Nitro golf balls are among some of the more popular and affordable golf balls. They have become more well known amongst the casual golfing community. Interestingly, some players have questioned whether or not these balls are actually legal. So I decided to do some research to see if, in fact, Nitro golf balls are legal.
To figure this out, I took a look at the USGA and R&A equipment database.
Are Nitro golf balls illegal? According to the USGA and R&A, Nitro golf balls are not legal to use. In other words, Nitro golf balls are illegal to use in any casual, high-level amateur, or professional golf tournaments or games.
Below is a screenshot from the conforming equipment database. As you can see, when I searched for “Nitro” there were no results that popped up. This indicates that there are no “Nitro” golf balls that are approved by the USGA in the database.
Any and all conforming equipment is listed in this database (aside from putters), so if it is not in this database, then it is likely not legal. With this in mind, there are no versions of the Nitro golf ball that are listed here, suggesting that the entire brand is not approved by the USGA.
For clarification, the USGA and R&A are considered governing bodies of the golfing world. Any piece of equipment that they deem as either legal or illegal is followed by all other golfing organizations. In other words, any rule that they put into place is considered law by all other golfing entities.
Are Nitro Ultimate Distance Golf Balls Illegal?
One of the more popular types of Nitro golf balls is the Nitro Ultimate Distance golf ball. The Nitro Ultimate Distance golf ball is also considered to be illegal. Therefore, no golfers are legally allowed to use this ball in any type of game or tournament.
What Is The USGA and R&A Equipment Database?
The USGA and R&A equipment database stores all names and information for all legal and conforming golf equipment. So, any piece of equipment that conforms to their rules, should be stored in this database.
It is a great resource to check whether or not a club or golf ball is considered legal or illegal.
What Makes A Golf Ball Illegal?
There are a few reasons why the Nitro golf ball is considered illegal. This is because there are a few sets of rules that the ball must adhere to in order to be considered legal. Below is a brief list of the main rules that a golf ball must conform to.
From the USGA Equipment Rules:
- Golf balls may have a single, concentric core with a diameter of ≤ 0.9-in
- The weight of the ball must not be greater than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois
- The ball must not be designed, manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a spherically symmetrical ball
- The diameter of the ball must not be less than 1.680 inches