There’s no questioning the dominance of Pro V1 when it comes to the game’s highest levels. According to industry stats, the ball was used in 74% of professional wins over the last year, eight times the nearest competitor. While that dominance is truly stunning, Titleist’s engineers weren’t satisfied—they wanted more. By “more,” they meant more spin, more speed, more distance, and more soft chips that check and stop next to the hole. More—of everything.

“In that regard, Pro V1 is for the slice of golfers who prioritize performance above all else,” says Titleist’s Jeremy Stone, vice-president of golf ball marketing.

That might sound like marketing talk, but Stone says the company’s engineers considered every element—core, cover, and even the dimple pattern—when reworking the 2021 version of Pro V1. “It is the biggest change we’ve seen in the Pro V1 in a decade,” he adds. “We’ve changed everything from the cover to the core.”

Pro V1x

Fast and high flying with more stopping power for chips around the green. Even the dimple patten changed, says Stone. “It turns out when you put the dimple pattern from Pro V1x on Pro V1, it doesn’t go as far. Everything had to be considered.”

Flies differently

One of the keys for Titleist is engaging their stable of PGA and LPGA Tour pros about what they want from their golf ball. Length is always a consideration, but in the instance of Pro V1x, it was a more consistent higher flight. Some of that is accomplished with the new dimple pattern, among other factors.

Softer

Much of what makes a golf ball feel soft on chips comes from the cover. In the instance of premium golf balls, that’s because of the use of urethane. To make Pro V1x softer, Titleist created a softer thermoset cast urethane that allows for great short iron control and spin on chips.

Dual core

What’s inside the Pro V1x is key to how it responds. In this instance the dual core was improved to maintain feel, even as the casing layer was altered to create more speed.

Key takeaways

Flies higher, with more spin on iron shots, but feels firmer.

Pro V1

The classic Titleist ball with a more penetrating flight pattern. “If you are playing a Pro V1 currently, you’ll find all the characteristics you love about it are there, but all of those elements are even better,” says Stone.

Aerodynamics

Like Pro V1x, the aerodynamics of Pro V1 were reconsidered given all the other changes made to the ball. “It is a more efficient flight,” says Stone, adding the ball is also more stable in the wind. More stability equals some additional distance, he adds.

New cover

Yes, this one is urethane as well, but improved to offer more spin on short shots and chips.

Casing and core

A reworked core helps maintain the feel players have become accustomed to, while the casing layer adds more speed. “Every change impacts other parts of the ball,” Stone says.

Who are they for?

“The Pro V1 is the benchmark against which every other ball is judged,” says Stone. Stone suggests for players who are unsure of which ball works for them, they should start with the Pro V1 and determine whether the mix of a penetrating flight and softer feel works for their game. But the basic breakdown is this—Pro V1x flies higher, offers more spin, but feels firmer. In many ways, players will need to spend some time to determine which ball fits the nuances of their game.