Let's see the brief history of the Pro V1 golf balls before I would explain what I found new in the 2015 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls:
- October 2000: the original Pro V1 prototype was launched on the PGA Tour at the Invesys Classic in Las Vegas. 47 players started to play with Titleist Pro V1.
- March 2001: 4 months after the launch, Titleist Pro V1 became the best-selling golf ball in the marketplace.
- 2003: Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x were launched. They are the best selling golf balls globally.
Now lets turn back to the present. Titleist is launching today their 2015 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls. In the latest Titleist golf ball models more than 100 patents (cover: technologies and manufacturing processes) were implemented.
What are the differences between the 2 models:
- Pro V1 3-piece; has a softer feel, slightly more long game spin and a penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent for more roll.
- Pro V1x 4-piece; offers a slightly firmer feel,lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent.
Unlike Callaway Golf and Wilson Staff, Titleist didn't tell me how soft is their new golf balls in terms of compression number. What we can know is that the 2015 Titleist Pro V1 golf ball has a very soft compression ZG process core.
In both Titleist golf ball we can find a new, patented thermoset urethane elastomer cover (created by a chemical reaction that takes place during the sophisticated casting process.) to deliver more short game spin and control, and softer feel.
Thermoset urethane gives Titleist a complete control of the chemical composition. The closest competitors of Titleist are using urethane-covered golf balls use a thermoplastic urethane (TPU).
FYI:
2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are available in both standard and custom play numbers. Standard dozens include play numbers 1-4 (low) and 5-8 (high). Double-digit play numbers (00 and 11-99), or the same single-digit number (1-9), are available through custom order with a minimum order of one dozen.