Bridgestone Tour B XS Ball Review
The Tour B XS was originally produced at the request of Tiger Woods so that tells you a bit about what kind of golfer it’s aimed at. Whilst Woods has subsequently switched into to Tour B X model in an attempt to gain more distance following his multitude of health issues, the Tour B XS remains one of the best premium golf balls.
It’s designed for golfers who swing the driver at speeds in excess of 105mph and require tour-level spin control and feel around the greens. It's also aimed at the more feel-orientated player, versus the Tour B X (used by Bryson DeChambeau) which is geared slightly more for distance.
I took this ball out for a number of rounds to see if it sits amongst the best golf balls on the market.
A lot of golfers will, rightly or wrongly, look at that driver swing speed recommendation and think it’s not for them and while that will be the case for many handicap golfers, I swing the driver between 100mph and 105mph and play off mid single figures and really enjoyed using the ball.
It's not like it was completely unplayable off the tee so it’s definitely an option for better players, even if you’re not quite at the swing speed level suggested to be optimum for this ball.
The speed recommendations from Bridgestone are very much a guideline to provide a starting point for selection, but we have definitely seen success outside those parameters so don't be afraid to experiment.
I was able to generate enough speed to take advantage of the Gradational Compression core, so it launched with high speed and the low spin ensured distance was more than competitive against the premium ball I usually play.
The Dual Dimple pattern certainly seemed to live up to the promise of delivering enhanced aerodynamics and extra distance. The good shots flew very long and very straight, holding their line impressively well.
Particularly slow swing speed players might find the ball dropping out of the sky a little too quickly on long-game shots, so really think about which area of the game you prioritise.
That said, any golfer will enjoy this ball’s performance around the greens. The 'Reactiv' urethane cover is designed to absorb shock on slow impact shots for more spin and control and the ability to consistently hit all the finesse shots you require was evident throughout testing.
It feels exceptionally soft, up there with any of the best soft golf balls, and comes of the clubface slowly (which is what you want for short pitches and chip shots) and grabbed up quickly on the second bounce. The feel was also very nice to putt with, especially on faster greens.
The durability was acceptable for a urethane-covered ball, although the cover did show some signs of scuffing up after a round or two of use.
Overall, the Tour B XS delivers everything it promises and I was very impressed. The high levels of spin, control and the exceptionally soft feel were my highlights of a very impressive premium golf ball.
