Titleist reveal new Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls

Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls have been the most played and best selling balls ever since they launced in the early 2000s. From their debut, they have continued to improve and maintain their dominance on ball counts across the world, so it’s exciting when a new version comes along.

The 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls have been used on tour since last autumn, and players have been raving about their performance. Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth are just two men who’ve won with it. It features a new thermoset urethane elastomer cover formulation, which provides a softer feel and longer-lasting durability. That was proven during Spieth’s final-round 63 to win November’s Australian Open, when he only used one ball.

The cover is created by a chemical reaction between liquid materials that happens during the casting process. The term “thermoset” means the cover, once formed, will not re-melt. This differs from most competitive urethane-covered balls that use a thermoplastic urethane (TPU), supplied by an outside vendor, which is melted and then reformed to create the cover. 

“Thermoset urethane is very difficult to work with, but it gives us complete control of the chemical composition,” said Michael Sullivan, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Product Development. “It’s essentially a little chemical plant right in the mould, compared with using an off-shelf material like TPU. This allows us to dial in our desired properties of spin control, softness and durability. We do a lot of testing. With the new 2015 models, we tested hundreds of formulations. You simply can’t do that with TPU.”

Comparatively, Pro V1 has a softer feel, slightly more long game spin and a penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent and more roll. Pro V1x offers a slightly firmer feel, lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent.

Details: £51 per dozen. Available from January 30. www.titleist.co.uk

What the players are saying…

Jordan Spieth: “The softer cover around the greens allows me to have more spin control and softer feel, without jeopardising any distance or spin with the long clubs. It allows my short irons and wedges to spin a little more which is always nice around the greens, to be able to fly it closer to the hole and have it drop and stop.” 

Bubba Watson: “I first tried the new ball about two weeks prior to going to China. I loved it and put it in play right away. It has all the great qualities of the previous generation Pro V1x with improved feel around the greens, which is exceptional. It even goes a little further for me off the tee.” 

Hunter Mahan: “The new ball feels great. It has the performance and flight characteristics I’m looking for with all my full shots, and I’ve picked up more spin on my 30-40 yard pitch shots. Overall, I’m getting better performance into and around the greens, and still have the flight, trajectory and control I need on full shots.”

Ian Poulter: “The new Pro V1x gives me a softer feel and better performance around the greens. I’m able to execute all the shots and the ball feels great. I also picked up some ball speed with the driver during testing, so I’m getting a little more out of it off the tee.”