Our test found the Titleist Pro V1 was ‘average’ – but there’s one reason pros still swear by it
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Over 70% of tour pros put their faith in the Titleist Pro V1 and V1x every week, making it the undisputed No.1 ball in the professional game. But why?
If the Titleist Pro V1 is good enough for the best players in the world, why spend time considering any of the other best golf balls?
Given its dominant position, it must launch faster, fly further, and spin more aggressively than its rivals, right?
Well, no. Not according to our biggest ever Golf Ball Robot Test of 62 of the game’s most popular models.
By no means did Titleist Pro V1 perform badly. It produced solid numbers across all three driver swing speeds and came in bang on the test average when it came to approach and short game spin.
Its slightly firmer four-piece sibling, the Pro V1x, produced a similar set of results from tee-to-green, with a touch more backspin, as was to be expected from Titleist’s billing.
But it was two mid-table performances on the robot for a golf ball franchise that the game’s elite swear by.
So, what are we missing?
Perhaps it’s something a bit less sexy than raw speed and distance, yet just as valuable across 72 holes of championship golf.
Is the Titleist Pro V1 more consistent than the competition?
Whether it’s trusting a ball will deliver a desired trajectory off the tee, carry an exact yardage into greens, or reproduce a confidence-inspiring feel around the greens, repeatability is everything at the top level of golf.
And maybe it should be for you, too.
It’s why we extended our 2025 testing to consider the most consistent golf balls, factoring in the variability of different metrics, so we can show you how performance differs between golf balls from the very same box.
Those metrics included the ball speed, launch angle, and backspin variability we observed from the launch monitor data, along with the variability reported from our compression test.
The table below highlights how the 20 most consistent golf balls in our test ranked across each of those four directly measured criteria.
| Consistency Rank | |||||
| Brand | Model | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Backspin | Compression |
| Titleist | Pro V1 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Vice | Pro | 6 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Vice | Pro Plus | 3 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
| Titleist | AVX | 7 | 8 | 12 | 7 |
| Wilson | Staff Model | 15 | 4 | 5 | 14 |
| Seed | SD-02 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| PXG | Tour | 18 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Titleist | Pro V1x Left Dash | 22 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Titleist | Pro V1x | 28 | 3 | 13 | 11 |
| Seed | SD-X1 | 5 | 7 | 36 | 10 |
| Callaway | Chrome Tour Triple Diamond | 4 | 20 | 36 | 6 |
| Srixon | UltiSoft | 14 | 30 | 11 | 21 |
| Vice | Tour | 9 | 15 | 2 | 50 |
| Callaway | Chrome Soft | 2 | 38 | 28 | 13 |
| Callaway | Supersoft | 17 | 33 | 15 | 16 |
| PXG | Tour X | 37 | 36 | 6 | 4 |
| Callaway | Chrome Tour X | 36 | 9 | 19 | 19 |
| Srixon | Z-Star | 19 | 22 | 17 | 26 |
| Bridgestone | e12 Speed | 7 | 17 | 7 | 53 |
| Titleist | Tour Soft | 22 | 12 | 27 | 28 |
And when it comes to consistency, this is where we see the Titleist Pro V1 come into its own, producing the most consistent levels of backspin and compression across the entire 62-ball test. It also took the silver medal for its consistency of launch angle. An extremely impressive set of results, knocked down from top spot only due to a greater variability in ball speed readings.
We observed more of the same with the Pro V1x and Pro V1 Left Dash, both ranking inside the top 10 most consistent models, and demonstrating excellent repeatability of scores in the compression test.
The Titleist AVX was also highly consistent across all metrics, making it a great cheaper alternative to its Pro V1 cousins.
With five balls making the top page of the leaderboard, our consistency results speak to Titleist’s reputation for manufacturing excellence, built on 80 years of demanding the highest standards of product and process quality.
Titleist say that there are about 90 processes and quality checks to produce the Pro V1, with around 120 for the dual-core Pro V1x.
It’s a level of diligence that is tough to compete with, and we suggest that it goes some way to explaining why the vast majority of tour pros put their faith in the Pro V1 family, especially when the performance characteristics of the best premium golf balls are so closely matched.
So, if you value consistency of performance in your game more than the odd fraction of a yard or a smidgen of spin, perhaps joining the Pro V1 bandwagon is a shrewd move.
Everything you need to know about the Titleist’s Pro V1 lineup…
The most consistent golf ball we tested in 2025
Best premium Titleist golf ball for mid-handicappers
The Titleist Pro V1 is perhaps a tad unfortunate to emerge from our 2025 robot test with only a bronze medal for off-the-tee performance.
The No.1 ball in golf definitely hasn't been disgraced. It's produced extremely solid numbers across all three driver swing speeds, hence why it's the third-best 3-piece Tour-level golf ball off the tee.
