2025 Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x make PGA Tour debut at Shriners Children's Open

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On paper this week's Shriners Children's Open may not seem like much but it will see the introduction of the new Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls to the range for every player to test.

The No. 1 ball in golf debuted at the same venue, TPC Summerlin, in October 2000 – the Pro V1x was added in 2003 – and no fewer than 47 players played the ball that week, including champion Billy Andrade no. runner-up Phil Mickelson.

The switch to the new ball marked the largest change in equipment in PGA Tour history.

This week every ball in the Titleist range will be the 2025 Pro V1 or Pro V1x model as players get into the new ball.

There are no details on the new ball or any release date but we have already seen Hayden Springer and Lee Hodges (Pro V1) and Zac Blair (Pro V1x) make the move after testing sessions.

A variety of new balls have been in play this season during practice and Titleist's Director of Tour Assurance and Research, Fordie Pitts, released the final round of new prototypes earlier this year before the final selection is made available to returning guests following the Tour Championship.

Going back to 2000 and the Invensys Classic, it was thought that about 20-25 players would put in a new Pro V1 to play so Titleist had 60 Pro V1s in their now white box package.

However, the new popularity of football caught them by surprise.

“I missed the forecast by about 50 percent,” said Mac Fritz, Titleist's Senior Vice President of Tour Promotions at the time.

“The players would come into the locker room and say, 'Hey, I'm really going to play the Pro V1 this week,' and I'd say, 'Okay, great, wait a minute.'

“Then I move on to the other two players who I have given a bunch of and I rip off a few sleeves from each of them. We have guys going to the first game with empty boxes.”

Change job

Andrade, who beat Mickelson by a shot, said the week changed his career.

“I remember that I didn't have a very good year going into that event. I was asking for 160 on the money list and there are still a few events left,” said Andrade.

“I just sent my Qualifying School check. I was desperate.

“I remember well when I first played during training. The ball was 20 yards longer than the Tour Prestige I was playing at the time.

“I put one up but the distance, in addition to playing well, was like I've never played.”

The new ball was off the charts in both distance and control, aided by its large solid core, multi-component construction and high-performance urethane elastomer cover.

“The Pro V1 has responded to the changing game,” added Titleist Golf Balls President Mary Lou Bohn.

“The advent of the power game on the tour has necessitated golf balls that deliver the lowest spin in the long game, while maintaining the spin, feel and control of premium liquid center, wound technology golf balls.

“We went around the field with the players during practice, and it was surprising to hear many great players fail to perform well in the Pro V1.

“If you look at the early success of the record players, the results speak for themselves.”

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