Going Green for Golf Balls!

Did you know that it can take up to a thousand years for one golf ball to decompose?

2014 was an exciting year in the PGA (Don’t worry we caught the highlights if you missed anything). Now that it’s 2015, we’re looking into the future with our crystal balls, and here’s what we predict we’ll see this year. The luck o’ the Irish will be in Rory’s favor. Look for McIlroy rounding Amen Corner under par. After securing his first green jacket, he’ll keep on par to maintain his position as the number one money leader. Phil Mickelson, shaking off a shaky 2014, will reinvent himself this year through embracing alternative fashion. Look for him in skinny pants (no jeans—after all, we’re still talking about golf here) and an increasing number of visible tattoos. Will it bring Mickelson the U.S. Open Win he needs for a career Grand Slam? Last year might not have been the best for rookies, but get ready for the 2015 crop to come out swinging. We expect to see some great rounds from many of the newcomers, but our pick for Rookie of the Year is Justin Thomas. He’s had an impressive career so far, so don’t be surprised if he gives some of the more seasoned pros a run for their money. To attract new people to the sport, a smattering of golf courses will begin adding putt-putt-style obstacles to their holes to vary up the monotony of roughs and water. Look for large windmills, loop-the-loops, holey castles that send your ball into different areas of the green, and hippos with wide open mouths on putting greens near you. The most anticipated golf course opening of 2015 is Cabot Cliffs, a sequel to Cabot Links, in Nova Scotia. Set to open mid-summer, its par-3 16th hole, featuring a shot over the ocean, will soon become one of the most famous in North America. We predict a fan-frenzy, as golfers from around the world try to fit in a round before the greens are buried under a nice layer of snow thanks to the Canadian winter. Yoga will become the next craze, with a growing number of pros warming up through sun salutations at dawn and whispering “Namaste” after completing each hole, hands to heart center. The craze will set off an uptick in elite clubs throughout the United States offering yoga classes on the driving ranges prior to the start of play each morning, and a few smart coaches will make a mint selling how-to videos with yoga poses to improve your swing. You won’t be disappointed when you see the selection of loud-and-proud, make-you-miss-your-shot pants that John Daly will be wearing. Our crystals are a bit more subtle, but still eye-catching, if that’s your thing. Speaking of pants, Chris Wood will be packing at least one extra pair per tournament, to avoid another 4-pair round. Though a split may be worth it to repeat the bogey-free, 5-under-par round we saw at the 96th PGA Championship.

Put away those warm-weather shorts and that polo shirt—cold weather is coming. But don’t reach for the puffiest, fur-lined coat you can find just yet. It is crucial to keep your body warm, especially your muscles for optimum performance and to prevent injuries. However, a heavy coat can restrict your movements and put your swing in jeopardy (feeling like a walking marshmallow doesn’t help much, either). Fortunately, we’ve put together some tips to help you get dressed for a round of golf on a cold day. Just as the layers in a golf ball affect its performance, layers are the key to helping you stay warm without affecting your golf game. You’ve probably been told to layer up since you were a child, and there is plenty of wisdom to that advice. By combining multiple thin layers, you can maintain your flexibility while keeping warm. There’s a practical element to layers, too: if you get too hot, you can remove one layer at a time until you feel comfortable. Try a long-sleeved shirt, a thin sweater or sweatshirt, and a light-weight, waterproof jacket on top.

As much as you might enjoy a good snowball fight (or not), when there’s a cold snap you don’t want to get stuck playing with a snowball instead of a golf ball. When it’s cold outside you can put on a jacket, hat, and gloves, but what can you do about your golf ball? Did you know that for roughly every ten-degree drop in temperature a golf ball loses 3 to 5 yards in distance? Golf balls just don’t travel as far in cold weather. Luckily, some balls are specially designed to maintain their performance regardless of temperature. Two factors affect your cold-weather golf game: the outdoor temperature and the temperature of your ball itself. Cold air is denser than warm air, which causes more aerodynamic drag on the ball. In other words, in “thicker” cold air more energy is needed to get the ball moving and to keep it going. Cold weather also means that your golf ball will be colder than when you’re playing in beautiful, seventy-degree weather.

Many golfers take a long time to pick the perfect driver, while others spend hours trying out different irons or worrying about which putter offers the best feel or response. Yet there is one key piece of equipment that golfers often overlook. Something that affects their whole game and strategy: the golf ball. Think about it. No golfer would ever consider showing up at the course with clubs that are the wrong size or shoes that don’t fit quite right. So why would anyone consider playing a round of golf with a golf ball that wasn’t designed for their swing? The right golf ball can make a big difference in a golfer’s overall game. From the first tee shot to the final putt, the right ball will influence your distance, control, spin, and confidence. A well-matched ball can make all the difference in the world: it can make straighter drives, better approach shots, and an improved overall game. Fortunately, the right golf ball selection doesn’t have to be difficult. After you understand a little about golf ball construction and how it can affect your swing speed and play, you will be able to choose the right option much more easily.

Team Titleist introduced industry’s most popular golf balls Pro V1 on October 11, 2000. On the heels of its record-setting success, a second model – the Pro V1x – was introduced three years later in 2003. Today, roughly more than half of all TOUR pros tee up a Pro V1 or Pro V1x.

Updated 2/28/17 SUMMARY: The history and technology of the Titleist ProV1—and how to know whether it’s the right ball for your game.