What Golf Ball Does Brooks Koepka Use?

Curious about the golf ball that fuels Brooks Koepka’s major championship dominance? The five-time major winner trusts the Srixon Z-Star Diamond to deliver the performance he needs under pressure. This article goes beyond just naming the ball, we’ll break down exactly what makes the Z-Star Diamond unique, why it’s the perfect match for Koepka’s powerful game, and how you can apply the same logic to find the best golf ball for your swing.

The Answer: Brooks Koepka Plays the Srixon Z-Star Diamond

In a move that surprised some in the golf world, Brooks Koepka committed to a full equipment deal with Srixon/Cleveland in late 2021. Since then, he has put the Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf ball into play, a decision that has coincided with his triumphant return to the major winner’s circle.

This isn’t just a random choice, a player of Koepka’s caliber meticulously tests every piece of equipment to find the perfect symbiosis with their technique and strategy. The Z-Star Diamond is not just a ball he plays, it's a weapon engineered to enhance his biggest strengths and support his all-around game.

A Closer Look at the Srixon Z-Star Diamond

So, what makes this golf ball work for one of the game's most commanding players? The Srixon Z-Star Diamond is a three-piece, tour-level ball with a urethane cover, but it’s thoughtfully designed to fill a specific performance gap. It sits perfectly between its two siblings: the standard Srixon Z-Star (which is slightly softer and offers higher spin) and the Srixon Z-Star XV (which is firmer and designed for max distance with lower spin).

The Diamond model strikes an ideal balance, offering a unique blend of distance, workability, and feel. Let's break down the technology that makes this happen.

Technology Breakdown: What’s Under the Hood?

Understanding the components of the Z-Star Diamond helps us see why it suits a player like Brooks. It's purpose-built for high-speed players who want the best of both worlds.

• FastLayer DG Core: At the heart of the ball is a new core design that Srixon calls "FastLayer DG." Think of it as being soft in the very middle and gradually getting firmer toward its outer edges. In simple terms, this gives you a soft, compressive feel on shorter shots with wedges and putters for better feedback. On high-speed impacts with a driver or long iron, that firmer outer portion of the core produces incredible ball speed for more distance. It’s an intelligent design that adjusts its performance based on impact force.
• Spin Skin+ with SeRM: This is a sophisticated urethane cover designed for one thing: greenside control. The key ingredient is SeRM, or Slide-Ring Material. It's a special coating that is both flexible and durable. On pitches and chip shots, this coating allows the grooves of a wedge to "grip" the ball more effectively at impact. That increased friction generates more spin, giving a player the ability to hit shots that stop quickly or "check up" on the green - an absolute must for attacking tough pin locations.
• 338 Speed Dimple Pattern: The dimples on a golf ball are far more than just aesthetics, they are a complex aerodynamic system. The 338 Speed Dimple pattern on the Z-Star line is designed to accomplish two things. First, it reduces drag as the ball flies through the air, helping it maintain speed for longer. Second, it increases lift, especially after the ball has reached its apex. The result is a penetrating ball flight that cuts through the wind and a strong descent that helps it carry further. For a player like Koepka, who plays in all conditions, this predictability in the wind is an enormous advantage.

Why This Ball Perfectly Complements Koepka’s Game

Brooks Koepka's game is built on a foundation of overwhelming power, dialed-in iron play, and an unshakable mindset. The Srixon Z-Star Diamond is tailor-made to support each of these pillars.

1. Power off the Tee Without Sacrificing Control

Brooks is one of the most athletic and fastest swingers in golf. When you swing a driver over 120 mph, excess spin is the enemy. Too much backend spin off the driver can cause the ball to "balloon" up into the air, losing distance and making it vulnerable to wind. The Z-Star Diamond offers lower spin characteristics with the driver than the standard Z-Star, helping Koepka convert his tremendous clubhead speed into a powerful, piercing trajectory. It allows him to swing hard without feeling like he's going to lose the ball to a high, spinning miss.

