Bridgestone’s 2022 Tour B golf ball series features a new Tiger Woods-inspired cover to deliver more distance and greenside control.
The Tour B family comes in four distinct models: RX and RXS (for swings under 105 mph); X and XS (for swings over 105 mph).
Input from Woods and Bryson DeChambeau contributed to technology that is used on all four Tour B models. The new Reactiv iQ “smart cover” reacts to the force of impact for the needs of each club and shot, solving the trade-off of spin vs. distance. Off the tee it rebounds quickly, delivering explosive velocity and increased distance. Around the green the ball stays on the face longer, providing more spin and soft feel. The impact modifier recipe has been maximized for each ball, to deliver customized performance for all four Tour B balls.
“When you combine 900 polymers engineers and layer in feedback from Tiger and Bryson, it’s a recipe for innovation,” said Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone’s golf ball marketing manager. “These guys are hands-on with R&D, which really helps push our designs to the next level. Our R&D focus the last few years has been the study of contact science, optimizing the moment of impact for the needs of each shot. With Reactiv iQ, we have made great lengths to do just that.”
Woods prefers the XS for its feel and control around the greens.
“I have been with Bridgestone a long time, but these last few years I have had a more active role in R&D,” Woods said. “With the Bridgestone team, we have been able to perfect the recipe for the cover, which has yielded Reactiv iQ, which is an amazing engineering feat. For my game, the new Tour B is more consistently in my window off the tee while also giving me more feel around the green.”
DeChambeau, who plays the Tour B X because of its ball speed, challenged Bridgestone’s engineers to push the performance limits once again.
“It’s constant innovation that is allowing me to increase ball speed off the tee while also increasing control and consistency,” DeChambeau said.
The technology also maximizes the combination of spin and distance for those with swing speeds at 105 mph or below. Lexi Thompson fits into the Tour B RX, while Fred Couples will use the new RXS.
The suggested retail price for the Bridgestone Tour B family of balls is $49.99 per dozen. For help selecting which model is the right ball for them, Bridgestone has a free video ball-fitting consultation (V-FIT), an online selection tool as well as its new robot Autonomous Ball Fitting Cart called OTTO at selected retailers.