My take
Those golfers who are looking for maximum distance off the tee and low spin will find that the Titleist Velocity Golf Balls are the perfect choice. Players that have faster swing rates will be the ones who will notice the benefits (and drawbacks) of this ball the most. This ball has the potential to add overall speed to players of all skill levels, including beginners and scratch players.
About the golf ball I own
- Model: 2022 Titleist Velocity
- Color: Gloss white with orange numbers
About me
- Average score: 80
- Handicap: 9
- Experience: 4 years of golf
- Right/Left-handed: Right-Handed
- Typical shot shape: Straight or fade
- Typical trajectory: Medium to high
- Club swing speed: 100mph on average driver swing
Test conditions
- When I bought this: May 2022
- Days tested: >60 days over the course of a Northern Ohio golf season
- Where I’ve used it: Brookledge Golf Club on course/chipping green
- Weather and wind conditions: Rain, high wind, clear days
- Turf conditions: Bent grass
- Green speeds: 9-11
How they perform
Distance
5/5
Durability
3/5
Feel
3/5
Greenside Spin
3/5
What I was looking for
I was looking for a golf ball that, in addition to being less expensive than premium golf balls, maximises distance off the tee and provides a low spin and playable feel. I needed a ball that was of a premium brand and would allow me to drive the ball for the longest distance feasible. In general, the performance of my typical ball, which is either the Pro-V1 or the Bridgestone Tour B RX, is satisfactory; but, I was aware that there were alternatives available that achieved a longer length at the sacrifice of other performance qualities.
Why I chose this golf ball
I wanted to add distance to my drives without giving up a lot of feel and handling around the green. In spite of the fact that I acquired high-end choices like as the TaylorMade TP5, Titleist Pro-V1, Bridgestone Tour B RX, and Callaway Chrome Soft, I found that the Velocity provided me with a comfortable three to four yard advantage in terms of driving distance. In addition, I saw that the ball speed via Mevo FlightScope was around 2% quicker than the speed of any other ball that I tested, which is consistent with the findings of independent study.
What I love about it
- Distance: I have never found a longer golf ball than this. A good drive for me rolls to about 270 yards total. I’ve comfortably hit drives 280+ yards with this ball, with an average just over my usual distance (274 yards total).
- Other: I love the unique orange number on the ball. The cover appears more glossy than matte, and the combination of bright white gloss and orange number is very easily identifiable.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Feel: The feel is firm and not to my liking. I prefer the feel and feedback of a softer golf ball. Mishits feel a bit harsher, and center strikes still feel firm. It never feels like hitting “nothing at all” on a good strike like some soft golf balls do.
- Green Spin: Spin is noticeably lower than other Titleist offerings like Pro-V1, Tour Soft, and TruFeel. I don’t have a reliable source for spin numbers in my personal testing. Still, anecdotally I noticed added rollout on short and long shots overall, including chipping, bunker shots, and pitching.
- Durability: The cover is a bit more prone to scraping and staining than a Pro-V1. This cover is firm and a bit less flexible, so it is overall less resilient than a soft-cover golf ball. This is not a “junk” golf ball. The cover is still playable and of better quality than budget options, but there is a noticeable drop-off in overall durability and longevity of play before damage degrades performance or confidence.
Best shot with this golf ball
The Titleist Velocity golf ball was the one I used when I played the round that was the worst of my entire life. During the summer of 2022, I shot my first 75 calibre bullet. I can still vividly recall sitting on the 18th fairway at Brookledge Golf Club in Akron, Ohio, which was about 140 yards away. In order to shoot my first-ever 75, I struck a 9 iron that was easy to hit and then hit the green to secure the two-putt that I required. Due to the fact that I play a lot of loft around the greens and require additional control, I would surely play this ball as my typical option if it handled better around the greens.
Value for the money vs. other options
If distance is what one is looking for, but at the expense of certain handle and spin skills, this is the most promising pick for any player, from novice to scratch, and it comes at a price range that is lower than that of Pro-V1, TP5, and Chrome Soft. Taking into account both its advantages and disadvantages, this ball is a fantastic value. The TaylorMade Distance+ or other low-spin choices that take a little of a blow on overall quality and consistency are the ones that I would most closely compare this ball to, given the price tier that they fall into that category.
Concluding remarks
When golfers use this ball, they will be aware of exactly what they are getting: the greatest ball speed and distance, but at the price of a little bit of spin and control capabilities. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who is looking to increase the distance of their game, particularly those who are looking for a ball that is less expensive than several premium ones.