2022 Official Member Review: Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1X White Box

[RichL85]

Got out to play 18 before the sun went down yesterday. Played the 388 on the front and 348 on the back. It was a little cool in the 40s and 50s throughout the round with 5-10 mph winds most of the day. I'm not a fan of the clicky sound of the 348 off the wedges and putter, but at the end of the day, it was a good amount longer off the tee and I scored better with it. Comparing best drives on each side, the 348 had one that was 17 yards longer, but the 388 did have the highlight shot of the day on the par 3 5th.

Back 9 was 4 shots better than the front, so even though I like the sound and feel of the 388 better, the results seem to favor the V1x for me. 

[yungkory]

8 hours ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Good stuff!  I’ve also been an X user for many years

now but will occasionally use a regular Pro V1. I have to agree around the green performance seems to be more feel than anything, but off the tee I see a big difference in window just as you did.

I feel like I get more distance out of the X, and maybe a bit more control, but I have no data to back that up so it may just be perception. 
 

With how similar these have been the past few generations I’m curious if they’ll differentiate them a bit more with this revision. 

Last 2 iterations of the X compared to the 348 -- I don't see much difference on full shots.

I might have to go and get a dozen of the current V1 to test since I don't really play it that often, but on full swings the ball is noticeably flatter of a flight, especially with lower-lofted clubs.

[CarlH]

Went out this afternoon by myself and played on a few holes with both balls, hitting them from the same places with the same clubs.  I hit off the tee, off the fairway, longer irons, shorter irons, pitched, chipped, and putted, alternating between the two balls.  Of course, my swing isn't precise enough to hit two identical shots back to back every time, but I did attempt the same shots.  In the end, I had some very similar strikes and some misses.  All in all, it gave me a good feel for the balls.  It wasn't the best weather for testing with temperatures hovering around 45 degrees.  I'll save the deeper comments for my review, which I'm close to finalizing.

 

[mikeanthony]

On 11/11/2022 at 11:10 PM, Mr. Mushball said:

Question here about club choice more than ball flight.  Why take a 3/4 swing with a hybrid when there should be a mid iron that gets the same distance?  The flight should be better for a downhill shot and give you better sticking power.  Was it due to the wind?

Do you think you were making the choice due to how the ball was playing?  Still haven't tested the 388 yet, but I somehow feel like it may be more susceptible to the wind.  I'll find out as we usually have a Veteran's Day storm around here and will be playing the 388 this weekend.

It was 187 to the pin with a 2 club wind directly into one’s face. 

[ZMendle10]

Played 18 again on Sunday and tested the 388 on the back 9 since it was windy. Overall I have very little to complain about on the wind performance for the 388. Wind was about the same as it was on Thursday but i didn't fear a huge crosswind like I did when playing the 348. 

Have any other testers had the same wind performance as me where the 348 is a lot harder to control in the wind while the 388 seems to be a bit more resistant to the wind, especially in a cross wind?

[vandyland]

Played another 18 with my trusty 348 proto! Still have it. We are up to 3 dots now and it still shows good durability!

 

[Mr. Mushball]

Played 18 in the cold this weekend and used the 388 proto this time.  I was too stiff and in pain from earlier in the week to swing that well, so can't do a good comparison at this time to the 348.  However, I did wind up in the sand a bunch so got some good bunker testing done.  The cover and paint seemed to hold up well to my abuse, though I did mange to embed a grain of sand into the shell.  Otherwise it remained unscuffed after about 8 sand hits.

Will have to do some more test... shucks.

[PeterHenric]

On 11/13/2022 at 7:52 AM, RichL85 said:

Back 9 was 4 shots better than the front, so even though I like the sound and feel of the 388 better, the results seem to favor the V1x for me. 

Do you feel like the 4 shots better was because of the ball or because you just played a little better? There have been many times where the front and back scores look like they came from different people even though I played the same ball. 

[PeterHenric]

Played a round today with some friends. Didn’t really keep score but I did try to hit both the 348 proto and the V1X off the tee and on certain approach shots. I’m still unable to discern a difference between the two versions. 

I did hit an errant tee shot into the dirt that damaged the cover enough to not want to hit it off the tee anymore. Now it’s time to cut it open!

The photo on top is the prototype. The one below is what I pulled from MGS Ball Lab. I can confirm that they are indeed different balls. Different size cores and the materials are different colors. 

