Question:
X-out balls are not on the conforming list. If you play in a tournament where the list is posted and the tournament rules specifically state that balls used in tournament play must be on this list then it would be illegal to use an X-out ball. Penalty would be disqualification. In any other tournament it is legal to use an X-out ball or any other ball theat is not on the conforming list unless that ball is knowingly or obviously illegal. An example of this would be a ball of the wrong diameter, weight or is specifically marketed as a distance ball that does not conform to USGA rules. The USGA’s response to this question is as follows and can be found at: http://www.usga.com/rules/faqs_a.html#5 Q. Can I use an "x-out" ball to play a round of golf? A. The USGA has no way of knowing whether a particular brand of golf ball conforms to the Rules of Golf, unless the ball has been tested for performance. The USGA publishes a list of brands of golf balls that have been tested and found to conform to the Rules. It is a condition of all USGA Championships that only brands of balls on the conforming list may be used. It is the USGA’s view that, if the conforming list is not posted as a condition, the player should not be subject to penalty regardless of the brand of ball (including an "X-d Out" ball) he uses, provided he does not use a ball which obviously is non-conforming, e.g. a 1.62" ball or a brand of ball which the USGA has found to be non-conforming and the player is aware, or should be aware, of that fact. Hope this clears things up. Mark Arrigo – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I cannot find this on the current List of Conforming Balls. Neither could I find any "X-OUT" Balls that are on the List of Conforming Balls. I think you have been misinformed. Not quite true. Some x-outs, say Titleist Professional, are listed as conforming balls on the official sheet from USGA. Presence on the list of conforming balls is all that matters. I suspect that all top of the line x-outs are on the conforming list. Haven’t a clue where the list might be located.
Response:
Dennis Tan answers: I cannot find this on the current List of Conforming Balls. Neither could I find any "X-OUT" Balls that are on the List of Conforming Balls. I think you have been misinformed.
Undoubtedly so. Can’t remember where I read this, but if there are none on the list, there are none there, to be sure. Perhaps I misremembered the statement somehow, that x-outs *would* normally be conforming as to weight and performance, but they are still non-conforming because the lettering is improper placed on a seam or some such. Sorry to have mislead anyone. In looking for an answer, I found a statement by a USGA official which very much backs up your position, Dennis. (It would have been my position as well, a couple of years ago, but somehow I managed to get confused. I’m sort of glad I was wrong! MUCH less confusing this way. 8^) Not quite true. Some x-outs, say Titleist Professional, are listed as conforming balls on the official sheet from USGA. Presence on the list of conforming balls is all that matters. I suspect that all top of the line x-outs are on the conforming list. Haven’t a clue where the list might be located.
– "And if you’re a miner, when you’re too tired and old and sick and stupid to do your job properly, you have to go, whereas just the opposite applies with the judges." Beyond the Fringe
Response:
I cannot find this on the current List of Conforming Balls. Neither could I find any "X-OUT" Balls that are on the List of Conforming Balls. I think you have been misinformed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not quite true. Some x-outs, say Titleist Professional, are listed as conforming balls on the official sheet from USGA. Presence on the list of conforming balls is all that matters. I suspect that all top of the line x-outs are on the conforming list. Haven’t a clue where the list might be located.
Response:
I use X-outs all the time. The only difference I know of between an x-out and a $2.00 new ball is comestic. It took me awhile but I finally realized this one truth in golf. It doesn’t matter what ball you use. The important thing is how well you hit it. When I’m playing well I can tee up a real crappy ball and still hit it straight and far. When I’m not hitting well I can tee up the best ball out there and it wouldn’t do me any good. I’m strictly talking for the average golfer. The only people who will notice a difference or benefit from using one on a consistent basis are the professionals….and Iron Byron. For the rest of us save your money and practice on improving your swing. It’ll add a lot more yards to your shots than any ball will. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Greetings! These are on sale for $9.99 or less for a dozen at the local sports shops. These are the balls, I’m told, which have the X marks on them and are dumpbed by various golfball manufacturers _only_ because the printings on the balls didn’t pass the quality inspection. IOW, there is nothing wrong with them physically or quality wise. This seems too good to be true for me as I still troll around as a 30 handicap and tend to lose many balls either to the water or the woods. I’ve seen Dunlop and Titleist X’d out balls on sale and I was wondering if someone can confirm what I’ve been told is true or not? Another question is, if I were to golf with them and since there are X’s on them, making them look like range balls, would that put me in trouble with the marshalls? Any thoughts? Thank you very much in advance. Steve
Response:
Nope! The marshalls have all see x outs. I’ve heard the same thing. They are factory blems that fall short of the ridgid standards set by the mfgs. You say your handicap is in the neighborhood of the 30’s. Well we live in the same neighborhood. As for myself I doubt that my game can be hindered by a blem golf ball. I can tell only by undying faith that no blem is going to create a banana ball or they wouldn’t sell it. They can’t tolerate something like that on the market. The public (that’s you and I) would eat them alive for it.
