We decided to do a Titleist Velocity golf balls review because they are the best ball for the common golfer. They’re also produced by the most popular brand in the sport. Sure, Titleist makes balls that cost $50 a dozen that are great. You won’t hear us even whisper a bad thing about, but these are worthy of praise too. Titleist Velocity is perfect for the golfer that gets out once or twice a month that wants to use a high-quality golf ball (with some brand recognition) without breaking the bank.
Regardless of your skill level, you’ll find in this Titleist Velocity golf balls review that we have (mostly) one thing on our mind, and that’s distance. The benefits do not stop at adding distance with every single one of your clubs, but the conversation has to start there. If you ask us, that’s really not too bad of a place to begin. Everyone likes hitting the ball as far as they can, you’re surely not an exception. Do yourself a favor and jump on the Velocity bandwagon, you’ll be far from alone.
Customer Review Summary: Everyone else’s Titleist Velocity golf balls review
4.5 Stars, 97 Reviews – Golf Galaxy
4.4 Stars, 19 Reviews – TGW
4.3 Stars, 28 Reviews – Dick’s Sporting Goods
4.6 Stars, 12 Reviews – Walmart
Pros and Cons – The best and worst of our Titleist Velocity golf balls review
Pros
- Affordable, high-quality golf ball
- Helps to add distance with all clubs, but most noticeable with the driver, woods, and hybrids
- Makes it easy for an improving player to hit high, arcing shots from the fairway or rough
- Variety of colors lets every golfer pick the version that feels (and looks) the best in their eyes
Cons
- Difficult to shape for an average golfer
- Will not spin as easily on approach shots when compared to more expensive balls
- Locked into numbers based on what color you buy, a rare occurrence these days
Low Spin (and how it relates to distance)
Titleist Velocity golf balls are designed to produce low levels of spin, which is why the idea is featured so heavily in our review. In order to gain distance by reducing spin, you need to hit the ball straighter. Luckily, these two go hand in hand. Rather than losing distance as your ball flares away or aggressively hooks, even mishits will go straighter. By keeping your shot in line with your intended target, you steadily advance the ball.
Finding the right cover is crucial to adding distance, especially off the tee. Titleist Velocity balls come with a NaZ+ Cover designed to blend ball speed with control. This cover keeps the effects of spin low but is soft enough that you can easily control your irons as you hit into a green. Off the tee, it’s hard enough to provide that first big bounce once your drive lands. Low spin and a little roll where you need it, control where you need it—distance everywhere.
How dimples contribute
It would have been easy for Titleist to stop at creating a durable and effective cover. Instead, they found a way to make it more efficient and consistent. The way they accomplished this—a more aerodynamic dimple system.
Dimples have been getting put on golf balls since 1905. So how is that we are still finding ways to improve them? It’s simple, our knowledge and understanding have increased. Also, we’re just way better at implementing science into manufacturing than we used to be—something that will continue probably forever.
Having 350 dimples on a golf ball provides consistency and reliable high ball flight. With reduced spin, you know what to expect, and as a result, you’re in a better place. Since you’re able to keep the ball in the air longer, and with more speed, you gain distance. The science is complicated, the results are easy to see.
Finding the right balance
Being a low spin golf ball counteracts the effects of high launch not in a way that brings distance down, but actually helps it. If a ball were to have too high of a launch and excessive spin, you would get shots that go straight up and straight down. For a ball to truly help you add distance, you need a balance of these two features.
With distance producing and spin reducing features in mind, one issue that might come up is shaping difficulty. Due to the efforts required to reduce spin and keep ball flight as straight, it takes a concerted effort from a skilled golfer to be able to shape Titleist Velocity balls with precision.
Additionally, unless you are well versed in the area of shot shaping, moving a ball side to side any more than a few yards would be considered an accomplishment. Stick with what works. Hit the ball straight, you aren’t playing on the PGA Tour. You’re just trying to beat your friends.
LSX Core
Strength starts at the core. Without a solid foundational base, everything that surrounds it weaker. With a golf ball, this idea remains unchanged. At the center of a Titleist Velocity golf ball is an LSX core.
A Titleist Velocity golf balls review wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk about their advanced designs and engineering. In reality, any Titleist review wouldn’t be complete without it. For this ball, the LSX core provides a snapshot of how each component of Titleist golf ball interacts. With a Velocity, the common goal is distance.
