HISTORY OF THE PRO V1

How Pro V1 Launched — and Immediately Changed the Game

The Titleist Pro V1 is a premium multi-layer golf ball designed to deliver low long-game spin for distance and high short-game spin for control — a stark contrast to prior ball models that compromised one area of performance for another. Introduced to PGA Tour players on October 11, 2000, at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas, Pro V1 triggered the single greatest equipment shift in Tour history.

The Launch of Pro V1

Titleist's then-Senior VP of Tour Promotion, Mac Fritz, arrived at TPC Summerlin expecting 20–25 early adopters. Instead, 47 players put Pro V1 in play that week — including the eventual champion Billy Andrade as well as the runner-up, making it a 1–2 finish in Pro V1’s debut.

Instead, 47 players put Pro V1 in play that week — and Pro V1 players finished 1–2. Billy Andrade, who had already mailed his entry check to Q-School before the event, won his fourth career PGA Tour title using the ball.

Overnight demand prompted Titleist to accelerate the consumer launch from March 2001 to December 2000. After just four months in shops, Pro V1 was the best-selling golf ball in the market — and it took two years and a new Ball Plant (Ball Plant 3, New Bedford, MA) to catch up to demand.

The R&D Story Behind Pro V1

Pro V1 didn't appear without warning. In the summer of 2000, Titleist's Golf Ball R&D team ran the "100-Man March" — working individually with 100 Tour players to test the prototype. One session stands out: at Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea Island, Georgia, Davis Love III alternated drives between his current Titleist Professional ball and the Pro V1 prototype. The Pro V1 balls rolled to Mac Fritz's feet — 300 yards away. The Professional balls didn't come close. Love eventually hit the prototype so far it reached a cross ditch previously unreachable off the tee, and the ball was never found. Love and his son went back the next day and came up empty.

Early Proof on Tour

When the 2001 PGA Tour season opened in January, Pro V1 players rewrote the record books. In January alone: Brad Faxon tied the Sony Open 72-hole scoring record; Mark Calcavecchia set the PGA Tour 72-hole scoring record (28-under, 256) at the Phoenix Open; Davis Love III shot the lowest final round by a winner in the 60-year history of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am (9-under 63). By June 2001, Pro V1 had been played by the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open champions, marking its first major titles.

The Launch Era (2000–2002) — Original Pro V1, Immediate Tour Adoption, First Aerodynamic Update

June 2000: Prototype Pro V1 golf balls are tested at PGA Tour event practice days.

• Titleist research and development associates, tour representatives and executives work the driving range and walk the fairways with over 100 players during practice rounds, soliciting feedback on the new golf ball.

October 11th, 2000 – Pro V1 is introduced on the PGA Tour for the very first time.

• 47 players put the new Pro V1 into play at the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas.
• It was a 1-2 finish for Pro V1 players, including champion, Billy Andrade.

December 15th, 2000 – Pro V1 is introduced to the marketplace for the first time.

• The Pro V1 is a breakthrough for golfers seeking longer distance and Drop and Stop performance into greens and represents the coalescence of three of Titleist’s industry leading technologies: large solid core; multi- component construction; and high-performance urethane elastomer cover technology.
• The Pro V1’s solid core, multi-component construction features include a:
  • Large diameter, soft and resilient rubber core
  • Speed enhancing and spin controlling ionomer casing layer
  • High performance, soft and thin urethane elastomer cover technology
  • Tour-proven, 392 dual dimple design
• “The launch of Pro V1 was especially significant in that for the very first time the best performing golf ball for tour players was also the best performing golf ball for all golfers. You no longer had to choose between distance over short-game control, or durability over soft feel. There were no trade-offs. Pro V1 delivered total performance.” - Mary Lou Bohn
• The market launch was accelerated by three months - from March 2001 to December 2000 - due to the considerable momentum as a result of tour player usage, gains, and success, as well as extensive media coverage and word-of-mouth communication.

January 24th, 2002 – new Pro V1 introduced with improved aerodynamics.

• 392 Icosahedron multi-dimple design delivers even longer tee-to-green distance, a more controlled ball flight and improved in-flight consistency while maintaining its Drop-and-Stop performance into the green.

