The Pro V1 Myth

Stop playing a $55/dozen ball if you swing under 100mph.

The Titleist Pro V1 is an incredible piece of engineering. It is the number one ball on worldwide tours for a reason. But you are not a tour player. And if your driver swing speed is under 100mph (which, statistically, it is), playing a premium tour ball is actively hurting your game.

The Physics of Compression

Golf balls are designed with a specific "compression rating." Think of the golf ball like a spring. To get maximum energy transfer (and therefore distance) out of the ball, you must swing the club fast enough to compress the core of the ball against the clubface.

Premium tour balls (Pro V1, TP5, Chrome Soft X) are designed with firm cores. They require clubhead speeds upwards of 105mph to fully compress.

If you swing at 90mph and hit a Pro V1, you are only compressing the outer layers. You are leaving distance on the table because you aren't activating the core of the ball.

The Spin Problem

Tour balls feature urethane covers designed to maximize spin. Tour pros want massive amounts of spin around the greens to stop the ball quickly.

However, that high-spin characteristic applies to every club in the bag. If you are an amateur who struggles with a slice (which is caused by an open clubface imparting sideways spin on the ball), a premium tour ball will take that slice spin and amplify it.

A 20-yard slice with a low-spin, two-piece distance ball might turn into a 30-yard slice into the woods with a Pro V1.

What You Should Play Instead

If you swing under 95mph and shoot in the 90s, you need a ball with a low compression rating and a Surlyn/Ionomer cover (which naturally reduces spin).

• Examples: Titleist TruFeel, Callaway Supersoft, Srixon Soft Feel, TaylorMade Distance+.

These balls have compression ratings in the 40-60 range. Your 90mph swing will easily compress the core, resulting in a trampoline effect and maximum distance. Furthermore, the low-spin cover will keep your drives straighter.