Golf balls constitute one of the most important parts of the game of golf. They are used in every swing, regardless of whether it’s the initial drive, a chip from the fairway, or a putt on the green. Because of this, your golf ball choice can have profound impact on your game.
Titleist is one of the most widely recognized and respected names in golf equipment. It only makes sense that their golf balls would live up to that expectation – right?
That’s what this guide is for. We’ll take a look at Titleist as a company, their different series of Titleist golf balls available, and how they compare to their competition.
More About Titleist
Titleist has been manufacturing and distributing golf balls since 1935. It only makes sense that Titleist would be known for their golf balls as that is the origin of the company lies in a speculative disagreement over the quality of a golf ball.
Phil Young, a golfer hobbyist, was out playing a round with a friend of his in the year 1930. Young’s friend happened to be the head of the x-ray department at the local hospital. At one point in their round, Young missed a putt that he was sure he should have made. Like many upset sportsmen tend to do, Young blamed his equipment.
Claiming the ball was of poor quality and that it caused him to miss his putt, Young had an idea. They would take the ball to the hospital and have it undergo an x-ray. The x-ray reportedly identified that the ball was indeed off-center. This discovery became the basis for Titleist.
Young set out to create the perfect golf ball. Wonder how he ensured quality in his new golf balls? The only way he knew how. Young decided every golf ball to leave his company would have to be x-rayed, a method that Titleist still follows to this day.
Young didn’t work alone, however. As a graduate from MIT, he was able to recruit one of his former classmates, Fred Bommer, to head up research and development for the new line of golf balls. After three years of painstaking development, the duo was finally ready to introduce the world’s newest and “best” golf ball available. A ball had never before been seen like the Titleist golf ball.
The logo that is so widely recognized from Titleist golf balls is the Titleist script. This logo is actually a replica of the handwriting of one of the office secretaries from 1935. A company executive noted that Helen Robinson’s penmanship was quite remarkable so she penned the name Titleist which eventually became the brand’s namesake.
Originally, Titleist balls were sold under the motto, “sold through golf professionals only.” This meant that Titleist golf balls could only be purchased from pros and pro shops. Today they are distributed widely.
What Makes Titleist Golf Balls Unique?
It isn’t just the fact that Titleist golf balls are x-ray inspected for quality that sets them apart from the rest. Titleist offers several different varieties of golf balls, each serving a different purpose, that offer their own unique qualities.
The most common types of ball from Titleist are the Titleist Pro V1, Titleist Pro V1x, and Titleist AVX. On top of those three, Titleist also offers the Titleist Tour Soft, the Titleist Velocity, and the Titleist DT TruSoft for more specialized usages.
First, let’s look at the Titleist Pro V1. These balls are touted by Titleist as one of the most influential introductions to the sport of golf since their introduction in 2000. The Titleist Pro V1 is used quite commonly on the professional course and is commonly chosen by PGA players.
The Titleist Pro V1 is a versatile ball. Its design does have predetermined intentions.
The ball is designed to go farther than other balls and have a very consistent flight pattern. The long-game spin on this ball is also quite low. Much of this functionality comes through the engineered core of the ball. The core of the Titleist Pro V1 is manufactured using a ZG process. The details of this process are not disclosed but we do know it ensures a more consistent density throughout the core.
The core is rather soft making this ball rather responsive. Responsive balls are great for less-confident players looking to improve their game and feel more in control of the flight path of their stroke.
Another feature of Titleist golf balls contributes to the increased control experienced by the golfer. The Titleist Pro V1 is equipped with this technology – it is a thin layer between the core and the outer coating. This “casing layer” is made of an ionomeric material, meaning it is resistant to shrinking as the material is composed through ionic bonding.
Then there is the Pro V1x. The Pro V1x is another very popular golf ball from Titleist. It’s easily arguable that the Pro V1x is more common than the Pro V1 even. According to Golfweek, in 2010, over 89 competitions had been won by either the Titleist Pro V1 or the Titleist Pro V1x – the next closest competitor having only 19 competitive wins.
In many ways, the Titleist Pro V1x is designed the same as the Titleist Pro V1. It is, however, designed to be slightly more advanced than the Titleist Pro V1x in that it should go farther, spin less, stop faster, and be more responsive than the standard Pro V1.
As far as we can tell, the most notable difference between the two is the inclusion of a dual core on the Titleist Pro V1x. While the Titleist Pro V1 has a single, ZG process core, the Titleist Pro V1x has a ZG Process Dual Core. This dual core helps delivery even more impressive distance than its single core counterpart. This core also provides a firmer feel that can really play on your strength if you have a very confident swing.
The Titleist Pro V1x has the same ionomeric casing layer, soft cover system, and 328 tetrahedral dimple designs as the Titleist Pro V1.
