Seeing a sleeve of Titleist golf balls with the iconic script logo blacked out by a series of 'X's can be confusing. Are they used? Are they defective? The answer is much simpler, and it could be the secret to playing a premium golf ball without the premium price. We're going to break down precisely what a Titleist X-Out is, why it exists, how it differs from other types of balls, and whether it’s the right choice for your game.
A Titleist X-Out is a brand-new golf ball, straight from the factory, that has been flagged for a minor, purely cosmetic imperfection. That’s it. It has not been used, It hasn't been found in a lake, and its performance has not been compromised. The core, cover, and dimple pattern are identical to the "first-quality" balls, like the Pro V1 or AVX, that you'd find in a high-end box.
The "X-Out" marking is simply Titleist's way of separating these balls from their perfect-spec counterparts. To protect the premium reputation of their brand, they literally strike through the "Titleist" name with X's. This marking tells everyone that while the ball is authentic Titleist, it didn't meet their incredibly high standards for appearance.
Crucially, none of these small blemishes have any meaningful impact on how the golf ball performs. It will fly, spin, and roll the exact same way as a flawless ball from the same batch. Think of it as an outlet-store version of a golf ball, it's the real deal, just with a tiny cosmetic quirk that prevents it from being sold at full retail price.
Titleist's slogan, "The #1 Ball in Golf," isn't just marketing, it's backed by one of the most rigorous manufacturing and quality control processes in the industry. Every single golf ball that comes off their production line in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is subjected to a battery of tests and inspections. This process is the reason they can guarantee such consistent performance from ball to ball and sleeve to sleeve.
Throughout the manufacturing process - from molding the core to applying the final urethane cover - each ball passes through numerous checkpoints. Automated optical systems and human inspectors check for everything from perfect roundness and weight distribution to the clarity of the paint and precision of the stamping.
The standards are astronomical. If a ball has even the slightest aesthetic flaw, one that a casual golfer would likely never even notice, it gets pulled from the primary production stream. Titleist has two options for these cosmetically imperfect balls: discard them or sell them at a discount. Given that the balls are perfectly functional, the second option makes much more sense. This is how the "X-Out" and "Practice" categories are born. They are a direct result of an obsessive commitment to quality - too perfect to throw away, but not quite perfect enough to be sold as tour-quality.
This is where many golfers get confused, and it’s important to understand the differences because it directly affects performance and your wallet. Let's clear it up.
As we've covered, these are new balls built by Titleist with minor cosmetic imperfections. The brand name is crossed out with 'X's. They deliver the same performance as their first-run counterparts but cannot be used in competitions that strictly enforce the USGA's List of Conforming Golf Balls.
Very similar to X-Outs, these are also new balls from the Titleist factory that couldn't be sold as first-quality. Sometimes the blemish is, again, cosmetic. Other times, they can be perfectly fine surplus balls from a large production run. They are identified by the word "PRACTICE" stamped on the side. For all practical purposes in terms of feel and performance, they are identical to both X-Outs and the tour version a professional player would use. Like X-Outs, they are also considered non-conforming for specified competitions.
This is the category you need to be wary of. Refurbished balls are NOT new balls and are NOT cosmetically blemished 'X-Outs'. They are used balls, often recovered from water hazards, that have been put through a harsh chemical stripping process. Their original cover and paint are removed, and then a new, shiny coat of paint and often a popular logo (like Pro V1) are applied by a third-party company completely unaffiliated with Titleist.
The problem? This process fundamentally changes the ball. The stripping and repainting process can alter the depth and shape of the dimples, affecting aerodynamics. It can change the softness and thickness of the cover, impacting spin and feel. The performance of these balls is a total crapshoot. You are buying a shell of a ball that only looks like a Titleist. From a coaching perspective, I strongly advise golfers to stay away from refurbished balls, as their inconsistency will do more harm than good to your game.
These balls are exactly what they sound like: used golf balls that have been found, cleaned, and sorted by grade (e.g., Mint, Grade A, etc.). They are not refinished or altered. A "mint" grade used Pro V1 is a far better choice than a refurbished one, but its performance still depends on how long it was exposed to the elements. Water and extreme temperatures can degrade the ball's core and cover over time, leading to a loss of distance and inconsistent flight.
Now for the big question: Are these dramatically cheaper balls the right choice for you? Let's look at it from a player and coach's standpoint.
Finding genuine Titleist X-Outs is fairly easy, as long as you know where to look. They are widely available and are a popular choice for savvy golfers. You can typically find them at:
The key is to buy from a reputable seller to ensure you're getting legitimate X-Outs, not cleverly disguised refurbished balls.
Titleist X-Outs represent one of the best values in golf. They are new, authentic, high-performance golf balls with tiny cosmetic flaws that offer the same flight, feel, and spin as their full-priced brethren. For the vast majority of golfers who are practicing or playing casual rounds, they are a brilliant way to save money without sacrificing quality.
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