Why do I get more distance with ProV1x balls?

[abenjami]

As long as I can remember, I have played ProV1 or V1x's.  I have played them because they feel the best to me around (and on) the green.  I have gone back and forth between them over the past few years.  I like the feel better putting with a V1 but I always felt like I got a bit more distance and better ball flight with the V1x.

 

Last year I decided to play an entire season with just the V1.  I did and noticed my ball flight was definitely lower.  It was fine, just a different flight, especially with higher lofted clubs like wedges.

 

About a month ago, I bought some V1x's and started playing them again.  Sure enough, my ball flight is higher with them.  I also felt like I was gaining a little distance on the course.  The ball flight made total sense, as the V1x is a higher launch ball (according to Titleist anyway).

 

Last weekend, I decided to do some testing on a launch monitor.  I tested both balls.  I also tested some random other balls like a Bridgestone, TP5, Callaway Chromesoft, Titleist Tour Speed, and even an AVX.  After a session of hitting 200 balls, there was no doubt the V1x flies furthest for me.

 

It's the highest compression ball of the lot.  Now if I had a pro level swing speed, I would easily understand why the highest compression ball goes the furthest.  But I'm not that guy.  My driver swing speed is between 95-100 and average carry is 245-250.  My regular 7 iron carry is around 140-150 yards.  I would think a high compression ball wouldn't be the right ball for me.  I would think I should see at least the same distance with a V1 but I don't.

 

Any thoughts?

[North Butte]

Sounds like the marketing nonsense from certain manufacturers has claimed another victim. What you've observed is the reality, low compression balls are preferred by millions of golfers because they like the way they sound and feel when they hit them. There is nothing about a 95mph driver swing that "can't compress" (or whatever other rationalization they use) a Pro V1x or a Tour B X or a Chrome Soft X.

 

Pro V1x isn't quite unique but it's one of the few "Tour" balls whose aerodynamic package is formulated for pretty much the highest possible flight trajectory without ballooning uncontrollably. Most balls in that category as well as some of the "distance" balls like AVX are engineered for a lower flight. Sounds like your swing and equipment probably launch and spin the ball a little on the low side for max carry. Higher flight dimples on the Pro V1x compensates for that.

 

FWIW, with the 2021 models Titleist seem to have nudged the flight trajectory up a notch with the Pro V1 so it's not as "boring" as before. Not sure if you tested the 2019 or 2021 versions.

Edited April 15, 2021 by North Butte

[phizzy30]

Looks like the V1x your ball then.  For me, I found "the one".  I'm high launch/spin so the V1x is a no go.  Don't get me wrong it's a great ball.  The Chrome Soft X LS is it for me.  Launch is right in my window and it's a spin killer.  Nice flat trajectory that just carries for miles.  Enough spin on the greens as well.  Awesome wind ball as well.  I was playing the AVX briefly last year and it was fine for short irons, but would hit and roll out too much with mid irons and up. 

Edited April 15, 2021 by phizzy30

[North Butte]

20 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Looks like the V1x your ball then.  For me, I found "the one".  I'm high launch/spin so the V1x is a no go.  Don't get me wrong it's a great ball.  The Chrome Soft X LS is it for me.  Launch is right in my window and it's a spin killer.  Nice flat trajectory that just carries for miles.  Enough spin on the greens as well.  Awesome wind ball as well.  I was playing the AVX briefly last year and it was fine for short irons, but would hit and roll out too much with mid irons and up. 

I loved the AVX, low flight and all. But my personal hot button is seeing a perfectly struck iron shot run off the back of the green. That only happened maybe once every couple of rounds but it was infuriating. 
 

If I had a course where the greens were typically soft I’d probably play AVX and never give it a second thought. Our are one of the new ultradwarf Bermudas and play super firm most of the year. 

[cristphoto]

I played the Prov1 from the day it came out until about 3 years ago.  Titleist "flipped"  some of the characteristics of the ProV1 and the ProV1X.  Plus they made the X slightly softer which I like.  Now I only play the ProV1X (2019 version).  I tried the Taylor Made TP5X ball which was very nice but I prefer the feel of the Titleist.   You don't give up anything with the ProV1X unless you like a very soft ball.  I wouldn't call the X hard, I'd call it solid.  

[Pepperturbo]

I guess ProV1x spin characteristics and dimple count make the difference.  I hit it as further and slightly higher than ProV1, and can rely on it on fast greens.  The new AVX spins more than the older version.  I haven't one run off the green like the old version did too often. 

