An Honest Review of Titleist Velocity Golf Balls

Eleven years ago, I gave the Velocity range a go and found it great for mid and high-handicappers wanting less driver spin and higher flight. This time, I dive deep into the Titleist Velocity golf balls to check how they’ve changed.

After reading this review, you’ll know whether the low spinning, high launching 2-piece distance golf ball is suited to your swing speed and budget. I’ll also dive into the technology that drives the ball before revealing my likes and dislikes on the entry-level Titleist design.

Why listen to us? Our team has tested dozens and dozens of the top balls on the market (you can read in-depth review of each here). We keep detailed notes and findings about each one to come up with our recommendations for you.

Overall Rating and Thoughts

My review of Titleist Velocity golf balls reveals that the construction has improved since its inception in 2012. However, it still lacks greenside spin, feel, and acoustics. It’s also not the longest-distance ball I’ve struck off the tee, but it redeemed itself on approach shots.

Although the Velocity is an entry-level distance ball, it’s priced towards the higher side of the market, making it marginally cheaper than the urethane-covered Titleist Tour Speed.

My opinions aside, I feel the Titleist Velocity is a forgiving, high-launching, consistent golf ball, working for moderate and slow-swinging mid and high handicappers.

Overall Score: 7.6/10

Features

Two-Piece Ball

The Velocity is one of two 2-piece distance balls stocked by Titleist in 2023, the other being the more affordable TruFeel. As a traditional 2-layer ball, the Velocity is built for speed, low spin, and distance.

The simplistic construction reduces the production costs, making it an affordable option for high handicappers and bargain hunters. Despite fetching marginally more per box than the TruFeel, they remain cheaper than the prized Pro V1 golf balls.

Higher Speed LSX Core

Titleist inserted a Higher Speed LSX Core to power the Velocity. I found the core boosted my energy transfer and increased compression at contact. The evidence was in my low long-game spin numbers and consistent ball speed through the bag.

The core delivered impressive rebound on high-impact shots causing the ball to spring off the clubface and launch high into the air. I had no trouble getting the Velocity airborne but would’ve preferred a lower launch. However, slower swing speeds and inconsistent ball strikers may appreciate the added assistance.

NAZ+ Cover

The NAZ+ Cover accelerated my ball speed thanks to its durable structure and the support of the High-Speed LSX Core. I managed to preserve ball pace on most shots and launch the ball consistently without losing excessive distance.

Despite the firmness of the cover material, it felt relatively soft off the clubface, which is in stark contrast to the Callaway Warbird I recently tested.

Titleist marketed the NAZ+ as providing better greenside feel, which it does compared to other distance balls. However, it was underwhelming compared to the brand’s other premium balls.

Octahedral Dimples

The effects of the Spherically-Tiled 350 Octahedral Dimples were evident as I produced towering launch and flight from tee to green. The dimples resisted drag on the takeoff and reached a consistently high apex.

Launch aside, I felt the dimples did well to increase lift on the descent, prolonging the landing to increase distance. They weren’t the longest golf balls I’ve ever hit, but they’re consistent, which is ideal for erratic amateurs.

Thanks to the higher ball flight, I found the Velocity landing faster than other distance balls, which slightly made up for the lack of greenside spin.

Colors

Titleist did a great job with color variations on the Velocity, offering the standard tour white and 3 matte editions. I prefer the tour white finish because I’ve rarely played colored golf balls. However, I do appreciate the array of options.

Despite the options, I don’t feel the matte colors are effective in their mission to simplify tracking and tracing. The matte green was the easiest colored Velocity to track in the air and find on the ground, but I think yellow would’ve been far more effective.

Alignment Arrow

The alignment arrow is not the most robust I’ve seen, but it was enough to help me align the center of my clubface with the target. I predominantly used it for putting, but I also took advantage of its guidance off the tee and when I placed my ball on the fairway.

Mid and high handicappers should leverage the support offered by the alignment arrow to improve the accuracy of their aim.

Price

The Velocity is priced moderately at just under $30 for a dozen balls. It places it at the top end of the distance ball market, but makes it far more affordable than a box of Titleist Pro V1 balls.

However, I feel that if I’m paying $30 for a 2-piece distance ball, I’d rather spend the extra few dollars and snap up the Titleist Tour Speed range, which offers better greenside spin and a penetrating trajectory.

Budget seekers would likely prefer the more affordable TruFeel or even look beyond the Titleist stable. The Callaway Warbird or Bridgestone e6 are priced slightly lower than the Velocity and might better suit bargain hunters.

Performance

Feel

I found the matte Velocity golf balls were softer off the clubface than the standard white Velocity golf ball. It rebounded rapidly on high-impact shots and was surprisingly smooth on wedge strikes and putts.

Despite the softness of the matte Velocity golf balls, I found them to be marginally firmer than the TruFeel, Titleist’s other distance golf ball.

Although the manufacturer suggests that the Velocity provides playable greenside feel, the results were underwhelming. However, it wasn’t terrible for a distance ball. I just had higher hopes, given how Titleist had marketed the ball.

Sound

I wasn’t a fan of the acoustics of the Velocity, and my glum findings are not directed personally at the Velocity. It’s common for 2-piece distance balls to deliver an unwanted, clicky sound on high and low-impact strikes.

