Titleist released updates to its Velocity, TruFeel and Tour Soft balls, aiming to offer performance options at different price points. This comprehensive test involved Forum members of various skill levels who rated the distance, feel, spin, control and value of each ball.
Twelve testers – each assigned one of the three models – provided real-world feedback on the course and in the simulator. This review combines insights from TruFeel testers (jneff11, jschoon, jjb18, garrett5), Tour Soft testers (Jason Mack, FMC F-16, Jeffers, Sonoma-Valley-Tom), and speed testers (St_Jimmy, Nicmo, BarrigolferlyD, BigolferlyD) to find their suits.
Highlights from testers
Performance summary
Testers found:
- TruFeel: soft feel, moderate distance, impressive short game control for the price
- Speed: Higher launch with noticeable distance gains, but limited greenside spin
- Tour Soft: solid all-around performance with balanced feel and approach control
Main features
- TruFeel: Titleist’s softest ball, low spin with soft feel and affordability
- Speed: built for maximum distance and high flight
- Tour Soft: soft feel with better spin control than standard ionomer balls
General impressions
Testers agreed that each model targets different needs and types of players, with clear strengths and trade-offs.
Tester Insights: Performance and Impressions
First impressions and aesthetics
TruFeel
clean: “The balls arrived in good condition … The ball itself is simple, clean and doesn’t try to do too much. The Trufeel logo is a bit too thick for my liking, but that’s just a matter of personal taste.”
garrett5: “Package arrived! Good quality looking packaging as you would expect from Titleist. The TruFeel mark on the ball is a novelty type logo in my opinion.”
Speed
BillyD: “First impression – they feel lighter than other title balls. Did some practice indoors. Balls really roll. They have a good feel from the putter’s head for a distance ball.”
Grace: “I picked them up yesterday and took them to the course today. First impressions were that they looked premium and had a nice extension line. I noticed the ball flew higher than my average, which was good or bad depending on the wind.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “Titleist packaging proudly proclaims ‘the #1 ball in golf’… Upon examining the Tour Soft balls, the first thing that stands out is the feel of the cover… smooth, but a bit firmer.”
Distance and launch monitor data
TruFeel
garrett5: “Used the same ball for over 100 swings and not one noticeable blemish. Durability has been great. Also impressed with the distance, 3-4 feet longer with most clubs and less dispersion.”
clean: “I was pleasantly surprised with how the balls react off the club face on short shots. A well hit ball felt like I hadn’t hit anything. The arc was where I wanted it to be and they sit soft.”
Speed
BillyD: “Driving distance was nothing special. Average for me. The freeways were very soft because of the rain, so there was no opening at all. Steering accuracy was very, very good. Very little oversteer.”
Grace: “On the Trackman, the Velocity felt hard and delivered more kick. The Bridgestone ball felt livelier, especially on off-center shots. Velocity seemed to go a little higher, but not any further.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “The Titleist Tour Soft really shines from the driver. Delivering incredible distance that rivals higher compression, premium 4-piece balls…The ball flight was consistently in the middle of the trajectory, promoting a fair and predictable path.”
Feel and sound
TruFeel
jjb18: “Ideally I want a ball that will travel far but have good stopping power on the green. I see this as a compromise as most balls don’t do both, so I have to choose between those two characteristics. I can’t wait to see how it performs.”
garrett5: “Approach shots and around the green had nice stopping power and some backspin. Smooth touch with placement. Honestly for the price, I think the Titleist TruFeel might be hard to beat.”
Speed
Grace: “Today was the first day on a Trackman with the Velocity. My thoughts, as well as several others at the facility, was that the Velocity felt stiff and gave more of a buzz.”
BillyD: “Very easy to slide off the bottom with very little slippage. The feel is not hard and the sound from the firing face is not a loud click.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “On the putting surface, the Tour Soft provided a smooth, consistent spin with a satisfying feel from the face of the rubber.”
FMC F-16: “The Tour Soft is mated to the TM Tour Response with my putter head…feels good off the putter face, stretch marks don’t bother me, it carries the ball a long way with low spin and has good iron spin.”
Spin and greenside performance
TruFeel
clean: “My plan for testing will rely heavily on impressions made on the course, especially around the green. I need a ball that feels soft and controllable from my wedges.”
Speed
BillyD: “On chips and shots under 75 yards, the distribution was a little more than a higher priced ball. I had trouble stopping shots 20-40 yards.”
Grace: “Velocity runs out more like discs, but also chips, sand shots. Some of them ran out longer than I wanted.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “Full wedge shots were especially important, producing an average spin of about 5 feet on well-hit greenside approaches, allowing for accurate placement.”
FMC F-16: “Wedge spin numbers are low on the course and in the simulator… Play it for the long game off the tee and soft putter feel. But don’t play it if you want more spin on all your clubs.”
Endurance
TruFeel
garrett5: “Used the same ball for over 100 swings and not one noticeable blemish. Durability has been great.”
Speed
Grace: “Stability was good for speed and poor for Srixon.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “Tour Soft had great consistency. That’s the score of a ball played for 11 holes.”
Course performance
TruFeel
jneff11: “My test plan is to alternate holes using the Titleist TruFeel on the odd-numbered holes and the comparison ball on the even-numbered holes.”
garrett5: “Overall the TruFeel has performed above my expectations. Great stopping power on the greens, slightly above average distance with irons and wedges, smooth touch.”
Speed
BillyD: “First round with the Titleist Velocity balls. Shot 87. Accuracy was very, very good. Iron distance was average and again accuracy was good.”
Tour Soft
Jason Mack: “With full iron shots, the Tour Soft performed admirably, matching the distance of high-end 4-piece balls. The spin was impressive, providing excellent control and stopping power on approach shots.”
FMC F-16: “After extensive testing on multiple courses in Utah, I believe this ball is a worthy contender in the sub-premium ball space.”
What they liked
- TruFeel: Soft feel, control around the greens, value for money in performance
- Speed: High launch, stable flight, strong endurance
- Tour Soft: Balanced performance tee on the green, soft feel off the barrel, solid distance
What they didn’t like
- TruFeel: Limited distance compared to premium balls (garrett5)
- Speed: Rough feel for some testers, limited spin around greens (Nicmo, BillyD)
- Tour Soft: Less spin on chips compared to premium urethane balls (Jason Mack)
CONCLUSION
Final decision
Each ball delivered on its main promise:
- TruFeel: great for players who prioritize feel and value
- Speed: strong option for remote seekers who need higher throughput
- Tour Soft: all-around performer with premium-like distance and mid-range spin
RECOMMENDATIONS
Golfers must choose:
- TruFeel if they are looking for an affordable, soft ball with good control
- Speed if they need maximum distance and higher ball flight
- Tour Soft if they want a softer alternative to tour balls without sacrificing distance
FAQ
Which ball is best for beginners?
TruFeel offers a soft feel, low spin and affordable prices suitable for beginners.
Does Speed sacrifice greenside control?
Yes, testers reported limited spin and increased chip spread.
Is the Tour Soft as good as the Pro V1?
Testers found it comparable in distance, but with less greenside spin.
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