It's that time of year when we start reflecting on all of the memories, milestones and accomplishments of the past 12 months and this usually leads to a Top 10 list of one kind or another. You might think this is an easy task, but each year it seems to become increasingly difficult to pick our favorite moments because there are too many to choose from.

But we're up to the challenge. And for 2013, we're going to shine the spotlight on 13 of our favorite posts from this year - in no particular order.

So without further delay, we bring you our first highlight of the year... Our trip to the Titleist Manchester Lane Testing Facility to get an inside view with the Titleist Golf Ball R&D team. Check out the original post from October 24, 2013 below.

VIDEO: The Moment of Impact. An Inside Look at Titleist Golf Ball R&D

For our Titleist Golf Ball R&D team, the goal is always the same: Design and develop the most consistent and best performing golf balls to help golfers shoot lower scores. It's a process focused on continuous improvement, fostered by many talented individuals working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Of course, there's also some really cool (and extremely sophisticated) test equipment that plays a role in continually making the best golf balls in the game even better.

Case in point: The Titleist R&D team recently fired up one of their mechanical robots to film golf ball impact footage, using a high-speed camera, at 22,000 frames per second.

The second we heard this was happening, we were inspired to bring you an exclusive insider’s view. So we grabbed our cameras, headed to the Manchester Lane Testing facility and met up with Paul Furze, Manager of Product Test Methods.

Paul's plan was to run through a series of tests and capture the moment of impact of different Titleist golf ball models across various ball speeds. Using the high-speed footage, the team could then analyze how the golf ball reacts to the force being applied and show the actual compression upon impact.

One result, as you will see in the video: "If you compare the 120 mph driver [ball] speed to the 175 mph driver [ball] speed, you'll see that the compression on the ball is really quite similar," said Furze. In other words, every player, no matter their swing speed, compresses the golf ball.

Check out the video for a closer look at this step in our R&D process and to see what happens to a golf ball at impact – and a few micro-seconds after impact... (Yes, we said micro-seconds.)

Just in case you were wondering, "What exactly is Product Test Methods Development?" Well, this team develops and maintains all of the test equipment used throughout the various stages of the process. From robotic swing machines and air canons to wind tunnels and advanced simulators, they’ve got it covered.

Pretty cool gig if you ask us.

You’ve just flagged your approach shot from the fairway and as you get closer to the green, you find your golf ball resting just outside of that tap-in range.

No need to worry, we’ve enlisted Titleist Brand Ambassador George Coetzee to help us turn those 4-footers into tap-ins. And as you will see in the video, George shares a favorite drill that he uses to reinforce success.

“Repetition is a big key for me,” George explained to us as he placed tees in the green on four points of the compass. “At each point, if you can make forty or fifty putts in a row, then you build your confidence and you learn to repeat a quite simple stroke.”

Watch the video above to hear what else George has to say and give this drill a try the next time you're out on the practice green.

As the final events play out for the 2013 season on the worldwide professional golf tours, the winning ways continue for players trusting Titleist. Relying on a Pro V1x golf ball and new AP2 irons (714 series) among his full bag of Titleist equipment, Brand Ambassador Zach Johnson rallied from four shots behind with eight holes to play to capture the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge. The comeback will be long remembered for a stunning hole out by Johnson on the 72nd hole that forced a playoff in which he ultimately prevailed.

Joining Johnson in this week's winners' circle, Titleist Brand Ambassador Marcelo Rozo captured his first career victory on the LatinoAmerica Tour, raising the trophy at the VISA Argentina Open. Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf ball players have now won 158 tournaments on the worldwide professional tours in 2013, nearly four times the nearest competitor with 40 and more than all other competitors combined.

To date, 22,010 players have trusted a Titleist golf ball across the worldwide professional tours in 2013, more than six times the nearest competitor with 3,238 and more than all other competitors combined.

Let's review this weekend's action from around the golfing world with the Team Titleist Tour Recap.

