Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson plays the Titleist Pro V1x golf ball. This article breaks down why this specific ball is the perfect match for his powerful, creative style of play and will help you understand if its high-launch, high-spin characteristics are the right fit for your game.
If you follow professional golf, you might remember Bubba Watson’s highly publicized switch to a different golf ball company, Volvik, back in 2017. He was famous for playing their brightly colored, sometimes even rainbow-patterned, golf balls. While the partnership garnered a lot of attention, from a performance standpoint, it didn't quite deliver the results Bubba was famous for.
Things changed in 2020. Ahead of the new season, Bubba announced he was ending his contract with Volvik and returning to the ball he had trusted for the majority of his career, including his two major championship victories: the Titleist Pro V1x. He was candid about his reasoning, stating that he wanted to get back to what he knew and trusted. For Bubba, it was a decision rooted in a desire for peak performance and the unwavering consistency needed to compete at the highest level. He knew that to give himself the best chance to win again on the PGA Tour, he needed a ball that was perfectly in sync with his game, and for him, that was the Pro V1x.
The name Pro V1x is synonymous with premium performance in golf. It’s not just a ball that Bubba plays, it’s a choice for legions of touring professionals and serious amateurs alike. But what exactly makes it so special? From a coaching perspective, it comes down to a specific combination of flight, spin, and feel.
The Pro V1x is a four-piece, multi-layer golf ball with a cast urethane elastomer cover. Let's translate that from technical jargon into real-world performance:
When you compare the Pro V1x to its sibling, the Pro V1, some distinct differences emerge that make it cater to a specific type of player and ball flight.
The Pro V1x is designed to launch higher and have a steeper angle of descent than the Pro V1. For many players, a higher ball flight equals longer carry distance. Getting the ball up in the air more easily, especially with long irons and fairway woods, can be a significant advantage, helping you fly over hazards and land the ball more softly on the greens.
While engineered for low spin with the driver, the Pro V1x has a higher spin profile on iron and wedge shots compared to the standard Pro V1. This is a critical factor for control. More spin means you can be more aggressive with your targets because you can trust the ball to check up on the green rather than releasing and rolling too far. This "stopping power" is what separates good shots from great ones.
Feel is subjective, but it's important. The Pro V1x provides a slightly firmer feel off the clubface than the Pro V1. Some players, especially those with higher swing speeds, prefer this firmer feedback. It can feel more "solid" or "explosive" at impact, giving the golfer a sense of compressing the ball powerfully. This firmer feel is also noticeable around the greens and on the putter.
Understanding the ball’s characteristics is one thing. Seeing how they perfectly align with a unique player like Bubba Watson is where we really see its value. "Bubba Golf" isn't about hitting the ball straight, it's about artistry, power, and unbelievable creativity.
Bubba Watson is one of the longest hitters on the planet, possessing a swing speed that dwarfs the average amateur's. For players with this level of speed, too much spin off the driver can be a distance killer. It causes the ball to "balloon" up into the air and lose forward momentum. The Pro V1x's design is brilliant for this. Its core helps reduce spin on high-speed, low-loft drives, turning Bubba's incredible clubhead speed into maximum ball speed and a powerful, piercing flight. At the same time, the high-launch characteristic ensures the ball gets airborne efficiently, maximizing its carry distance without floating uselessly.
Where the Pro V1x really empowers Bubba is with his irons and wedges. He’s famous for his ability to curve the ball dramatically in both directions - hitting massive hooking wedges or high, floating cuts around trees. To execute these shots, he requires absolute precision and predictable spin.
The high-spin profile of the Pro V1x gives him the control he needs. When he cuts across the ball to hit a big fade, he knows the urethane cover will bite and produce the desired spin to make the ball drop softly. When he needs a low, "skippy" pitch that checks up after a couple of bounces, he trusts the ball to react exactly as he visualizes. This ball gives him the full palette of shots, allowing him to play golf like an artist painting on a canvas. Without that predictable, high spin, his creative genius would be seriously limited.
This is the big question for the amateur golfer. It's fantastic that it works for Bubba, but is it the right ball for you? As a coach, this is a conversation I have all the time. Choosing a golf ball shouldn't be about just picking the most expensive one or the one your favorite pro uses. It’s about matching the ball's performance to your swing and your needs on the course.
The only way to know for sure is to test it on the golf course. Buying a single sleeve of Pro V1x and putting it through its paces is the best investment you can make in your equipment.
Choosing the right golf ball isn't a "set it and forget it" task. It’s about finding the right partner that complements your tendencies and helps you execute the shots you envision.
Bubba Watson plays the Titleist Pro V1x because it is an extension of his unique talents on the course. It allows him to harness his raw power for incredible distance while providing the high spin and precise control he needs to work his creative magic around the greens.
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