Pushing the Limits of Distance.
That’s the tagline Bridgestone has connected to its new TOUR B lineup—and, thistime, it feesl like greater than an incremental tweak.
In accordance with Bridgestone R&D, the brand new TOUR B represents a step change—the type the corporate believes comes alongside roughly as soon as a decade. Not a marginal achieve, not a seasonal refresh, not the acquainted biannual spec shuffle that defines most golf ball releases. As an alternative, the brand new TOUR B sequence introduces a foundational expertise designed to reset how Bridgestone approaches pace, stability and general golf ball efficiency.
That expertise is named VeloSurge and whereas the title may recommend a single materials breakthrough, it’s one thing broader. VeloSurge represents a brand new means of integrating the core and mantle right into a unified system, designed to supply extra pace and better stability throughout the complete TOUR B lineup.
For a model that when sat comfortably because the No. 2 ball within the U.S. market—and nonetheless holds the highest spot in Japan—the brand new TOUR B lineup isn’t nearly distance. It’s about reestablishing relevance in a class that has develop into much more aggressive since Bridgestone final made a significant leap ahead.
And all of it begins with that new basis.
Bridgestone: #1 in ball becoming … Not a lot at retail
Bridgestone payments itself because the No. 1 ball fitter in golf. Over the higher a part of the final twenty years, the corporate has fitted greater than 4.5 million golfers for golf balls. The insights gleaned from these fittings inform product design throughout the lineup. In truth, ball becoming is what in the end led to the event of the RX, which—most of the time—is the best-selling ball within the TOUR B household.
Full disclosure: Bridgestone’s becoming system has by no means been as sturdy as I’d like. The method entails hitting pictures with a driver (and solely the driving force), with suggestions made largely based mostly on swing pace. That’s antithetical to how some opponents method ball becoming, a minimum of people who take the idea critically. Nonetheless, there’s one thing to be mentioned for practically 20 years of real-world becoming efforts—particularly when you think about that many seemingly critical ball manufacturers don’t have a lot of a becoming program past your net browser.
Twenty years is 20 years longer than most have been doing it.
So it’s actually not for lack of effort that these fittings haven’t translated on to gross sales. It wasn’t all that way back that Bridgestone was the No. 2 ball model within the U.S. market and it stays No. 1 in Japan. However as opponents equivalent to Callaway and TaylorMade have develop into much more critical in regards to the golf ball class, Bridgestone’s U.S. market share has dipped.
With the discharge of the brand new TOUR B lineup, Bridgestone hopes to reverse that pattern and reestablish itself as a frontrunner within the golf ball area.
That effort begins with a brand new foundational expertise.
VeloSurge: Unlocking pace and stability
On the core—form of on the core—of the brand new TOUR B story is VeloSurge, the foundational expertise hinted at earlier.
The very first thing to know is that VeloSurge isn’t a single materials. As an alternative, it’s what Bridgestone describes as a brand new core–mantle integration.
Mainly, VeloSurge is supposed to elucidate how new supplies work collectively to enhance efficiency. It encompasses adjustments to the core and mantle formulations however, extra importantly, how these supplies adhere to 1 one other and performance as a system to supply extra pace and better stability all through the lineup.
Working from the skin in, VeloSurge begins with a brand new mantle materials. Past noting that the fabric encompasses a larger acid ratio, Bridgestone is understandably tight-lipped in regards to the precise chemistry. What issues is that the brand new mantle is considerably extra dense.
Bridgestone has additionally up to date its core formulation. Whereas core adjustments are sometimes mentioned primarily as a technique to affect spin, Bridgestone emphasizes that these updates are important to creating the core–mantle integration that powers VeloSurge.
Daring claims
Given the “Pushing the Limits of Distance” tagline and the positioning of VeloSurge as a breakthrough expertise, huge claims have been inevitable.
Extra pace
Extra pace results in extra distance and the centerpiece of Bridgestone’s efficiency claims is significant ball pace positive factors.
In testing with its Tour employees, Bridgestone reported the next enhancements relative to the 2024 mannequin. Jason Day noticed positive factors of two.3 mph in ball pace and 6.7 yards of distance. Chris Gotterup recorded positive factors of two.1 mph in ball pace and 7 yards of distance.
Bridgestone additionally shared knowledge from two non-staff gamers. One noticed positive factors of 1.9 mph and 5.1 yards, whereas the opposite gained 1.7 mph and three.6 yards in comparison with the 2025 Professional V1x.
As all the time, positive factors are participant dependent. That mentioned, Bridgestone stories that on a regular basis golfers have seen common positive factors of two.3 mph and eight.7 yards of distance. The corporate notes that some golfers noticed even bigger positive factors though suggesting will increase of as much as 13 yards didn’t strike Bridgestone as lifelike—even when authorized was snug with the declare.
An fascinating footnote: the largest positive factors have been seen with the VS BLUE prototype balls which correspond to the TOUR B XS. Whereas the opposite three fashions confirmed common positive factors between seven and eight.5 yards, testers noticed common positive factors of three.6 mph and 12.1 yards with the XS.