2. Workable Spin and Precision With Irons

Major championships are almost always won on approach shots. Simply being long is not enough, you have to control your distance and trajectory to attack challenging pins. This is where the Diamond ball really shines for an elite iron player. It provides enough spin for Koepka to shape his shots - hitting a high cut or a low draw on command - without generating so much backspin that the ball climbs uncontrollably in the air. It offers a mid-launch, mid-spin profile with irons that gives him the ultimate say in shot-making, allowing him to hit his "windows" over and over again.

3. Elite Feel and Control Around the Greens

Ultimately, a round of golf comes down to saving strokes on and around the greens. Koepka’s short game is arguably the most underrated part of his arsenal. The Spin Skin+ with SeRM technology on the Z-Star Diamond gives him the confidence to be aggressive. He knows he can clip a chip shot from a tight lie or blast a bunker shot from the sand and the ball will have the necessary grab to stop near the hole. This fusion of Tour-level driver performance with exceptional feel is exactly why the Diamond model exists.

Should You Play the Same Ball as Brooks Koepka? A Coach's Advice

It’s tempting to just go out and buy a dozen Srixon Z-Star Diamonds and hope a little of Brooks's magic rubs off. But as a coach, my honest advice is this: understanding why he plays that ball is far more important than just copying his choice. His decision is based on a perfect match between his swing characteristics and the ball's design. Your goal should be to do the same for your own game.

So, should you play it? Here’s a framework to help you decide.

Who is the Srixon Z-Star Diamond Really For?

The Z-Star Diamond is designed for a fairly specific player profile:

• High Swing Speed: To fully activate the FastLayer DG core and truly benefit from its design, you generally need a driver swing speed of 95 mph or higher. If your swing is slower, you may not compress the ball enough to see its optimal performance, and you'd likely get better results from a softer, lower-compression ball.
• Wants controlled driver spin: This ball is ideal for the player who generates good speed but sometimes struggles with too much spin off the tee, leading to a loss of distance or control.
• Demands iron and wedge workability: This is a player’s ball. If your priority is to hit a variety of shots - high, low, fades, draws - and you require a high degree of spin control on greenside shots, this ball is in your wheelhouse.

Simply put, it’s not the best choice for a high-handicapper or a player with a sub-90 mph swing speed, who would likely gain more from a ball focused on forgiveness and maximizing distance from a more moderate swing.

How to Find Your "Personal Diamond"

Instead of just buying what the pros use, use their process as your guide. Finding the right golf ball for you is about an honest assessment of your game.

1. Identify Your Biggest Need: Where are you losing the most strokes? If you’re constantly fighting a slice off the tee, a low-spin distance ball might straighten you out. If you’re rock-solid off the tee but can’t get a wedge shot to hold the green, a high-spin, urethane-covered ball should be your focus.
2. Be Realistic About Your Swing: If you don't know your swing speed, many golf shops have launch monitors available for testing. Getting a general idea (e.g., under 90 mph, 90-105 mph, 105+ mph) is a great starting point for narrowing down ball options to the right compression category.
3. Test from the Green Backwards: Always start your testing around the practice green. Hit chips and putts with a few different ball models. One will likely feel better off the face than another. Once you find one or two that you like the feel of, take them to the course. What feels good on a 5-foot putt will give you confidence over the bigger shots.
4. Play a Full Sleeve: Don't make a decision based on one shot. Buy a sleeve of a ball you want to test and play at least nine holes with it. Pay close attention to driver flight, iron distance consistency, and how it behaves on those all-important feel shots around the green. That's how you'll find a ball that you can truly trust, just like Brooks trusts his Z-Star Diamond.

Final Thoughts

Brooks Koepka's golf ball, the Srixon Z-Star Diamond, is meticulously engineered to fit his world-class combination of power and finesse. By understanding why it works for him - blending low driver spin with high short-game control - you gain a greater lesson in how powerfully an equipment choice can complement a playing style.

We know that navigating the world of golf equipment can be confusing, turning a simple decision into a headache. As you look deeper into your game, from a pre-round practice plan to your on-course approach, personalized guidance is what makes the difference. If you’re ever stuck on a equipment question or need clear strategy for a tough hole, you can describe your exact problem to Caddie AI and get an instant, expert-level recommendation, helping you remove the guesswork and play with more confidence.