This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Titleist Pro V1, a golf ball that redefined performance and became a cornerstone of the game since its debut in 2000. Launched to replace the iconic but outdated wound balata ball, the Pro V1 introduced a solid-core, multilayer design that transformed expectations for distance, control, and feel.
Before the Pro V1, Titleist’s Professional and Tour Balata balls, with their liquid-filled cores and soft balata covers, were favored by skilled players for their spin and control but lacked durability and consistency. Recognizing the need for innovation, Titleist engineers spent years developing a ball that could deliver tour-level performance with modern technology. The result was the Pro V1, featuring a solid core, a urethane elastomer cover, and a multi-layer construction that balanced distance, spin, and durability.
Introduced at the Invensys Classic in Las Vegas in October 2000, the Pro V1 made an immediate impact with 47 players in the field switching to the ball, including the top-4 finishers, headlined by Billy Andrade who claimed a much-needed victory.
Andrade cited that victory with resetting his PGA Tour career.
“I remember I was not having a very good year entering that event,” he said. “I was around 160th on the money list and there were only a few events left. I had already sent my check in for Qualifying School. I was desperate.
“I vividly remember the first time I put it into play during a practice round. The ball was 20 yards longer than the Tour Prestige that I was playing at the time. I chalked some of it up to altitude, but the distance, in addition to the overall performance of the ball, was like nothing I had ever played.”
By early 2001, the Pro V1 dominated professional and amateur play, quickly becoming the most-played ball on the PGA Tour. Its success prompted Titleist to refine the line, introducing the Pro V1x in 2003, a higher-compression option for players seeking a firmer feel and different flight characteristics.
“The Pro V1 responded to the changing nature of the game,” said Mary Lou Bohn, President, Titleist Golf Balls.
“The arrival of the power game on the tour necessitated golf balls that delivered very low spin in the long game, while maintaining the spin, feel and control of the premium liquid center, wound technology golf balls.
“We walked the fairways with players during their practice rounds, and it was amazing to hear so many great players effusive over Pro V1’s performance. If you look at the early success of players who achieved record-setting performances, the results spoke for themselves.”
Over the past 25 years, the Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been trusted by golf’s biggest names, from Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler — powering countless major championships along the way.
The ball’s legacy includes constant innovation, with Titleist releasing updated models every two years to incorporate advancements in materials and aerodynamics.
The 2025 Pro V1, for instance, boasts a reformulated core and enhanced dimple pattern for even greater consistency.
“It’s hard to overstate the Pro V1’s impact,” said golf historian Dr. Jane Carter. “It bridged the gap between the classic feel of balata and the demands of modern golf, setting a standard that competitors have chased ever since.”
Data from Titleist shows the Pro V1 remains the top choice at every level of the game, with over eighty percent of PGA Tour players and millions of amateurs worldwide using it in 2024.
To celebrate the milestone, Titleist has launched a limited-edition Pro V1 with a commemorative “25 Years” stamp, available at select retailers.
As Titleist looks to the future, the Pro V1’s legacy as a game-changer is secure. From its groundbreaking debut to its enduring dominance, the ball continues to shape golf’s history — one shot at a time.
How the Pro V1 Name Came About
- The “Pro” stands for Professional (the name of the ball it was replacing — the Titleist Pro 2-Piece).
- The V stands for veneer (the technology used to upgrade, from Titleist Pro 2-Piece to Titleist Pro V1).
- The 1 stands for Titleist’s first (prototype) veneer ball.
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