Since I only play optic yellow balls, I'm trying the NXT Tour, the PD and the Pinnacle to see whether there is really any difference to me and my game. Until the NXT Tour recently came out on the market, I tried a couple other manufacturers, neither of which impressed me over the Pinnacle. I'm sure they are good balls, but my age, (62), and with what's left of my game, I just don't seem to get any significant difference in performance from a ball that costs $45 a dozen over something like the Pinnacles available at $15 for 15 balls.

Obviously, your mileage may vary. By the way, I play 3-4 times a week for free since my retirement job is at a golf course. Golf balls are my single biggest expense and it's a really weird perspective to think that golf is no longer an expensive sport like I always budgeted for when I was younger.

Does anybody even play a certain golf ball or is this post not worth it??

It's certainly not a stupid question, just one that makes more sense, (as far as I'm concerned), if we relate which ball we use to why we use it. If someone just says they use such and such ball without explaining a bit about their game, there's no way to know whether it's because the ball fits them or because they just want to use the same ball as their favorite pro.

I could use Pro V1X balls, but it would just be a waste of money for me because I can't do with a golf ball what I could 30 years ago.

My first NXTs came as a door prize. I had a supply of other things I was using, but the one thing I noticed was they stayed in bounds better. It wasn't real obivous since I don't lose a lot of balls, but it was more than coincidental that I might not replace any balls with the NXT. e5 and ProVs tended to be in the 2 balls a round range. I only occasionaly got a ProV to check more than any other ball. That might make a difference of 1-2 strokes a round. 2 more lost balls is 4 stokes per round.

Now I only have to decide between Velocity, NXT Tour, and NXT Tour-S to replace my current supply of NXT. I've got about 18 left and that may last me well into the summer. I may go with optic so that may even change that choice. No question, if it helps your short game, the ProV1/-X is worth the price for a 3-4 shot improvement. In my case, playing a more expensive ball for a higher score doesn't work. Fortunately, Titleist allows golfers of all ability access to equipment for their game.

I play NXT Tour golf balls. I am an 8 handicap and I like this ball because it is durable and does just what I want around the greens and off the tee. I don't want too much spin because I don't handle it very well at this point in my golf game. It will stop on the green, but not spin too harshly if I miss-hit it off the tee.

I play the Prov1x because I get 2-3 yards farther than the pro v1 (which i dont care about), but it also provides less spin on long shots which is really important for me because my misses tend to fade and i can greatly reduce the amount of fade with the pro v1x. Also, off the tee the pro v1x spins less so i hit more fairways consistanty meaning i shoot lower scores more consistently. And being an 11 handicap my goal is to break 80 so that was the deciding factor between the two. Just thought I'd share my opinio.

James - For the sake of helping the original poster, why do you play the Pro V ? He's trying to make a decision what to play and with no information as to why such and such suits us better, it's no help to him.

I play the Pro V1.  I have tried the Penta and also the new 20XI, which I did not like at all.

I started playing HX Chrome because a friend gave me a sleeve to try out.  Use to play NXT Tour at one time.  I have a slower swing speed (90 mpg) and cant figure out if I should play the ProV1 or ProV1x. 

I play the ProV1 golf ball because I absolutely HATE when perfect shots do not hold onto a green. With a ProV1 ball, the complaints have referred to long shots being inconsistent. However, this does not bother me because my drives (for the most part) go very straight. All in all, the lack of distance is worth it with the spin around the greens, and the durability is excellent.

That's interesting. I haven't heard anyone mention the Pro V1 being short or inconsistent off the tee.

For me, I have found the ProV1 to be rather short off the tee.  With the excessive backspin that's generated, each of the tee shots resulted in a balloon, that left me much shorter than the rest of my foursome - I would typically outdrive at least (2) of the remaining (3). 

For this reason, I would only play a ProV1 on a Par 3 hole that's within 5i or less range.

Only the NXT tour for me! I get prov-1s as gifts all the time, but prefer the NXT for my game.

