stuff.

Below are some examples of great openings that hook audiences, and this goes beyond the cinematic effects. The elements of story are strong in these openings, laying a groundwork to carry readers — or in this case viewers — well into the story.

• Inglorious Basterds
• Jaws
• Raiders of The Lost Ark
• Pulp Fiction
• The Dark Knight
• Touch of Evil
• Star Wars
• Forrest Gump
• The Fugitive
• Raising Arizona
• Vertigo

Add Your Twist

I hope you see that by changing up the elements of your story idea, you can spin things off in a new direction, sparking inspiration. This can be just the impetus you need to freshen and strengthen your story idea, making it into something only you can create.

How about you? Do you have a favorite method you use for coming up with fresh story ideas? Share it with us in the comments section.

PRACTICE

Take a look at a current story idea you’re working on. Try one or more techniques from the article to give it a new twist. How does that strengthen the concept? Where will you take it from here?

If you don’t have a current story idea, try taking someone else’s idea, such as a movie you watched recently, or a book you read, and use one of the methods to tweak it and see if it spins off any new ideas.

Write for fifteen minutes. When you’re finished, share your story idea in the comments section. And if you post, please leave feedback for your fellow writers!

The post 6 More Creative Ways To Strengthen Your Story Idea appeared first on The Write Practice.

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How to Maintain a Healthy Gut

The gut can be a delicate and often misunderstood organ system. In fact, there are many myths surrounding what’s best for your gut health that the general public believe. However, there’s one thing that’s for certain: a healthy gut biome is one that contributes significantly to your physical health.

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Is Microdosing The New Future Of Cannabis?

As the use of cannabis is spreading across the states, new and innovative ways of ingesting the substance are being to surface. The latest fad to spread through the California cannabis news? Microdosing. But what exactly is micro-dosing, is it just another trend? Does it offer different benefits than regular, or traditional, dosing and ingestion and why is it gaining in popularity among all ages, professions and general users of cannabis? Read on to discover why micro dosing could be the future of cannabis use.

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