Ever watch Tony Finau launch a golf ball and wonder what powers that incredibly smooth yet powerful ball flight? You’ve come to the right place. He uses a specially designed Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot golf ball. This article breaks down exactly what that ball is, why it’s the perfect match for his high-speed game, and most importantly, how you can apply the same logic to find the best ball for your own game.
Tony Finau plays the Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot. This isn’t a ball you can just pick up off the shelf at your local pro shop. It’s part of Titleist's Custom Performance Option (CPO) program, meaning it's made specifically for tour professionals and elite amateurs who have very specific launch and spin needs that differ from the standard retail models. For Finau, a player with world-class clubhead speed, this ball is a precision tool designed to optimize his performance from tee to green.
To really appreciate why Finau uses the Left Dot, it helps to understand where it fits within the legendary Pro V1 lineup. Think of the retail Pro V1 and Pro V1x as the foundation. They are both engineered for incredible performance, but they offer different flight and feel characteristics to suit different players. The Left Dot is a specialized variation on that foundation.
Think of it like this: If the Pro V1 is a high-performance sports sedan that can do everything well, the Pro V1x is that same car with a setup for more aggressive track handling, and the Pro V1 Left Dot is a dragster built for straight-line speed with minimal loft.
Tony Finau is one of the most powerful and athletic players on the PGA Tour. With his incredible speed, he generates a ton of spin naturally. If he played with a ball that offered even more spin, like the Pro V1x, his shots could "balloon" - climbing too high, getting caught by the wind, and losing distance. This is where the Pro V1 Left Dot becomes his perfect partner.
Off the tee, Finau’s goal is to maximize distance while maintaining control. The lower-spinning characteristics of the a Left Dot help him do just that. By reducing backspin with the driver, the ball produces a more penetrating flight that bores through the wind instead of climbing up into it. This not only adds distance through the air but also promotes more rollout once the ball hits the fairway, turning his powerful drives into truly monstrous ones.
This is arguably where the ball makes the biggest difference for a player like Finau. Elite players with high speed train to control their "spin loft" - the combination of attack angle and dynamic loft that creates backspin. Finau can generate an immense amount of spin with his irons. The problem is, too much spin can be unpredictable. A 7-iron shot flying with 8,000 RPMs of spin might suddenly get caught by a gust of wind and come up 10 yards short of the target.
The Pro V1 Left Dot helps him manage this. By bringing his baseline spin down, he gains more predictability and control over his distances. He still generates more than enough spin to stop the ball on any green, but it’s in a much more controllable window. He doesn’t have to worry about the ball climbing uncontrollably or coming up short due to excessive spin. It allows him to be aggressive with his iron shots, knowing the ball will fly the number he expects. His famous ability to hit towering, soft-landing iron shots comes from combining his technique with equipment that perfectly moderates his raw power.
While lower spinning on full shots, the urethane cover on the Pro V1 Left Dot still provides excellent "grab" and feel on shorter shots around the green. The slightly firmer feel also gives many elite players the precise audio and tactile feedback they want on chips, pitches, and putts, helping them fine-tune their touch.
In a word: probably not. The Pro V1 Left Dot is not available for retail purchase for a good reason. It’s a tool built for a very specific type of player - one with exceptionally high clubhead speed who fights bringing spin rates down.
For the average golfer, using a ball like the Left Dot could actually hurt their game. Most amateur golfers don’t generate enough spin, and using a low-spin ball would only make that worse. It could lead to shots that don't get high enough in the air, have trouble holding the green, and don't provide enough feel around the greens. It's the classic case of what’s good for a Tour pro isn't necessarily good for the rest of us. The goal isn't to copy their equipment, but to copy their process of finding the right equipment for their game.
Instead of seeking out a tour-only ball, you can do what Tony Finau did: find the ball that best complements your personal swing and tendencies. Choosing a golf ball is one of the easiest ways to improve your performance without changing your swing at all. Here’s a simple process to guide you.
First, be honest about your game. What does your ball normally do?
While we love a booming drive, your scoring is dialed in from 100 yards and in. The best way to test golf balls is to grab a sleeve of each type you’re considering (like the Pro V1 and Pro V1x) and head to the practice green.
The ball that feels best and gives you the most confidence around the greens is often the right choice, because that feeling of control will extend back to your full shots.
Once you have a preference from the green, take both models to the course for a few holes. Hit some iron shots and watch how they fly and react on landing. Finally, hit both off the tee. On-course testing is where you’ll see the real-world differences in flight, especially in windy conditions. Don't base your decision solely on the driving range. See how it performs where it counts.
Tony Finau plays the Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot because he and his team of experts have identified that a lower-flying, lower-spinning golf ball is the perfect tool to harness his immense power and control his ball flight. Your takeaway shouldn't be to hunt down a Left Dot, but to embrace the same fitting process to find the ball that serves your game, whether that's the legendary Pro V1 or the higher-flying Pro V1x.
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