Equipment
Titleist Left Dash Pro V1x is headed to retail
Titleist announced a new version of the Pro V1x being released to consumers October 1: the “left dash” Pro V1x. If you’re wondering about the nomenclature the printing is as follows on the ball <-PRO V1x>, thus there’s a dash to the left of Pro V1x.
Line extensions have been few and far between with the ProV line, beyond the introduction of the original Pro V1x in 2003. The only other North American released multi-piece urethane covered ball is the Titleist AVX, a lower compression lower trajectory option for players looking to lower overall flight and decrease spin across their bag—until now.
Titleist Left Dash Pro V1x: Performance
The <-PRO V1X> is a higher launching, lower spinning version of the ProV1X.
Just like how the AP3 (the new equivalent is the T200) was introduced to fill the much-requested gap in the iron line between the AP2 and AP1, the Titleist Left Dash Pro V1x is a ball that has similar spin characteristics of the AVX but at a much higher compression core similar to the Pro V1x. For professionals who wanted the higher compression ball but still required a lower spinning version, it fits right into their wheelhouse.
So where did the Left Dash Pro V1x come from?
The amount of people power and research that goes into each golf ball design is difficult to comprehend, and with that time comes lots of prototypes along the way that either stay in-house for testing, or in the case of some close to final production models, go to tour to get game-time feedback.
In the case of the Left Dash Pro V1x, what started off as just a test prototype to get player feedback on a new cover and core technology pairing, ended up becoming popular enough to justify keeping it as a CPO (Custom Performance Option). CPOs are made in the same factory on the same machines as other balls in the lineup, they are just made in small quantities using different (no pixie dust or voodoo added) materials. In a funny way, think of it like a slight variation to a popular muffin recipe for some people with an allergy—it’s been made special for a few people that really need it.
In the case of the Left Dash Pro V1x, it was eventually refined and became the full release 2017 ProV1X, but thanks to the unique characteristics, there are some players that have not changed from this ball.
Titleist’s VP of Golf Ball Marketing Michael Mahoney explained it like this
“Through our player testing, we realized that some of our players were seeing slightly better performance out of our CPO products. It doesn’t mean they were losing performance with other products, but when you are working with the best players in the world some just have specific requirements.”
The number of players using a Titleist CPO is still minimal. In fact, the Left Dash Pro V1x is not a ball that is going to fit a lot of players—period. The number on combined tours in around 15 percent, with a few other variations out on tour.
“The way we have looked at it is, if there is enough demand for a product through our channels, then we want to make it available to the public.” Michael Mahoney. “Almost 90% of the products we sell are custom fit for the consumer, if we can go one step further and offer that with a ball, even better!”
The new Left Dash Titleist Pro V1x is like the ball version of the first Titleist MOTO (Made Only To Order) products which featured the 917D4—a low-spin small market segment product.
Availability and Price
Starting on October 1, Titleist accounts will be able to order the new Pro V1x Left Dash, and depending on where you are, you will be paying the same price as what you are paying now—around $48 at most retailers.
Our friend Bryan LaRoche featured cutaway shots of the Left Dash Pro V1x on his Instagram
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Jim
Aug 31, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Slow news week? Does Titleist pay by the word?
Most over priced over rated RIP off in last 20 yrs.
ProV balls & $275 Snotty putters…
Ego’s way of saying “So, you think you got too much money?”
Alex
Oct 2, 2019 at 11:06 am
So how are you going to feel if you get paired with someone hitting one of these golf balls with their new PXG clubs?
To each their own man. If you wanna steal golf balls from the local mini-putt and use them on the course go ahead. But don’t bash people or companies for putting out or buying products.
James
Aug 30, 2019 at 10:40 am
So basically it’s a 2017 Pro V1x?
Tiger Noods
Aug 29, 2019 at 7:35 pm
Find it, cut it.
Ryan
Aug 30, 2019 at 10:24 am
Or put it in salt water to find the balance…
JP
Aug 29, 2019 at 2:48 pm
A lot of players will buy these thinking it’s a regular ProV1X and be disappointed, not realizing what they actually got. I hope they really distinguish that these are different in stores.
HarryH
Aug 29, 2019 at 7:02 pm
You hit the nail on the head with that one.
J Zilla
Aug 29, 2019 at 8:27 pm
It’s got a dash!
Dino
Aug 29, 2019 at 9:08 pm
I’m curious as to how and why you have come to that “conclusion”?
Jake
Aug 30, 2019 at 6:33 am
The ball will not be on the shelf at any store but rather special ordered in small batches.