• • •

PGA TOUR (Unofficial): Northwestern Mutual World Challenge

Johnson's dramatic finish came after his approach to the 72nd hole found the hazard fronting the 18th green. Playing his fourth shot from a drop zone 58 yards from the flag, Johnson played a knockdown shot with his Vokey Design Hand Ground, 60-degree, V-Grind lob wedge that skipped, bounced twice, halted inches beyond the pin and then spun back gently into the heart of the cup, capping a 4-under round of 68. The par matched his playing partner, who got up and down from a greenside bunker at the last to send the contest to extra holes. Both players finished with 13-under 275 scoring totals.

Returning to the 444-yard 18th hole at Sherwood Country Club for the first playoff hole, Johnson struck a perfect drive down the right side of the fairway. Relying upon his new AP2 9-iron, Johnson struck a solid approach that left him a 15-foot birdie putt. His birdie bid burned the left edge of the cup, but the tap-in par was all he needed after his fellow competitor made bogey.

Just prior to attending the Northwester Mutual World Challenge, Johnson visited the Titleist Test Facility in Oceanside, CA.  During testing with the Titleist Club R&D Team, Johnson decided to put new AP2 irons (714 series) in the bag, as well as a new 18-degree 913FD fairway metal.

The new AP1 and AP2 (714 Series) irons feature progressive designs to produce optimum launch, trajectory and distance for each loft.  Advanced CG height progression, precisely designed into both models, creates higher launching long irons and flatter launching short irons for more carry distance with outstanding control to help players stop the ball on the green, closer to the hole.

While the World Challenge is not recognized as an official event on the PGA TOUR schedule, it does provide world ranking points and the win vaulted Johnson to No. 9 in the Official World Golf Rankings.  This marks the first time in his career that Johnson has occupied a spot in the top-10.

"I feel very fortunate, and a bit lucky," Johnson would say after the victory. "A little too dramatic for me.”

Though luck was on his side at the last, Zach's play down the stretch seemed to foreshadow the memorable shot. On the par-5 16th, he laid up and nearly holed a sand wedge from 88 yards. The shot led to a tap-in birdie. On the very next hole Johnson flagged his 8-iron tee shot, sinking a four foot birdie putt that gave him a share of the lead as they headed to the wild finish.

WHAT’S IN ZACH JOHNSON’S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, 913D2 (8.5°) driver, 913FD (15.0°, 18.0°) fairway metals, AP1 (4) and new AP2 (5-9) irons, Vokey Design SM4 pitching (48°) and sand (54°) wedges, Vokey Design Hand Ground (60°, V-Grind) wedge.

• • •

LATINOAMERICA TOUR: VISA Argentina Open

Of the 131-player field, 108 players trusted Titleist golf balls, more than eight times the nearest competitor with 13.

In the final event on the 2013 LatinoAmerica Tour calendar, Marcelo Rozo closed with an even-par 72 on Sunday, good for a 10-under-par 278 and a two-shot margin of victory in his first LatinoAmerica Tour win.

Jeff Gove (Pro V1x), a three time winner on the Web.com Tour, finished with a 5-under 67 to take solo second at the event.

Two players tied for 3rd at 7-under 281, including fellow Pro V1x loyalist Bronson Burgoon.

WHAT’S IN MARCELO ROZO’S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, 913D2 (8.5°) driver, MB irons, Vokey Design SM4 approach (52°) and lob (58°) wedges.

 

For this week’s Titleist Tip from the Tour, we were fortunate to meet with a Titleist Brand Ambassador that we’re sure to hear a lot from in the coming years.  Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello is a two-time winner on the PGA European Tour.  His classic swing and creative shot-making abilities promise to serve him well on the worldwide stage as his game continues to blossom.

Rafa’s strength is his iron game.  He ranked 15th in Greens-In-Regulation on the 2013 European Tour, hitting 73.3%.  But as Rafa explained to us, he owes a lot of this success to driving the ball effectively.  

Hitting shorter irons on approach shots can certainly improve your odds of hitting more greens, and in this week’s tip, Rafa, who averaged over 291 yards per drive in 2013, has some great keys for those times when you need a little extra distance on your tee shot.

“I recommend getting a little wider in your stance so that your weight can shift from your right side to your left side a bit better," Rafa told us.  "Transferring the weight forward and towards the ball allows you to use your legs as leverage and hit it really hard.”

The next time you have an opportunity to get aggressive off the tee, instead of swinging your arms faster, remember Rafa’s advice to focus on your weight shift.   Let us know if it works for you as well as it does for Señor Cabrera-Bello.

