Titleist Pro V1 Review: Still the Best Premium Golf Ball?

You know you’re killing it as a brand when your flagship product is basically synonymous with the product category itself.

The classic example is Kleenex. Or Q-Tip.

And the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball is another product that’s at least getting close to that same level.

Let’s face it: Literally every single golfer you know first thinks of the Pro V1 when they think of a premium golf ball. This one golf ball, and its Pro V1x sibling, have that big of a stranglehold on the top end of the golf ball market.

But there’s also this: Whenever someone thinks of “expensive golf balls,” they likewise think of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

So that brings us to two fundamental questions:

1. Are the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x  actually the best golf balls on the market?
2. Are they worth the $55 per dozen price?

If those are questions on your mind, well, you’re certainly not alone. Like I said, everyone associates “premium golf ball” and “expensive golf ball” with the Titleist Pro V1.

It’s worth reexamining the classic Titleist Pro V1/x because of Callaway’s 2024 release of their Chrome Tour/X golf balls. Suddenly, there’s another behemoth brand that’s gunning for the best golf ball title. Others have tried — TaylorMade, Bridgestone and Vice come to mind — but so far, nobody has been able to dethrone King Titleist.

So let’s get to the bottom of the best golf ball debate and see how the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x stack up in 2024.

I’m not going to claim this to be an exhaustive review that compares the Titleist balls to every competitor. But having just reviewed the Callaway Chrome Tour golf balls and with experience hitting all of the other premium golf balls available, I do have opinions to share. The focus here will be on the Titleist golf balls, but I’ll include comparative thoughts as appropriate.

Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x

In my golfing circles, and I would expect in most, there’s still a fair amount of confusion, even among semi-serious players, about the distinction between the Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

It seems that some golfers use them interchangeably, assuming they are getting the same as-advertised awesome performance out of either ball.

But there’s definitely a right Pro V for each golfer. And, if you’re playing the wrong Pro V model, you may be hurting your game (along with your wallet) more than you’re helping it.

Also, in case you didn’t realize, the quickest way to tell these two golf balls apart is that the number on the Pro V1 is black whereas it’s red on the Pro V1x. And the Pro V1x has fewer but larger dimples than on the Pro V1 ball. That dimple difference is actually easy to see once you’ve learned to recognize it.

Let’s summarize the other key differences between the Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

Titleist Pro V1: The Balanced Performer

The Pro V1 is a marvel of engineering that totally rewrote the high-end golf ball script when it debuted in 2000. Since then, it’s gone through regular refinements and enhancements, the most recent of which came in 2023.

The Pro V1, which is a three-piece golf ball, sets itself apart as the ball that best blends soft feel, consistent flight, and impressive distance.

The ball’s aerodynamics ensure a stable ball flight. Better players who game it regularly, including many tour pros, swear by the reliability off the tee and on approach shots. Basically, when you strike it well, it holds its line better than any other golf ball.

But it’s become iconic because of its performance around and on the greens. The whole “hop-hop-stop” repeatable pattern on pitch and chip shots is kind of the hallmark of the Pro V1. Once again, for top players, it all comes down to repeatability and consistent performance, which is why so many tour pros play the Pro V1.

But there’s also feel. Nothing feels quite as good off the clubface or putterface as a Pro V1.

There are softer-feeling golf balls, like the Callaway Super Soft, but they feel mushy compared to a Pro V1.

And there are of course no shortage of much harder-feeling golf balls, and they feel like absolute rocks compared to a Pro V.

Titleist Pro V1x: The High-Flying Spin Master

Then there’s the Pro V1x, which is a four-piece ball and the go-to for players in search of higher trajectories and more pronounced spin characteristics.

The Pro V1x definitely has a firmer feel than the Pro V1. It’s still pleasantly soft relative to cheaper, two-piece golf balls, but it’s not going to resonate with golfers who prefer that super plush feeling that a Pro V1 gives you.

Feel along with a higher launch angle and increased spin on longer shots are the characteristics that differentiate the Pro V1x from the standard Pro V1. All things being equal, the x is going to launch a bit higher with more backspin and it’s going to fall out of the sky on a steeper descent.

Around the green, you get the same reliable grip as with the Pro V1, though the harder feel of the x model is noticeable and a turnoff for some golfers who want a softer touch.

How Do the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Balls Perform on the Course?

As we’ve stated numerous times, Breaking Eighty reviews aren’t done in a lab. There’s no Iron Byron or swing robots employed. Our golf ball reviews are much more about feel and real on-course experience than data.

Also, in the name of transparency, this golf ball review is written from the perspective of a mid-handicapper. I’m not the most consistent golfer, otherwise I’d be closer to scratch. But I’m also not a complete hack (well, at least not most of the time).

In other words, I’m coming at you from the common man’s viewpoint, trying to offer an honest take that might help you decide if these products are right for you. Hopefully, that’s a refreshing difference from some golf ball reviews that may claim to be the ultimate authority. This is one dude’s experience. And as they say, results may vary.