I can handle the annoyance of clicking audio on long shots when the ball competes with the clubface for loudness. However, it became incredibly noticeable on wedge shots and putts, where my ears were tortured by a consistent ‘click’ instead of a desirable thud, enjoyed with the Pro V1.

Spin

Driver

Despite Titleist marketing the Velocity as a low-spinning golf ball, I generated 1000 RPM more backspin than the Pro V1X and Tour Speed. On average, this caused the Velocity to fall 4 yards shorter than the Pro V1X.

This is one considerable drawback to the Velocity as it’s meant to help slower swing speed golfers get airborne and maximize ball flight. Instead, I, as a moderate swing speed golfer, was achieving more consistent distance with the complex, highly compressed Pro V1X.

Iron

Contrary to the higher driver spin, I produced lower revolutions from my iron grooves, causing my ball to travel further than all other Titleist balls, bar the TruFeel. I typically generate over 6000 rpm backspin with a 7-iron, but the Velocity lowered that 5200 rpm on average.

The reduced spin rate caused my ball to roll further than Titleist’s urethane tour balls, making it difficult to control on approach. That won’t concern mid to high handicappers with erratic distance control. Nevertheless, it’s a put-off for superior golfers seeking precision on approach shots.

Distance

Driver

My moderate swing speed delivered consistent distance with the Velocity. It’s not the longest ball I’ve ever hit, but the results were satisfactory. I feel slower swing speeds will achieve superior results with the easily compressible TruFeel. For context, I was averaging 269 yards with the Velocity, 3 yards shy of my average driver distance.

Irons

The tables turned when I pulled out the irons. 7-iron shots traveled 5 yards further than when I used a Pro V1. I put it down to reduced friction, lower spin rate, consistent ball speed, and towering flight.

Thanks to its rapid rebound off the clubface, the NAZ+ cover didn’t bite into the grooves as effectively as the Soft Cast Urethane on the Pro V1. This helped me achieve relatively consistent distance results on approach compared to off the tee box.

Launch and Flight

I launched the Velocity higher than most other balls, resulting in elevated ball flight and consistent carry distance. My average launch angle with a 7-iron was 22.1°, 2° higher than my achievement with a Pro V1X.

The elevation continued throughout the flight as I reached an 84’ apex, 8.5’ higher than my Pro V1X results. I feel the higher flight benefits slower swing speeds battling to get the ball airborne. However, I’d prefer a marginally lower flight for greater control as a moderate swing speed golfer.

 

What I Like About The Titleist Velocity

Easy Launch

My launch angle with a driver and a 7-iron highlighted how easy the Titleist Velocity was to launch. Although I personally prefer lower flight, it’s highly beneficial to slow-swinging beginners and seniors who struggle for consistency off the tee and on approach.

Irons Distance

The Velocity produced solid irons distance, which stemmed from its reduced spin and consistent pace. Its easy, high-launching design gave me some reprieve with the compact clubheads, enabling me to get the ball airborne and achieve a stable carry distance.

I produced increased roll on landing over the higher spinning urethane Titleist balls, but not by much. However, I’ll take a few extra feet of roll any day. I feel mid and high-handicap amateurs will appreciate the high launch and consistent distance on approach.

Matte Colors

Titleist finished the golf ball in 3 matte colors, which helped me follow the ball in the air and were relatively easy to identify on the ground. I’ll still submit that a yellow matte would be more effective, but I was surprised by the performance of the pink, orange, green, and blue matte.

Despite my initial reservations, I found the balls easy to trace in the air but felt pink was the easiest to spot in the cabbage patch. Looks aside, the matte Velocity balls felt softer off the clubface than the standard white. I’m unsure if that’s to do with the texture of the matte or whether my mind was playing tricks on me.

Higher Ball Flight

The higher ball flight isn’t a personal preference, but I like it for other golfers. It’ll suit high handicappers and seniors with slower swing speeds struggling to boost energy transfer and consistently get the ball airborne.

The Velocity rebounds off the face and delivers an elevated launch degree and higher apex than stiffer 3 and 4-piece Titleist golf balls.

 

What I Dislike About The Titleist Velocity

Low Greenside Spin

Like most distance balls, the greenside spin revolutions let the Velocity down, delivering reduced control around the dancefloor. I don’t think it’ll impact the performance of the average mid and high handicapper, but it won’t sit well with lower handicappers seeking optimal control.

Clicky Acoustics

Acoustics aren’t a train smash for the average amateur who demands affordability, distance, and forgiveness. However, I put it in because it’s a deal breaker for some players, who prefer a squishy feel and muted acoustics off the putter and wedge face. The Titleist Velocity wasn’t one of those golf balls.

I admit, I like the softer feel because I grew up playing the Warbird and the Top Flite XL, which were rock-hard and clicky. My father was paying, so I didn’t have a say, but the moment I started paying for balls, I rushed to play softer feeling golf balls.

Admittedly, the acoustics on the Velocity are better than the Warbird and the Top Flite XL I played as a kid. It’s just not what I enjoy.

Price

The Titleist Velocity is considered an entry-level ball and sure, it’s affordable compared to premium Titleist golf balls like the Pro V1 and Pro V1X. However, it’s priced too closely to the 3-piece Titleist Tour Speed.

I’d far rather pay a few extra dollars for an all-around performing 3-piece urethane design over the 2-piece Velocity.