[Mr. Mushball]

8 minutes ago, PeterHenric said:

Played a round today with some friends. Didn’t really keep score but I did try to hit both the 348 proto and the V1X off the tee and on certain approach shots. I’m still unable to discern a difference between the two versions. 

I did hit an errant tee shot into the dirt that damaged the cover enough to not want to hit it off the tee anymore. Now it’s time to cut it open!

The photo on top is the prototype. The one below is what I pulled from MGS Ball Lab. I can confirm that they are indeed different balls. Different size cores and the materials are different colors. 

Hard to say if they are different materials, though it's likely that they changed the composition a bit and may explain the different sizes of the layers.  The dye color of each layer is probably to help identify batches/models.  The bottom photo is also the V1x?

 

[RichL85]

18 minutes ago, PeterHenric said:

Do you feel like the 4 shots better was because of the ball or because you just played a little better? There have been many times where the front and back scores look like they came from different people even though I played the same ball. 

It's possible, but the score was just overall better with the V1x, even though I have more experience with the front 9. My course has three different 9's and we ended up playing a different 9 than I usually do for the back. I felt like I was swinging better on the front 9, but scored better on the back. 

If I had to guess, it probably is mostly just that the 348 rolls out a bit more on the greens and my unfortunate tendency is to come up short on chips and pitches anyway. Left myself easier times finishing out with the 348.

[Mr. Mushball]

Went out to the short course yesterday as it was a blustery day.  Wind coming due east off of the Gorge at roughly 20~30 MPH.  Warmed up at the range and was getting about a 20° push to the west on my pitching wedge.  

Decided to play and test the 348 out against this barrage.  Most holes are due north/south, so could get a good idea of how cross winds would push the ball around.  Also had a few east/west holes for playing into and with the wind. 

Unfortunately, I had to take a work call, so got started late.  Only had about 45 minutes to make the tour and wound up hitting a few balls from each tee to get a good idea of what was going on and try to eliminate my stroke from all of it.  While I didn't get all 9 holes completed, I still feel like the 348 performs very well in the wind compared most of the balls I've played.  Keeping the ball low cut through all of the cross wind and let me get some of the longest iron shots I've had, even if they were a bit off target.  Playing into the wind also didn't kill too much distance as long as I kept it low.  My pitches at 100 yards stayed more true than at the driving range and was able to hit some greens. 

I thinned one into a marsh and was unable to find it.  Minus points for find ability in murky waters with think cattails.  On the 6th hole I also lost one off of the tee, and another after a second shot at the green that was hit clean.  Came back out early this morning and was fortunately able to find both.  Walked over them a few times in the dark last night and couldn't see them at all, even with a UV flashlight.  More minus points. 

[daviddvm]

I've now played 45 holes with the Proto 348 balls and nine holes with the Proto 388, my previous gamer is -ProV1x.

I am amazed that I can truly see the difference in ball flight, especially off the driver. the Proto 348 is noticeably has a higher ball flight than my gamer. On the back nine this week I put a new ball in play thinking it was the Proto 348 I had been playing, but after 3 holes I inadvertently saw that the ball I was playing was a Proto 388! I thought I was doing something wrong in my swing, but it was the ball! So, I finished the round with the Proto 388 and really seemed to struggle a little with the lower ball flight.

As far as spin, I really cannot perceive much difference. I can hit both balls relatively straight and seem to stop on the green well.

Feel? I've got to be honest they feel the same to me. I guess I need to try and be more sensitive?

I plan on playing my next two rounds with the Proto 388 to collect more data and feedback. Stay tuned!

[mikeanthony]

6 hours ago, daviddvm said:

I've now played 45 holes with the Proto 348 balls and nine holes with the Proto 388, my previous gamer is -ProV1x.

I am amazed that I can truly see the difference in ball flight, especially off the driver. the Proto 348 is noticeably has a higher ball flight than my gamer. On the back nine this week I put a new ball in play thinking it was the Proto 348 I had been playing, but after 3 holes I inadvertently saw that the ball I was playing was a Proto 388! I thought I was doing something wrong in my swing, but it was the ball! So, I finished the round with the Proto 388 and really seemed to struggle a little with the lower ball flight.

As far as spin, I really cannot perceive much difference. I can hit both balls relatively straight and seem to stop on the green well.

Feel? I've got to be honest they feel the same to me. I guess I need to try and be more sensitive?

I plan on playing my next two rounds with the Proto 388 to collect more data and feedback. Stay tuned!

Isn’t the driver height difference wild?! TBH, I’m blown away by it. 

I honestly thought it was a marketing ploy with some slight difference, but that is absolutely not the case with the 348 & 388. 

