Jezz Ellwood visits Abu Dhabi to get a first look at the brand new 2017 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls plus a chance to test both thoroughly
GM's Jezz Ellwood enjoyed the opportunity ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship to learn more about the new 2017 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls, test both models thoroughly, and - via a Titleist ball fitting and extensive experimenting - attempt to come to a conclusion as to which ball will best suit his game in 2017. Find out what decision he came to in the accompanying video.
Titleist Pro V1 is one of golf's most enduring franchises, with Billy Andrade recording the first ever win for the then new ball back in October 2000 in the Invensys Classic.
The 2017 models go on sale in the UK today, and you'll notice a fresh look to the new 2017 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls. But what you can't see are the changes inside that make their performance even better than before.
While the ZG Process Core, first introduced in 2011, hasn’t changed in the Pro V1x, the new Pro V1 features a Next Generation 2.0 ZG Process Core that benefits from a new formula which generates lower spin and faster ball speeds.
The new Pro V1 is lower-spinning through the bag, but the biggest reductions will be seen in the long game. The number of dimples on both balls hasn't changed, but the master hob in which the dimples are created has been improved. The new dimple designs are now laser-etched, resulting in better coverage and more consistency from dimple to dimple and ball to ball.
As a result, golfers can expect a more aerodynamically consistent ball flight and a tighter peak-height window on each shot’s apex. The new 2017 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are on sale now, with an RRP of £52 per dozen
The Titleist Pro V1 celebrated 15 years at No.1 in 2015
Facts and figures 2017 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x
- Titleist employs 80 R&D experts who work solely on golf balls
- Focus groups with 100+ participants provided feedback for consideration in the two new ball models
- Titleist conducted blind testing of various prototype versions with 10,000 golfers
- 80,000 golfers in total received test product in autumn 2016
- The development phase included 4 key stages: 1) R&D; 2) Observation of trends across the tours and markets; 3) Use of qualitative data; 4) Use of quantitative data
- Dimple numbers remain the same in both models (352 Pro V1 and 328 Pro V1x), but new dimple designs with improved dimple placement create more consistent surfaces and generate a more consistent flight
- Tour pros have reported being able to hit the ball through "smaller windows"
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