The Titleist Secret Menu: Pro V1 Left Dot Versus Pro V1x Left Dash Explained

What’s the difference between Left Dot and Left Dash?

The simple answer is that Left Dash is a Pro V1x and every Pro V1x variation Titleist has created to date has featured four-piece, dual-core construction. Left Dot is a Pro V1 and every Pro V1 has been a three-piece, single core offering.

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If you’d like a deeper dive, feel free to keep reading.

CPOs abound

In the world of Titleist golf balls, there’s more than what you’ll find on retail shelves. Beyond the familiar Pro V1 and Pro V1x lies a collection of Custom Performance Options (CPOs)—specialized variants originally developed for Tour professionals but occasionally made available to dedicated golfers who know enough to seek them out.

Two of the most intriguing options are the Pro V1 Left Dot and Pro V1x Left Dash. While their names might sound confusingly similar, they represent fundamentally different approaches to golf ball performance, each built on the design principles of their respective retail counterparts.

Understanding Titleist’s side stamp code

Before diving into the specifics, it’s worth understanding Titleist’s naming convention. First, there’s no real difference in meaning between dashes, dots, and stars. It’s the location that matters. In Titleist sidestamp nomenclature, markings to the left of the primary model name indicate something has been subtracted (lower spin, lower flight). In contrast, marks to the right indicate something has been added.

The Left Dash (–Pro V1x) signals a lower-spinning version of the Pro V1x while the Left Dot (•Pro V1) indicates a lower-flying, lower-spinning version of the Pro V1. The fine print here is that those performance distinctions, while still essentially holding true, are relative to the corresponding retail model at the time the CPO was developed.

I suppose the takeaway is that while the Dash and Dot names are admittedly a bit awkward, they were originally intended as engineering shorthand that tells the story of each ball’s performance characteristics.

While a new Left Dash is in the retail pipeline, neither the Left Dash on shelves now nor Left Dot has been updated since the original.

Pro V1 Left Dot: Penetrating precision

The Pro V1 Left Dot was originally developed as a CPO back in 2014 for players seeking the soft feel of a Pro V1 with a lower, more penetrating flight and reduced long-game spin. Built on the single-core foundation of the standard Pro V1, Left Dot offers a unique combination that has proven successful at the highest level.

Since its introduction, it has played a role in more than 30 PGA Tour wins, including Henrik Stenson’s 2016 Open Championship and Patrick Reed’s 2018 Masters victory. Tony Finau is perhaps the most notable Left Dot user and has won five times with the ball since 2021. FWIW, prior to signing with TaylorMade, Rickie Fowler was also a Left Dot guy.

Left Dot’s key innovation lies in its high-gradient core construction, which creates what Titleist calls a “steeper spin slope”—dramatically reducing long-game spin while maintaining the greenside control Pro V1 is known for. In the middle of the bag, 200 to 300 rpm less spin isn’t out of the question, making it particularly valuable for high-spin players seeking more penetrating ball flight.

Pro V1x Left Dash: High and long

The Pro V1x Left Dash takes a different approach to spin reduction. Rather than lowering trajectory like Left Dot, Left Dash is designed for players seeking a high flight similar to Pro V1x with dramatically lower full-swing spin. Built on the dual-core foundation that defines the Pro V1x family, it maintains the launch characteristics that make Pro V1x appealing while addressing spin concerns.

Left Dash has found particular favor among high-speed players who generate excessive spin, with Left Dash being the first-choice recommendation in roughly six to eight percent of golf ball fittings through Titleist’s fitting app.

The technology trickle-down effect

What makes these CPOs particularly interesting is how their innovations eventually influence the retail lineup. Learnings from Left Dot’s construction have since influenced the design of current Pro V1 and Pro V1x models, which now feature high gradient core technology. Similarly, the high-flex casing layer originally developed for Left Dash is now standard across the Pro V1 family.

Availability and positioning

The two balls occupy different spaces in Titleist’s strategy. Pro V1x Left Dash has graduated from CPO status to become part of the retail lineup, available year-round through normal channels. Pro V1 Left Dot remains a limited-run experiment, sold almost exclusively through Titleist.com with small allocations available through sales reps (which appear to feed smaller allocations for eBay buyers).

Titleist says three percent of its Tour-level fittings result in a Pro V1 Left Dot recommendation, making it a niche product for golfers with very specific needs. The limited availability creates urgency. If you’re even a little curious about Left Dot, you’ll have another shot soon.

Performance comparison chart

Characteristic	Pro V1 Left Dot	Pro V1x Left Dash
Core Design	Single core (Pro V1 platform)	Dual core (Pro V1x platform)
Flight	Lower than Pro V1	Similar to Pro V1x
Long-game Spin	Lower than Pro V1	Lower than Pro V1x
Compression	Similar to Pro V1	Slightly firmer than Pro V1x
Feel	Soft-ish (similar to Pro V1)	Firm
Availability	Limited release, through local rep if you’re fit into it	Retail lineup
Tour Usage	~6% of Titleist tour usage	6-8% of Titleist fittings

Who should consider each ball?

Pro V1 Left Dot appeals to golfers who love the feel and short-game performance of the Pro V1 but struggle with ballooning shots or excessive spin in windy conditions. Tony Finau explains: “I’ve always put a lot of spin on the golf ball. Right away, [Pro V1 Left Dot] caught my eye because of the ball flight. I think if you can control your ball flight, you can control the distance.”

Pro V1x Left Dash targets high-speed players who appreciate the Pro V1x’s performance characteristics but need to tame excessive spin without sacrificing height. It’s particularly valuable for golfers who generate significant clubhead speed but struggle with spin-induced distance loss.

The bottom line

Both balls represent Titleist’s commitment to serving golfers with specialized needs. While Pro V1 Left Dot remains an exclusive offering for the truly dedicated, Pro V1x Left Dash has proven its worth as a retail option. The fundamental difference lies in their foundational design. Left Dot uses a single-core Pro V1 platform to achieve lower flight and spin while Left Dash leverages a dual-core Pro V1x platform to maintain high flight while reducing spin.

Understanding these distinctions helps explain why Titleist continues to invest in CPO development. These aren’t just marketing exercises — they’re genuine performance solutions that have contributed to major championship victories while continuing to advance golf ball technology.

For most golfers, the standard Pro V1 and Pro V1x provide all the performance needed. But for those with specific requirements, these specialized options are designed to fill the niches at the tails of the ball fitting curve.

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