Really enjoying this test/review and it has really helped me change my thought process on what golf ball works for me. 

[RichL85]

Took both balls to a nearby short 9 hole course (mostly par 3s with 2 pars 4s). Longest hole is 400 yards, but six of the holes are under 110 yards. The height difference off the driver is impressive to see how much higher the 348 goes. I even see some extra height off the irons, though it's not as pronounced. I didn't take anything longer than my 5-iron today and would likely pick a ball based on the short game more than how it performs off the tee. As far as the head to head goes, the 348 beat out the 388 by one stroke, but it was back and forth throughout. The 388 spun back more than I am used to on a number of the full wedge shots, but nothing I couldn't adjust to.  

I actually had earphones in the whole time listening to music and couldn't "feel" any real difference between the two balls. My perception of the "feel" difference is almost entirely dependent on the sound difference between the two. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

A few posts this past week... knowing we have all been distracted by weather and the holiday...  just curious Testers... what are your initial findings?  Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

Granted, there is still much testing to be done.... but did one of these balls "WOW" you in the first stages of testing?

[JerryB]

I really wanted to go the hipster route and say these balls weren't that good.  But the truth is, both balls are great. 

I'm really struggling to tease out how much is the ball versus me getting better, though.  For instance, I noted much better looking (higher) ball flight with the 388 which seems to go against the grain.  Have I just been more erratic when hitting the 348?  (shrugs)

I'd play either in a heartbeat.  I still lose a little too many to cost-justify making them my gamer, however.

[CarlH]

4 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

A few posts this past week... knowing we have all been distracted by weather and the holiday...  just curious Testers... what are your initial findings?  Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

Granted, there is still much testing to be done.... but did one of these balls "WOW" you in the first stages of testing?

I could easily play either ball, but given a choice, I'd opt to play the 348 (Pro V1-X).  My reasoning will be in my review.   

[RichL85]

4 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

A few posts this past week... knowing we have all been distracted by weather and the holiday...  just curious Testers... what are your initial findings?  Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

Granted, there is still much testing to be done.... but did one of these balls "WOW" you in the first stages of testing?

Overall opinion is that as expected, both are very good. The height of the 348 works a little better for me since getting height on the driver is one of my concerns, but I could play either one. I like the flight and spin of the 348 a little better, but that clicky sound annoys me a bit. It's fun to see the 388 spin back with the wedges, but it leaves me longer putts because I'm not used to that action. 

The durability of the covers on both have been better than a lot of balls I've tried, taking some abuse in the practice bunker without much damage showing. As far as my personal opinion, I would make the 348 my gamer and adjust to the sound, but I'm cheap and for my current level, there is not *that* much difference between these and some of the other options. I absolutely will say that I like the 348 better than say the Maxfli Tour X, but at almost twice the cost, the diminishing returns kicks in and it's simply not twice as good for me. If I happened to get a job like one of the guys I got paired up with last weekend that gets balls provided by his company for free, I would absolutely switch to the 348 for the performance. But for my money, there are better options from a price/performance ratio standpoint. 

[ZMendle10]

17 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

A few posts this past week... knowing we have all been distracted by weather and the holiday...  just curious Testers... what are your initial findings?  Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

Granted, there is still much testing to be done.... but did one of these balls "WOW" you in the first stages of testing?

Being a current Pro V1 player I was disappointed in the changes made to create the Proto 388. However the Proto 348 has me intrigued to some degree and is gonna require some more testing whenever possible with the weather to allow it. Biggest change to the 2023 bag is gonna be a new golf ball for sure though. 

[rkj427]

5 hours ago, ZMendle10 said:

Being a current Pro V1 player I was disappointed in the changes made to create the Proto 388. However the Proto 348 has me intrigued to some degree and is gonna require some more testing whenever possible with the weather to allow it. Biggest change to the 2023 bag is gonna be a new golf ball for sure though. 

Curious in the changes between the current model and the Proto 388 that have you disappointed.

[ZMendle10]

9 minutes ago, rkj427 said:

Curious in the changes between the current model and the Proto 388 that have you disappointed.

What I loved about the current Pro V1 was the feel and how it was a lower spin ball for all of my irons. The Proto 388 is noticeably firmer than the Pro V1 and spinier off the irons. 

While I don't have a problem playing a firmer ball since I really enjoyed playing the Bridgestone Tour BX before switching to the Pro V1 the excess spin was the bigger let down since causes me to lose some distance off my irons and possibly some off the tee.

