A quarter-century ago, Billy Andrade became the first PGA Tour professional to win with the latest craze—the Titleist Pro V1. What’s remarkable is that win started the rise of what has now been the top ball in golf for the last 25 years. And Titleist isn’t backing away from pushing the boundaries of what a golf ball can do. “Every day we’re turning over little pebbles to find ways in which we can get better,” said Frederick Waddell, Titleist’s Director Of Golf Ball Product Management. “The validation we get day and day out on the worldwide tours and top amateur events in our ball counts is something that that validates all that work we do.”
And what Titliest is doing is trying to make the best even better. Every two years Titleist hits the market with a new version of the Pro V1, powered by new enhancements that are covered by a white urethane cover. In this case, there’s a new faster high gradient core designed to help further optimize aerodynamics, making it longer on drives, and add snappy spin to those chips around the greens, helping golfers score better. The progression of the Pro V1 is continuing forward from the changes made in 2021, when Titleist basically overhauled the design of the ball, and 2023, when the company added more spin. And they are already testing versions with golfers for 2027. “We narrow that down with the goal of by kind of the end of the year we’ll have three or four prototypes where we can hone in with players and say, ‘Alright, what’s the new ball going to be?’” says Waddell. “And when we got through that process, where we landed for 25, is with a new core technology—a faster high gradient core.”
The results have come fast, with the ball already recording wins on the PGA Tour, often by players who aren’t even contracted to use it. And Waddell points to PGA Tour pro Doug Ghim, who has picked up four miles per hour of ball speed—and significant yardage—since switching to the latest version of Pro V1. Seventy-four players put the ball in play last week in Hawaii, according to stats.
Product Keys
More Consistency
Aerodynamics were a big consideration for Pro V1, and Titleist works extensively with live players to ensure they are seeing what they want on shots with the new ball. One of the keys was consistency in launch and aerodynamics, says Waddell, noting the company worked with the dimple pattern to find the right flight window that yielded the best distance result. The result is Pro V1x has a slightly lower flight, but one that results in more consistency, especially when wind is factored in.
High Gradient Core
The Pro V1 is famously a three-layer ball, with Pro V1x using four layers. Regardless, it starts with the core, and Titleist tweaked its core for its 25th anniversary ball, with the X version getting a new dual core. In both instances, the core was completely reformulated, Waddell explains, focusing their efforts on the “spin slope,” which offers a mix of low spin off the tee, and increased spin on scoring clubs.
Cover Adjustments
Both models of the ball come with a speed amplifying high-flex casing layer, which is a factor in limiting spin on drivers and fairway woods, while its urethane elastomer cover is the main consideration in spin around the greens.
Alignment
Titliest continues to subtly enhance the alignment aids on the Pro V1, including customization. There’s also an extended alignment side stamp that provides a built-in visual aid measuring over 65% longer than the standard 2025 Pro V1 side stamp.
Which one is for me?
The Pro V1 offers a mid-flight trajectory, with low spin in the driver and long irons, and great soft feel on short shots. The Pro V1x flies higher, offers more spin on full shots and has a firmer feel. But golfers owe it to themselves to put their irons and drivers to the test and figure out the ball that’s the best fit for their game.