Additionally price noting, the VS GREEN and VS RED prototypes (RXS and RX, respectively) confirmed will increase of 200–300 rpm in greenside spin in comparison with the 2024 fashions.
How?
Pace and distance claims are ubiquitous in golf so it’s honest to ask how Bridgestone achieved these positive factors with out crossing the road.
In accordance with Bridgestone, the pace will increase come from two major sources. First, the extra environment friendly vitality switch created by the VeloSurge core: mantle integration produces larger ball speeds off the face.
The second supply is much less glamorous however arguably simply as necessary. Bridgestone says the brand new supplies are essentially extra constant which allowed engineers to push pace targets larger with out growing the danger of non-conforming outcomes.
Increased MOI
MOI in golf balls isn’t mentioned practically as usually as it’s with golf equipment though it’s doubtless simply as misunderstood.
With golf balls, MOI isn’t about preserving ball pace on mishits. As the thing receiving the vitality, the ball merely reacts to what it’s given. Off-center strikes on a sphere aren’t fairly the identical factor as mishits on a clubface.
That mentioned, larger MOI in a golf ball is achieved the identical means it’s in a membership: shifting mass towards the perimeter.
Bridgestone’s denser mantle strikes weight away from the core and towards the outer portion of the ball. Along with contributing to hurry, Bridgestone says the upper MOI design improves spin-axis stability.
In sensible phrases, which means the ball ought to curve much less when affect circumstances promote one thing aside from straight flight.
The MOI positive factors are most pronounced within the TOUR B X and TOUR B XS, the fashions Bridgestone positions for larger swing pace gamers. In accordance with Bridgestone’s knowledge, these VeloSurge-powered balls provide best-in-class MOI.
For the RX and RXS, Bridgestone notes that MOI was already sturdy. Whereas the positive factors aren’t as dramatic as they’re with the X and XS, the RX fashions nonetheless lead their class.
These pesky USGA limits
Each time pace and distance claims are made, questions on conformity are inevitable. Even in what nonetheless qualifies because the pre-rollback period, the USGA’s guidelines for golf balls don’t enable a lot wiggle room.
That mentioned, there are a number of necessary nuances. The USGA’s preliminary velocity check caps pace underneath a selected check situation however most golf balls don’t come notably near that restrict. Pace correlates strongly with compression and till balls begin approaching 100 on our gauges, passing the rate check usually isn’t a difficulty.
Throughout the TOUR B lineup, compression knowledge suggests the TOUR B X is the one mannequin which may flirt with that threshold.
The USGA’s different check—the General Distance Normal—caps whole distance. A big quantity of optimization occurs by means of flight and spin tuning for swing circumstances that differ from the USGA’s check setup: 120 mph membership pace, 10 levels of launch, 2,520 rpm utilizing the calibration ball, made by Bridgestone.
After robotic testing, balls are evaluated within the Indoor Check Vary, the place aerodynamic modeling predicts efficiency throughout a variety of speeds and spins. These outcomes are fed into simulation instruments to estimate distance for various swing varieties.
The wrinkle is that the USGA has its fashions, Bridgestone has its fashions. Each different ball producer has their fashions. They don’t all align.
The takeaway is that the bounds aren’t an ironclad lock on distance for each golfer. By optimizing flight and spin for particular participant profiles, ball makers can nonetheless unlock distance positive factors—precisely what Bridgestone claims it has achieved.
Gradational Core
Each mannequin within the TOUR B lineup makes use of three-piece building. Bridgestone’s view is that fewer layers create extra environment friendly vitality switch and better MOI than extra advanced four- or five-piece designs.
To imitate the advantages of further layers with out the added complexity, TOUR B balls characteristic gradational core designs. Suppose chocolate lava cake. Whereas golf balls now not have liquid facilities, gradational cores develop into progressively firmer from the middle outward.
The result’s significant spin separation with out further layers.
REACTIV IQ Cowl (Sensible Cowl)
Bridgestone TOUR B balls once more characteristic REACTIV IQ expertise to which the corporate refers as Sensible Cowl.
The urethane formulation contains affect modifiers: chemical components that change how the fabric behaves underneath power. On high-speed impacts, equivalent to with a driver, the quilt behaves firmer, serving to improve ball pace.
On lower-speed impacts across the inexperienced, the quilt successfully performs softer, permitting the ball to remain on the face longer and generate extra spin.
It would sound like hokum however the idea is rooted in physics and is much like materials applied sciences used elsewhere within the golf business.
Mindset
Developed with Jason Day and his psychological coach, Jason Goldschmidt, the Mindset sample isn’t about ornament. The circles and arrows are supposed to information a three-step course of: determine, visualize, focus.
Execution, in fact, continues to be on you.
Whereas Day’s routine is extra nuanced than what will be conveyed on a golf ball, Mindset serves as a visible reminder to ascertain a psychological route earlier than every shot.
Mindset variations of TOUR B balls are utilized by Jason Day, Kurt Kitayama, Chris Gotterup and Boo Weekley. The sample accounts for roughly 40 p.c of on-course gross sales and 35 p.c of off-course gross sales, suggesting it has discovered significant traction.
