Hi George,

Thanks for the post.  Ball fitting for a certain swing speed is definitely a myth. When you're out on a golf course you are playing a wide variety of golf shots during the round. SInce a golf ball only reacts to the force being applied, different shots require different swing speeds in order to execute them properly. Keeping this in mind, a golf ball must perform for all golfers of all swing speeds on all shots, otherwise it won't perform for any golfer.

In terms of whether or not you are playing the best Titleist for your game, you hit the nail on the head. On course performance is the best place to determine which golf ball will help you shoot lower scores. Your best bet is to check out our online selection tool that will help recommend a suggested and alternative Titleist golf ball model. From there, you'll want to go through an on-course evaluation that will help you determine which golf ball performs the best for you.

With our fitting methodology, we start fitting players by having them hit partial swing iron shots into and around the green, then followed by full swing iron shots, and finally hitting from the tee with the driver. As you go through the fitting process, take note of which golf ball is performing best for your game on each of the different shots.

This process can be conducted during a normal round of play, by tracking fairways hit, greens hit in regulation and proximity to hole on approach shots. Another option is to play one model golf ball for nine holes and do the same with the secondary recommendation on the back nine. Additionally, feel preference is a part of the on course evaluation process as it relates to confidence in shot making ability. 

In case you are curious, we use the same fitting approach with amateurs and professionals out on tour.

This methodology determines the highest performing ball for a golfer’s total game, not on just one shot. At the end of the day, it's about lowering scores and I personally found the fitting process to be a lot of fun. Let us know how it works out for you.

In the meantime, here are some helpful links:

Golf Ball Fitting: http://www.titleist.com/golf-ball-fitting/

Online Golf Ball Selection Tool: http://www.titleist.com/golf-ball-fitting/app/

On-Course Evaluation Scorecard: http://media.titleist.com/images/titleist/pdfs/US/2012/2012BF_OnlineScorecard_v3.pdf

Mike this is a great response and description of proper ball fitting.  I would like to post this on my pro shop wall for all my members to read.  Thank you for the great job you are doing on this site.

Sincerely,

Mike Bailey, PGA

Great advise. Always work from the putting green back to the tee box is the absolute best way to pick a golf ball.

George, you are talking about making a ball based on 1 club. Ok lets talk about that.

I really doubt a manufacturer can produce ball A and ball B such that ball A performs better than B when hit at 104mph and ball B performs better than ball A when hit at 106mph.

Keep in mind we're talking about performance off of 1 club, no doubt a company could make a ball that performs better than another when hit at 95mph, and the other way when hit at 105mph.

I have tried both the B330-S and the RXS, and just for the use of 1 club(driver) I would take the RXS, but for the other clubs I would take the B330-S.

Here's the thing, everybody wants to believe that they can gain something without giving up something, and that just isn't true. If you change a ball to perform better with driver at slower swing speed then you change how it will perform with other clubs.

Here's what you do.

Just about every hole you will be putting, and putting perfection is much more important than driver perfection.........as long as you aren't in the woods, water, ob, you can still score the same, but if you are off putting your score will rise. Basically any premium ball will putt good enough, most mid range balls will putt good enough. So you go thru all the balls and eliminate the ones that don't putt good enough.

Now you take the remaining balls to the short game, pitching/chipping, which balls react to your short game the way you want them to react. Here is where you will eliminate a bunch of balls.

Ae this point you buy/adjust your equipment to match the ball you have chosen, or you can continue to test with the remaining balls........starting with performance on full swing approaches and working back to driver.

Honestly, the driver is the least important club in your bag when it comes to your ability to score, but then some are wanting you to pick a ball based on your driver swing speed......thats just wrong

Quintin,

I hear you, and I probably didn't phrase my question properly.  I was trying to oversimplify by asking is one ball better for players who really compress the ball over vs players who do not.  If the V1x was for players who really smash it, or can generate a ton of spin, maybe it wasn't for me.

But yes, yours and the previous two responses point out that it really is the whole game where it matters.  For me, I want to be confident that my approach shots will drop and stop within a few feet.  I seem to be able to get that out of either the Pro V1 or V1x, as well as a few other premium balls I've played.

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful and well presented responses.  It clearly tells me that I'm prone to paralysis thru analysis.

George

There is almost no difference in how a tour player compresses the ball and an 85 MPH SS amatuer. The difference is unnoticable. Find the ball you like more and play it.