Our Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x review has taken place at various golf courses across Europe.
We’ve used them on the course at Hillsborough, Moor Allerton, Woburn and Dom Pedro.
Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x review: First impressions
Has it really been two years?
Although the time may have flown since the last Pro V1 and Pro V1x launch, the team of more than 70 chemists, physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers and technicians in the Titleist golf ball R&D department have been trying to make the No. 1 ball in golf even better.
The 2017 Pro V1 was used by seven of the last eight major winners – Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Francesco Molinari – but we’ve got all-new technology, as well as a yellow colour option, in the 2019 models.
So are they better? And will it be the Pro V1 or Pro V1x that’s best for your game? Let’s find out…
Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x review: The technology
Titleist attempted to add a bit more ball speed to the 2019 Pro V1 range by adding more of the things which create speed and taking away things that can slow it down.
That’s the layman’s explanation anyway. So what have they actually done?
They have re-formulated the core – the engine of the golf ball – to offer more speed.
This core reacts with a new thicker casing layer which also increases speed while lowering long game spin. So that’s more of the fast stuff.
But they have also reduced the thickness of the cover by 17% – taking away some of the slow stuff.
But Titleist say this cast urethane elastomer cover system will still retain incredible durability and control.
“Through the prototyping process, our chemists and engineers discovered a way to cast an even thinner urethane cover, and therefore increase the percentage of speed-enhancing materials in the overall construction,” said Titleist’s Michael Mahoney.
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So how did the new balls perform and is it the Pro V1 or Pro V1x for our equipment editor? Find out on the next page…
Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x review: The results
I was lucky enough to be sent some of the white box prototypes of the 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
I put them into play for the first time in Portugal and struggled to notice any huge differences in terms of feel to the 2017 models.
However it seemed to me like the new versions were going quite a bit further than what I was used to.
Back in the UK, I then attended a ball fitting event at Woburn where I was able to go through a ‘tour-level’ fitting with golf ball expert Anthony Williams.
It was the same process the tour players go through. So we hit a range of shots on Trackman before going out onto the Dukes course to see how the balls performed in ‘real life’.
On the launch monitor we could see the Pro V1x was offering me more spin and a higher flight with both irons and driver.
However, I much preferred the slightly flatter and lower spinning flight of the Pro V1.
Around the greens I struggled to separate them with both offering me the control and feel I’m looking for.
So it was a straight forward fit for me with the Pro V1 offering a stronger flight with no sacrifice around the greens.
So are these going straight in our expert’s bag? Find out on the next page…
Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x review: NCG verdict
It was really interesting to learn about the new technology and then go through the ball fitting process.
It’s only when hitting both balls together like this where you can really appreciate the differences between them.
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Trackman numbers are useful but golf is not played on a launch monitor. You need to get out onto the course to know the ball is going to perform how you want it to.
I’d be hard pushed to say the 2019 models are loads better than the 2017 versions but I’m 100% confident the Pro V1 is the best ball for my game.
I had been using the AVX ball for the last few months of the 2018 season but the Pro V1 has a similar ball flight while offering a bit more grab on the greens.
And in March you’ll even be able to get these balls in high optic yellow. This underlines how Titleist listen to their customers and react to market demands.
Expect another big year for Pro V1.
Titleist 2019 Pro V1 and Pro V1x details
SRP: £52 per dozen
On sale: Now (High Optic Yellow from March 15, 2019)
More information can be found on the Titleist website.
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