Back in January, Bridgestone launched their new Tour B golf balls and the feedback has been tremendous on the THP Forum. Since that time, some confusion exists about ball fitting and how compression impacts performance. A new episode of TESTED is here and in this one we are talking about golf balls.
In this video we hit all four golf balls in the lineup and then breakdown the data. Does softer compression mean less distance? Where does spin come into the mix? We cover it all in this episode of TESTED!
Where does pure speed align in your list of choices as to what ball to put in play as compared to actual distance? Does the performance and data shown in the video above match up to what you have seen?
Tiger and Bryson DeChambeau are each using this lineup, albeit different balls. Tiger using the Tour B XS and Bryson opting for the Tour B X. Which one do you think you would fit into?
For more information on any of the Bridgestone Tour B golf balls, check out their website here.
What is your course play experience with the brx? Enough stopping power on the irons into the green?
Love the test and the data. I was surprised to see the results.
Yeah, I noticed that and was thinking, if i could hit an 8 iron 191…..ahhhhh to be young and limber again….I am comfortable with my 165 out of a 7 iron though…
All kidding aside, great info for the watch…I would love to be able to hit that many balls with each and grab those numbers for myself
@Canadan what did you think about the covers between the 4? how they felt and looked, is it possible to have 1 ball preform the best while liking the cover feel and characteristics of another?
I’ve been going back and forth this year between the Chrome Soft, RX, and RXS, and keep finding myself back at the RXS.
I used the Callaway Epic Forged 8 iron to produce the numbers. It did an awesome job of removing some of the variables from the testing and let the ball do a majority of talking when it came to differentials.
I think that’s going to come down to the personal perspective.
Cover specifically I am not sure I noticed a ton of difference in my extensive testing with Bridgestone Tour B. I do think spin is going to play a role for some around the greens bouncing between the "S" models but not for me personally. Also, firmness is going to play a subtle role in experiences like putting, but nothing that would lean me one way or the other.
I swing driver around 115 or so on GCQuad. A bit less on Trackman. The 105mph guideline is more of a starting point than anything from my perspective. There are marginal distance concessions when switching to a softer ball if all over variables are in line with optimal performance. Because spin is often times problematic for me (or has been in the past), using a ball like RX which promotes less spin than X has been a distance gain for me, especially in windier conditions. Very positive, as ball speed potential isn’t a deal breaker for me in ball performance.
My course experience is very positive with RX. I hit a high ball, so in most cases the ball is landing with an aggressive descent angle and landing firm. This is perfectly fine here in Ohio with bentgrass greens that are in most months receptive.
I am more of an RXS Fit – 90-95 Driver wanting control around the greens. My Titleist Ball is a V1x – more spin, nice control so the RXS seems right.
Any chance we get to see the same comparison with a driver @Canadan?
I’d absolutely love to provide this sort of comparison using driver, but I don’t believe my driver swing is in a place right now that would adequately represent these balls. We opted for more of the ‘middle of the road’ condition of an iron because it presents in both sides of the spectrum.
Hopefully with some tweaking I’ll have a more consistent driver swing next year and it can open the door to expanded testing. In the meantime, I’ll defer to you guys to show me how it’s done.
Good ball for those that have the SS necessary for this ball.
Well done already, gents.
I really like the XS with the wedges. The spin is great on full shots with plenty of stop. I haven’t noticed a lot of difference in performance in chips and pitches.
I may give the RXS another look but I’m really happy with the XS.
This take has seriously piqued my interest! I’ll have to watch this video later on tonight!
FWIW, V-fit says I should use the X, and this year I’ve been flipping between the TP5 and Chromesoft after playing ProV1 previously.
Technically, I should probably play the RX version, but I tend to hit the ball with a heavier hit.
Nothing drastic, but I don’t have any compression issue for being not over 105 mph swing
I was able to spin the ball very well on 30-75 yrd. shots that I’ve never done before.
To be fair, I did have a new 60* wedge, but my Cobra MIM 56* for 2019 spun the ball great too.
The RX ball for me was great on distance & felt great, but it does not stop great for me.
For example, the RX ball tends run out about 15-20 ft more that the X ball with 9 irons shots.
Also, this was not the case with the previous model of the the Tour B X.
The RX & the X were pretty close.
The changes they made this year are 100% better for me.
I was going to play the Snell X, but never got to them…might not even & I love the Snell X
I’d say 900 rpm is a significant difference from one end of the spectrum to the other, but as a high ball hitter, that’s a primary focus for my game as I tend to play in all conditions, wind being the biggest killer. Nearly 1k worth of spin into wind is every bit of a couple clubs difference I would bet.
That in mind, I think the point here is more that they check a lot of boxes based on what I experienced, validating the benefits of having four balls in the lineup, and giving golfers options as to what matters most to them and their game. Which I love!
I was VFIT numerous times in the RX but noticed during the summer when it got really hard because of the drought, I had problems holding a green coming in with like a 7 iron. Felt it released just a bit too much. Tried the BRXS and felt it spun a bit more and was able to hold the same green.
I’m back on the RX now as I love the low spin on the driver and no problem holding greens now with better weather.
I’d love a chance at hitting all the balls as well. But I’m thinking the less spin of the RX would be my choice. The less side spin I have the better. I’m sure it would better suit my game.
Either way, thanks for taking the time, and I really hope it helps.
??? This x100