Category: Balls

The rumors are flying: Titleist is readying an update to its Pro V1/V1x golf balls. A retail-purchased late 2004 Pro V1x has markings like this.

◀•Pro V1x 332•▶

The arrows look like those in the image to the right, but something as subtle as that dash between “V1x” and “332” indicates a new ball.

What changes can Titleist make to an already quite capable ball – one that won every PGA Tour Major last year? The rumors are flying. One claim states that the both the V1 and the V1x will be longer than last year’s, but the V1 will maintain the same spin. It may do this by spinning similarly around the greens but less off the driver. Another claims that the spin on the V1x has been reduced on short irons and wedges and that it will feel softer around the greens. Other rumors say the V1x will simply spin less all around.

Rumor mongers routinely check the USGA’s list of conforming balls to look for new additions. Just search for “titleist” “pro” and “v1” to see a complete list.

What’s in store for Titleist’s premier ball? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

So many golf inventions come from Buffalo, New York. There’s the, uhhh… and the, uhmmm… well, never mind. NanoDynamics, Inc. of – you guessed it – Buffalo, New York have reportedly come up with a golf ball that can correct its own flight path. It’s no miracle cure, but the ball supposedly corrects slight drifts and wobbles by better channeling the energy received from the clubhead.

Says CEO Keith Blakely, “It also behaves much more controllably on a putting surface, which is how we hope to get interest on the pro circuit. It has a reduced tendency to break. It doesn’t pop or jump or roll.” NanoDynamics has apparently not only conquered the slice, but gravity as well.

The ball is expected to sell for $7 to $8 apiece in the spring of 2005, though the ball has yet to be submitted for USGA approval. NanoDynamics has set up a site at ndmxgolf.com to show off their balls.

What ever happened to the Top-Flite Magna? The oversized ball (1.74″ instead of 1.68″, if my memory is correct) was supposed to “roll smoother” on the greens and slice and hook less. Distance suffered a tad, I recall, simply due to the fact that the ball had to push more air out of the way. There were a few other oversize balls available as well, but the Magna was the leader out of the gates.

Nowadays, you can find the Magna for $10/dozen or less.

Titleist has long been the number one ball on tour. At one point, a Titleist had one over 40 consecutive US Opens. Tiger Woods ended that streak, and with the likes of Woods, Duval, Mickelson, and a few others playing balls from Nike or Callaway, Titleist finds itself in an unusual position.

Vijay Singh and Ernie Els both play Titleist, and this week at the WGC-Amex, 12 of the top 15 finishers played the Titleist Pro V1 (x or no-x). Titleist equipment has always been for serious ballplayers, and the Pro V1 is no different.

At $56 MSRP (and about $40-45 retail), this ain’t no “32-pack for $19.99” kinda ball. I just found two-dozen Titleist DT-Spin (90 compression, three-piece, liquid center) in my closet. I wonder how they’ll play these days.