At 114mph, the Pro V1 is very strong off the tee, being the second longest golf ball in this category, and one of only two 3-piece Tour-level models to deliver more than 273 yards.
It's a very similar story at 78mph. Pro V1 is the third-longest and third-fastest model in this category (0.3 yards behind the longest and 0.1mph slower than the fastest). At 93mph, Pro V1 just misses out on the podium places for carry and speed.
Pro V1 is a lower-spinning golf ball than Pro V1x, and that's exactly what our robot test results show. With the 7-iron and 40-yard pitch shots, the Pro V1 was right around the test average for backspin (4,598rpm and 5,692rpm, respectively).
Titleist Pro V1 is a golf ball for every golfer to consider, not just because it's the No.1 ball in golf, but because it suits such a wide range of golfers. It might not have scooped up tons of awards, but the data shows it's a very consistent performer that performs well in every area on the golf course.
On-course verdict
When I played the 2025 Titleist Pro V1, I experienced a striking combination of versatility, control, and responsiveness across the golf course. From tee to green, it delivers excellent distance and a penetrating, consistent ball flight, aided by a firmer high gradient core and refined dimple design.
The feel was outstanding, soft yet incredibly responsive, making every shot, from driver to putter, feel satisfying. Around the greens, I was equally impressed, short game spin and control feel heightened, helping me stop shots quickly and confidently.
Additionally, the ball’s durability has noticeably improved over previous generations - after nine holes, I didn’t feel the need to swap balls due to scuffs or wear.
Honestly, I was surprised by just how much this model exceeded my expectations. It truly performs in every area, from superb feel and responsiveness to outstanding distance control and short game precision.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1 golf ball review.
Pros
- Amazing short game spin and control
- Penetrating ball flight that optimizes carry distance
- More durable than the previous generation
Cons
- Lower short game spin than expected
| Carry distance (yds) | Driver 114mph - 273.2 | Driver 93mph - 208.7 | Driver 78mph - 161 | 7-iron - 155.3 |
| Ball speed (mph) | Driver 114mph - 163.9 | Driver 93mph - 133.8 | Driver 78mph - 113.1 | 7-iron - 108.3 |
| Backspin (rpm) | Driver 114mph - 2,684 | Driver 93mph - 2,709 | Driver 78mph - 2,525 | 7-iron - 4,598 | Pitch - 5,692 |
| Launch angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 11.1 | Driver 93mph - 12.8 | Driver 78mph - 13.8 | 7-iron - 21.1 | Pitch - 31.2 |
| Descent angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 37.2 | Driver 93mph - 32.4 | Driver 78mph - 27.5 | 7-iron - 44.9 | Pitch - 36.7 |
| Peak height (yds) | Driver 114mph - 32.4 | Driver 93mph - 22.5 | Driver 78mph - 15.5 | 7-iron - 29.3 | Pitch - 7 |
| Compression (psi) | 98 |
- Faster high gradient core
- Spherically tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Soft cast urethane elastomer cover
- 3-Piece construction
- Available in white and yellow
- Alternative models include AIM Enhanced and RCT
Bronze medal for tee to green performance at 114mph
Best Titleist golf ball for fast swing speeds
The Pro V1x's best performance came at 114mph, with a third-place finish for tee to green performance. Pro V1x delivers solid numbers at the quicker swing speed, but that performance soon drops off at moderate and slower swing speeds.
Titleist claims the Pro V1x is fast and long off the tee, higher flying than Pro V1, and generates more spin than Pro V1. It's close, but the Pro V1x does produce more spin when approaching and playing around greens than the Pro V1. Against golf balls in the same category, the Pro V1x is ranked seventh for iron and wedge spin.
Where the Pro V1x disappoints most is off the tee. We were expecting this golf ball to perform much better in our robot test - given it's one of the most popular golf balls on Tour - but sadly, it wasn't to be. At every driver swing speed, the Pro V1x doesn't produce as good numbers as the Pro V1.
However, it is very close. The Pro V1 pips the Pro V1x for tee to green performance, but the Pro V1x is the ball you should lean towards if you want more spin.
The performance of the Pro V1x highlights just how impressive the 2025 Pro V1 is.
On-course verdict
When I play the 2025 Titleist Pro V1x, I experience a consistently elevated launch and penetrating flight that gives me confidence from tee to green, and the performance really holds - shots fly true and controlled no matter the lie. It delivers great spin off the tee and exceptional short-game control around the greens, giving me more bite where it counts, and stands out as more durable than previous versions.
The feel is noticeably firmer compared to the Pro V1 and earlier generations, though I do feel it’s not as responsive overall - the feedback is a touch muted, which slightly dampens the experience I loved in the 2023 Pro V1x.
Still, it’s a high-performance ball widely trusted on Tour and offers speed, spin, and precision, just with a firmer, more reserved personality than its predecessor.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1x golf ball review.
