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Here I will be reviewing the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, as well as its brother the Pro V1x.
Read on to find out what you need to know about these industry-standard golf balls to make an informed purchase.
Note: The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing, body and clubs are different, results with a particular golf ball may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
As you might expect, the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are highly rated golf balls, which is not surprising considering their widespread use. You can read reviews on Amazon here.
Overview
If you know a thing or two about golf equipment, or watch a lot of golf on television, chances are you’ve seen one of those commercials featuring Tour pros talking about arguably the best golf balls ever made: the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
There’s a reason that over 3000 (about 2 out of 3) professional tour players play these balls. They are made of quality materials, are amazingly durable, and help golfers play a better game in nearly every conceivable way.
There really should be no question about whether or not you are getting fantastic value for your money.
Titleist has had over a decade to test and perfect their formula for these golf balls. Technological advancements, research and extensive player testing are just some of the things that have allowed the Pro V1 line to become better than ever.
The 2015 version of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x have a softer feel, provide more distance off of the tee, and perform better around the greens compared to previous years’ models.
How do the balls feel?
The Pro V1 and Pro V1x both have a consistent, relatively soft feel.
The Pro V1x is a slightly harder ball than the Pro V1 (around 100 compression compared to about 90 for the Pro V1) and as a result the Pro V1x feels a bit firmer and more responsive off the clubface.
How do the balls perform from tee to green?
One of the biggest structural differences between the Pro V1 and Pro V1x is the composition of their cores.
I will refrain from going into the technical details, but here are two of the essential performance differences between the two balls you should know about:
- The Pro V1 generally produces more spin and a more consistent ball flight as a result of its solid core and increased dimple pattern.
- The Pro V1x generally produces less spin with a lower ball trajectory, particularly off the tee, as a result of its dual layer core and reduced dimple pattern.
In terms of short game, the difference between the two balls is minor. Generally, you are able to get more spin around the greens with the Pro V1 than the Pro V1x, which may or may not be ideal depending on the shot that is required.
Make no mistake: both balls perform excellently.
A common misconception is that the Pro V1 and Pro V1x are only suitable for highly skilled golfers. In reality, these golf balls can be a huge benefit to golfers of all skill levels.
You don’t need to be a pro to reap the benefits of these golf balls. The new Pro V1 sets I purchased over three years ago are still serving me to this day when I’m out on the course.
Where can I get used Pro V1/V1x balls for cheaper?
You have the option of getting Pro V1 or Pro V1x balls that have been recycled or refinished at a lower price.
I would recommend avoiding refinished balls (which are usually stripped and repainted to look like new) because they’re too much of a risk when it comes to how they end up performing.
Recycled balls, which are balls that have been collected around golf courses in wooded areas, ponds, rivers, etc. are a much safer bet. In some cases, these balls have only been hit once by a golfer.
When shopping for recycled Pro V1/Pro V1x balls, I would recommend buying packs with ratings of AAA or above; anything below that will have significant scuffs and blemishes and will likely impact performance.
There are a large number of listings on this eBay page where you can buy used Pro V1 balls at great prices. You can also take a look at this Amazon page. Simply modify the ball and rating in the search query if you want to look for Pro V1x balls or balls with a different A-rating.
Conclusion
The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are fantastic golf balls and I highly recommend giving them a try. They have been an industry standard for over a decade and will likely continue to be for many more years to come.
As mentioned above, the Pro V1 is a bit softer than the Pro V1x; the Pro V1 has a compression rating around 90 while the Pro V1x has a compression rating around 100.
This means that, as a guideline, golfers who have slower swing speeds, want more spin or want a more consistent ball flight may be better off getting the Pro V1. The Pro V1x is typically more ideal for golfers who have a faster swing speed, want some extra distance or don’t care as much about spin.
Although new balls are on the pricey side, rest assured that you are getting what you pay for, and you will probably end up saving money on these balls in the long run because they’re so durable.
The best thing you can do if you are interested in playing these balls but are not sure whether to get the Pro V1 or Pro V1x is simply to try both. Play with both balls and evaluate which ball feels best and better suits your style of play.
Thanks for checking out this review. Do you have any thoughts or opinions about the Pro V1/V1x balls? Drop them in the comments below!
I know a lot of golfers, both men and women that like both Pro V1 and Pro V1x. Most certainly it is a personal preference and it also depends I believe on the cost of the ball. A good Idea is to look for these golf balls in the off season at major stores such as Walmart, Target, and also the main sporting good stores. They will usually mark down the price to move stock. We have also found them reduced at a major hardware store. So happy golfing and keep your eyes open for sales.
Yes, it is possible to get these balls at a discount if you know where to look and it’s the right time of the year. You just need to be careful to watch out for what exactly you’re buying — the balls could be refinished, recycled or aftermarket balls that aren’t even true pro V1s. I would recommend avoiding refinished balls, but recycled ones could be a great investment if you get grade AAA or better. There are tons of listings on Amazon pages like these where you can find great deals on high-rated recycled Pro V1s/V1xs. I’ll be adding this information to the review. Thanks!
Thanks for the review. Do you really think that the ball matters very much to the beginner or casual golfer? I am a casual golfer, and I think that I could golf with the balls straight out of the “drink”. Obviously I am not a professional, I am just looking for a bit of input.
Hi William,
I would say that, for a beginner, the particular golf ball used isn’t terribly important, although you don’t want to be hitting garbage. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying new Titleist Pro V1/V1x balls starting out, but a whack of good recycled Pro V1/V1x balls (I talk about that in the review as well as provide links to good places to buy them) could be a great investment. You might also consider something like the Bridgestone E6 ball (review here), an all-purpose ball good for beginners and less expensive than the Pro V1/V1x. Lost balls in hazards should be perfectly fine to hit as long as they look and feel like they’re in reasonable condition; however, I would only recommend this for those who don’t care too much about the characteristics of the golf balls they’re hitting.
I have played the Pro V1 on and off for many years now and it hasn’t let me down — it’s certainly one of the best balls out there.
I have used Pro V1’s extensively as well (and Pro V1x’s to a lesser extent) and I just love them. Thanks for reading.
I personally like the ProV1 because of the lower compression. I have a slower swing speed and it’s easier for me to smash a 90 compression than a 100. I don’t get much spin around the greens but that’s part of my poor game not the ball’s fault. No string pulling on my wedge shots unfortunately lol.
While the Pro V1 does tend to spin more with the longer club, with shorter clubs and wedges the Pro V1 actually tends to spin a little less than the Pro V1x, so that is probably contributing to your results around the greens. Glad you found the review helpful!