Response:
[… i was told, by a friend not an official, that you can use them… just not in any type of tournament….
Not quite true. Some x-outs, say Titleist Professional, are listed as conforming balls on the official sheet from USGA. Presence on the list of conforming balls is all that matters. I suspect that all top of the line x-outs are on the conforming list. Haven’t a clue where the list might be located. — "And if you’re a miner, when you’re too tired and old and sick and stupid to do your job properly, you have to go, whereas just the opposite applies with the judges." Beyond the Fringe
Response:
Steve, As far as I know, the X-outs are marked as such soley for cosmetic reasons. Recently I bought a dozen top flight XLs that were x-out because instead of saying "tour trajectory" it said "our trajectory". Somehow I don’t think the missing ‘t’ would make a large difference in the trajectory of the ball. Aside from that, the ball plays just like a new ball. As far as the Marshall is concerned, I can’t image them giving you a hard time for using x-out balls. If they do you may want to consider finding a friendlier course. -Paolo Northern Virginia golfers go visit the Yahoo! club: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/northernvirgniagolfconnection – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Greetings! These are on sale for $9.99 or less for a dozen at the local sports shops. These are the balls, I’m told, which have the X marks on them and are dumpbed by various golfball manufacturers _only_ because the printings on the balls didn’t pass the quality inspection. IOW, there is nothing wrong with them physically or quality wise. This seems too good to be true for me as I still troll around as a 30 handicap and tend to lose many balls either to the water or the woods. I’ve seen Dunlop and Titleist X’d out balls on sale and I was wondering if someone can confirm what I’ve been told is true or not? Another question is, if I were to golf with them and since there are X’s on them, making them look like range balls, would that put me in trouble with the marshalls? Any thoughts? Thank you very much in advance. Steve
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Response:
Greetings! These are on sale for $9.99 or less for a dozen at the local sports shops. These are the balls, I’m told, which have the X marks on them and are dumpbed by various golfball manufacturers _only_ because the printings on the balls didn’t pass the quality inspection. IOW, there is nothing wrong with them physically or quality wise.
It’s been my experience that X-Out balls play just as well as the non-branded versions put out by the same companies. Bear in mind, however, that means an X-Out Top Flite ball will feel just as much like a rock as the "standard" version. <g — Don Porter Newspaper Reporter & Webmaster Web Page: http://www.datacruz.com/~dporter
Response:
X-outs are legal for tournament play *UNLESS* the tournament committee requires balls to be on the "USGA Conforming Ball List". This usually only happens in the bigger tournaments like State Amateur championships on up. X-Outs are the same as the non X-out balls. But, the manufacturers don’t submit X-out versions for testing, so they aren’t on the list. It’s mostly marketing and packaging. I was once told by a Spalding rep that the packaging for 15 Top Flite XLs cost more than the balls themselves! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No, do you think you are the only one out there with X out balls??? Most range balls either have a stripe or "Range" written on them. If you want, you can take the X off with some acetone or nail polish remover. Also, keep in mind that X out balls are not legal for tournament play. Good luck; stymie Greetings! These are on sale for $9.99 or less for a dozen at the local sports shops. These are the balls, I’m told, which have the X marks on them and are dumpbed by various golfball manufacturers _only_ because the printings on the balls didn’t pass the quality inspection. IOW, there is nothing wrong with them physically or quality wise. This seems too good to be true for me as I still troll around as a 30 handicap and tend to lose many balls either to the water or the woods. I’ve seen Dunlop and Titleist X’d out balls on sale and I was wondering if someone can confirm what I’ve been told is true or not? Another question is, if I were to golf with them and since there are X’s on them, making them look like range balls, would that put me in trouble with the marshalls? Any thoughts? Thank you very much in advance. Steve
– Barry Smith