Equipment

Titleist Left Dash Pro V1x is headed to retail

Published

5 years ago

Aug 29, 2019

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.

See what GolfWRXers are saying about the Left Dash Titleist Pro V1x in the forums.

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.

See what GolfWRXers are saying about the Left Dash Titleist Pro V1x in the forums.

Our friend Bryan LaRoche featured cutaway shots of the Left Dash Pro V1x on his Instagram

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???? SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!! ????. Since @titleist is bringing the -Pro V1X to retail this October 1st, I figured I’d give you a chance to play the ball before it becomes available to purchase! ? ? Here’s how to WIN:?? ?? • LIKE this post!?? • FOLLOW @bryangolf and @chrisbakergolf!? • TAG a friend in a comment! (1 tag per comment, unlimited comments!)?? ? The (Left Dash) -Pro V1X is lower spinning and I’ve heard some players say “ball speed monster”! ????????? ? The contest is LIVE now and ends Friday night at 8p ET! Goooood luck! ? ? (Open to international contestants but an international winner is responsible for extra shipping costs. If the winner chooses not to accept their prize, a new winner will be selected at random.)

A post shared by Bryan LaRoche (@bryangolf) on Aug 28, 2019 at 5:29am PDT

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

16 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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