ProV1 vs Chrome Soft: Am I making this up?

[akronswitness]

So I normally play Chrome Soft LS for years and was recently given a sleeve of ProV1s. I decided to play them on the back 9. I noticed my drives became a lot tighter (usually play a small fade), lower and mishits didn't have a 'ballooning' effect like what normally happens with my CSLS. Weirdly enough, I also seemed to putt better with them, if thats even a thing that matters in golf balls.

My question is, is this all some sort of short-term placebo effect that I making up just off playing 9 holes or is the difference in the ProV1 compared to the CSLS that noticeable? I really dont feel like going down a research rabbit hole comparing specs of different balls so i was hoping somebody with more knowledge could shoot me straight befrore I spend a lot of money switching to ProVs lol

 

I know the easy answer is 'go play more rounds with them' but I thought it was a great comparison to be able to play 9 holes with each ball, on the same course, the same day, with the same swing.

Thank you

Edited June 2, 2024 by akronswitness

[Jeff58]

Balls 101 - there are basically 5 compression levels of golf balls. Within each level, the manufacturer can tweak the ball’s launch and flight characteristics to a limited extent. Every conforming model must conform to the USGA and R&A maximum speed characteristics, and most do.

 

In the “Standard Tour” compression group, Titleist has pushed the V1 into a lower than normal trajectory, essentially to differentiate it from the V1x to the greatest extent possible. Its mission is to fight high flight and ballooning when the player doesn’t produce an adequately descending impact.

 

The CSX LS is a distance ball. The high compression gives it a speed advantage and the lower than normal spin rate reduces drag.

 

Everything you are experiencing is normal.
 

If you take four different models and putt them blindly, you’ll find that they all go the same distance. That’s because they’re all the same size and mass, and you’re not compressing them. They do feel different, and that creates a feedback between you, the ball, and your putter. 

[akronswitness]

58 minutes ago, Jeff58 said:

Balls 101 - there are basically 5 compression levels of golf balls. Within each level, the manufacturer can tweak the ball’s launch and flight characteristics to a limited extent. Every conforming model must conform to the USGA and R&A maximum speed characteristics, and most do.

 

In the “Standard Tour” compression group, Titleist has pushed the V1 into a lower than normal trajectory, essentially to differentiate it from the V1x to the greatest extent possible. Its mission is to fight high flight and ballooning when the player doesn’t produce an adequately descending impact.

 

The CSX LS is a distance ball. The high compression gives it a speed advantage and the lower than normal spin rate reduces drag.

 

Everything you are experiencing is normal.
 

If you take four different models and putt them blindly, you’ll find that they all go the same distance. That’s because they’re all the same size and mass, and you’re not compressing them. They do feel different, and that creates a feedback between you, the ball, and your putter. 

 

Got it, I just noticed the lower sidespin and the lower flight/less ballooning with the Titleist compared to the Callaway and wanted to just make sure that it was in fact a ball characteristic ProVs are known for, not just some weird anomaly. Ive been playing the CSLS for 3 years so I know how that ball typically reacts, but for some reason with my most recent version I bought, I am getting far more of this weird takeoff with them. Almost like they are floating and drifting off line more, but when I switched to the ProV-- it was noticeably tighter and lower. Almost like it was more difficult to move it off its line while getting 10-15 more yards (probably from roll) on drives.

 

I tried my best at a side by side comparison on the same day/course to minimize the human element but yeah; just wanted to make sure those are tendencies you can expect from a ProV and not just some one-off thing.  

Edited June 3, 2024 by akronswitness

[Jeff58]

The comparative presence or lack of spin is really difficult to quantify visually. A higher ball flight is often taken as a sign of high spin, while the highest appearing balls are the lowest spin and lowest compression, such as a SuperSoft.

 

”Straight” balls, like the e6, really do spin less, and the V1 is not one of those. The crystal (golf) ball says that you may generally tend to create a more neutral attack angle, and when you get a little “flippy”, your launch is too high with the accompanying lack of spin, which produces the high floating appearance. You’re effectively turning your CSX into a SuperSoft.

 

You might also try an AVX. it’s essentially the next step lower in the Titleist lineup. For many, it also tends to differentiate iron and wood  flights a little more than the V1.

Edited June 3, 2024 by Jeff58

[robp11]

"Weirdly enough, I even seem to putt better with them"....I sometimes practice putting with a bunch of different balls, and I noticed that the Pro V1 rolls really well...definitely not scientific, but for me it was noticeable.  

[akronswitness]

On 6/3/2024 at 1:30 PM, robp11 said:

"Weirdly enough, I even seem to putt better with them"....I sometimes practice putting with a bunch of different balls, and I noticed that the Pro V1 rolls really well...definitely not scientific, but for me it was noticeable.  

 

Thank you, that's the part that's hard to explain, so I realize that I'm sounding like a idiot with this whole post lol

 

They just rolled smoother and more consistent. Not only off the tee in the air, but on the green as well it feels like they hold their line very very well (at least compared to the CS LS). I just wanted to make I wasn't fooling myself and others have seen the same thing

[Cwebb]

Most players have better feel and perception than they give themselves credit for.  If you notice that a ball is performing better, just go with it.

