I’m the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, and in this article, I will compare two of the most popular golf balls: the Kirkland Signature 3-Piece and the Titleist Pro V1.

These balls have a lot in common, but they also differ significantly in some ways, such as the price. We’ve received many questions from golfers about which is the best, and after reading this article, you’ll know just that. 

Kirkland vs Pro V1 Compared

When initially comparing Costco’s Kirkland Signature and the Titleist Pro V1, there are three things that really stand out: the price, feel, and spin. 

Price

The biggest reason why Kirkland has become so popular is the price. A Pro V1 usually costs twice as much, or more, than a Kirkland Signature. 

Feel 

Both of these golf balls have great feel, but the Titleist Pro V1 is slightly softer, especially around the greens. Most golfers will prefer the softer, so the Pro V1 takes the win here. 

Spin

Spin rates can be tricky to measure, as they differ from golfer to golfer. However, it’s safe to say that they’re not the same on these two golf balls. The Kirkland Signature has lower spin off the tee, but also lower around the greens. The Pro V1 spins slightly more off the tee, and spins higher around the greens. 

When simplified, this means that the Pro V1 is better around the greens and that the Kirkland is better off the tee, but we encourage everyone to make a golf ball fitting to find what works best for you. 

Design and Durability

The Kirkland Signature ball is a 338-dimple, while the Pro V1 has 388 dimples. Both have urethane covers and have three layers. 

Through our tests, we’ve found the durability to be great on both of these golf balls, and for most average golfers, the ball will be gone before the worry of durability comes. 

Kirkland Benefits and Cons

The biggest benefit of the Kirkland Signature golf ball is definitely the price. The price for a dozen balls usually hovers under $25, which is fantastic and significantly cheaper than the Pro V1. 

The drawbacks of the Kirkland ball are the slightly harder feel and lower spin around the greens. Feel is subjective, but higher spin around the greens is something good for the vast majority of golfers. The ball flight will be slightly different because of the spin, but the differences are negligible. 

Kirkland Compression

The Kirkland Signature golf ball has a compression rating of 90. This makes it a relatively hard golf ball, as the compression rating is high. These types of golf balls are good for faster swing speeds, but not always mid-to-high handicaps. 

Kirkland Distance

Distance is very personal, and what golf ball will go the longest depends on your swing. However, as the Kirkland Signature has lower spin off the tee than the Pro V1, you can expect it to go slightly further. 

Suitable Handicap for the Kirkland 

The Kirkland golf ball can suit many golfers, but mainly lower handicaps from around 12 and under. Your swing speed is the most important thing here, as we’d say it’s okay to lose this ball on the course due to the affordable price. Most high handicaps, and many mid handicaps, won’t have the swing speed necessary for this ball.

Suitable Swing Speeds for the Kirkland

The recommended swing speed for the Kirkland Signature is over 95 mph. A slightly higher swing speed is better, but a slightly lower one can also work. If you have a relatively slow swing speed, you want a softer golf ball. 

Pro V1 Benefits and Cons

The Pro V1 is perhaps the highest-performing golf ball, and its main benefits are the fantastic feel and good spin rates from both the tee and around the greens. 

The only real con of the Pro V1 is the pretty steep price of over $50 per dozen. When playing with a golf ball this expensive, hitting a shot into the water isn’t fun. 

Pro V1 Compression

The Titleist Pro V1 has the same compression rating as the Kirkland Signature at 90. This means that it’s a relatively hard and high-compression golf ball, but it still has a surprisingly soft feel. This also means that the Pro V1 is great for faster golfers, but often not for slow swing speeds. 

Pro V1 Distance

The Pro V1 from Titleist Golf is undoubtedly long-hitting, but as it’s not a low-spin golf ball from the tee, there are longer-hitting options. But with that said, you shouldn’t pick another golf ball over the Pro V1 solely because it has a few yards of extra driving distance. 

Suitable Handicap for the Pro V1

The Pro V1 is an expensive golf ball, which combined with the hard compression makes it suitable for lower handicaps. When simplified, the Pro V1 is for handicaps of about 12 and under, but it really comes down to swing speed and whether or not you’re comfortable playing an expensive ball. 

Suitable Swing Speeds for the Pro V1

For the Titleist Pro V1, the suitable swing speed is also over 95 mph. This is the same as the Kirkland Signature, due to them both having the same compression rating. 

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the difference between Z-Star and Z-Star XV?

The biggest difference between the Z-Star and the Z-Star XV is that the XV model is for faster swing speeds. This is due to the XV having a higher compression, making it harder. 

Do any pros use the Kirkland?

There are no golf pros on the PGA Tour that use Costco golf balls of any kind. This is because Costco doesn’t sponsor golf pros to get them to use their golf gear. 

Should I use the Kirkland or Pro V1?

Whether you should use the Kirkland or the Pro V1 mainly comes down to one thing: your budget. This is slightly simplified, but generally speaking, we’d advise golfers who are on a budget to use the Kirkland, and the opposite for those who are not. 

How many layers is the kirkland golf ball?

The Kirkland golf ball has three layers, which is the same as the Titleist Pro V1. They are also both urethane cover golf balls. Three-piece balls aren’t the most possible in today’s golf equipment market, but it’s enough for high performance. 

Are Kirkland golf balls as good as the Pro V1?

Kirkland golf balls have a much lower price point than most major brands, including Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist golf balls. For higher handicappers and beginners, the Kirkland Signature will perform pretty much as good as the Pro V1.

The Pro V1 does have a high spin around the greens though, and its softer feel is more pleasant, especially with the putter. For really good golfers, the Pro V1x is better than the Kirkland due to a higher compression. 

Conclusion: 

The Titleist Pro V1 and the Kirkland Signature golf ball have many similarities, such as both having compression ratings of 90 and catering to faster swing speeds. They also have their differences though, with the Pro V1 costing twice as much and having more spin throughout all golf clubs. 

Which is the best golf ball, as the price difference is so significant. However, we’d name the Pro V1 the better ball if the price wasn’t a factor. But if you’re on a budget, the Kirkland Signature is excellent.