Across the world of golf, the winning momentum continued for Titleist golf ball players, as two more Titleist golf ball loyalists entered the winners' circle this week, led by Titleist Brand Ambassador Gagnjeet Bhullar, who captured his first Asian Tour victory of the season at the Indonesian Open.

Along with Pro V1x loyalist Fabian Gomez, who captured his maiden LatinoAmerica Tour victory at the Personal Classic, Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf ball players have now won 157 tournaments on the worldwide professional tours in 2013, nearly four times the nearest competitor with 40 and more than all other competitors combined.

To date, 21,749 players around the world have trusted a Titleist golf ball on the worldwide professional tours in 2013, more than six times the nearest competitor with 3,206 and more than all other competitors combined. Proof yet again that Titleist is the #1 ball in golf.

Let's take a trip around the golfing world with the Team Titleist Tour Recap.

• • •

ASIAN TOUR: Indonesian Open

Of the 144-player field, 96 players trusted Titleist golf balls, more than 5 times the nearest competitor with 18.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Gagnjeet Bhullar won in wire-to-wire fashion on Sunday, closing the Indonesian Open in style with a bogey-free 3-under 68 in the final round. The win marks the fifth career Asian Tour victory for the Indian.

Bhullar, who shot four rounds in the 60s, posted a 16-under 268 total, good for a three-shot margin of victory.

"In golf anything is possible, that's what I have always believed in,” said Bhullar after the win. “If you have trust in your abilities and will power, you can excel anywhere.”

WHAT’S IN GAGANJEET BHULLAR’S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1x golf ball, 913D2 driver (7.5°), 913FD fairway metal (13.5°, 18.5°), AP2 irons (3-9), Vokey Design SM4 pitching (48°), sand (54°) and lob (60°) wedges, Scotty Cameron Newport 2 putter.

• • •

ONEASIA TOUR: Emirates Australian Open

Of the 156-player field, 115 players relied upon Titleist golf balls, more than five times the nearest competitor with 21.

Titleist Brand Ambassador Adam Scott came within a single shot of capturing a rare Australian triple crown on Sunday, posting a runner-up finish at the Emirates Australian Open. Scott, who earlier this month had captured both the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Masters (in addition to partnering for an Australain win in the World Cup), shot a 1-under 71 in his final round at Royal Sydney GC. He posted a 17-under 271 total, one shot away from forcing a playoff.

Scott, who had set a course record with his opening round 10-under 62, kept the near-miss in perspective. Though admitting to reporters on Sunday that he "was gutted" at not having closed out the Aussie Open, he recognized how successful 2013 has been for him.

"It's been a great year. Obviously I didn't want to finish like that (but) I'll get over this tonight and look forward to a few weeks rest and get ready to go next year".

In addition to his wins down under, Scott captured his first major title at this year's Masters Tournament and added a FedExCup playoff event win at The Barclays. He is currently ranked No. 2 in the Offical World Golf Rankings.

WHAT’S IN ADAM SCOTT’S BAG?: Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, 913D3 driver (9.5°), 910FD fairway metal (15°), 712U 2-iron, 680 irons (3-9), Vokey Design SM4 pitching (48°) and sand (54°) wedges, Vokey Design TVD K-grind lob (60°) wedge, Scotty Cameron Futura X long putter.

• • •

LATINOAMERICA TOUR: Personal Classic

Of the 132-player field, 107 players trusted Titleist golf balls, more than 8 times the nearest competitor with 13.

It was a 1-2-T3 finish at the Personal Classic in Buenos Aires, where each of the top-6 players relied on a Titleist golf ball for his success.

Pro V1x loyalist Fabian Gomez captured his first LatinoAmerica Tour title on home soil on Sunday, closing with a 5-under 67 at La Reserva Cardales. The performance gave the Argentine a 19-under 269 total, two shots clear of fellow Pro V1x loyalist Christian Espinoza.

Bronson Burgoon (Pro V1x) and Matias O'Curry (Pro V1) both posted 7-under 65s in the final round for a share of joint 3rd place with Pro V1x loyalists Rafael Echenique (66) and Maximiliano Godoy (69).