[Wardonation]

On 6/2/2024 at 1:41 PM, akronswitness said:

So I normally play Chrome Soft LS for years and was recently given a sleeve of ProV1s. I decided to play them on the back 9. I noticed my drives became a lot tighter (usually play a small fade), lower and mishits didn't have a 'ballooning' effect like what normally happens with my CSLS. Weirdly enough, I also seemed to putt better with them, if thats even a thing that matters in golf balls.

My question is, is this all some sort of short-term placebo effect that I making up just off playing 9 holes or is the difference in the ProV1 compared to the CSLS that noticeable? I really dont feel like going down a research rabbit hole comparing specs of different balls so i was hoping somebody with more knowledge could shoot me straight befrore I spend a lot of money switching to ProVs lol

 

I know the easy answer is 'go play more rounds with them' but I thought it was a great comparison to be able to play 9 holes with each ball, on the same course, the same day, with the same swing.

Thank you

I played the LS when it came out until this year. I did not like the Cally tour balls at all. I flirted with the TP5X but ended up playing the PROV ball. I was always a PROVX guy until the year they switched them. Anyways really pleased with the PROV ball. Firmly in the bag

[akronswitness]

On 7/4/2024 at 12:41 PM, Wardonation said:

I played the LS when it came out until this year. I did not like the Cally tour balls at all. I flirted with the TP5X but ended up playing the PROV ball. I was always a PROVX guy until the year they switched them. Anyways really pleased with the PROV ball. Firmly in the bag

 

So I had a chance to game the ProV1 now for a month and I'm a little skewed. I love the control, spin and ability to get the ball to check around the green (obviously). However, I noticed that I'm losing a considerable amount of distance with it off the tee. I could Happy Gilmore swing into a ProV and it will only go about 255-265. Whereas if I square one up with the CS LS, I could push 275-290. I had a friend tell me some of my drives with the ProV seemed a bit 'floaty' and its because Im getting too much spin off the driver.

 

I know the ProV1 not a distance ball, its just shocking to me how much of a gap there is for me off the tee between the ProV and CSLS. Feels like Im losing 10-20 yards off my drives consistently. However, I do not miss seeing my iron shots leak out too much with the CSLS.

 

Im in a weird spot 😂 Guess Id rather have the control over the added driver distance.

 

 

Edited July 30, 2024 by akronswitness

[Pepperturbo]

On 6/2/2024 at 12:41 PM, akronswitness said:

So I normally play Chrome Soft LS for years and was recently given a sleeve of ProV1s. I decided to play them on the back 9. I noticed my drives became a lot tighter (usually play a small fade), lower and mishits didn't have a 'ballooning' effect like what normally happens with my CSLS. Weirdly enough, I also seemed to putt better with them, if thats even a thing that matters in golf balls.

My question is, is this all some sort of short-term placebo effect that I making up just off playing 9 holes or is the difference in the ProV1 compared to the CSLS that noticeable? I really dont feel like going down a research rabbit hole comparing specs of different balls so i was hoping somebody with more knowledge could shoot me straight befrore I spend a lot of money switching to ProVs lol

 

I know the easy answer is 'go play more rounds with them' but I thought it was a great comparison to be able to play 9 holes with each ball, on the same course, the same day, with the same swing.

Thank you

LS, which I've tested, is comparable to DASH -ProV1x which I play.  Didn't like LS and didn't see it as long as DASH.  Golf balls are like golf clubs, there's a honeymoon effect that is often overlooked.  Taking clubs out of the discussion, ProV1 should be lower than LS.  Yes, it should be noticeable.  Overall, 9 holes are NOT enough to measure using one ball over another.  One round isn't either.   I suggest buying a sleeve and play them until you lose them, or they be ugly, then you'll know.

 

Example: When Titleist introduced the NEW AVX I took one out for a round, no rational, but gave it to my buddy at the turn.  Since, I've given the ball 3 rounds of play and found it just as good if not better than its predecessor.  

[bryanwmilburn]

Ironically enough, I played 3 holes with the Chrome Tour this morning, was +2, and switched to the Pro V1 and was -4 the rest of the way in. For some odd reason, the Pro V1 just flat out performs for me off the tee, with irons, and around the greens. Obviously the ball didn't make THAT much of a difference, but the fact remains that I absolutely, positively play better with a Pro V1 than with any other ball. It's the #1 ball in golf for a reason. 

[akronswitness]

20 minutes ago, bryanwmilburn said:

Ironically enough, I played 3 holes with the Chrome Tour this morning, was +2, and switched to the Pro V1 and was -4 the rest of the way in. For some odd reason, the Pro V1 just flat out performs for me off the tee, with irons, and around the greens. Obviously the ball didn't make THAT much of a difference, but the fact remains that I absolutely, positively play better with a Pro V1 than with any other ball. It's the #1 ball in golf for a reason. 

 

I can see why. As a player who has super high launch, the ProVs ability to be a lower penetrating flight is much appreciated. It minimizes the risk of mishits sailing too much IMO.

 

It has defining characteristics that are (to me) very noticeable compared to other balls. The drive distances isnt a big enough of a deal to ditch it. The feel/control/flight is more than enough to make up for 10-20 yard shorter drives IMO

Edited July 30, 2024 by akronswitness