Pros
- Towering and penetrating ball flight
- Amazing short game spin and control
- More durable than the previous generation
Cons
- Less responsive and worse feel than previous generation
| Carry distance (yds) | Driver 114mph - 272.6 | Driver 93mph - 208.5 | Driver 78mph - 159.6 | 7-iron - 155.8 |
| Ball speed (mph) | Driver 114mph - 163.9 | Driver 93mph - 133.8 | Driver 78mph - 112.6 | 7-iron - 108.9 |
| Backspin (rpm) | Driver 114mph - 2,711 | Driver 93mph - 2,717 | Driver 78mph - 2,619 | 7-iron - 4,699 | Pitch - 5,952 |
| Launch angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 11 | Driver 93mph - 12.8 | Driver 78mph - 13.7 | 7-iron - 20.9 | Pitch - 30.5 |
| Descent angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 37.2 | Driver 93mph - 32.3 | Driver 78mph - 27.6 | 7-iron - 45.1 | Pitch - 35.7 |
| Peak height (yds) | Driver 114mph - 32.2 | Driver 93mph - 22.4 | Driver 78mph - 15.4 | 7-iron - 29.5 | Pitch - 6.6 |
| Compression (psi) | 108 |
- Faster high gradient dual-core
- Spherically tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Soft cast urethane elastomer cover
- 4-Piece construction
- Available in white and yellow
- Alternative models include AIM Enhanced and RCT
Titleist's fastest golf ball
Best Titleist golf ball for distance
The Pro V1x Left Dash is Titleist's fastest golf ball, but it's not the fastest golf ball out there. At 114mph, that speed materialises into great distance - being one of only three golf balls to exceed 274 yards in the entire test.
Once you begin to slow down, the Pro V1x Left Dash becomes much less efficient in its performance. If you have a quick swing speed, this golf ball is going to serve you well off the tee (second place overall). However, at 93mph, this is the third lowest performing golf ball in this category, and at 78mph, it's the second lowest performing.
Also, it becomes a struggle to generate sufficient ball speed to maximise distance, and it's a similar story in the iron and wedge game.
Titleist sells the Pro V1x Left Dash as a low-spin golf ball that flies similarly to the Pro V1x, and our data supports this. With a 7-iron, the Pro V1x Left Dash has the lowest descent angle, and on the 40-yard pitch shot, it generates the lowest spin.
The Pro V1x Left Dash is perfect if you swing like Bryson DeChambeau and generate tons of spin, but if not, this is a golf ball you're well worth steering clear of.
On-course verdict
When I played the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, I immediately noticed how high it launched and how consistent it was from tee to green. It felt firm but still premium, giving me clear feedback on every shot, especially on putts where the response was spot-on.
The ball held up really well over a round, too, with hardly any scuffing. Off the tee, I gained distance thanks to its low spin and towering flight, but I did have to adjust my expectations around the greens - there just wasn’t as much spin or bite as I get with the Pro V1 or Pro V1x.
For me, it’s a ball that shines when I want extra distance and control in the long game, but it’s not the most forgiving choice if I need finesse and stopping power in the short game.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf ball review.
Pros
- Consistent towering ball flight
- Competitive long game distance
- Solid feedback throughout the bag
Cons
- Not as versatile as the Pro V1 or Pro V1x
| Carry distance (yds) | Driver 114mph - 274.3 | Driver 93mph - 208.7 | Driver 78mph - 160 | 7-iron - 155.9 |
| Ball speed (mph) | Driver 114mph - 164.3 | Driver 93mph - 133.7 | Driver 78mph - 112.6 | 7-iron - 108.3 |
| Backspin (rpm) | Driver 114mph - 2,587 | Driver 93mph - 2,575 | Driver 78mph - 2,446 | 7-iron - 4,453 | Pitch - 5,631 |
| Launch angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 11.1 | Driver 93mph - 12.9 | Driver 78mph - 14 | 7-iron - 21.1 | Pitch - 31.3 |
| Descent angle (°) | Driver 114mph - 36.5 | Driver 93mph - 31.7 | Driver 78mph - 27.3 | 7-iron - 44.5 | Pitch - 36.6 |
| Peak height (yds) | Driver 114mph - 31.7 | Driver 93mph - 21.1 | Driver 78mph - 15.4 | 7-iron - 29 | Pitch - 6.9 |
| Compression (psi) | 114 |
- Firm cast urethane elastomer cover system
- Fast, low-spin casing layer
- ZG Process Core
- Spherically-tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design
- 4-Piece construction
- Available in white only
- Alternative models include AIM Enhanced and RCT
- Best golf balls for fast swing speeds
- Best golf balls for average swing speeds
- Best golf balls for slow swing speeds
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Here’s where the Titleist Pro V1 stood out from the crowd in our 2025 testing.
