2023 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x Golf Ball Reviews

First off a big thank you to Titleist for sending me the the balls to test. the balls arrived in the mail while I was recovering from my third heart attack and fourth heart procedure - What a Get Well Present and what an inspiration to get rehab going and get back on the course. Ten days ago I got back on the course and put the balls to work. CAVEAT: I am 78 years old and my drives have diminished from 275 yards to 230 and no matter what ball or driver I now use, it doesn't make that much difference. The short game is where I need the help now. I alternated shots between the AVX I had been using and the 348 and then the 388. Since my distance is weak, I am usually lying 3 somewhere off the green on 4s and 5s and I have to make a good chip or pitch to get near the pin. I found both balls to be very workable around the green and I even made the 388 dance on two approach shots on the green - first time that has happened in 62 years of golf. Distance wise, they were about the same as the AVX but I was really pressing on the drives.
Anyway, this post won't help the Acushnet Techs make a better product but the balls were the best Get Welll gift that I could have received.
Thanks again!!

Very thankful to have the opportunity to participate in the test. Titleist continues to assure fantastic performance and quality. Distance, spin rate, feel and the quality of the ball surface are excellent. I will certainly continue using the ProV1x and ProV1 as they remain to be the best ball available. Well done.

Thanks Titleist for sending me the Proto’s for testing.
Couldn’t wait to play them.
First Impression - the touch made me feel confident.
So played a few practice holes, (old version and new Version)
1st Hole 178yd Par3 :
older ver. PROV1x
Feel : Soft, Trajectory : Good
Proto PROV1x :- Feel : Soft, Trajectory Good
2nd Hole 506yds Par 5
older ver. PROV1x
Feel : Soft, Trajectory : Good, Driving Distance 268yrd,2nd shot of the fairway - very similar to the driver, Around the green, very soft,
Proto PROV1x :- Feel : Soft, Trajectory Good Driving Distance 274yrd, 2nd shot of the fairway-better ball flight, around the green : softer.
After 9 holes : Old Ver. PROV1x - scruffed, Proto : Better than Old Ver.
My verdict : I am playing the New PROV1x this season.
Driver : TSi4 F/W : TSi3 Irons : 718CB Wedges : SM8 52&56

Team Titleist community, I am in a pickle. I got a chance to play 9 holes with the new 388. It was cold in the morning and I did not get a chance to warm up but what I saw with the 388 I really liked it.

For me, the ball launched higher than the 348, noticeably as well. I think distance wise it is the same as my current 2021 X version. Again, it was cold out. Felt similar to the 348 off the putter.

The 388 for me seems to be a little more workable, both when I want to and when it gets away from me. Center strike shots fly true and hold their line.

I am not one to play either ball so I need to do more testing and perhaps a side by side before committing to my choice.

If I go ProV1, my son will get a couple of boxes of the 2021 X as a result.

I was able to test the latest arrival from Titleist on the last 80 degree day, so testing conditions were optimal.

The 2023 ProV1x version brings subtle changes to an already wonderful golf ball. Like anything, the subtleness will require adaptation.

The finer aspects of the new offering were noted with short game testing first. The spin of the this new ProV1x is so much improved the golfer needs to recalculate spin and release expectations as anyone with a good set of hands will be able to “over-spin” a shot, leaving you to miss your mark. That aspect will also be a saving grace for someone when the need to hit a tightly placed short-sided pin is required, as this is the ball that will easily allow for the shot to be accomplished!

From pitching and chipping the new ball was rolled with the putter. If anyone knows, a Titleist guy plays a Scotty Cameron putter, and Scotty has taught us the research on sound and how it impacts a golfer’s putting. In this instance, I noted a less muted, dare I say “slightly harsher”, higher frequency pitch of the putter face than the previous ProV1x iteration. The ball rolls the same, but those subtleties will take getting used to.

Moving into the playing the ball, WOW the ball goes longer! From tee to green and approach wedges, you will see gains. The flight off the driver appeared to be more tightly dispersed, but does not seem to “feel” the same off the club face as the previous version. Not in a bad way, but just slightly firmer. However, this added distance requires a recalibration of your wedge distances. My stock swing of my Vokey SM9 56* to a back pin on the 3rd hole resulted in putting for birdie from the back fringe.

Once a few more hours of practice, added with more rounds of play under the belt, are completed I’m supremely confident the latest Titleist ProV1x offering with be a pivotal aspect in me playing my best golf to date!

388 Black
I was getting 3-5 more yards, soft feel, stop and drop (more bite action). It was very consistent. Softer feel over 348. It was great around the greens. 348 had more spin than 388

348-Red
2-4 more yards with irons slightly more with driver (5-7) yards. Marks/scuffs up easier than 348. Stop and drop longer off the tee than the 348
piercing trajectory, felt like lower spin than 348.