[abenjami]

13 hours ago, North Butte said:

Sounds like the marketing nonsense from certain manufacturers has claimed another victim. What you've observed is the reality, low compression balls are preferred by millions of golfers because they like the way they sound and feel when they hit them. There is nothing about a 95mph driver swing that "can't compress" (or whatever other rationalization they use) a Pro V1x or a Tour B X or a Chrome Soft X.

 

Pro V1x isn't quite unique but it's one of the few "Tour" balls whose aerodynamic package is formulated for pretty much the highest possible flight trajectory without ballooning uncontrollably. Most balls in that category as well as some of the "distance" balls like AVX are engineered for a lower flight. Sounds like your swing and equipment probably launch and spin the ball a little on the low side for max carry. Higher flight dimples on the Pro V1x compensates for that.

 

FWIW, with the 2021 models Titleist seem to have nudged the flight trajectory up a notch with the Pro V1 so it's not as "boring" as before. Not sure if you tested the 2019 or 2021 versions.

 

Assuming you were referring to me, I'm not sure how the marketing nonsense claimed another victim.  If I was a victim, I would have moved away from anything with a V1 stamp on it years ago and would have been playing Supersoft's, Duo's, or maybe one of those pink balls we see from time to time.  Instead, I've done the complete opposite and continued playing some of the highest compression balls available, despite the marketing nonsense telling me I should be playing a softer ball.

 

I have done some other testing in the past with other balls and for whatever reason despite my pretty average swing speed when I test the really low compression balls, the ball flight is like a hot air balloon and I get way too much spin.  I've seen my wedge put over 12k RPM's on a Supersoft.

 

There's no doubt compression is a lot of marketing nonsense these days and it's not even a standardized test among different ball manufacturers.  But there is some science at work too.

 

Here's an article I came across not too long ago involving compression and they did some pretty in depth testing using PXG's robot (after PXG tested compression using the same test for each ball).  It's a pretty long article but if you scroll almost all the way to the bottom, they provide charts of the test results at 3 different swing speeds using 3 different clubs (driver, 7i, PW).

 

https://Not allowed Per Todaysgolfer's UK request/features/equipment-features/2019/september/robot-tested-which-golf-bal-suits-my-game/

 

If you look at the results for the driver @ 100mph and the 7i @ 80mph, the V1 and V1x were nearly identical with a driver when it comes to carry distance and launch angle; and they were in the top half of carry distance.  They were also closer to the top with the faster driver @ 115mph (as were other high compression balls like the TP5x).  But if you move down to the 7i results, the V1 and V1x were dead last in carry distance, even though the TP5x was still near the top.

 

In the grand scheme of things, the carry distance range of the 100mph driver was only 7 yards and even less at 5 yards with the 7i.  I'm perfectly happy to give up 5 yards (or half a club) to play a ball I love to chip and putt with.

Edited April 16, 2021 by abenjami

[ericmakiman]

 

it is not the compression..... V1x is lower spin than the original V1.....  good for golfers with slower swing speed below 100 mph....

[pallmall]

For 7# iron's carry distance, spin rate is a very important factor. Pro V is shorter most because they spin much more than other leaders in distance.

[North Butte]

6 hours ago, abenjami said:

 

Assuming you were referring to me, I'm not sure how the marketing nonsense claimed another victim.  If I was a victim, I would have moved away from anything with a V1 stamp on it years ago and would have been playing Supersoft's, Duo's, or maybe one of those pink balls we see from time to time.  Instead, I've done the complete opposite and continued playing some of the highest compression balls available, despite the marketing nonsense telling me I should be playing a softer ball..

I was trying to be too clever with that wording, sorry. Not really on-target.

[abenjami]

3 hours ago, North Butte said:

I was trying to be too clever with that wording, sorry. Not really on-target.

 

No worries, I still thought it was funny. 😀

[Texas Golfer]

Compression is more a matter of personal preference. I prefer a softer feel but one that is lively rather than mushy.  The older e6 had this combination.

[braincramp52]

I got nothin'. I've never noticed a significant difference in distance no matter what ball I've played. If I make good contact everything goes pretty much the same. Spin off wedges is where I see the biggest difference in different types of balls.

[Shilgy]

On 4/15/2021 at 1:49 PM, cristphoto said:

I played the Prov1 from the day it came out until about 3 years ago.  Titleist "flipped"  some of the characteristics of the ProV1 and the ProV1X.  Plus they made the X slightly softer which I like.  Now I only play the ProV1X (2019 version).  I tried the Taylor Made TP5X ball which was very nice but I prefer the feel of the Titleist.   You don't give up anything with the ProV1X unless you like a very soft ball.  I wouldn't call the X hard, I'd call it solid.  

Titleist flipped a bit...TM did not. So the pro V1X is more equivalent to the tp5.  At least that is the word from our TM rep and my club pro on TM staff.