No paint (Even within the Yr of Paint)
With respect to the Fireplace Horse, 2026 is shaping as much as be the 12 months of paint within the golf ball world. You’ve heard Callaway’s paint story and one other is on the best way, which makes now time to speak about why paint issues.
Uneven paint software can negatively have an effect on ball efficiency and it occurs extra usually than you may suppose. Poor paint can result in trajectory adjustments, elevated curvature and lowered distance. We’ve seen this repeatedly in testing.
Bridgestone’s inside knowledge exhibits paint points can alter peak peak—each how excessive and the way far downrange the ball reaches its apex—and cut back distance by greater than 10 yards, even earlier than accounting for dispersion results.
Bridgestone TOUR B balls aren’t painted. As an alternative, coloration brokers are built-in straight into the urethane. There’s no sprayed-on paint layer to introduce inconsistency. Bridgestone notes that many seen scuffs happen in paint relatively than the quilt itself though these scuffs can nonetheless disrupt aerodynamics.
There’s a clearcoat to guard logos, forestall discoloration and keep wet-weather efficiency however the method minimizes the chance for finishing-related points.
Nonetheless 4 fashions
For those who’re acquainted with the TOUR B lineup, not a lot has modified structurally. All 4 fashions are barely firmer this time round however their roles stay intact.
TOUR B RX and TOUR B RXS
The RX and RXS are for golfers with swing speeds beneath 105 mph. Whereas I’m not a fan of becoming balls purely by swing pace, the takeaway is that these fashions are decrease compression and fewer liable to distance loss from over-compression.
The RX is the distance-oriented possibility whereas the RXS prioritizes greenside spin. The RXS can also be the softer-feeling of the 2.
For feel-driven golfers, the RXS is the softer of Bridgestone’s sub-105 mph fashions. On our gauges, the RXS measures 76, which places it within the basic ballpark of issues like Callaway’s Chrome Mushy.
By comparability, the RX is firmer and sooner than the RXS and will be anticipated to supply roughly 300 rpm much less spin across the inexperienced.
Regardless of being in Bridgestone’s sub-105 swing pace class, we measured the brand new RX at 91. That’s truly a number of factors firmer than a Professional V1 and properly into what we’d contemplate to be the tour-level compression area.
Each fashions characteristic a brand new 320-dimple sample—the primary new sample from Bridgestone in a while—designed to supply a decrease, extra penetrating flight.
TOUR B X and TOUR B XS
The TOUR B X and XS goal higher-speed gamers though both can work for golfers in search of true tour-level efficiency.
The TOUR B X is the distance-centric possibility and has persistently examined among the many firmest and quickest balls available on the market.
On our gauges, the brand new mannequin measures 99, which has similarities to choices like Professional V1x (and Left Sprint) in addition to Chrome Tour X Triple Diamond, and Vice Professional Plus.
Mentioned one other means, it’s one of many firmest balls available on the market.
As soon as uniquely Bryson DeChambeau’s ball, the X is now performed by Jason Day, Chris Gotterup (who simply gained the Sony Open with the brand new TOUR B X) and Tiger Woods.
The XS was initially developed for Woods though he has since moved to the X for added distance with out sacrificing an excessive amount of spin.
With Tiger transferring to the TOUR B X, the XS has misplaced a little bit of its identification. We measured compression at 85, which makes it a bit softer than most true tour-level choices. Amongst established Tour manufacturers, solely the Srixon Z-Star is softer.
On the danger of beating a lifeless horse, you might have observed that one in every of Bridgestone’s over 105 MPH balls (the XS) measures appreciably softer than its sub-105 balls (the RX). To an extent, it feels just like the messaging hasn’t developed on the identical tempo because the product line.
I digress.
The XS stays notable for its above-average greenside spin. Whereas that makes it essentially the most area of interest possibility within the TOUR B lineup, for spin-challenged golfers—or anybody who merely needs to see a ball suck again—it stays probably the greatest at school.
One closing be aware earlier than transferring on: testing, each ours and by way of Ballnamic, has proven Bridgestone balls to be among the many greatest at sustaining spin in moist circumstances. If that issues to you—and it most likely ought to—TOUR B belongs close to the highest of your must-try listing.
Packaging updates
Bridgestone has leaned closely into brighter packaging this 12 months. Market analysis confirmed that many golfers determine their ball by coloration relatively than mannequin title: “the inexperienced one” or “the crimson one.” The up to date packing containers make these associations simpler to identify on cabinets.
Nonetheless TOUR B
Regardless of the generational nature of VeloSurge, Bridgestone opted to maintain the “TOUR B” title. Given the model’s energy in Japan and basic familiarity elsewhere, the corporate selected continuity over reinvention.
Personally, I’d have voted for a rename. “VS Black” has a pleasant ring to it.
What do you suppose?
Pricing and availability
The brand new Bridgestone TOUR B sequence golf balls will probably be obtainable starting Jan. 20 with a retail worth of $54.99 per dozen.
Current TOUR B stock has been discounted to $44.99.
For extra data, go to BridgestoneGolf.com.
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