Very Impressed overall with both balls.

I also was one of the lucky white box recipients! I am a Titleist ball loyalist and play ProV1. Mainly because I prefer the softer feel compare o ProV1x.
I was happy to learn that the new version of ProV1x I was sent feels much softer and helped me gain about 3-5 yards compared to the ProV1.
The new ProV1 and ProV1x feel much closer to me now in hardness. The ProV1x seems to spin a bit more on iron and wedge shots than the new ProV1.

All that being said I will stick with the newer ProV1 because this ball still fits my game better.

I am also at the upper end of the spectrum,18HC and age 72. Have been selected twice and appreciate the opportunity.Really liked the feel and improved ball flight. Distance is better.Over the years I have tried every “new” ball and always return to the feel and playability of a Titleist. Keep up the good work.Thanks.

Knocked around the X a bit more this week. Really loving the firmer feel.

I too got the prototype balls. TP5 verses the 388 & 348 . My course has Tiff Eagle greens ( Towhee Club ) there fast rolling, firm and with anything but a wedge are hard to stop without a long roll out. The TP5 do work well and the the ProV's are about the same when using a 8 or long club into the greens but both have a roll out . When I used the 388 I found it similar to the TP5 in distance flight height off the tee and Iron. The big difference was the roll out, The 388 had a 4 to 6 foot less roll out . The players in my Tuesday group all notice the stopping power. But for my swing speed 90 to 93 driver mpg the 338 was a game changer, my Irons and driver hit a little higher and seemed to carry a little longer. The best part like the 388 was the lack of roll out. Everyone like to hit the ball to go farther but if you can't hold the greens it's the difference between bogeys and birdies ...The 338 get's a two thumbs and one eagle using that ball.

I was fortunate to receive some test balls and I was not disappointed. After several rounds I could tell that both balls were softer and helped a lot around the greens. What impressed me most was I felt like my drives were straighter and longer consistently over my gamer ProV1x. Can’t wait to put these in the bag!!!

Thanks to Titleist I was most fortunate to be selected to test the 348's and was pretty impressed out of the gate from putting to ball flight and the noticeable spin.I alternated through the round with my current Pro V1x and the 384 to see if i could establish a ball flight from Irons to the Metals. The ball jumped off the face of my driver which was something I felt and the consistency vs the ProV1x was visible mostly with the irons and the Wedges. It was feeling softer of the blade of my putter too. Nice ball. Keep improving Titleist. Your the best ball out there and we know it! Thanks for including me in this!

I have been tested 388 and 348 for couple of rounds through 3-4 weeks.
I feel better with 388 in general.
Driving distance is almost same for both ball.
388 has more soft feel for putting, cheap shot, and pitching.
Also 388 provides good distance control for iron shots.

I play the Pro V and I loved last years ball, really felt like I got a lot out of my game, drove it well, hit my irons well and short game was good. Been trying these new balls a few times and really liking them too. I donno how you keep improving every year. It’s snow on the ground here now so done for the year but excited to play next year and hopefully be even better!

Thank you for including me in the testing program this year. My compliments to the Titleist team for continuing to improve upon what continues to the the best golf ball in the industry. I’m. ProV1x player, but I’ve experienced better distance overall and improved spin from 100 yards in with both prototypes. Keep up the great work Team Titleist!

After playing several rounds with each ball I found the V1x to have a higher ball flight and spin rate than is good for my game. The V1 ball had the response I look for in a ball.

Both balls performed well, and like others I believe I gained a few yards with my irons and a few more off the tee. The ProV1 proto seemed a bit softer than the previous version. I found the ProV1x proto cover scratched and marred more easily. Not sure if that is a factor in design or I just caught it badly a couple times.

I felt that both products were consistent with what I expect out of a Titleist ball. Both balls seemed a little bit softer (which made it feel great off the club) but no reduction in distance. I would game either of the prototype balls in a heart beat.

I was excited to test my proto balls, but with all the leaves down in Western Pennsylvania, I didn’t want to lose them right away. So, I headed to Myrtle Beach where I could give them a workout. I really liked the spin I got from both balls and a great bite with long irons. I didn’t see much difference with the driver, noting I have shortened my swing so my drives have been more accurate and longer since I now hit the sweet spot more often. Thanks to Titleist for giving me the opportunity to check out this new ball. I love it and will be putting it in my bag come spring… or maybe for a February trip back to Myrtle Beach.

Sound like, as always, Titleist has a couple of winners! I'll try both, but will probably stick with by beloved AVX.