Titleist Golf Ball Fitting

One missed putt – The success story of Nr1 ball in golf in the world started

Phil Young, an avid golfer, missed a well-stroked putt during a round in 1932, and he was convinced the golf ball was to blame. He x-rayed the ball and found that its core was distorted and off-center, not allowing for a true roll.

Young, whose business was rubber processing, was determined to create a golf ball that was uniform and consistent, ensuring that every ball would perform properly and as expected on every shot.

For over 85 years, the Titleist golf ball mission has remained constant: Design and produce golf balls of superior performance and superior quality for dedicated golfers.

Shorter putts result in lower scores

The shorter your putt the more often you make it!

One key to shooting lower scores is to make more putts. Playing a golf ball that provides more spin and improved performance in the short game can make it easier to hit it closer to the target, leaving golfers with consistently shorter putts.

How the fitting works?

Step 1: Game assessment and ball selection

Titleist golf ball fitting begins with an assessment of the player’s game, their performance objectives, and their personal preferences. At the conclusion of the assessment, Titleist encourages golfers to test a recommended and alternative golf ball in a green-to-tee on the course evaluation.

You can use these 9 questions for self-evaluation.

1. What golf ball are you currently playing? Why?
2. Do you play that golf ball consistently?
3. How important is performance to you when selecting a golf ball?
4. Where do you need the most help with your game? Short game, long game, or drives?
5. What is your typical ball flight? High? Low? Fade? Draw?
6. Would you benefit from a ball that provides more spin and control in the short game?
7. Do you have difficulty holding the green on your approach shots?
8. Do you prefer a softer or firmer feeling golf ball?
9. Do you have any preferences that influence your golf ball selection? Feel? Color? Appearance (play numbers or markings)? Durability? Price?

Step 2: Green-to-Tee on course evaluation

Golf ball fitting should always take place on the golf course. The Titleist Green-to-Tee fitting process involves an evaluation of all shots, with the greatest emphasis placed on shots around and into the green.

1. Side-By-Side Evaluation

Take the recommended and alternative golf balls (and the golf ball you played most often prior to being fit) to the golf course and evaluate their performance side-by-side for all of the shots detailed below. Evaluating the golf balls side by side is the best way to experience the performance differences between models.

2. Short Game Evaluation

Begin by evaluating the golf balls on and around the green by hitting several putts, chips, pitches, and bunker shots. Note each ball’s control, trajectory, and spin on these important shots.

3. Wedge and Approach Evaluation

Next, hit some partial and full wedges and short-iron approach shots, evaluating the golf balls on these shots using the same criteria. 

4. Long Game Evaluation

Then hit several long irons, hybrids, and fairway metals. Assess the consistency and control of these shots.

5. Driver Evaluation

Finally, use the driver to determine which ball performs the best from the tee. 

6. Scorecard Review

Review the completed scorecard to determine which Titleist golf ball is the best fit.

Step 3: Putting the new ball in play

Following the Green-to-Tee on course evaluation, a golfer can feel confident that they are now playing the best ball for their game and should commit to playing that golf ball exclusively.

Using the same model golf ball on every shot of every round eliminates performance variation, builds confidence and consistency, and ultimately results in golfers shooting lower scores.

Professional Golf Ball Fitting at Titleist Performance Institute California

Understanding Swing Speed

Many golfers are mistakenly led to believe they should be fit for a golf ball based solely on their driver swing speed. This is a flawed approach. Golfers need a golf ball fit to them that delivers total performance on ALL shots.

The Truth:

Every golfer uses many different swing speeds to execute the array of shots played during a round. Titleist golf balls provide outstanding performance at every swing speed and on every type of shot.

Pro V1 and Pro V1x deliver distance that is as long as or longer than competitive golf balls positioned for amateurs, while also providing significantly better performance on the scoring shots.

Driver

97 MPH Swing Speed

6 Iron

83 MPH Swing Speed

Pitching Wedge

68 MPH Swing Speed

30 Yard Pitch Shot

24 MPH Swing Speed

The Role of Compression

Golfers ask a lot of different questions about compression. Some golfers believe that they would benefit from selecting a golf ball with a compression that is “matched” to their swing speed.

It is important for golfers to understand exactly what compression is and the role it should play in the golf ball selection process.

Does compression matter when selecting a golf ball?

A common misconception among golfers when selecting a golf ball is that they must match a ball’s compression to their swing speed. This is misguided.

Golfers compress the golf ball on every shot at every speed, and the difference in golf ball compression at widely varied swing speeds is virtually indistinguishable. 

What exactly is compression?

Compression is solely a test of the relative softness of a golf ball, and there is no performance benefit associated with choosing a golf ball with a specific compression. 

Why should a golfer concern themselves with the compression of a golf ball?

A player with a “feel” preference for a softer feeling ball may prefer to play a lower compression golf ball.

“Women’s” Golf Balls

Golfers will frequently ask Titleist, “What golf balls do you make for women?” The answer is simple. All of them. Titleist golf balls are designed to perform for ALL golfers.

The golf ball doesn’t know who is hitting it. It doesn’t know a golfer’s age, skill level, or gender. Most golf balls labeled “Women” or “Lady” are two-piece, Surlyn-covered golf balls that are low-spinning on all shots. On approach shots and short game shots, low spinning “distance balls” tend to land, release, and run through the green.

Women golfers, just like every male golfer out there, can benefit from playing a high-performance golf ball like Pro V1, Pro V1x, Pro V1x Left Dash, or AVX. So, if a female golfer prioritizes performance, above all else, we will recommend that she play Pro V1, Pro V1x, Pro V1x Left Dash, or AVX.

Titleist golf ball fitting is not just for Tour professionals or other highly skilled golfers. Titleist golf balls are designed to perform for ALL golfers.

Many golfers are mistakenly led to believe they should be fit for a golf ball based solely on their driver swing speed. The key to golfers shooting lower scores is improving performance on what Titleist calls the “scoring shots” – approach shots, pitches, and chips.

I hope the golf ball fitting information is useful for you, and you found the right Titleist golf ball. It will help you play for a better score.

Play better with #1 ball in golf!

Kind regards

Lassi Pensikkala
Avid golfer
Creator of AmerExperience.com/Golf