Titleist makes some of the most popular golf balls ever made, with the leader being the Pro V1. Recently, Titleist has come out with their AVX model, which is similar in some ways but different in others. That said, how did they actually perform for an average player?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Both balls are premium options and are a good choice for mid to low-handicap golfers.
- The AVX is designed to be low spinning off the tee, which makes it a good choice if you want to hit the ball lower.
- The Pro V1 is one of the best all-around balls on the market, which is why it’s been the best seller for a number of years now.
In This Article
Comparison Chart | Layers | Cover | Feel | Compression | Swing Speed | Distance | Straightness | Ball Flight | Short Game Spin | Which To Play
Comparison Chart
| Titleist AVX | Titleist Pro V1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | 3 | 3 |
| Cover | Urethane | Urethane |
| Feel | Very Soft | Soft |
| Compression | ~80 | ~90 |
| Swing Speed | Under 100 MPH | 98-105 MPH |
| Long Game Spin | Low | Mid |
| Short Game Spin | High | Higher |
| OBG Rating | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Layers
Both the Titleist AVX and Pro V1 are 3-piece golf balls. This makes them a good choice for golfers who shoot in the 70s or low 80s. They are quite expensive (Titleist are normally the most expensive balls) which is why they aren’t a good choice for average players.
When picking a golf ball, the first thing you need to do is figure out how many layers your ball should have. Golf balls come with anywhere between 2 and 5 layers, and each of them is slightly different.
Generally speaking, 2 or 3 piece balls are designed for mid to high handicaps while 3 and 4 piece balls are designed for mid to low handicappers. Not all 3 piece balls are created equal, so you need to factor in additional things.
2 piece golf balls are cheaper and normally have a lower compression rating (not always). This makes them a solid choice for average golfers who shoot above 90. I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to be losing 3+ balls per round when they’re 5 bucks each.
3 piece balls have a thin layer around the core, which is there to add short-game spin. These balls are more expensive and are worth using as you start getting better. Normally, once you can consistently shoot in the 80s, otherwise known as mid handicap golf.
4 and 5 piece balls are the most expensive, and the main difference is that they spin even more. This is good if you really want to dial in your short game. It’s not so good if you slice the ball off the planet.
When your ball curves a lot it means the ball has a lot of sidespin. This is exactly what happens when you hook or slice the ball. Most of the golfers you’ll see on the course have this problem, which is why they should be playing a lower spinning ball.
Cover
Both the AVX and Pro V1 have a urethane cover, which is why both of them are considered premium golf balls. This means that they’ll be more expensive, they’ll spin more around the green, and are built for better golfers.
Not only do you need to look at the number of layers, but you also need to consider what type of cover the ball has. Most golf balls have either a urethane, ionomer, or Surlyn cover on them. You can learn more about them HERE.
In most cases, “lower-end” balls have an ionomer or Surlyn cover on them. This material is cheaper, more durable, and spins less.
Pretty much all 2 piece balls have this type of cover and are what beginners and high handicappers should be using. If you want to know more about budget vs expensive golf balls, be sure to check that article out.
As you start getting into the more premium balls (3-5 layers), you’ll start to see urethane being used as the cover material. This is generally more expensive, softer, and will spin more. The downside is that it’s not quite as durable.
The main reason you’d want a urethane-covered ball is that they spin a lot more on wedge shots. As you start getting better, you’ll want to land the ball on the green, have it bounce once or twice, and then stop. Most people can’t do this anyway.
Feel
Both the Titleist AVX and Pro V1 are considered to be soft-feeling golf balls. Compared to each other, the AVX is going to feel a bit softer because of the lower compression rating.
The way the ball feels doesn’t really have an impact on the performance. It all comes down to what your preference is, soft or firm feeling at impact. You can read our article on soft vs firm balls HERE for more info.
You’re able to find low compression balls that have a firmer feel but you can also get high compression balls that feel soft. The opposite is also true.
Personally, I prefer a ball that feels a bit softer. I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t like the feel of a super hard golf ball, it almost feels like you’re hitting a rock.
When your swing speed starts increasing, you might find that a soft golf ball feels squishy. That’s more to do with the compression rating, but the general feel of it could also play a role.
