The mainstream golf ball companies are now having their say on the proposals outlined by golf’s governing bodies planning to roll back the ball used in ‘elite competitions’. Titleist, Srixon, Callaway, TaylorMade and Bridgestone are the leading brands when it comes to golf ball usage on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour and all were reached out to for comment on the proposals by Golf Monthly.
The USGA and The R&A are now proposing to make available a Model Local Rule (MLR) whereby the Overall Distance Standard (ODS) limit of 317 yards (plus 3 yards tolerance) remains unchanged but balls will be tested at a new clubhead speed up from 120mph to 127mph, with different launch conditions more relevant to those that are optimum for today’s premium tour balls. As a result, manufacturers will likely be forced to make slower golf balls that will conform to the new rule that is expected to be enforced at all professional events worldwide from January 2026 and beyond.
Titleist
Titleist, as the number one ball in golf, arguably has the most to lose from the changes proposed. Its Pro V1 and Pro V1x franchises dominate the tour counts week in, week out, used by the likes of Max Homa, Players Champion Scottie Scheffler and Patrick Cantlay. It has released a statement in response to the MLR, paraphrased below.
“One of golf’s unifying appeals is that everyone in the game plays by the same set of rules, can play the same courses and with the same equipment. Golfers can watch professionals and compare themselves to the world’s best, aspiring to hit the same shots. This unification links the professional and recreational games, enriches the connection and viewing experience of the professional game, and contributes to golf’s momentum, unprecedented growth and promising future. This bifurcation would divide golf between elite and recreational play, add confusion, and break the linkage that is part of the game’s enduring fabric.”
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“Golf is an aspirational sport, and we believe at its very best when equipment and playing regulations are unified. Golf’s health and vibrancy are at historically high levels,” said David Maher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Acushnet Company, which owns the Titleist brand. “As we see it, existing golf ball regulations for Overall Distance and Initial Velocity are highly effective. During the past two decades, PGA Tour average course playing length has increased by less than 100 yards and scoring…
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