The first thing that struck me in playing with both the Pro V1 and Pro V1x is that the 2023 editions seem to feel a bit softer than the previous versions. I wouldn’t rate it as dramatic, but it is noticeable. The normal Pro V1 is still definitely the softer of the two, with the x definitely feeling firmer and producing a more clicky sound off the clubface.

The next thing that jumped out was what I already knew: These golf balls are unbelievable around the green. They’re, like, perfect. So reliable. So repeatable. Such incredible grip.

This is the characteristic about these golf balls that I think will benefit anyone. At $55 per dozen, if you lose a lot of golf balls, it’s very difficult to justify buying the Pro V balls. But the cheaper balls that might be more of a realistic option for you are just not going to perform as well around the greens. They just aren’t.

So what I recommend is that, even if you aren’t going to regularly play a Pro V, maybe consider playing one for the rounds that mean the most to you. Because that consistent greenside performance will save you strokes over the long run. Then again, you’ve got to play with the same kind of ball regularly to refine your feel for how far it’s going to typically roll out.

On the green, the Pro V1x definitely feels firmer off the putter face than the Pro V1. But, to me, both of these golf balls feel amazing off the putter, especially compared to the cheaper balls that I sometimes play.

Off the tee, I’m the type of player that could use a little spin enhancement and help with launching the ball higher. And that’s what I found with the Pro V1x. In fact, this single part of my testing process led me to favoring the x to the regular Pro V1 for my game. I like the higher ball flight, and when I hit the ball well, the Pro V1x gives me a few more yards than what I get out of the regular Pro V1.

But I like the standard Pro V1 better around and on the greens. Not because of performance but because that softer feel is just kind of confidence-inspiring. Somehow, it just helps my brain connect with my hands better so that I feel the shot in a way that I don’t quite get with the Pro V1x.

But off the tee and on approach, I prefer the Pro V1x. As I said, I need a little help with a higher launch and more backspin. The problem is that when I hit shots wildly bad, they seem to be even more out of control with the Pro V1x than with the Pro V1.

Here’s the thing: Both the Pro V1 and the Pro V1x are incredible. I know I’m not breaking any news by saying that. But when you really study their performance, I mean, they’re just impressive as hell.

But are they the best? Or are the new Callaway Chrome Tour golf balls going to chip away at their title?

Titleist Pro V1 vs. Callaway Chrome Tour

Man, this is a tough one. I was very impressed with the Callaway Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X golf balls. And Callaway is obviously trying to be with these golf balls what Titleist has long been with the Pro V1 and Pro V1x: the best.

Both of these premium golf balls are priced the same at $55 per dozen. And the Chrome Tour balls feature that same sort of around-the-green performance as the Pro V1s. They’re almost every bit as impressive. But I’ve got to give the very slight edge to Titleist.

And the Chrome Tour balls feel a bit harder than the Pro Vs. The Callaways don’t feel at all like rocks, but they are firmer and clicker than their Titleist counterparts. So again, I’m giving Titleist the nod here.

It’s by no means a landslide, but by the slimmest of margins, I prefer the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x to the Callaway Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X.

Now, has 25 years worth of Pro V marketing subconsciously influenced my decisions? I hope not, but I can’t rule out that possibility.

Bottom line: It’s close. Close enough that I do think these Callaway balls are going to eat into Titleist’s premium golf ball market share.

Pro V1: Still Crazy (Good!) After All These Years

I really can’t think of something golf-equipment related that is as timeless and enduring as the Titleist Pro V1 balls. They’ve been the gold standard for so long.

And now, even as competing manufacturers try to encroach, all they can hope to do is be as good as Titleist’s premium golf balls. Nobody is doing it better.

Are they worth $55 a dozen?

Not if you’re not a good enough golfer to appreciate the difference. In that case, no, I don’t think any golf ball is worth that kind of money.

And I don’t think they’re worth it if you’re on an exceptionally tight golf budget. I think you’d be better off using your money to play more rounds of golf with less-expensive golf balls than you would buying premium balls like this.

But for a premium, Tour Level ball? This is the going rate these days.

For golfers serious about shooting their best scores, or for those who can afford to buy every possible advantage, you’re not going to do any better than the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x. That’s been true for many years. And I don’t see it changing anytime soon.

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Yep, still the gold standard of golf balls

9.5 Fantastic

It should come as no surprise that Titleist ProV1 and Pro V1x golf balls live up to their reputation as the best golf ball on Earth. They're not cheap, but if you want the best of the best? While some may get close to equaling, there's no ball we've seen that surpasses the venerable Titleist.

The Good

1. Fantastic spin and control around the green
2. Soft feeling without being mushy

The Bad

1. Expensive
2. ProV1x models can amplify misses, especially in higher handicap golfers

• Presentation 10
• Performance 10
• Price 8
• Personal Affinity 10