Titleist updates the Pro V1 every two years. The changes are always incremental — a new core formulation, a revised cover compound, a tweak to the dimple pattern — and the marketing always promises meaningful performance gains. Sometimes the gains are real. Sometimes they are marginal. After ten rounds with the new ball, we have a clear answer.
The most noticeable change is off the driver. The new Pro V1 launches slightly higher with less spin than its predecessor, which translates to more carry distance for most swing speeds. On a launch monitor, we saw an average of four additional yards of carry compared to the previous generation. On the course, that felt accurate.
Around the greens, the new ball is essentially identical to the old one. The feel on chips and pitches is the same soft, responsive sensation that has made the Pro V1 the standard for tour players and serious amateurs for two decades. Greenside spin is unchanged. If you loved the old ball around the greens, you will love this one.
The question of whether to upgrade depends on what you are currently playing. If you are on the previous generation Pro V1, the distance gains are real enough to justify the switch. If you are on the generation before that, the difference is more significant. If you are playing a different premium ball entirely, the Pro V1 remains the benchmark against which everything else is measured.
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Canesh Arce
Canesh Arce is the Founder of The Par Report, covering the PGA Tour, major championships, and the business of professional golf.