The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been firmly established among the very best golf balls since their launch. They are the most used golf ball on tour and in elite amateur events – and it’s not even close. The Pro V1 has been the world’s best-selling golf ball ever since March 2001, just a few months after its initial October 2000 release.
But what is the difference between the two models, and which one will suit your game?
Titleist themselves are quite cagey when it comes to certain information around the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. Unlike most manufacturers, they don’t state the compression of their golf balls or what sort of clubhead speeds each ball works best with. Instead, Titleist state that the Pro V1 gives optimal flight and spin for most golfers.
Construction
The Titleist Pro V1 is a three-piece ball with 388 dimples, whereas the Titleist Pro V1x has four layers and 347 dimples. Both have a urethane cover and are available in white and yellow.
Driver performance
In Today’s Golfer’s best golf balls in 2024 test, the Titleist Pro V1x generated almost 13% less spin with the driver than the Titleist Pro V1. It also flew two yards lower (33-yard peak height versus 35-yard) and carried two yards further (280 yards versus 278 yards).
Iron performance
The Today’s Golfer test saw both balls produce very similar spin and distances, with the Pro V1x carrying just one yard further. Both balls were among the highest spinning premium golf balls, and in the middle of the pack in terms of distance.
Wedge performance
With a wedge, the Titleist Pro V1x carried one yard further than the Pro V1, while generating an extra 209 RPM of spin. The Pro V1x also had a marginally higher peak height and steeper landing angle, which means it will stop a little quicker on the green.
Both balls feature a urethane cover which provides plenty of spin and control in the short game.
Feel
The Titleist Pro V1x has a firmer, clickier feel than the Pro V1, which is one of the softest-feeling golf balls available.
Titleist Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x – conclusion
Both balls are excellent, and the differences in performance are subtle. They compete with any ball on the market in terms of distance and spin, while offering good feel and durability.
With an RRP of around £50 per ball, there are certainly much cheaper golf balls out there, but Titleist are peerless in terms of consistently excellent production quality. If you’re a beginner golfer, we’d recommend looking elsewhere, as you’re likely to lose quite a few balls and probably won’t see enough performance benefit to justify the cost of a premium golf ball.
With the performance data so close between the balls, your choice between the two could just as easily come down to whether you prefer the softer feel of the Titleist Pro V1 over the Pro V1x. The best thing to do is grab one or two of each and test them out on the putting green and chipping area to see which you like best.