In my younger days (when I could make a 325 yard drive) I was an avid golfer. I would go out at twilight when there would be no one behind me and hit several brand-name balls to see which performed the best. Titleist beat hands down. After I determined I was not going to turn pro I gave up the game for 20 to 30 years. I have recently taken the game up again a few years ago, now in my late 50s the ball I am fond of is the Titleist NXT Tour.

The Pro V1 is a superior golf ball. I am 74 with a 8 handicap at Oakcreek C.C., in Sedona Az. I have tried other balls and there is no comparison. Also play AP,s

I have a bone to pick with Titleist     Sometimes I think companies  Over Think  about changes

I loved the NXT golf ball   for me it was the best   solid performing ball made    bar  none

I was on the testing team  in Texas   and liked the new models tested   but the NXT Tour  or NXT S   isn't the old NXT

In my opinion  should have  left the NXT as it was       Titleist didn't change the ProV   shouldn't have changed the NXT

Just 1 player's  thoughts....  

Hi Bert,

Thanks for the post and feedback. We always appreciate hearing the thoughts of our Team Titleist members. As you can imagine, one of our primary goals is to continuously improve all of our products to ensure we are always delivering the very best performing equipment.  

Our R&D team has really done amazing job with the entire family of new Titleist golf balls. By introducing some new aerodynamics packages and preference options within NXT Tour and NXT Tour S, along with the all new Velocity, we are confident that there is a ball that will deliver the performance and preference options that fit your game and ultimately help you shoot lower scores.

One quick clarification on your comment around the Pro V1, the current generation does feature some new enhancements. Here are some details from our Golf Ball R&D team:

With the new Pro V1 we’re incorporating two new features in 2011. The first enhancement we’ve made is to the core technology. It’s an innovative, new ZG process core technology that allows us to produce the most uniform core we’ve ever made. This process also enables us to take our already high quality standards to the next level when it comes to core-to-core uniformity. The new Pro V1 also has an increase in spin compared to the prior generation. We’ve also changed the dimple design to a spherically tiled 352 tetrahedral dimple design which results in a penetrating and more consistent flight.

Thanks again for the input and feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions or want to chat more about golf ball selection.

Cheers!

- Mike

I'm a luck golfer! Last week Titleist sent me 4  NXT Golf Balls to try out. Also included in the box from Titleist was a survey form to complete. Team Titleist, unfortunately, someone in your marketing department put an invalid link to the survey in the box. It will be hard to get feedback since the survey link does not work. Now, the NXT Tour ball-its the ball for me. I've been experimenting during the "off season" with a lot of other brands. One brand in particular that I will not mention, stayed in my bag for 3 months. It was a two piece ball that was marketed as a "distance ball" by the maker. I'm going back to the NXT Tour-(went back yesterday)..It is clearly the ball for me. I dont have enough club head speed to take advantage of the benefits of the ProV1 for distance, so the NXT gets my vote in all three categories-Distance, Feel and Cost. It works for me.

Ron..10 HDCP

NOT VERY TECHNICAL BUT HERE GOES. I'M 74 WITH A 12 HDCP. I HAVE A SWING SPEED OF ABOUT 80.ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPT I SHOULD BE HITTING THE SOLO.I'VE TRIED ALL OF THE TITLEIST BALLS AND ALWAYS RETURN TO THE SAME PLACE.I USED PROV1X IN WARM WEATGER AND PROV1 IN COOL WEATHER.MY REASON IS THAT'S WHAT FEELS BEST WHEN I PLAY. THE VELOCITY FLYS VERY WELL BUT IN THE SHORT GAME IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT.

I'll try the new Velocity  this weekend    Hope it plays as well as the NXT    time  and  strokes    will tell  

Bob C.

I just tried the new NXT Tour and the Tour S, and I found the Tour S to be the ball that feels the best to my game.  Long off the tee and good around the green,  The NXT Tour felt a little hard and I didn't have the length I did with the Tour S.  I also had a chance to try the New Velocity and I was surprised as I was outdriving my regular partner (same age as me, 75) and my son who is twenty plus years younger than I with 15 lower handicap.  It will be the Velocity or the Tour S for me depending on the weather.

