What Golf Ball Does Kyle Berkshire Use?

When you witness Kyle Berkshire unleash a golf swing, generating ball speeds that defy physics, a natural question pops into your head: what golf ball can possibly stand up to that kind of power? The answer is a highly specialized piece of equipment: the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash. This article will break down exactly why Berkshire trusts this specific ball for his long drive dominance, why it's probably the wrong ball for you, and how you can use the same principles to select the perfect golf ball for your own game.

Decoding Kyle Berkshire’s Weapon of Choice: The Pro V1x Left Dash

If you're a serious golfer, you've heard of the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. They are the gold standard on professional tours worldwide. But the "Left Dash" variant is a different animal altogether. It's a CPO (Custom Performance Option) that was originally designed for Tour players seeking a very specific flight window, and it has since become the ball of choice for the world's longest hitters.

Think of it not as a slight variation, but as a ball built from the ground up for one mission: reduce spin at extreme speeds. For a long drive athlete swinging at over 150 mph and generating ball speeds north of 220 mph, excess spin is the enemy. It creates too much lift, causing the ball to balloon upwards and "stall" in the air, bleeding off precious yardage. Spin also amplifies any mistakes, turning a small fade into a mammoth slice. The Left Dash is engineered to combat exactly that.

The Science Behind Low Spin and Blistering Speed

To really understand چرا Berkshire uses this ball, we need to look under the cover. The Pro V1x Left Dash is a four-piece golf ball, and its magic lies in how those layers work together under immense force.

• A Firmer Core: The engine of the golf ball is its core. The Left Dash features a very firm, high-speed core. When a player like Berkshire impacts the ball, he compresses it dramatically. A firmer core provides more resistance, which translates into a higher rebound effect. Imagine jumping on a tightly sprung trampoline versus a soft, saggy one. The firm "trampoline" of the Left Dash core sends the ball off the face with maximum velocity. For a slower swinging player, this firm core would feel like hitting a rock and they'd be unable to compress it enough to activate it, actually losing distance.
• The Speed-Enhancing Mantle Layer: The layer surrounding the core, known as the mantle or casing layer, is critical for managing spin. In the Left Dash, this layer is designed to be very fast and stiff. It works in tandem with the core to keep driver spin incredibly low. It’s this core-mantle combination that separates the Left Dash from its a-little-more-forgiving Pro V1x cousin.
• A High-Flex Casing and Urethane Cover: The outer layers still matter. While optimized for low spin with the driver, the urethane cover - a signature of all Pro V1 models - is what provides some measure of feel and control. However, make no mistake, its "feel" is significantly firmer than a standard Pro V1 or V1x.

In simple terms, Titleist created the Pro V1x Left Dash for a very small, very powerful segment of the golfing population. It’s a ball that delivers a high launch combined with drastically lower full-swing spin. For Berkshire, that formula is perfect. It allows him to launch the ball on an optimal high rocket-ship trajectory and let it just go, with a piercing flight that minimizes air resistance and maximizes roll-out, which is how long drive competitions are measured.

A Warning From Your Coach: Why You Shouldn't Use a Left Dash

Now, here's where my coaching hat comes on. I know it's tempting to think, "If the longest hitter in the world uses it, maybe it'll help me gain a few yards!" I’m here to tell you, with nearly 100% certainty, that it will do the opposite. Using a golf ball that doesn't match your swing speed is one of the quickest ways to hurt your game.

The Pro V1x Left Dash is designed for players with driver swing speeds well over 115 mph. The average male amateur golfer swings somewhere between 90-95 mph. Here’s what happens when a player in that 90-mph range uses a ball designed for Berkshire:

• Significant Distance Loss: You simply cannot compress the ball enough. Without proper compression, the energy transfer from the clubface to the ball is terribly inefficient. The ball will come off the face feeling dead and heavy, resulting in lower ball speed and less carry. You will hit it shorter.
• Poor Ball Flight: Because you can't generate enough spin to create lift, the ball will have a low, knuckleball-like flight. It will look like it's falling out of the sky before it reaches its apex. This is especially true for your irons, where you need a certain amount of backspin to hold the green.
• Zero Finesse Around Greens: The firm build and low-spin characteristics that are a blessing for Berkshire off the tee are a curse around the greens. The ball will feel harsh off your wedges and putter. When you try to hit a chip or pitch, it will come off "hot" and won't check up, running out far past the hole.

Think of it like this: You wouldn’t put race fuel in a standard family sedan and expect it to perform like a Formula 1 car. You need the right fuel for the engine you have. The same is true for golf balls.

How to Choose the Right Ball for Your Game

So, how do you find your correct "fuel"? It's a much simpler process than you might think. Forget what the pros use for a moment and focus on two key things: your swing speed and what you need most from the ball.

Step 1: Get an Honest Assessment of Your Speed

The most important factor in ball selection is swing speed. If you don't have access to a launch monitor, you can use your typical driver distance as a rough guide.

• Below 90 mph Swing Speed (Driver carry under 220 yards): You are the perfect candidate for a softer, 2-piece, low-compression golf ball. Your goal is to maximize distance by using a ball that's easy to compress. Forget about tour-level spin. Look at balls like the Titleist TruFeel, Srixon Soft Feel, or Callaway Supersoft. They are designed to give you the most ball speed and launch for your swing.
• 90-105 mph Swing Speed (Driver carry 220-260 yards): This is the largest category of golfers, and you have tons of great options. You can benefit from the added feel and spin a 3-piece ball offers. Balls like the Titleist Tour Soft, TaylorMade Tour Response, or Srixon Q-Star Tour provide a fantastic blend of distance off the tee and better control with your irons and wedges.
• 105+ mph Swing Speed (Driver carry over 260 yards): Now you are in the player category that can truly benefit from a multi-layer tour ball. You generate enough speed to compress them properly and take advantage of the greenside spin they offer. This is where you can start experimenting with the standard Titleist Pro V1 (lower flight, softer feel), Pro V1x (higher flight, firmer feel), and similar premium offerings from other brands.

Step 2: Prioritize Your Performance Goal

Within your swing speed category, balls still differ. Ask yourself: what’s the biggest problem in my game?

• Fighting a Slice or Hook?: Look for a lower-spinning ball within your category. Less side-spin means the ball will curve less, helping keep it in the fairway.
• Need More Stopping Power?: If you hit solid iron shots but they just won't hold the green, you need a ball that generates more spin. Tour-level balls with urethane covers excel at this.
• Just Need More Distance?: If you’re making good contact but are consistently shorter than your playing partners, focus purely on a ball that prioritizes speed and launch, even if it means sacrificing some greenside feel.

The best advice is to test. Pick two or three models that fit your profile, buy a sleeve of each, and play them on the course. Hit tee shots, approaches, chips, and putts. One will likely feel and perform noticeably better for your game.

Final Thoughts

Kyle Berkshire's choice of the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash is a masterclass in matching equipment to elite-level needs. He harnesses a low-spin, high-speed ball to achieve maximum distance. While that ball is the wrong choice for the vast majority of golfers, the logic behind his decision is something we can all learn from when selecting our own.

Choosing the right ball is a great first step, but what you to do with it on the course matters just as much. Understanding how your chosen ball will behave from a tough lie in the rough or how to play a forced carry over water requires smart, on-demand strategy. That's why we at Caddie AI built a personal golf expert right into your phone. Now, you can get instant advice on club selection, strategy for a tricky hole, or even get a visual analysis of your lie - helping you make the smartest decision so you can play with confidence and focus on your shot.