Equipment
All-new Titleist AVX for 2020
With the introduction of the all-new 2020 Titleist AVX ball, the company is delivering on its promise to continually improve and provide golfers with performance-driven products created with direct input from golfers at all levels.
The AVX ball’s reformulated low compression core works in combination with a redesigned high-flex casing layer which together aims to provide players with greater ball speed and low long game spin for more distance.
By their own admission golfers are a finicky bunch, especially when it comes to golf balls, and sometimes the variables they are looking for in a ball have less to do with performance and are instead focused on things like feel.
In the development of the 2020 AVX, Titleist asked golfers what they loved about the previous version and what attributes they would like improved, the results were unanimous: more feel and more short game control (spin) without sacrificing distance (Something I think most golfers would want from any ball).
But before we get to what new, let’s offer a quick refresher for those unfamiliar with the Titleist AVX. It was initially introduced in the spring of 2018 following a four-month test market from October 2017-January 2018 in key markets. It was the first new premium urethane ball brand from Titleist since the introduction of the Pro V1x and was developed as a lower flight, lower spin alternative to Titleist’s Pro V1 balls.
Titleist AVX golf ball: Time to Re-engineer
Every golf ball is built from the core out, and the 2020 AVX got a whole new engine thanks to a larger, reformulated low-compression core. The core works alongside a redesigned high flex casing layer to deliver greater ball speed and low long game spin for more distance. The easiest way to understand golf ball construction and how it relates to performance is that with more direct and faster hits the more the core gets “activated.” As hits to the ball start to happen at lower speeds and with greater friction as a result of loft the outer layer construction becomes more important to short game spin and feel.
The new addition from Titleist contains a catenary aerodynamic dimple design engineered with the aim of producing a piercing, low trajectory while also providing a consistent ball flight on all shots.
To improve the feel and spin the way golfers requested a new thinner cast urethane cover was used to deliver the performance. It was easier to make the cover thinner too, thanks to the increased core size. Like I said golf balls are built from the core out.
“The improvements to AVX are a direct result of their insights and the inventiveness of our R&D team to take this design to the next level – and we expect golfers to see better numbers across the board. The new AVX is faster and longer, it performs better around green, and delivers even more of the incredibly soft feel that golfers love about this product.”
– Frederick Waddell, Senior Product Manager, Titleist Golf Balls
The last part of the in-to-out story is the aerodynamics, the engineers at Titleist use a unique aerodynamic dimple design to deliver a piercing, low trajectory that provides a consistent ball flight on all shots.
Price and availability
Titleist’s new AVX ball arrives in both white and high optic yellow and is available in golf shops worldwide beginning Jan. 22. with a MAP of $47.99.
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Whats in the Bag
Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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Whats in the Bag
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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Equipment
What’s the perfect mini-driver/shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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dixiedoc
Jan 22, 2020 at 4:48 pm
For me I found the Chrome Soft to be a better ball all around
jz
Jan 22, 2020 at 4:34 pm
I play the AVX because it doens’t spin. Does this mean the ball is going to spin more off the driver and irons? If one wants more spin, why not play a ProV?
I hope TXG does a comparison of the two models.
I’m a flipper and come in steep (And am too old to try and change it) and generate way too much spin. Does anyone have a recommendation of another premium ball that doesn’t spin? Would appreciate the help.
Swirley
Jan 23, 2020 at 8:14 am
TP5x
Magnus Skold
Jan 22, 2020 at 1:52 pm
@Ryan
Do we know what the compression is for the new ball?
I’m surprised Titleist says that people just said more green side spin. The main feedback from interviews I’ve read and my own experience is that the original AVX was excellent except too soft for driving. Most third party tests also confirm it’s extremely short in carry. Therefore I’m interested in what the actual compression is.
Rich Douglas
Jan 22, 2020 at 10:35 am
The original AVX seemed like an NXT Tour with the price jacked up. Not sure how this is much different.
It really doesn’t matter which tour-level ball you play. Each now offers two or three variations between their own models, but from brand to brand it’s pretty much the same. This is also true with below-tour-level balls. The biggest difference there is some are incredibly soft (but they’re lacking some greenside spin).
Pick your tour ball. Enjoy. If it’s too pricey, go with a Supersoft or TopFlite Gamer. You’ll be fine.
Daniel
Jan 22, 2020 at 10:03 am
Lack of short game spin was my chief complaint with the AVX. Price the other.
I got stupid distance gains over the ProV1 I was playing. 10 plus yards off the driver.
But a Chrome Soft goes almost as far with significantly better short game spin. Much better price as well.