Titleist Pro V1 Vs Pro V1x – What’s The Difference?

If you’ve spent any time in the world of golf, you know that the Pro V1 line of golf balls are considered to be some of the best on the market.

This article is essentially a history lesson and a breakdown of the Pro V1 vs Pro V1x. We’ll cover the technology and the differences between these Titleist golf ball options.

Read carefully, as these balls have changed significantly over the years. The original Pro V1 is not the same as the new Pro V1.

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A History Lesson: The Early Titleist Pro V1 and Titleist Pro V1x

Back in 2000, Team Titleist introduced what would become the golf industry’s most popular golf ball – the Pro V1. Following its phenomenal success, a second model – the Titleist Pro V1x – was introduced three years later.

Today, roughly more than half of all tour pros use a Pro V1 or Pro V1x – a staggering figure!

The ProV1 and Pro V1x are the number one balls for more players and champions across worldwide professional tours than any other ball.

In the 2018-2019 season, Titleist golf players recorded 152 victories around the world. Not too shabby!

Since its introduction in 2000, the Pro V1 golf ball franchise has been the golf ball of choice for over 3,000 champions around the world.

Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Adam Scott, Justin Thomas and others all play with a Pro V ball.

Thanks to great technology, measurable success, and careful marketing, this Titleist line is considered to be one of the best golf ball options for a serious golfer.

But what’s the difference between the two balls?

Most golfers don’t really know, and that why we’ve compiled this post.

Older Pro V1 vs Pro V1x (Pre 2017)

It’s safe to assume that some of you are playing with a recycled Pro V1 ball or an older Pro V1x ball that you found on the golf course.

If that’s the case, you should read this section.

Earlier Generations of the Titleist Pro V1

• 3 piece golf ball
• Higher dimple count
• Lower spin in the long game
• More short game spin
• Mid-level ball flight
• Softer feel

The Original Pro V1x Golf Ball

• 4 piece golf ball
• Lower dimple count
• More iron spin and higher short game spin for approach shots
• Higher trajectory and ball flight
• Less soft feel

Both of these were premium golf ball options for their time and remained at the top of most golf ball review lists for nearly 14 years. They are still great golf balls to play with, since consistent ball flight and greenside spin come standard.

However, the shelf life for these balls is rapidly approaching. In fact, we wrote an entire article covering the question: Do Golf Balls Go Bad?

As the older generation of Titleist Pro V1s disappear, you’ll want to re-educated yourself on the specs of the new balls.

Technology and demands have changed over the years, so it should come as no surprise that Titleist’s popular golf balls have changed with them.

Newer Pro V1 vs Pro V1x (The Modern Era)

In 2017, Titleist flipped the script.

Originally, the Pro V1x was the lower spinning but higher flying golf ball. Now the new Pro V1x is a higher spinning and even higher flying golf ball.

If you started playing the Pro V balls in the old era, it’s possible that you were unaware of this change. Before you jump ship for a Callaway Chrome Soft or the Srixon Z Star (both good balls, by the way), you should keep reading.

So why did Titleist switch things up?

The R&D team at Titleist made some major technological developments. Thanks to new technology, Titleist was able to take much of the spin out of the iron game on their solid core, 3 piece Pro V1. The result was a ball that lowered driver spin and increased ball speed. As a whole, the new Pro V1 actually spun less than the Pro V1x throughout the bag.

In 2019, Titleist made additional changes to both balls.

The result? Both balls were lower spinning and produced faster ball speed.

Golfers still benefitted from consistent flight and penetrating trajectory, but with less spin, Titleist offered longer distance to pair with the greenside control.

Worth noting: Updated lines of the Titleist Pro Vs continued with the new trend: The Pro V1x now has more spin than the Pro V1 ball.

Again, this is the opposite of what was true in the 2003-2017 era.

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So what are the differences between the current Pro V1 and Pro V1x?

There are more similarities than differences, but here are the key attributes:

The 2021 Pro V1

• 3 layers
• Very low long game spin
• Penetrating shot trajectory
• Excellent short game control
• The softest cover ever used on a Pro V
• 2.0 ZG Process Core
• Spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design
• Very soft feel

The 2021 Pro V1x

• 4 layers
• Low long game spin
• High trajectory
• Excellent short game control
• The softest cover ever used on a Pro V
• 2.0 ZG Process Core
• Spherically-tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design
• Soft feel

Now that we’ve discussed the technical details of each ball, the next logical question is “What Titleist ball should I play with?”

Don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging.

Should I play with the Titleist Pro V1 or the Pro V1x?

This, of course, is the million dollar question.

You have two options for finding the answer.

Option 1 – Use Titleist’s Golf Ball Selector Tool

It’s in Titleist’s best interest to pair you with a ball (and golf clubs) that will help you perform at your very best.

To that end, they created this helpful tool. All you need to do is answer a few questions and they’ll tell you what Titleist ball is best for your game.

At the very least, I would start here. You may discover in the process that the Pro V1 line isn’t actually what you need for your swing speed or tendencies.

Option 2 – Read Some Of Our Pro V1 vs Pro V1x Takes

You’re not Bubba Watson or Cameron Smith.

I say this only to remind you that not everyone’s game pairs well with a premium golf ball. If you have a low swing speed, these Titleist balls may not be the best fit for your game.

Now that we have that out of the way, there are three significant differences between the Pro V1 and the Pro V1x: trajectory, long game spin and feel.

Let’s talk about trajectory first. Ball flight is probably the biggest difference between the two golf balls.

As we have discussed earlier, the Pro V1 is designed to produce a more penetrating ball flight and descends at a less steep angle. For most golfers, this will result in more roll on the fairway (you know, where all of your balls land).

Meanwhile, the ProV1x launches at a much higher angle and falls out of the air in a more dramatic fashion.

Which ball you should choose depends on what scenario you prefer. Your climate (wind, humidity, etc.) may factor into your decision as well. Do you want to keep the ball lower or are you comfortable with a higher ball flight?

Another factor to consider is spin. We’ve all heard the saying “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” The same is true for golf balls. The composition of a golf ball does influence their performance.

The three-piece Pro V1 has less spin on longer shots than the Pro V1x. You should know how and when you prefer spin to help make an informed decision.

The final factor is feel. If you prefer a softer ball, then the Pro V1 is for you. However, if you like a little more pop or firmness, we recommend the Pro V1x.

03/07/2024 09:19 am GMT

Final Thoughts

The best indicator of what golf ball will help you shoot lower scores is on-course performance. It’s always worth trying out both models and going through an on-course evaluation to help you determine which golf ball performs best for you.

However, there is no right or wrong choice. Both golf balls are designed with two decades of research, development and testing behind them to help you play your best golf.

The prices are similar, so it may be worth picking up a dozen of each to see for yourself why so many PGA Tour pros play with these golf balls.

Additional Reading: Why Are Pro V1 Balls So Expensive? and Where Are Titleist Golf Balls Made?