The Pro V1x Era & Dual-Core Era (2003–2009) — Introduction of Pro V1x, Dual-Core Technology, R&D Refinements, and Sidestamp

March 5th, 2003 – new Pro V1 and introduction of the first ever Pro V1x

• New Pro V1 features a new, softer and faster core formulation, a speed enhancing and spin controlling ionomer casing, shear and abrasion-resistant Urethane Elastomer cover and a new aerodynamic icosahedral design. The combination of an even faster velocity core and high-coverage 392 dimple pattern with 5 different sizes delivers even longer tee-to-green distance, a more controlled ball flight and improved in-flight consistency, while maintaining its tour-proven Drop-and-Stop performance into the green and soft feel.
• The new Pro V1x has a large diameter, resilient dual-core design with a speed enhancing and spin controlling ionomer casing, shear and abrasion resistant Urethane Elastomer cover, and high-coverage 332 dimple design with 7 different sizes. This combination delivers exceptionally low driver and iron spin for exceptionally long distance.

February 23rd, 2005 – 4th generation Pro V1 and 2nd generation Pro V1x

• Titleist enhances the performance of the best-selling golf ball products in the game with the introduction of new and improved Pro V1 and Pro V1x models.
• With improvements to the core formulation and a redesigned casing layer, the new Pro V1 delivers improved launch conditions while maintaining its Drop-and- Stop performance into the green. The new Pro V1 leaves the clubface faster and with slightly lower spin for longer, straighter distance and penetrating ball flight.
• The new Pro V1x’s reformulated dual core, with a softer inner core and firmer outer core, controls the spin rate on full iron shots into the green, providing golfers with a more controlled iron flight and better green-holding ability. February 8th, 2007 – 5th generation Pro V1, 3rd generation Pro V1x
• Titleist introduces new Pro V1 and new Pro V1x models, applying innovation and advancements to make the world’s best-selling golf ball models even better. Among the improvements to the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls is a new Staggered Wave parting line that effectively increases the dimple surface coverage for improved aerodynamics and a more consistent ball flight. The new models also feature new, tour validated A.I.M. (Alignment Integrated Marking) Technology sidestamps. The designations of Pro V1 and Pro V1x are integrated into the sidestamp and are accompanied by extended arrows on each side of the model name.

January 27th, 2009 – 6th generation Pro V1, 4th generation Pro V1x

• Titleist unveils new Pro V1 and Pro V1x models at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show. The new Pro V1 has a larger, reformulated core that helps increase ball speed for longer distance, and a thinner Ionomeric casing layer that helps improve Pro V1’s legendary Drop-and-Stop scoring performance. The new Pro V1x also features a redesigned Ionomeric casing layer that helps control the spin rate on full iron shots into and around the green, in addition to providing increased distance off the driver. A new, high performance Urethane Elastomer cover formulation on both models offers improved cover durability.

The ZG Process and Aerodynamics Era (2011–2017) — tetrahedral dimples, ZG core, Left Dot and Left Dash custom performance options

January 27th, 2011 – 7th generation Pro V1, 5th generation Pro V1x

• Titleist introduces new and improved Pro V1 and Pro V1x models, featuring new spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple designs that offer more surface coverage with three axes of symmetry (352 x 5 for Pro V1, 328 x 7 for Pro V1x). The new aerodynamics deliver a penetrating ball flight that holds its line in the wind. In addition, new ZG process core technology used to make the Pro V1 core results in a more consistent core hardness and more consistent concentricity. The improved uniformity of the golf ball translates into more consistent performance.

January 24th, 2013 – 8th generation Pro V1, 6th generation Pro V1x

• Titleist introduces a new generation of Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls. ZG core process technology, which debuted on the 2011 Pro V1 core, is introduced to the center of the Pro V1x dual core. Both new models feature an improved Urethane Elastomer cover and paint system that results in longer lasting durability while retaining a whiter, brighter finish.

October 10th, 2013 – •Pro V1 (Left Dot) is played for the first time on the PGA Tour

• 2013 – Pro V1 Left Dot is introduced. Tour validated high gradient core technology in a low flying aerodynamic package.
• Benefits
  • Extraordinary Distance with Consistent Flight
  • Lower Full Swing Spin than Pro V1
  • Lower Flight Than Pro V1
  • Similar Soft Feel to Pro V1
  • Drop-and-Stop™ Short Game Control
• Features
  • Soft Cast Urethene Elastomer Cover System
  • Fast Low Spin Casing Layer
  • High Gradient ZG Process Core
  • Spherically-Tiles 352 Tetrahedral Dimple Design

January 21st, 2015 – 9th generation Pro V1, 7th generation Pro V1x

• The new 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are introduced. Designed for all golfers seeking to shoot lower scores, new Pro V1 and Pro V1x deliver exceptional distance with consistent flight, more short game control and even softer feel and long-lasting durability from a new, patented urethane elastomer cover formulation. Comparatively, Pro V1 has a softer feel, slightly more long game spin, and a penetrating trajectory for a shallower angle of descent for more roll. Pro V1x offers a slightly firmer feel, lower long game spin and launches higher with a steeper angle of descent.

