Increased ball speed, lower spin the aim for Titleist’s new Pro V1/V1x

Titleist’s new Pro V1 and Pro V1x 2019 golf balls are designed for more ball speed and lower spin on long game shots than the previous generations without giving up greenside spin.

For more ball speed, Titleist engineered a 17-percent thinner urethane elastomer cover. In the layer beneath the cover, Titleist developed a “faster ionomeric casing layer” that is 14-percent thicker on the Pro V1 and 11 percent thicker on the Pro V1x. Titleist says this increases ball speed and lowers long game spin.

Also, the company has increased stiffness of the outer-most portions of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x cores – called 2.0 ZG Process Cores -- thus increasing ball speed and lowering spin.

“When we set out to develop the 2019 models, we found that golfers at every level are extraordinarily satisfied with the performance of their Pro V1 or Pro V1x,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing for Titleist.

“At the same time, golfers keep telling us they would still like more distance – as long as they don’t have to give anything else up. 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.”

Fredrick Waddell, Senior Manager of Golf Ball Product at Titleist, said the latest generation of Pro V1s and Pro V1xs will feel the same as the recent versions.

“You’re going to see the same short game spin and control,” Waddell said. “What you’ll notice that’s improved is lower spin and more speed in the long shots. So tee balls to mid-irons, say, we’re seeing consistent ball speed increases, and a slight spin decrease -- not where it would hurt stopping power, but it does aid in distance a little bit. …

“The core, case and cover technology changes are all aimed at delivering that higher ball speed in both products, but without sacrificing anything in spin control or feel.”

Waddell said making the cover 17 percent thinner gives that material volume to the casing layer – which, he said, “makes it faster and can lower spin in the long game. But, there’s enough cover there, so to speak, to deliver the performance that these products have to have in terms of spin and control around the greens, of course durability and all those things.”

While the three-piece, 352-dimpled Pro V1 and the four-piece, 328-dimpled Pro V1x 2019 white golf balls will be available on Jan. 23 for $47.99 per dozen, Titleist is also releasing high-optic yellow versions of each model on March 15.