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.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. 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.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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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.