Equipment
New Titleist EXP-01 golf ball: Giving all golfers the prototype testing experience
A blank Titleist “white box” of prototype balls always gets a golfer’s heart racing. Fortunately, Titleist is bringing that experience to every consumer with the launch of the EXP-01 ball to select pro shops and retailers in North America starting October 1st.
If you are unfamiliar with the “white box experience,” let me get you up to speed: As the undisputed leader in golf balls, Titleist is constantly testing and prototyping in research and development, and also with players of all skill levels—from professionals to amateurs alike. Unless you are part of the process as a professional, the next best thing is being a part of Team Titleist, where you can opt in to potentially test and give feedback directly to Titleist on sample sleeves.
With the EXP-01, Titleist is being very hush-hush on the exact specs of the ball, and for good reason—they want you, the golfer, to give them as much unbiased feedback as possible and approach testing with an open mind—and I pushed for answers! The initial limited release is very similar to how Titleist first launched the now hugely popular AVX ball—before it was rolled out in full release.
From Titleist
“EXP•01 is being released as part of the Titleist EXP Project, a new and ongoing initiative created to provide golfers the opportunity to experience new golf ball technologies still in the experimental phase. The Titleist R&D and Golf Ball Product Management teams will be actively seeking performance feedback from golfers who play EXP•01 during its availability.”
Titleist EXP-01: A New Approach
Titleist is approaching the EXP line in a way like the Concept Series of irons but without the premium price point
- To better understand how new technologies work in the hands of real golfers
- To get performance feedback
- To give players of all skill levels the opportunity to be a part of the final prototype process to future products
Titleist has intentionally not provided any clue on where the EXP-01 ball might fit into the current lineup, but it’s safe to make a couple of assumption based on what we do know so far about the EXP-01.
$39.99 a dozen puts the EXP-01 in line with the current Titleist Tour Soft ball at $38.99 a dozen, but with one big difference—a urethane cover. It’s not likely Titleist is going to try test selling consumers a $29 ball at $40 because, well, that just not a very good idea (I’m sure much smarter people than me concluded that a long time ago). It’s either going to be a line extension of the premium line, or it’s going to be a new urethane ball at a slightly less expensive price point vs. the current $47.99 ProV1 and AVX line.
“We want the EXP-01 to be the first of many opportunities for us to work directly with consumers to not only gain personal feedback but also provide golfers with the chance to be a part of the decision making process,” Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Golf Ball Marketing, Titleist
“The EXP Project invites golfers into the early stages of our R&D process and allows us to broadly test experimental materials, constructions and processes that could be integrated into any segment of our golf ball line. EXP•01 is truly an exploratory product and there’s no better way to evaluate our progress than getting it into the hands of dedicated golfers.”
More of What We Know
Without giving any specifics away, Titleist did give us enough information about the specs for us to start looking around and trying to figure some things out.
- As mentioned, the Titleist EXP-01 will be a urethane-covered ball, and urethane offers the most amount of greenside spin when paired with proper core and mantle construction.
- Speaking to construction, the EXP-01 will be a three-piece ball. There are not many three-piece urethane covered balls that are not designed to absolutely maximize performance from tee to green, so it’s going to be interesting to see how these perform.
- MTR Cover system. We were able to get the acronym out of Michael Mahoney, but unfortunately, that was as far as he was willing to go. It’s is a new technology that Titleist has been testing for some time now that offers even more enhanced short game spin and control.
Titleist EXP-01 Feedback & Availability
Each box of EXP-01’s will include an insert card for golfers to go online and provide valued feedback about the ball to Titleist. For example: How they liked the feel, distance, and spin performance among other questions both qualitative and quantitative.
The EXP-01 with be available in October in select pro shops, so check with your local pro shop or retailer to find out how you can get your hands on some.
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Whats in the Bag
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Heavy Artillery: A look at drivers in play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans
What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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Whats in the Bag
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Spin Master
Oct 6, 2019 at 8:34 pm
I’ve been hitting chips with a sleeve for a couple days. These have no action at all. I’m seriously disappointed. I might as well be playing the new Try Soft ball. This is a waste of a urethane cover.
steve
Oct 5, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Just one more example of how the major golf manufacturers have golf enthusiast by the “balls“ ( pardon the pun? ). Convincing people to buy experimental products is brilliant and not surprising in this industry where people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a single club based on keeping up with the Joneses mentality.
Buckwheat Zydeco III
Oct 2, 2019 at 7:01 pm
I read the comments below and it is safe to say just about none of you have any idea what you are talking about. You sound like a bunch of guys at a strip club trying to do their “aren’t I cool” act with the dancer they just gave half their paycheck to.
Rascal
Oct 3, 2019 at 12:55 am
Thanks for sharing your nightlife experience with us. Me, I’d keep that kind of detail to myself really.
Superior Spin Desired
Oct 1, 2019 at 9:37 pm
The more it spins around the green the better. I’ve heard the new Bridgestone picks up some serious green side spin. I can’t wait to try these Titleist. I love the AVX off the driver but it’s just not as fun around the greens. This needs to be more skinny than the Pro V1 line.
drkviol801
Oct 1, 2019 at 8:57 pm
Tp5 flat out exposed the prov1
Juan Baldez
Oct 2, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Did you pull down your pants in front of your foursome again?
John J Burns
Oct 1, 2019 at 7:54 pm
Titleist is starting to go down that slippery slope of having too many ball options and confusing the consumer!
Mark
Oct 1, 2019 at 5:04 pm
OK, nice move but when we can get the other pro V1 and Pro V1x as everyone knows Titlest have 4 balls not just 2 from ProV range for the pros. This could be a great one. I understand the logistics and marketing of 4 premium not just 2 but it can be the right time now.
JP
Oct 1, 2019 at 12:40 pm
NXT Tour U
A urethane covered NXT Tour S
James
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:56 am
Replacing the NXT Tour.
Alex
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:26 am
Titleist stop taking the Taylormade and Callaway bait. Either you need spin and go for the x or need less spin and go for the regular Pro V1. If you are distance crazed and want another premium ball to be a club longer on every shot get the AVX. Other wise the Tour Soft is the new NXT Tour if you dont want to spend $50 a dozen and the velocity and the tru soft are the glorified range balls.
Richard
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:20 am
Will it be a conforming ball?
Thomas A
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:51 am
Of course not. Why would the leading golf ball manufacturer make a conforming ball to sell to the public and use in competition?
APFPilot
Oct 1, 2019 at 3:22 pm
It is on the conforming list
APFPilot
Oct 1, 2019 at 10:16 am
So it is basically their version of the ERC Soft just with a full Urethane cover?
2putttom
Oct 1, 2019 at 12:04 pm
that and a prettier script
the dude
Oct 1, 2019 at 9:25 am
titleist marketing genius……proto’s you pay for….all the while the lines will be running to put these puppies on the shelf regardless of the feedback. 🙂