Equipment
Titleist 2014 NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity and DT Solo Golf Balls
Ninety-five percent of the time, golfers who are fit for a Titleist golf ball will be told that the best ball for them is either the company’s Pro V1 or Pro V1X. That’s because the Pro V1 and Pro V1X use Titleist’s most advanced materials and complex constructions to provide top-level distance and spin when golfers need it.
But all that technology comes at a cost – about $40 dozen – that many golfers are not willing to pay. That’s why Titleist offers less-expensive golf balls that aim to closely mimic the performance of the Pro V1 family.
Titleist’s 2014 NXT Tour and NXT Tour S golf balls, for example, are designed to get as close as possible to the performance of the Pro V1 and Pro V1X without using their more expensive urethane covers.
The NXT Tour is a three-piece golf ball, with a softer compression dual core that contributes to lower-spinning shots with a golfer’s long clubs for more distance. The ball’s surlyn “FusaBlend” cover was made softer as well, which not only creates a softer feel, but adds spin on shorter shots.
The 2014 NXT Tour S is a two-piece golf ball designed for golfers looking for NXT Tour-level performance, but with a softer feel. Its compression is 10 points lower than its predecessor, and its cover was made softer as well to give golfers more spin around the greens.
Both the NXT Tour and NXT Tour S golf balls have the company’s spherically tiled 302 octahedral dimple design, which gives them a similar trajectory: a deep, downgrade flight that creates a steep angle of descent. According to Mike Mahoney, Titleist’s director of golf ball product management, those flight characteristics are more similar to Titleist’s Pro V1X than the Pro V1, as the Pro V1 is programmed to have a more penetrating flight.
What does spherically tiled mean? It’s a design that has multiple axes of symmetry. In the case of these golf balls that means that there are three places where the ball could be cut into thirds, and from an aerodynamic standpoint, the dimples would be exactly the same.
Both golf balls will sell for $33.99, and the NXT Tour S will be available in both white and Titleist’s “high optic yellow.”
Also new for Titleist in 2014 is its updated Velocity ($26.99) and DT Solo golf balls ($19.99).
The Velocity is Titleist’s distance-driven golf ball, with a high-energy, softer-compression LSX Core that was infused with the same ingredients in the Pro V1X’s outer core to allow the two-piece ball to be made softer without losing distance. Its new spherically tiled 328-tetrahedral dimple design mixes seven different dimple sizes to create a more penetrating trajectory with a shallower angle of decent for more roll.
The DT Solo maintains its positioning as Titleist’s lowest-compression golf ball, and delivers more distance than its predecessor through improved aerodynamics: a new spherically tiled 376 tetrahedral dimple design that uses eight different dimple sizes. It’s available in both white and yellow.
All four golf balls will be in golf stores Jan. 22.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Ernest
Dec 22, 2014 at 9:41 am
95% of people who get fitted by Titleist are recommended to use the companies most expensive golf ball?!?! You dont say 🙁
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Feb 6, 2014 at 12:54 am
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David
Jan 30, 2014 at 12:50 pm
I’ve played a lot of different types of golf balls dating back to the original Titleist DT 90. I really like the feel of a softer ball, but it really only matters when it comes to putting. I had the opportunity to participate in Titleist’s ball testing during this past fall. Incredible ball…super feel, good distance, and excellent spin. Only problem is the ball was only marked “test” so I have no idea which model Titleist I was hitting. Curse you Titleist for teasing me like that!
thefullsp
Jan 26, 2014 at 3:39 am
Golf lessons. Rinse. Repeat. I’m playing a mix of Lethals for serious rounds – just shipped in 4 dozen at cut price and some 2012 or so Srixon Z Star for early season when Shankapotomous is in full effect. Happy Sunday WRXers. Don’t follow the Crowd
Taylor
Jan 22, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Srixon Z star is a more durable prov1*, love em
Roy striper
Jan 22, 2014 at 8:48 pm
Go get Wilson FG tour or tour x. You’ll thank me.
jc
Jan 22, 2014 at 6:41 pm
for 31 dollars, you can get the callaway hex chrome OR hex chrome plus and they are better than the nxt AND better or the same as the PRO vs…durable, long and they spin..
haven’t tried the newest callaway speed balls..
but geez,how many balls do we need??
and can anybody tell the diff between a ball for under 90 swing speed and a 92 swing speed?
Chris
Jan 22, 2014 at 11:33 am
I’m really excited about these balls(NXT TOUR S). I currently play a tour level ball, but if what they say is true, I could save quite a bit of money. Who knows though?
vettenut79
Jan 22, 2014 at 11:47 am
Although the claim is that the NXT and NXT-TOUR S provide a high level of spin around the greens, I have yet to see any lower-level ball provide the amount of short-shot spin as the PRO-V balls. The only possible exception would be the CALLAWAY HX-BITE……. Which is no longer made, at least under that model name.
Paul G.
Jan 22, 2014 at 2:56 pm
you should try the mg c4 golf balls. they are 20/ dozen.
Jason Feathers
Jan 22, 2014 at 11:28 am
The Pro V’s are awesome golf balls, but why has Titleist not used urethane covers for the NXT golf balls. Other companies such as Bridgestone, Maxfli, TaylorMade, and Top Flight have used urethane in their less expensive models and they are all cheaper than the NXT’s.
Jim
Jan 22, 2014 at 11:13 am
Last time I checked, Pro Vs sold for $48 per dozen (where are you finding them for $39.99?) and are far out of the range of most golfers. That’s why the Chrome and RBZ Urethane and other similar balls are selling well because they’re much more affordable. Titleist needs to come out with a urethane ball that sells for less money to be competitive in that market.
C Masty
Jan 24, 2014 at 10:14 pm
agreed. The only $39 prov1 I’ve seen is prior years models. Where are these illusive balls?
Fred
Jan 25, 2014 at 12:04 am
I’ve seen Pro V X-outs pretty cheap, but I wonder about those.
Mike
Jan 22, 2014 at 10:48 am
I play the prov1 but when I start a new season is use the nxt tour for the softness on all shots. It’s a great ball that people seem to pass up and I don’t know why. Everyone should give these new 2014 NXT a try !
Play well
Xreb
Jan 22, 2014 at 3:56 pm
There are cheaper urethane cover balls that outperform (IMHO ofcourse) the NXT Tour. At $33 you can get a Chrome/Chrome+ for example. The NXT may not be a bad ball but it is not a great value…