The Titleist TruFeel are a low-cost option for golfers who want to save some money and care a little less about high-end performance, but how much performance do you actually lose? Here we test the TruFeel golf balls against the Titleist Pro V1s to show you what you can expect when paying half the price for your golfing ammo.
The TruFeel is the softest ball in the Titleist lineup, and it’s certainly not for everyone. However, after having this soft golf ball in play for a few weeks, I have several key players in mind that could really benefit from The Titleist TruFeel golf ball.
Titleist TruFeel At A Glance
Here are some basic stats about the Titleist TruFeel golf balls.
- Number of pieces: 2
- Compression: low, but not published by Titleist
- Cover material: Titleist TruFlex cover
- Dimple Pattern: Spherically-Tiled 376 Tetrahedral Dimple Design
- Color options: White and Yellow, Matte Red
- Pricing: Below average
- Golf ball category: distance and soft feel
Distance
The Titleist TruFeel is the golf ball that gives me the most distance from the entire Titleist lineup. I play the Titleist Pro V1 golf balls regularly, and I can’t hit my drives nearly as far with the Pro V1 as I do with the TruFeel golf balls.
You can see this is due to the higher launch and lower backspin rates of the TruFeel golf compared to the Pro V1.
Of course, you may then be wondering why I don’t switch to the TruFeel entirely, and the answer is how it performs around the greens (We’ll cover this later on).
However, when I was testing the TruFeel ball on the course, even my playing partners were asking me what I had eaten for breakfast that morning. I was consistently outdriving my normal spots by about 5 to even 10 yards in some instances.
That’s a lot of distance.
After doing so well on the course, I was anxious to see how the golf ball would perform on a launch monitor, and we saw similar results. With a Trackman in an indoor hitting facility, the Titleist TruFeel was undoubtedly long.
When compared to the Pro V1, we saw a difference in carry distance and then a yard or two in total distance. We tested these alongside other mid-range balls from Titleist, the Tour Soft and the Titleist Tour Speed golf balls, and the TruFeel was consistently 8 yards longer in total distance.
When you start looking at a total of 5-10 yards difference in distance (on a 250 – 280 yard drive), you are now talking about hitting a different club into the green. Which is a big deal.
Distance on iron shots I noticed to be just as strong for the TruFeel. On my approach, I had to club down a few yards from where I usually stand. The peak height or total trajectory of the TruFeel felt about average, maybe slightly higher than the Pro V1 on iron shots.
Spin
When we tested spin for the Titleist TruFeel golf ball, we hit 125-yard wedge shots using the Trackman. We also took the golf balls out on the course and played several rounds of golf with them over a few weeks.
We like to see how the balls perform from a range of lies around the green, we can’t get launch monitor data for these, so we rely on our own judge of how they perform versus a Pro V1.
Performance On Full Swing Shots
The spin rates on the TruFeel golf ball with a wedge averaged 7817 rpm, and for a Pro V1, the spin rates were 7964 rpm. This is very surprising considering the price difference, the descent angle was a little steeper too, helping the TruFeel stop quicker.
Spin was one of my major concerns for the TruFeel when I had it out on the course. In fact, my first approach shot with the TruFeel was from about 125 yards, and I hit a wedge, and it stopped much faster than I expected.
I noticed this same feature even on longer irons shots; however, as the club got longer, I saw less and less spin on the greens.
For the 9 iron, pitching wedge, approach wedge, and sand shots with full swing, the Titleist TruFeel golf ball stops where it needs to. But this performance doesn’t seem to keep up when we get down to mid-iron shots.
Performance From 50 Yards and Under
Anytime we do a golf ball review, we want to really focus on what the golf ball can do from that 50-yard and under mark. I knew the fact that this ball was low compression and two pieces meant I might not get all that much spin.
That turned out to be true.
From the short grass, expect a little spin, but nothing compared to other Titleist balls. I adjusted some strategies on the course when using the TruFeel golf balls. I went with more bump-and-run type approaches.
These approaches with the softer feel of the TrueFeel ball seemed to be the better bet as compared to trying to hit a high lofted shot only to have it roll out past the hole.
I think we have to be fair here and mention that the TruFeel is not a premium ball. It’s a low-compression two-piece golf ball built for superior distance and a soft feel. To expect one of the cheapest ball options in the Titleist lineup to spin back for you on a short shot is a bit unrealistic.
