Here we are, it is the 25th anniversary of the most popular golf ball, probably in golf history. To say I was excited to test it would be the understatement of the year. I mean, it is the number one golf ball from the number one golf ball family. It does not get better than that.

What he was saying, and what it says on the ball’s official website page sounds fantastic. The ball is supposed to produce less long-game spin and more short-game spin compared to the 2023 model. Wow! If true, that might make me go back to it from the AVX I currently play. Without any technicalities, let’s discover this new gem.

Who Is This Ball For?

Briefly, this ball is for everyone, and I mean everyone. Ok, disregard that—almost everyone. I would still not recommend it to players who struggle with direction and shot control. If you are slicing or hooking too much, it could just aggravate the issue. Anyone else who wants great distance control with not the softest, but a very nice feel, could benefit from it. It offers a balanced performance that is solid across the board. Also, if you are on a budget, think twice, as a dozen balls cost top dollar.

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On the Green

First of all, I will say I enjoyed using the newly designed alignment. Even though the difference is not big compared to the old ball model, it still looked better to use. Now, on to the performance. Would anything besides me saying this ball rolls great and feels great on the green surprise you? This is a consistency that aligns with the previous models.

I spent almost no time adjusting to it and it helped my putting look better than it was. Only a couple of times it rolled a bit longer than I expected. In general, all putts ended either in the cup or within 3-4 feet from it. The sound when struck was mellower than I would expect from a ball with a compression rating of 87. Putting gets high marks.

Around the Green

Chipping is the part that impressed me a lot. I know without measurements I can’t know the spin rates, but it felt like the distance control improved. All the chips were coming out soft with the ball checking on the green after 2 or 3 hops.

For me, it is important to see how a ball performs on the low, bump-and-run shots. Here it excelled as well. It seemed every time I chipped I could almost count on one putt after. There was an exception, but nothing more than that. And, yes, it felt nice chipping it with a soft feel on contact. This was the case with shorter and longer chips.

Approach Shots

Just a reminder, I test golf balls on a par 3 course, so each shot is an approach shot. As soon as I hit the first few shots, it reminded me how much I enjoyed hitting this ball in the past. Each time I made a good connection, the strike felt amazing. A well executed shot with this ball is so rewarding.

Performance-wise, it did even better than I expected. I remember distance control being great with the old model, but this one leveled it up. I mean, whenever I landed it on the green the pitch mark was in proximity to where the ball stopped. Its stopping power is simply outstanding. Since I just came out of a winter golf hibernation, my game was not yet tuned in. However, this ball made my return almost seamless.

My misses were consistent and distances pretty in line with what I was expecting. The shots travelled mostly in the medium flight trajectory window, which was expected. Simply put, strike this ball, watch it fly, and land, was delightful.

Durability

Considering this is a premium ball with a soft urethane cover, the durability was decent. After one round on a par 3 course, it does show a few scuffs and marks. Compared to the previous model, that was very similar. That is no concern performance-wise, at least not for a few rounds. It would be great to have more durable premium balls, but that is unfortunately not going to be the case. Still, good durability.

Appearance and Price

Ok, I admit it, I like how Titleist golf balls look. The Pro V1 is no exception, I am a fan of that nice and clean look with the signature Titleist logo. As usual, the alignment arrow has been changed. Unlike the last two versions, when we had two slim lines forming the arrow, now we have a solid line. It works for me, I would say I even prefer it to the old design. Overall, it is a good-looking golf ball.

The Pro V1 price is, well, up there with the most expensive premium balls in stores. At $54.99 some of you might go for cheaper options. It comes at the same price as the premium models from Calaway and TaylorMade. Surprise? Not really. In the end, it will still remain the most popular premium ball choice. It is available in white and yellow colors.