Compared to most golf balls, the LSX core is bigger than the center of other similar models. With an enlarged core, Velocity golf balls produce more speed off the club adding distance from the moment of impact, literally.
In order to maximize the effects of the core, which produces a low level of spin, it requires a full swing. These effects become exaggerated with higher swing speeds, like almost everything in golf. An unexpected benefit, when you’re taking half and light swings around the green, the core activates less than the cover. With an emphasis on the cover, you will be able to easily generate greenside spin and control.
With the LSX core, it leads to a naturally high flight path regardless of what club you’re hitting. In most cases, high launch and carry are desirable—but not for all. For some older golfers who prefer the method of running the ball up to each green, this new flight path might be difficult to get used to.
Why high launch is important
There are some courses that play easier when you can run the ball downhills and other slopes, or so you think. If this is the case, you might prefer a lower flight ball. Most golfers that do not want a high flight ball do not realize that if they hit the ball higher and longer, they would not have to rely on natural slopes to add distance. Instead of landing a ball on the downslope, they would carry the hill entirely. You might not gain total distance when you consider the extra roll from hills, but you gain a significant amount of control.
How many times have we all tried the method of getting a ball going in the right direction, only for it to catch in the rough or in some other unforeseen way? Easy answer—far too many. When you hit the ball higher, and with more speed, you take control over where the ball comes to a stop, not the golf course.
Matte Finish
Titleist Velocity golf balls come in four colors, three of which have a matte finish. The white version has a standard outside coating, while the green, orange and pink versions all have the matte exterior. For those that it matters to, the white and pink models have single numbers while the green and orange versions have double numbers (11, 22, etc.).
Matte finish increases the durability of a golf ball and makes it so that a single bounce on the cart path or against a tree does not mean it needs to be immediately replaced. For golfers with hard swings, using a Velocity will not cause the ball to tear or scuff like other more affordable dozens of balls might.
Another area where golfers might be concerned about with a matte golf ball is the weight. Thanks to the efforts of Titleist’s top designers, they were able to maintain consistency with the weight of the ball no matter what finish it has. Just as with weight, the outside texture does not make a major difference in how the ball performs. Distance, flight, spin—they all stay the same. The only time you’ll really notice how different the colored balls are is when you watch one travel through the air towards the green.
Should golf be fun? (Yes)
When I switch to a colored golf ball, I seem to relax and have more fun. I’m not sure if this shows how little fun I actually have while playing golf, or there’s actually something behind it. Maybe it takes me back to my days of mini-golf or helps me forget how many times I’ve chunked and shanked your typical white golf ball. Either way, it has an effect on me.
Some people (like me) prefer using a ball with a matte finish because it’s different than what we’re used to and helps reset an internal, mental switch that improves our game. Other people prefer a matte finished golf ball simply because they like having a color choice. Also, it’s a whole lot easier to identify your golf ball when you’re the only one in the group using a lime green ball.
Double benefit, no more having to carry a marker and come up with a unique marking. Did we mention colored balls can be easier to find in the rough and while in the air? That’s a pretty big benefit too. Go ahead, deviate from tradition and use a golf ball that will help you enjoy your time on the course. Most golfers play for recreation. If you aren’t having a good time, why bother?
Bottomline & Recommendation
This is the golf ball you should be using if you’re a regular golfer. For us, a regular golfer is someone who shoots anywhere between 85 and 105. These are the people who know what they’re doing on a course but won’t lose their mind over a bogey. There’s a reason Titleist has produced the Velocity for more than a few years (with no signs of stopping), they sell well. People buy these because they provide good value for a fair price.
If I’m working on a swing adjustment, or playing a course with a lot of hazards and water, you’ll probably see me with a dozen Velocity in my bag. When I have these in play, I know that I am using a high-quality ball, but won’t be too upset if I lose a couple (or six).
If you want to stay competitive without breaking the bank, Titleist Velocity golf balls are a good place to start. Whether you’re a high single-digit handicapper or a player that doesn’t bother to keep track of that stuff, this is a good option. Everyone wants to replace their driver in order to gain a few yards, but why not just switch balls? If you decide that you’d rather avoid the purchase of a few hundred dollars and try something a little more affordable, give Titleist Velocity a shot.