Pro V1 vs Pro V1x: Which is Better for You?

They are two of the best balls money can buy. Period. They stand atop the Titleist premium lineup and set the standard for all other golf balls. But what happens when you put up the Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x?

It’s safe to say these are the heavyweights of the golf ball world. Almost every brand models their premium lineup of golf balls after the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x. But what’s the real difference between them? Why is it so important to have multiple options of golf balls?

Before I get too far into the comparison, It’s important to know that each ball is elite in its own right. No matter which one you choose, you will have one of the best, most consistent golf balls on the market.

That said, there are very distinct differences between the two, and picking the wrong one for your game could leave you frustrated and not shooting the scores you want.

Is Pro V1 or Pro V1x Longer?

The first question most people ask about a golf ball is about distance. When it comes to distance, the slight edge goes to the Pro V1x. With an emphasis on slight.

From my experience, the longer the club, the more difference you’ll see in distance. A well struck drive will usually get in the range of an extra 5-10 yards while shorter clubs are more negligible in their diference. Of course, the faster you swing, the more of a difference you’ll see.

The extra distance in Pro V1x is assisted by its firmer compression and slightly higher ball flight. So if distance is your number one decider in your pick between the Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x, just be aware that you’re going to get firmer feel. There are no 2 ways about it.

Does Pro V1 or Pro V1x Have More Spin?

While most people’s first question about a golf ball is about distance, the actual first question should be about spin.

Distance can be manipulated a lot more by changing driver heads or shafts or lofts, but it’s hard to fake spin where it counts. Distance is great, but when you have a 100-yard shot, you need to hit it 100 yards. Who cares if you can hit it 105?

The thing that matters most when you are within scoring range is getting your ball to spin enough to stop it where you want it. And I’ll tell you right now, most of us don’t spin the ball enough.

But that argument is for another day. You can read all about how I recommend choosing the right golf ball here.

For the topic at hand, the Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x spin comparison has gotten more complicated in the most recent iteration of each ball. It had been a long standing truth that the Pro V1x spun more and flew higher, but the water has become murky with that blanket truth.

For the sake of amateurs like me, driver spin for both of these balls is the same. Credit to Titleist on this, they know how to eliminate spin on longer shots no matter what they end up changing to any of their balls. Some think the Pro V1x spins more and that’s what give it its higher trajectory, but both balls spin within the same range and it will be negligible to even a trained eye.

The real kicker for spin is short and mid irons. This is where the Pro V1x takes its crown as the highest spinning Titleist golf ball. If you have trouble stopping a ball on full wedge shots, try a Pro V1x and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Which Ball Has a Better Trajectory?

I would argue trajectory is more important than distance. At least when you’re picking a golf ball.

Distance is proving to be one of the most important parts of golf, but the best ways to gain distance can all be done without changing the golf ball.

What is one of the most important parts of golf that a good ball can help with? Stopping power on the green. We’ve already talked about spin, but spin has a close relative that helps too.

This leads us into the conversation of trajectory. This often gets misinterpreted as launch angle, but it’s much more than that. Trajectory is the all-encompassing flight of each shot. Yes, it starts with launch angle, but it also includes peak height, distance of peak height, and descent angle.

Does Pro V1 or Pro V1x Have Better Feel?

I’ll just come out and say it. Feel is overrated.

A Pro V1 will be noticeably softer than a Pro V1x. But, like I said, I wouldn’t recommend choosing a Pro V1 for this reason alone. Things like trajectory and spin are far more important when it comes to choosing a ball.

However, being aware of what you’re getting into with the firmness of your golf ball is important. The better I’ve gotten at golf, the more I can feel the difference in my golf ball. Especially on the putting green.

In fact, I would say putting might be the only place where the firmness of a golf ball is something you might want to pay attention to. When you’re swinging a driver, you’re giving it everything you’ve got. Soft or firm, the ball is going to fly as far as physics will allow it.

But putting is different. It’s the one time on a course when you never max out your swing. It’s simply about precision. This means firmness could actually make a difference in performance. A small difference, but a difference nonetheless.

All in all, firmness should not be the feature you base your decision on. However, you should be aware of your ball’s firmness so you aren’t surprised by feels and clicky sounds around the greens.

Pricing and Value

They’re not the most expensive golf ball… but they’re probably the most expensive ball the average person has heard of.

There’s really no comparison here. Since they’re both made by Titleist and they’re both in the premium category, they both run you $55.

We can argue the worth of that on a different day, but Titleist holds its reputation for good reason.

Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x: Final Thoughts

They’re are worse decisions you have to make on a golf course than a Pro V1 vs. Pro V1x. Rest assured they are both going to perform like the stalwarts they are.

That being said, there’s a reason why Titleist has built its golf ball brand on two different models and there’s a very distinct difference between them.

Choose Pro V1 if:

If distance is not your number 1 priority and you already produce enough spin around the green, the Pro V1 is the ball for you. Most golfers will prefer it for its softer feel, but there are plenty of other reasons to love the Pro V1.

Choose Pro V1x if:

If you struggle to get the ball up in the air or need more spin around the greens, I would give the Pro V1x a try. Most people love the soft feel of the Pro V1, but truth be told, many golfers can benefit far more from the extra spin and height of the Pro V1x.