Compression
The compression rating of the AVX is somewhere around 80 while the Pro V1 has a rating closer to 90. Because of this, these balls are designed for golfers with average to above-average swing speeds.
The compression rating is basically how much force it takes to compress the ball. Extremely soft golf balls could have a rating of 35-40 while very firm balls could reach 110.
These balls are somewhere in the middle. These numbers used to be a lot more important than they are today, but that being said, they should still be considered.
A ball that’s too soft (compression) could launch way too high, which might reduce distance. A ball that’s too firm might not have a penetrating ball flight or could have too much sidespin.
We did a test to see how compression impacted distance, which you can read HERE.
Swing Speed
The AVX is considered to be a mid-compression ball while the Pro V1 is a high-compression ball. The Pro V1 is recommended for swing speeds between 98-105 MPH while the AVX would be slightly slower.
The average golfer has a swing speed of around 93 MPH, which means that most people probably shouldn’t use (but do) either of these balls. Just to give you an idea, the average male pro swings the club 110+ MPH (you can see which golf ball each pro uses here).
I’m not saying that these balls wouldn’t work for you because they might. That being said, there could be a different ball that suits your game better. Again, having a slower-than-average swing speed usually means you should stick to a lower compression ball.
Distance
After comparing the two balls, I found that the AVX was slightly longer off the tee. It wasn’t by much, but anytime I’m able to squeeze a few more yards out I’ll take it.
Just so you know, this might not be the case for everyone. My swing speed is somewhere around 95 MPH, which means I’m not reaching the 98+ MPH that’s recommended for the Pro V1.
The AVX has a lower compression rating, which makes it more suited to my swing speed. The core also seems to be slightly larger, which could be a factor as well.
If your swing speed is less than mine, you might see a bigger difference in distance. If your swing speed is faster, you might get more distance out of the Pro V1.
Straightness
After playing both balls, I noticed that the AVX was straighter off the tee than the Pro V1. This is a result of the AVX having less long-game spin, which could help you if you hook or slice the ball.
The majority of average golfers have a problem with their ball curving too much. All that means is that your ball has a lot of sidespin.
Having sidespin is fine if you want to draw or fade the ball around, but for average people like you and me, it’s probably not a good thing.
Keeping the ball straight off the tee will help you add a really good amount of distance to your shots. Not only that but playing from the fairway makes the game so much easier.
Ball Flight
Since the AVX has less long-game spin compared to the Pro V1, it also has less backspin. Having less backspin off the tee will result in less height.
Compared to other balls on the market, the Pro V1 is considered to have medium spin off the tee. The AVX however, is considered to have very low long-game spin.
This means that the Pro V1 will fly higher than the AVX. If you hit the ball too high, it might be worth checking out the AVX. If you already hit the ball too low, the Pro V1 might be better.
Having less height on your shots can really help if you’re playing on a windy day. The higher your ball goes, the more chance you’ll have of the wind messing with your ball. It can also give your ball more rollout on the fairway.
Short Game Spin
Both of these balls are considered to have high amounts of short-game spin. That being said, the Pro V1 tends to have slightly more spin for most golfers.
This is part of the reason why pretty much nobody on tour uses the AVX. Being able to land the ball on the green and have it stop right away is super important for pros, which is why the Pro V1 is the main choice.
That being said, you and I probably aren’t able to do that (even with a high-spinning ball). Most golfers won’t be able to tell a difference in the short-game spin rates, so you should consider the other factors when making your choice.
Which Golf Ball Should You Use?
After everything that has been said, you might still be wondering which ball is right for you. In all honesty, both balls are great choices and I don’t think you could go wrong with either.
Both balls have a softer feel to them and have good amounts of short-game spin. The thing that really separates them is the amount of spin off the tee, which has an effect on the ball’s height.
If you find yourself hitting the ball too high, the AVX could be a good option for you. It should give you less height on your shots and could even help you hit the ball a little straighter.
If you already hit the ball too low, the Pro V1 could be the better play. The main downside is that if you already hook or slice the ball a lot, it’s not going to help that very much.
Note. Even though these golf balls are great picks for a lot of golfers, it doesn’t mean they’ll be perfect for you. If you want to see some of our favorites, check out one of the guides below:
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