Srixon Marathon Golf ball compression, specs & review
The Srixon Marathon is a 98-compression, 2-piece golf ball with an ionomer cover, low spin and a mid flight. A durable 2-piece ionomer distance ball with a 98 compression Energetic Gradient Growth Core (a core engineered for max energy transfer), delivering maximum yardage and exceptional longevity at an affordable price.
Is 98 compression right for your swing? The quiz checks your swing speed and feel against every ball in our catalog, this one included.
Take the quiz →What do these specs mean?
Compression
How soft the ball feels. Lower numbers (70–80) compress easier and help slower swings get distance. Higher (90+) rewards faster swings.
Cover
Surlyn is tough and cheap — great for distance and durability. Urethane is softer and grips wedges for more spin around the green.
Layers
2-piece: simple, long, straight. 3-piece and 4-piece add layers for more feel and spin control on approach shots.
Trajectory
How high the ball flies. Low = flatter flight with more roll. High = peaks up and lands soft. Mid = balanced.
Spin
Low spin = straighter shots, less curve, more roll. High spin = more control and stopping power on the green (but also magnifies slices/hooks).
Tier
Price bucket. Value = budget-friendly distance balls. Mid = solid all-around. Premium = tour-level spin and feel, costs more per dozen.
Best For
Try a sleeve first — ~$5 for 3 balls before committing to a dozen.
What golfers told our quiz
When we run the answers from 2,698 finished quizzes through our current fitting engine, the Srixon Marathon lands in the top 3 for 5% of golfers. 57% of those golfers swing 85–99 mph, and the most common shot shape they reported was mostly straight with a slight right turn (45%).
Take the 90-second quiz to see which balls fit your swing.
Self-reported answers from 2,698 finished quizzes, as of Oct 4, 2026.
A durable 2-piece ionomer distance ball with a 98 compression Energetic Gradient Growth Core (a core engineered for max energy transfer), delivering maximum yardage and exceptional longevity at an affordable price.
Who It’s For
The Srixon Marathon is built for faster swing speeds (105 mph and above). It suits golfers who prioritize high handicap, distance, budget friendly, durability. In the Srixon lineup, the Marathon sits firmer than the Srixon Z-Star and the Srixon Z-Star XV.
Feel
With a compression of 98 and a ionomer cover, feel is firm and explosive, with a crisp click at impact that fast swingers tend to like.
Spin Profile
Low driver spin off a 98 core: this is a ball built to go, and the Energetic Gradient Growth Core is Srixon’s name for a core tuned for energy transfer rather than spin. Around the green a firm ionomer cover means chips release and run; plan on landing them short of the hole.
Trajectory & Construction
A mid trajectory, lower than the high-flying Srixon Distance, so it runs out more on firm fairways. Two pieces: Srixon’s Energetic Gradient Growth Core under a durable ionomer cover; the Distance uses the same layout with a softer core and a higher flight. Works best in warmer conditions.
Price & Value
At $19.99 for a 15-ball pack (about $16 a dozen), the Marathon is a value pick. Srixon sells it only as a 15-ball pack in the US, which is where the roughly $16-a-dozen figure comes from.
Buy it if
- You want the firmest ball in Srixon’s lineup and the lowest price in it too.
- You want roll: a firm, low-spin ball on a dry fairway keeps going after it lands.
- You lose balls in bunches; a 15-ball pack for $19.99 makes each one a $1.33 loss.
Skip it if
- You want a soft feel. At 98 compression it feels firm, even though firmer balls tended to be faster off the driver at every swing speed in robot testing.
- You need a full wedge to stop fast; this cover is built to last, not to bite.
Similar Balls
- Callaway Warbird — 90 compression, low-spin, $22
- Srixon Distance — 89 compression, low-spin, $28
- Top Flite XL Distance — 90 compression, low-spin, $15
Source: MyGolfSpy compression research and 2026 ball test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the compression of the Srixon Marathon golf ball?
The Srixon Marathon has a compression of about 98, which puts it in the high-compression range. At 98 it is the firmest Srixon ball we list, firmer even than the Z-Star XV, so it feels hard off the putter and clicky on full shots. It is one of several specs the BallCaddie fitting quiz weighs against your swing speed, usual miss, feel preference and budget.
Who should play the Srixon Marathon?
The Srixon Marathon is built for faster swing speeds (105 mph and above). It suits golfers who prioritize high handicap, distance, budget friendly, durability.
What swing speed is the Srixon Marathon designed for?
At 98 it gets grouped with faster swings on firmness alone; Srixon sells it to high handicappers on price and durability, so treat the speed label loosely. Slower swings compress it fine, and robot testing found firmer balls faster off the driver at every speed, so the real decision is whether you can live with the hard feel.
Does the Srixon Marathon have high greenside spin?
Greenside spin is moderate. The Marathon’s ionomer cover is chosen for longevity, which Srixon puts right in the name; wedge bite is not what it is for.
Is the Srixon Marathon good in cold weather?
Not especially. At 98 it is the firmest Srixon we list, and it only gets harder-feeling as the temperature drops.
How much does the Srixon Marathon cost?
The Marathon sells as a 15-ball pack at $19.99, which works out to about $16 per dozen; Srixon does not list a 12-ball SKU for it in the US.
Read more about the Srixon Marathon
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