Ironically for me the Proto 348 is now the lower spin option of the two. 

[PeterHenric]

6 hours ago, ZMendle10 said:

Being a current Pro V1 player I was disappointed in the changes made to create the Proto 388. However the Proto 348 has me intrigued to some degree and is gonna require some more testing whenever possible with the weather to allow it. Biggest change to the 2023 bag is gonna be a new golf ball for sure though. 

What changes have you noticed from the current V1 and the 388? For the life of me, I don’t think I can tell a difference. 
 

Edit: just saw you already responded. Thanks for the info.

[PeterHenric]

I picked up a Bushnell Launch Pro on Black Friday and it will be delivered tomorrow. I plan on putting the current and proto balls on to see if I can quantify any performance differences between the new and old balls. This is very exciting for me.

[yungkory]

On 11/26/2022 at 9:06 AM, Golfspy_TCB said:

A few posts this past week... knowing we have all been distracted by weather and the holiday...  just curious Testers... what are your initial findings?  Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

Granted, there is still much testing to be done.... but did one of these balls "WOW" you in the first stages of testing?

Played today and it was nice that the tradewinds were down for the first 8 holes. Took the opportunity to play the 348 on the front and it does everything that I'd expect a ProV1x to do -- at least what I'm familiar with having played them for the last 2 years.

Switched to the 388 on the back, and the winds picked up a little bit. Nothing really crazy, a 1-club wind at most. I really struggle to notice a huge difference between the two outside of:
 

1. The feel. The 348 is firmer (no shock) on all shots and feels "lighter" like I've mentioned before. Again, I struggle to explain it since feel is subjective, but the 388 feels softer, and heavier at the same time.
2. Launch and peak height windows with driver thru 5i are higher with the 348.

Shot an 80 with a double on the front and a triple on the back where I hit 4 total bunker shots out of 3 different bunkers (LOL). So I got to go to the beach and play golf today, wee!

[vandyland]

On 11/26/2022 at 1:06 PM, Golfspy_TCB said:

Which ball seems to fit your game better and why?

I have been surprised that the 348 fits me better. I have always thought I should play the softest ball I could handle and the compression of both the Pro V1 and Pro V1x always scared me away. In practice they don't feel harsh or un-compressable. Based on trackman numbers, the 348 is the best for me and that is what I have been playing. I had the same 348 for about 62 holes and then I lost it in some leaves. Then I lost another 2 348s in the same round which was upsetting. I think the next step for me is to do what @PeterHenric suggested and get on a Trackman with 2022 Pro V1 x vs 2023 Proto 348 to see if I can parse out any difference. 

[PeterHenric]

Played a round today using the 348 and it worked very well for me. I liked the ball flight. Next round will be on Thursday with the 388.

I let a friend play one of my used 388’s today as he is usually a Pro V1 guy and he said he couldn’t really tell a performance difference but that it felt softer off of the club face. It had a little gouge on the cover so I was going to cut it up but then he lost it on the 17th hole.

I got the Bushnell Launch Pro set up and over the next few days I’ll try to get some 7 iron spin/flight numbers to post up.

[vandyland]

I am updating my actual review as I was able to hit 2022 Pro V1x and Proto 348 side by side today on Trackman. Also, played a simulator round on trackman at Bay Harbor and just, would like to say, I don't think I ever need to spend the $400 it costs to play out there. Sheesh that course was a bit tricked up. Nice (simulated) views though!

[daviddvm]

Played my first full round with the 388 Proto today. I played well. Shot par 35 on the front nine 4 over 41 on the back. That is an exceptional round for me. The conditions were cool 50 degrees (cold for us in Houston) but the course was in great shape with the greens running fast at probably 10 on the stemp meter.

The round could have been some better if I had made one of my two eagle putts on the day. I played the entire round with the same ball today and that doesn't happen very often. The ball obviously performed well and the biggest take away for the day was trajectory. I felt in control of the ball even though looking at the stats I may have lost some yardage on most clubs. 

I will tell you that if I score lower with a ball that doesn't go as far...I'm good with that

[PeterHenric]

Played a round today with the 388 proto and I really like this ball. I like the lower launch off the driver but still has good spin on the irons. My opinion of the ball is influenced by the fact I was playing pretty well today. I ended up losing 3 total proto balls today which is a bummer. Errant shots near water plus a windy day make for a bad combination. Probably Saturday or Sunday I’ll get on the launch monitor to get some quantifiable performance differences between the new and old balls.