January 25th, 2017 – 10th generation Pro V1, 8th generation Pro V1x

• New Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are precisely engineered using the most sophisticated golf ball technology, providing total performance for every player, and delivering unmatched quality and consistency.• The longest Pro V1 to date, 2017 Pro V1 is reengineered with a Next Generation 2.0 ZG Process Core that delivers longer distance on all shots through lower long game spin and faster ball speed, while maintaining the very soft feel and superior short-game performance that Pro V1 players demand. A new spherically tiled 352 tetrahedral dimple design produces a penetrating trajectory with even more consistent flight.
• The extraordinary distance of the 2017 Pro V1x, featuring a ZG Process Dual Core, is enhanced by a new spherically tiled 328 tetrahedral dimple design that produces a high trajectory with its most consistent flight ever.
• March 8th, 2018 – -Pro V1x (Left Dash) is played for the first time on the PGA Tour.
• Pro V1x Left Dash is introduced in 2017. Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls are designed for players seeking a high flight similar to Pro V1x with dramatically lower full swing spin and firmer feel.
• Benefits
  • Extraordinary Distance with Consistent Flight
  • Lower Full Swing Spin than Pro V1x
  • Slightly Lower Flight than Pro V1x
  • Firmer Feel than Pro V1x
  • Drop-and-Stop™ Short Game Control
• Features
  • Firm Cast Urethane Elastomer Cover System
  • Fast Low Spin Casing Layer
  • ZG Process Core
  • Spherically Tiled 328 Tetrahedral Dimple Design

The Modern Performance Era (2019–present) — yellow availability, high-gradient cores, and current generation of golf balls

January 23rd, 2019 – 11th generation Pro V1, 9th generation Pro V1x

• The New Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are introduced. Faster from core to cover, the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x are designed to leave the clubface with more ball speed and lower long game spin for more distance, while providing the best short game control to help golfers shoot lower scores. Innovations in Titleist’s industry- leading multi-component technology and precision manufacturing process have combined to deliver the most advanced Pro V1 and Pro V1x models yet – available for the first time in both white and high optic yellow.
• A 17% thinner cast Urethane Elastomer cover system delivers more ball speed. The advancement has allowed our engineers to cast a thinner layer of the proprietary cover formulation, developed exclusively for Pro V1 and Pro V1x, while retaining its trusted Drop-and-Stop greenside control and soft feel. A faster ionomeric casing layer increases ball speed and lowers long game spin.• The speed enhancing casing layer is thickened by 14% on Pro V1 and 11% on Pro V1x, creating higher ball speeds with lower driver and long game spin.
• New 2.0 ZG Process Cores are formulated for more distance. The outermost portions of the solid core Pro V1 and dual core Pro V1x are increased in stiffness while maintaining their soft centers, creating faster engines with higher ball speed and lower long game spin.

January 2021 – 12th generation Pro V1, 10th generation Pro V1x

• Pro V1
  • New 388 dimple count aerodynamics for more consistent, longer flight
  • Softer thermoset cast urethane for more short iron and greenside spin
  • High flex casing layer to produce more speed
  • Improved ZG process core technology to maintain feel
• Pro V1x
  • New 348 dimple count aerodynamics for more consistent, longer, higher flight
  • Softer thermoset cast urethane for more short iron and greenside spin
  • High flex casing layer to produce more speed
  • Improved ZG process dual core technology to maintain feel

January 2023 – 13th generation Pro V1, 11th generation Pro V1x

• High Gradient Core for lower long game spin while maintaining short game spin and control = longer distance.
• Dual Core Dimension Changes drive down Pro V1x long game spin while maintaining short game spin & control.

January 2025 – 14th generation of Pro V1, 12th generation of Pro V1x

• Features include a reformulated faster high gradient core (Pro V1) and a faster high gradient dual core(Pro V1x) to deliver more speed off the tee, more control with the irons and more spin with the wedges.

January 2026 – New Pro V1x Left Dash introduced for tour and public use.

• New Features
  • New dual-core chemistry upgrade that creates more ball speed.
  • Thicker casing layer material to add speed and maintain the spin preferred by dash players.
  • New aerodynamic pattern with more dimples and steeper edge angles creates a slightly lower, more optimal flight for more distance.