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.

Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.

From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4

3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4

Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms

Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80

Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105

Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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.