If inanimate objects could feel pressure, the Titleist NXT Tour and NXT Extreme would know the heat is on. That's because they've replaced the NXT Tour and NXT models that accounted for the third- and fifth-largest market shares, respectively, among balls selling for $20-plus per dozen. (Only the Titleist Pro V1, Pro V1x and DT SoLo loom larger on the shelves.)

We put the new (and old) balls to our exclusive robot test and found the new NXT series has a slightly higher flight, it provides a slight bump in carry distance and for NXT Tour more spin with the sand wedge than its predecessor. Head-to-head, the new NXT Extreme is longer off the driver than new NXT Tour; the two new balls perform similarly with the 8-iron; and NXT Tour offers 3,500 rpm more backspin off a full sandwedge shot.

This will result in significantly more greenside control.
NXT Tour: $30 per dozen; NXT Extreme: $26 per dozen; titleist.com