Bryson DeChambeau calls for straighter golf ball with Titleist after PGA Championship agony
Last weekend’s T2 finish at the PGA Championship was all too familiar for Bryson DeChambeau.
The big-hitting two-time Major-winning Californian should arguably have more Major trophies in his cabinet – let’s look at the numbers.
- Five top 6 finishes in his last six Major starts.
- Back-to-back second places at the PGA Championship.
- Four top 5 finishes in his last five PGA Championship starts.
And it was the same narrative at Quail Hollow this weekend, so close yet so far.
One thing that’s stood out after all his recent close calls is his valiance in defeat – raw, open and transparent in the heat of the moment.
But it looks like the latest agonising second-place finish could be the one where Bryson DeChambeau makes a scientific golf ball tweak that could just help him get over that final hurdle.
High ball flight, low spin and big distance
DeChambeau has built his long-bomb, aggressive golf game around science and has reaped the rewards through the years.
However, you don’t have to be a scientist to figure out what golf ball he needs in his attempts to shorten the track week on week – high ball flight, low spin and big distance, something that can cope, reward and effectively respond to being battered around the golf course.
For many years, the LIV golfer played Bridgestone golf balls, but in 2023 he made a switch to a manufacturer that was used by 101 players in the 2025 PGA Championship.
Since 2023, he’s been playing the Titleist ProV1X Left Dash golf ball.
Another scientific decision to suit his ridiculously high swing speed, offering a firmer feel with considerably lower rates of spin.
The decision proved effective, being a pivotal part of his second U.S. Open win at Pinehurst in 2024 when he punched the ball up the golf course with remarkable power and prowess.
Nonetheless, and like all golf balls, they have their pros and cons, and Bryson has since struggled with the ball in softer conditions.
He’s experimented with the standard Titleist Pro V1, which is softer and offers a more rounded and balanced performance on the course.
We all need a ball that flies straighter.
Following his T2 finish in Charlotte on Sunday, DeChambeau stated that the science behind his ball may have been one of the key factors in falling behind runaway champion, Scottie Scheffler, and argued he needs a ball with a straighter flight – admitting he’s struggled with his flight and spin in adverse conditions.
But science isn’t everyone’s thing, so let’s simplify this.
With swing speeds often over 190 mph, the ball is in flight for a longer amount of time, making the influence of factors such as wind or slightly off-centre contacts greater factors on the outcome.
For those approach shots with wedges and irons where accuracy is everything, those external factors that come in can be all the more damaging.
“Everybody talks about how straight the golf ball flies. Well, upwards of 190 mph, like Rory McIlroy and I, it’s quite difficult to control the golf ball,” said DeChambeau.
“The ball side spins quite a bit and it gets hit by the wind quite a bit because our golf balls are just longer in the air.
“What I really think needs to happen, being pretty transparent here, is just get a golf ball that flies a little straighter.
“It’s all up to manufacturing. We’ll see what happens, but I’m keen on finding something and I’m keen on improving,” DeChambeau added – suggesting he’s going to work alongside Titleist to create a personalised prototype that just may provide him the edge he’s been missing.
What’s next for The Scientist?
Many will feel this could be a heat of the moment comment; we all need a ball that flies straighter when things aren’t going our way, don’t we?
But DeChambeau’s proven willingness to experiment and find an edge through his swing and equipment has been clear for all to see – and it wouldn’t be a shock if we saw some tweaks in his bag as we head back to a Major that he’s thrived in.
Oakmont is a course that he’s enjoyed and will be the venue for the third Major of the season as the U.S. Open takes place from June 12th-15th, a tournament he’s won twice in the past five years.
Dustin Johnson, known for his aggressive, long-hitting play, won the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
Could a new ball specification be the card that Bryson needs to play to get over the line and secure that third Major title?
READ MORE: T-Series 2025: brand new Titleist irons set to take PGA Tour by storm