The USGA’s ruling reads as follows:
“When changing balls, the player is permitted to substitute a ball of another brand or type unless the Committee has adopted the One Ball Condition of Competition (see Appendix I; Part C; Section 1c). This optional condition (usually referred to as ‘The One Ball Rule’) is generally adopted only in events that are limited to professional golfers or highly-skilled amateur golfers. Generally, this condition of competition is not adopted in club-level competitions.”
As for that other ball? While Henley didn’t independently confirm which ball it was, we can guess from the “dash” mention that the ball in question had to do with Titleist’s “Left Dash” ball, newly released to the public just last month. Here’s GOLF’s Jonathan Wall on the Left Dash ball:
Roughly 80 percent of professional golfers use the Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x currently available to the public, but for a select few who require highly specific launch and spin characteristics, there are three “Custom Performance Option” prototype versions that have remained Tour-only offerings, until now.
Starting Oct. 1, recreational golfers will be able to custom order one of the balls: Pro V1x “Left Dash.” Available through authorized Titleist accounts, the ball is differentiated from the standard version by the dash on the left side of the Pro V1x stamp. Hence, the “Left Dash” name.
Compared to the retail version, which offers a high launch and moderately high spin, the “Left Dash” model generates a similar high launch with less spin.
While most professionals gravitate toward Pro V1x because of the spin it generates, there are a handful of elite amateurs and major winners, including Lucas Glover and Jimmy Walker, who prefer the launch of Pro V1x with a lower spin rate. It’s a subtle recipe tweak some better players will be able to notice and appreciate.
Harris English led the Mayakoba Classic through two rounds at 13 under par.
