2014 Titleist Golf Balls

Imagine my surprise when I was told by a Titleist representative at the PGA Show in Orlando that Titleist really doesn't consider themselves a golf club company. They are first and foremost a golf ball company. Seriously? What about all of those titles and tournaments I used to see Tiger, Rory and all their fellow Titleist staffers win with Titleist gear? Granted, their equipment is targeted for single-digit handicappers; game-improvement type irons aren't likely on the company's radar for anytime soon, but still, their equipment seemed to be in the hands of every winner past and somewhat present on the PGA Tour.

OK, so let's talk about Titleist, the golf ball company. It has often been said, pick one thing and do it better than anyone else. If Titleist is, in fact, merely a golf ball company, then that pearl of wisdom certainly applies. In fact, more tour professionals trust Titleist than any other golf ball in the world. Titleist golf balls deliver performance as a result of rigorous R & D, quality manufacturing, player testing and validation. Let's face it; all players want to shoot lower scores - or at least do better than their last round. A golf ball's performance isn't always measured by how far it flies off the tee. A true measure of performance is how it reacts to scoring shots to the green.

Titleist believes it all starts with ball fitting which is conducted on the course and includes evaluation of ALL shots. If you can't make it to a course, there is always the Internet; Titleist offers a ball fitting app (www.titleist.com/ballfitting) whereby you begin the process by answering a few questions.

If you are in the northern US, the app is a great place to start. When things warm up - and courses and driving ranges are actually open - you can move on and do some on-course evaluation using the recommended and alternative balls from the app. They even provide an Evaluation Scorecard on the app to print and take with you to the course. Hit several different shots of all kinds (tee to green) with the emphasis on scoring shots into and around the green, review the scorecard and see which ball is best for your game.
Titleist makes a ball to fit everyone; from the weekend hacker that plays once or twice a year to the tour professional. Models include the Pro V1, Pro V1x, NXT S, NXT Tour, DT Solo and the more recent Titleist Velocity; all are redesigned for 2014.

Pro V1, Pro V1x:

I always thought there was a certain stigma that surrounded the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. I felt these balls were only for golfers much better than I and that when these balls were found in the woods or fished out of the water (they were always way too expensive to purchase), they should be coveted, like an actor with an Oscar. I once had a client send me 20 dozen Pro V1s for some work I did. Even though they were free, I dreaded losing them so much that it took me about 10 years to go through them. Eventually I lost them all.

The fact of the matter is that the Pro V1 is designed for golfers of all skill levels and abilities. The Pro V1x is the high performance model of the two. It's designed for a lower spin rate on longer shots and a higher flight while the Pro V1 offers the best scoring performance (on shots to the green) and a soft feel.

The Pro V1 changes every two years. If you got what you thought was a great deal on a dozen, it may just be last year's model. A dozen of these babies usually run around $48.00; double-digit numbered balls for some reason seem to run slightly higher.

NXT Tour and Tour S.

The NXT Tour and Tour S are new this year. Rumor had it that the NXT was being replaced by the Velocity. Not so fast. Both provide exceptional distance and fantastic short game control. S is for soft as in soft feel; the NXT Tour and Tour S have been reengineered with a softer compression core. Both balls offer tremendous performance which is exceeded only by the Pro V1 series. Another appealing feature is the price - about $34.00 a dozen.

Titleist Velocity.

Redesigned in 2014 with a reformulated and proprietary LSX core which produces a higher initial ball speed for more distance. Also new is the spherically tiled 328 tetrahedral dimples for a more piercing ball flight and a shallower angle of descent. All of this for more explosive distance on all full swing shots. At around $27.00 a dozen; they're a great deal DT Solo. Another Titleist ball is the often overlooked (by me at least)

DT Solo.

It too has been revamped this year to provide the best combination of soft feel and a distance in a DT model ever. DT Solo has a super soft compression core and a soft Ionomer cover as well as a new spherically tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple pattern. For the average golfer, this means longer driver and iron distance while still maintaining the soft feel DT golfers have come to rely upon. A dozen DT Solo balls will run you around $24.00 a dozen; a small price to pay for such a big name.

The bottom line is that Titleist has a ball to fit everyone. If you want to feel like a tour pro (that is until you shank it into the water), give the pro V1 or Pro V1x a try. Want to save some money and still see the Titleist name? Then the DT Solo or Velocity is a great option. Whichever ball you choose, Titleist will outperform other balls in the same price range. I'm still waiting for a ball that gives great distance, performs well around the green...and floats! Or has sonar built in.

For more information on Titleist's new lineup of golf balls and to see which ball is best for you, visit their website at www.titleist.com.