How does weather impact your decision on which ball you play?

I usually play the ProV1x but i heard that the ProV1 flys lower so i had to play in a tournament earlier this year that was really windy and i decided to play the ProV1 and i couldn't tell a difference in ball flight. I had trouble hitting greens with it but the wind didn't help either. 

 I play the prov1X I like the way the ball preforms and I used to play the NXT tour but I found they didn't hold up as well as the Prov1x

I'm with Dennis on this.  I play NXT Tours because I don't feel I can utilize all the capabilities of a tour ball.  It is a cost benefit thing with me.   I'm not shy about picking up year old technology at close out prices either.  I stumbled upon a great deal on another brand at Dick's at the end of last year and stocked up.

It is somewhat ironic because I've played Titleist, almost exclusively,  for over 30 years.  Back then the gap in performance between brands was substantial. I paid for Titleist at that time even though it took more of my "milk" money to do so.  Nowadays, when price isn't as big a factor to me,  that performance variance has narrowed to a point where there are 4-5 manufactures of  excellent products.  It makes it fun to have choices.  Lots of choices.

I like the tier of balls just below the ProV1 and ProV1x - the NXT Tour and Tour S balls are a great compromise for me of performance, cost and - truth be told - ego.  The feel of the ProV's is great, I just hate occasionally losing one.

I play a Q Star. What is the best golf ball for someone like a Corey Pavin who wants to "work the ball"?

Hi, I'm a moderate swing speed player who was playing srixon trispeed. I've just tried the NXT Tour S.

This is a seriously good ball that  is long off the tee and spins well round the green with a lovely soft feel off my putter.

Definitely now my No 1  ball of choice most days..

Occasionally I play the Callaway Hex Chrome as I've found it the best ball for me in very windy conditions.

Regards, Chris T

Well... Here is my take what I use.

I play the ProV 1X. I live in the Seattle and as you all know... It rains allot here. ;-) We are also at sea level. The X does tend to carry further the the PV1. Being we have softer green and almost all are Poa, the ball holds well with almost all shots. As are TT brothers, lets say down south or the south west have dryer and harder surfaces, they may have issues with the X releasing a bit more. When I travel to those areas, I do tend to play the PV1 more.

  That being said... I think the ball you choose should be based somewhat on your angle of attack through the ball. Spin or less spin can be controlled in part, by your angle. As a scratch golfer and taller, my angle is steeper by mechanics then lets say, someone who has a shallower  swing plane. Just my opinion of course.

But, I can tell you this. I'll play any ball in the world..... As long as it has Titleist stamped on.

DT SOLO!! Very affordable,Very durable,and for me is excellent around the greens...Thxs

I have played golf for over 50 years and, although I have tried others, I have always gone back to Titleist golf balls. They have always been the true gauge of what a golf ball should be. It has been fun over the years to watch the Titleist ball evolve and to try the different models introduced each year.

I currently play the ProV1. Although the ProV1x gives a little more distance, I have found over the years that distance is not as important as feel, spin and control. I am willing to give up ten yards on my drives in exchange for these important features. I have always played a high draw, especially on my irons and the extra spin I can get with the ProV1 is essential to stopping the ball where I want it on the green.

An interesting note: When I am playing in fun events such scrambles, I often pull out the NXT. I have found that this ball gives me more distance than any other Titleist. I find this is a great ball when I want to show off my length off the tee.

I was a teaching professional for a time, gave that up and reclaimed my amateur status and played scratch golf for many years. Even now, as I approach those golden years, I still try to keep my handicap in the single digits. Throughout my many years of golf, I can honestly say that, with all the innovations other golf companies have made, no has and probably never will come close to equaling the Titleist.

I'm 60 and a 17 handicap w/ a smooth swing speed of about 80+ mph. I like golf balls like the Q-Star, e6 & Titleist DT Solo. I shot 40 on the Back 9 y'day w/ the e6.