How Can the Bridgestone Tour B Help Your Game? | 240
Elliot Mellow of Bridgestone Golf is back to talk about the finer points of the Tour B Series golf balls.
Elliot Mellow of Bridgestone Golf is back to discuss the new Tour B Series golf balls. Elliot goes in-depth about the new technology within Tour B, including how Tiger Woods assisted in its design.
Bridgestone Tour B Golf Balls Review
The new Bridgestone Tour B Series golf balls offer four new models for a wide range of golfers.
Bridgestone Golf’s new Tour B golf ball family consists of four models to fit as many golfer profiles as possible: the Tour B X, Tour B XS, Tour B RX, and Tour B RXS. We had the chance to try out each recently and were very impressed with how they complemented one another while remaining truly unique.
Background and Tech
Officially announced at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show, the new Bridgestone Tour B Series is an upgrade to an already stellar line of golf balls. The biggest story in this release is the fact that Tiger Woods had years of direct input into the design of the B XS, which Bridgestone put front and center in their trade show booth in Orlando.
Bridgestone Tour B X golf balls.
As far as tech goes, Bridgestone’s new REACTIV cover featured in the Tour B Series promotes more distance and more spin across the board. As was discussed in a recent podcast episode, this is a tricky combination that very few brands have been able to perfect over the years. How do you find the balance of enough spin (but not too much!) on approach shots and around the green while maintaining optimal spin off the tee for more distance?
The short answer: it’s really damn tough. But somehow, Bridgestone succeeded.
The swing speed recommendations for the new series is simple to follow:
If you swing over 105 mph, you’ll want to try either the Tour B X or Tour B XS.
If you swing under 105 mph, you’ll want either the Tour B RX or Tour B RXS.
All four models offer similar benefits in spin and control thanks to REACTIV technology in the cover, so you’re pretty safe from making an “incorrect” choice based on swing speed. It all boils down to feel and performance for your game.
First Impressions
Our tester has a swing speed under 105 mph with his driver, so using Bridgestone’s recommendations, we focused on the Tour B RX and Tour B RXS golf balls.
Off the tee, total distances with each ball were 5 to 10 yards further than his gamer. This was true pretty consistently throughout the test and measured using SkyTrak technology. Spin rates were slightly lower than average, with launch staying within the 14 - 18-degree window.
On approach shots, both golf balls tested similarly to one another in terms of distance and spin. Our tester already plays a relatively high-spinning golf ball on the regular, so he didn’t see any significant change when compared to the Tour B golf balls. This was seen as a positive since more spin would have been a dissatisfier.
In terms of feel, our tester preferred the Tour B RXS. While difficult to measure aside from subjective feedback, our tester believed the feel of the RXS was “softer” especially around the greens and while putting. This ball felt very similar to his gamer, which caught his attention — and ultimately his preference — right away.
Overall Impression
While our tester did not see a significant change in spin on approach shots or around the green, he did appreciate the boost in distance off the tee. Cover durability with extended is yet to be determined, but first impressions are very positive of the new Tour B RX and RXS golf balls.
As a quick aside, our tester did try a few shots with the X and XS models as well. Neither golf ball out performed his current gamer, nor did they perform better than the RX or RXS balls. This is a very important observation as it validated what Bridgestone recommended for his swing speed.
The entire Tour B Series golf ball line is available to pre-order now on their website, and all models retail for $44.99.
REVIEW: 2018 Bridgestone Golf TOUR B Series golf balls
The new Bridgestone Golf TOUR B golf ball series for 2018 offer a new look on an old favorite. Read our review of these fantastic golf balls here.
The new and reimagined Bridgestone Golf TOUR B golf balls offer players a fresh take -- and tech -- on an industry favorite. Available in four different models to cater to the widest range of golfers possible, the Bridgestone Golf TOUR B series reminded me why I love this company so much.
Moving Upward and Onward
Bridgestone's super-popular B330 series golf balls not only caught the eye of Tiger Woods, but also millions of amateurs. Thanks to a balance of great distance, feel and control, the B330 family held its own for over 12 years.
So why did Bridgestone decide to drop the "B330" tagline from its flagship model? Simple: the new TOUR B series has more than 330 dimples.
That's right kids: if you want to upgrade the tech and performance of something already great, you might have to rewrite the rule book to make it happen. And, in this case, a naming convention.
What's New in the TOUR B?
Having established an extensive database of millions and millions of golfers swings via their innovative B-Fit ball-fitting app, Bridgestone simply followed where the numbers lead them. The result are four golf ball models that cater to actual consumer data as opposed to designs focused on beating the brand across the aisle.
The new TOUR B series comes in four models: the X, XS, RX, and RXS.
The TOUR B X caters to players looking for improved accuracy without compromising feel. Lower side spin characteristics help you keep the ball on the straight and narrow, perhaps with sacrificing some distance.
The TOUR B XS swaps out a focus on accuracy for more distance, again without losing sight of a soft feel. Expect higher ball speeds that run the gamut across your golf bag.
The TOUR B RX focuses most on a combination of distance plus accuracy and less on overall feel. Players who prefer a the feel of a two-piece ball, for example, may prefer this option.
Finally, the TOUR B RXS -- similar to the XS -- offers more distance with superior feel thanks to Bridgestone's patented SlipRes cover.
So Many Options, What Gives?
If you're wondering why so many options exist, you are not alone.
Bridgestone Golf's website offers a Find My Ball option to recommend a ball based on your individual preferences. This is helpful, but I prefer to take the product out to the course.
My tests of all four models yielded positive results across the board. The balls built for distance delivered on their promise, as did those focused most on soft feel and control. I like all of those variables, of course, and was left wondering which option was best for me.
During my 36 holes of testing, I threw down more than one mulligan to compare the performance of each model on similar shots. I decided against testing on a ball launch monitor, because frankly, driving range performance tells me nothing and on-the-course results matter most.
Which Ball Did I Prefer Most?
Having loved the B330RX in years past, I wasn't surprised to prefer the new TOUR B RX among the group.
Its combination of distance gains -- which were significant and at times 5-10 yards longer -- and lower side spin made par-5's reachable and tucked pins less daunting. The TOUR B RX made me feel like I could hit any target I wanted on the course, and any loss of feel was minimal. Wedges held the green nicely and tee shots rolled out more than my gamers.
This is not to suggest the remaining TOUR B options were unplayable, of course. Each are solid on their own merits; however all variables considered, the TOUR B RX made the most sense for my game.
To learn more about the new Bridgestone TOUR B golf balls, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com today.