Feel
You will have to like a soft feel to like the Titleist TruFeel golf ball. The soft cover, combined with the fact that this is a two-piece low compression ball, certainly makes the feel component quite obvious.
Personally, I liked the feel.
I can’t tell you I trusted this ball from a spin perspective on the shorter shots, but I did feel as though I was the one in control around the greens.
Again, I think it’s important to mention that if you are higher swing speed player, the chance that the TruFeel is the right golf ball for your game is likely quite slim. The faster you swing, the less of an option, and the lower the compression of golf balls.
I really like the TruFeel golf ball for a newer player who needs to learn to control their tempo, timing, and overall consistency in their shot game. There is something about the soft feel that often slows things down a bit and loosens the hands just a little.
The Titleist TruFeel golf ball is one that will feel quite different off the tee than something like the Tour Speed or the Titleist Pro V1. I like the soft feel of the tee, but it has to be a personal preference for you.
Longevity
I noticed that with this being one of the cheaper balls on the Titleist lineup, the longevity was not quite as good. Again, my swing speed is probably a little faster than it should be for this ball, so that could have something to do with it.
The cover was not quite as durable, but again, it’s still a Titleist, and it will last.
Would I expect that most slower to average swing speed amateurs could play two to four rounds with a Titleist TruFeel and not have to change it? Absolutely.
It’s more than the outer cover is not as smooth, professional, or sleek looking as the premium golf balls in the Titleist lineup.
Additional Features
The Titleist TruFeel has a thick alignment aid on the ball that is helpful if you need it while lining up to hit. In addition, the ball is available in white, optic yellow, and matte red color.
When I tested the ball on the course, I used the white, and it’s a bit shinier than a Pro V1. I almost wish it was more of a matte white like they did the matte red. Again, probably getting a picky for the cheapest ball in the Titleist lineup.
Value
The Titleist TruFeel is the cheapest ball and is often offered for less than the Titleist Velocity golf balls. I think the value of the TruFeel is good; it’s exactly what I would expect to pay for a golf ball with this type of technology.
Again if you want the superior distance off the tee and a soft feel, you will be happy with the value you are getting from this product.
Golf Insider Verdict
The great thing about the Titleist TruFeel golf ball is that it is exactly what it claims to be. Nowhere have we been led to believe that this is a premium ball like the Pro V1 or the Pro V1x. Instead, the Titleist TruFeel golf ball is known for exceptional distance (which it has) and soft feel on short game shots (which it has).
If you are looking for ultimate control of your golf ball and the drop-and-stop technology that we see in premium golf balls, you will have to pay a bit more money.
I find it refreshing when we don’t have to look at a golf ball and pretend that it’s something it’s not. With the TruFeel, you get what you pay for, and Titleist lays that out for you right from the start.
They do advertise this ball to have superior short game control, but they do not mention superior short game spin. The control comes from your ability to feel that the ball is softer, get a little feedback from it, and shape your shots accordingly.
Alternatives
The next golf ball up from the Titleist TruFeel is the Titleist Velocity. I had a hard time with control on this ball and found that the Srixon Soft Feel is actually a better alternative than the Titleist Velocity.
Of course, if you are looking to control the ball around the green more, you will need to spend a bit more money. The Titleist Tour Speed has some decent control, and of course, the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x have the most.
Who Should Play Titleist TruFeel golf ball?
The Titleist TruFeel golf balls are a great choice for mid to slow swing speed players seeking extra distance. The distance is quite good from the tee as well as on approach shots to the green.
The low long game spin only helps increase the yardage off the tee.
If you are particular about spin around the greens, steer clear of the TruFeel. Lastly, golfers on a budget can play with the TruFeel because the performance is overall fine for the price.
As you can tell, we’re not blown away with this golf ball, but we can’t fault it for the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about the Titleist TruFeel golf ball and its features.
What is the difference between Pro V1 and TruFeel?
The Titleist Pro V1 is a three-piece premium golf ball, and the TruFeel is a two-piece value golf ball. The differences are going to be noticed when it comes to greenside control and feel.
Why are Titleist Pro V1 so good?
The Titleist Pro V1 are quite good because of the high-quality material used in the golf ball. From the inner core to the outer cover, no expense was spared, and you will find that translates onto the golf course.
How many dimples does Titleist TruFeel have?
The Titleist TruFeel ias 376 dimples. The overall ball flight with the TruFeel is average to high, it’s not known for penetrating flight, and it can get a little high when higher swing speed players choose the TruFeel ball.
Happy golfing.