These two balls are easily the most commonly used balls in golf. On the subject of the Titleist Pro V1 and Titleist Pro V1x, Matt H, an amateur golfer, remarked that Titleist simply improved upon what was already the best ball in the game.
“Either golf ball is a great choice. They’ve taken the best ball in golf and made it even better,” he said.
In addition to those two staples, Titleist also produces some specialized balls.
First is the Titleist Velocity ball. If you were to take a guess at the purpose of these balls based on the name, chances are you’d be right. Titleist Velocity golf balls are designed specifically with the purpose of more distance.
The Titleist Velocity has an extra-large LSX core. The covering of these balls is very thin which, in practice, makes for a ball with a steeper angle of descent and ultimately a quicker stop. Players that need more distance or height will certainly benefit from the use of a Titleist Velocity golf ball.
Titleist also offers the AVX ball. This ball is insanely similar to the Pro V1, with the exception of one small design alteration. The dimple and core design of this ball make it fly lower than other Titleist balls.
The Titleist golf ball with the largest core is the Titleist Tour Soft. The Tour Soft line of golf balls has lots of potential for serious speed. The cover of this ball also contributes greatly to its functionality. Titleist blended a special material for the cover of this ball that is thinner than ever before.
Golfers that have trouble getting their balls up to speed would benefit from switching to the Titleist Tour Soft.
Lastly, Titleist offers their TruSoft golf ball. This is the softest, most responsive of all Titleist golf balls. The core is less compressed than all other balls offered by Titleist.
Player benefits include:
The core of this particular ball is known as the TruTouch core, and as we mentioned, it is extremely uncompressed.
We realize that for many, these small differentials will not equate with a clear understanding of which ball is best for you. That is ok.
Luckily, Titleist offers ball-fitting sessions year round across the country. These sessions, however, will only match you up with the Titleist Pro V1, Titleist Pro V1x, or the Titleist AVX. Outside of that, you will have to make your own decisions regarding the use of specialty balls.
When you attend a Titleist ball-fitting session, you are presented with several shots and several balls. A Titleist professional will help you assess the pros and cons of each ball for short game shots, full swing shots and driving.
Pricing of Titleist Golf Balls
Titleist golf balls are priced rather reasonably when compared to other golf balls on the market. One downfall of Titleist is the lack of a bulk discount. The balls are priced the same regardless of how many dozens are purchased.
The top-tier of Titleist balls, the Pro V1s, the Pro V1xs, and the AVXs, are all priced the same. Each of these balls cost $52 per dozen. The other three varieties cost less. The Titleist Tour Soft cost $38 per dozen. The Titleist Velocity cost $29 per dozen. And lastly, the most affordable Titleist golf ball, the Titleist DT TruSoft, retails for $24.
What Are Others Saying About Titleist Golf Balls
Because of the limited availability of Titleist balls, finding consumer reviews is not as easy as it is with some other balls. However, we will take a look at some.
One individual who left a review remarked at the professional feel of the Titleist Pro V1s, even for an amateur player.
“Best golf ball there is, they don’t “cut” on the cover when hitting irons, like some of the mid-level cheaper balls do, and even though I can’t play like a pro, I like that the ball lasts much longer under those conditions and not “cut” into the cover and the feel of hitting them, feels very solid, not “plastic” like feel the mid to lower ones and their covers/shell.”
Golf Monthly took the Titleist Velocity balls out on the course and shared their findings with the world.
“The Velocity is for the golfer that brags about hitting the ball far and wants to be the longest in his or her fourball off the tee. Perhaps their distance is a key ingredient for their scores and so they want to accentuate that to improve even further and hit more wedges into greens. The Velocity, unquestionably, is going to deliver the most distance off the tee and while it may limit control around the greens, adjustment in landing area and flight should cater for the majority of short game shots faced. If you hit the ball high, or play a lot of chip and runs around the green, any limitations in performance the Velocity may have are negated to a degree. Hitting into greens, the Velocity spun enough and flew high enough to provide ample stopping power for the average player.”
What We Think About Titleist Golf Balls
There is no doubt about the quality of Titleist golf balls. They have made a name for themselves through consistency, excellence, and prominence among professional golfers.
But, you may be wondering if you can’t get the same or even higher-quality ball for a more affordable price. There isn’t a clear yes or no answer.
There are balls that are of very high-quality that are sold for less than Titleist balls and, you may want to try those out. However, Titleist has a legacy that is undeniable. Considering they are within a reasonable price range for most golfers, if you feel that commitment to a Titleist ball improves your game, there is no harm in using them.
As a reminder, whatever ball you choose to use, whether it be a Titleist golf ball or some other brand, it is important that you try your best to use the same model consistently. As you perfect your game, much of your shot will rely on the tendency of your ball.
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