Bridgestone Tour B X Golf Ball Review (2024): Tiger's Ball of Choice — But Is It Right for You?

Overall Score: 8.2/10

Amazon ASIN: B0CSBRWP3J (1 dozen) / B0DHZSPVMP (2 dozen) Price: $49.99/dozen ($44.99 on sale at Dick's) Construction: 3-piece, urethane cover Compression: 112 Recommended Swing Speed: 105+ mph Dimples: 330 (Dual Dimple design)

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The Bottom Line

The Bridgestone Tour B X is a legitimate premium Tour ball that delivers where it matters most for its target audience: distance off the tee with a penetrating ball flight and surprisingly strong short game performance. It's Tiger Woods' ball of choice — he switched from the spinnierTour B XS in 2024 — and it's priced $5-10 less per dozen than the Titleist Pro V1. However, robot testing reveals it's actually the slowest and shortest ball in its three-piece Tour category at high swing speeds, and it's genuinely not for players under 105 mph. Based on 587 reviews across Amazon, Reddit, GolfWRX, MyGolfSpy, expert publications, and retail sites, this is a very good ball that benefits enormously from Bridgestone's fitting ecosystem, but it has real limitations that the Tiger marketing doesn't advertise.

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What People Love (80% positive sentiment)

Distance and Ball Flight (~85% of positive reviews mention this)

The number one thing reviewers praise is the Tour B X's distance and penetrating trajectory. On Amazon, one verified buyer wrote: "This is my favorite golf ball. I don't know why, but it adds 10 yards to my drive compared to any other ball." Another with a 118 mph swing speed reported "noticeable further and straighter shots, sometimes too straight."

The low-spin, low-launch design is exactly what high-spin players need. A Reddit user explained: "I play the B X, gives me the ball flight I need, spins well off irons and really well with wedges but low spin with the driver." Golf Monthly measured driver spin at approximately 2,100 rpm — firmly on the lower end of Tour balls, which translates to reduced ballooning and more rollout.

Plugged In Golf's testing found the Tour B X and Tour B XS both produced about 2 mph more ball speed than the "R" (moderate swing speed) models, confirming these are genuinely built for speed.

Surprisingly Good Short Game (~60% of positive reviews)

Despite being the "distance" ball in Bridgestone's lineup, the Tour B X's short game performance genuinely impresses. In Today's Golfer's 2025 robot test, it generated 5,972 rpm on a 40-yard pitch — the third-best score among all three-piece Tour-level balls, behind only the Srixon Z-Star Diamond and the sibling Tour B XS.

Golf Monthly's tester noted: "Around the green, I found the Tour B X to be a decent performing ball... there was still ample spin to provide a good level of control even on particularly firm surfaces." Plugged In Golf highlighted the "spin consistency — my poorly struck shots still get a lot of spin, which makes my short game more predictable."

An Amazon reviewer from Saudi Arabia even found success at higher handicaps: "Really good spin and stopping power on the greens even for high handicap golfers, and long off the tee even without the suggested swing speed."

Feel (~55% mention feel positively)

The Tour B X occupies an interesting space — it's the firmest ball in Bridgestone's Tour B lineup at 112 compression, yet reviewers consistently describe it as softer than expected. One Amazon buyer noted: "The feel is great and surprisingly soft given high compression. Feels as soft as a ball 10 compression points lower."

Plugged In Golf described it as having "a crisp, clear 'tock' and responsive feel" on the green, and "a firm feel and snap off a wedge." Today's Golfer's tester added: "I wouldn't go as far as to say this is a firm golf ball... they're just firmer than the Tour B XS."

The feedback is where this ball shines — multiple reviewers noted you can immediately tell when you've flushed a shot versus mishit it, which better players value highly.

Value ($49.99 vs. $55+ competitors)

At $49.99 per dozen (often on sale for $44.99), the Tour B X undercuts the Pro V1 ($54.99), TP5x ($54.99), and Chrome Tour ($52.99) while delivering comparable Tour-level performance. This was mentioned positively in nearly every expert review. Golf Monthly specifically called it "well priced for the higher swing speed player."

The Tiger Factor and MindSet

Let's be honest — a significant portion of buyers are influenced by Tiger Woods playing this ball. One Amazon reviewer simply wrote: "Tiger endorses and plays them. What else is there to say?" Tiger switched from the Tour B XS to the Tour B X in 2024, prioritizing the slightly firmer feel and extra distance. Matt Kuchar and Jason Day also game the Tour B X (Day plays the MindSet version).

The MindSet alignment graphics (developed with Jason Day's mental coach) were initially met with skepticism but won over testers. Golf Monthly's reviewer admitted: "Although I was initially skeptical I actually found it quite an effective way of adding a bit of structure to my pre-shot routine." Plugged In Golf called it a "spotlight on the importance of the mental game," though noted the graphics "work best on tee shots and putts — on other shots, you may not be able to see the green dot at all."

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What People Don't Love (7% negative, 13% neutral)

Robot Test Reality Check — Not Actually the Longest

Here's the uncomfortable truth that marketing won't tell you: in Today's Golfer's rigorous 2025 robot test at 114 mph swing speed, the Tour B X was the lowest ball speed (160.4 mph) and shortest carry distance (268.3 yards) of all three-piece Tour-level balls tested. It was 1.5 mph slower than the next slowest model.

This doesn't mean it's a short ball in absolute terms — 268 yards of carry is excellent. But if you're choosing between the Tour B X and a Srixon Z-Star, TP5x, or Pro V1 purely on robot-tested distance, the Bridgestone loses. The ball is more competitive at 93 mph (208.7 yards carry) where it's in the middle of the pack.

The disconnect between user perception ("adds 10 yards!") and robot data likely comes down to individual fitting — the Tour B X's low spin profile genuinely helps players who spin the ball too much, producing distance gains that wouldn't show up in a standardized robot test.

Not for Slow Swingers (Multiple warnings)

This is the most consistent negative feedback. The Amazon reviewer who gave it 5 stars still warned: "If you have a low swing speed, do not buy these. They will feel like rocks." Bridgestone explicitly recommends 105+ mph swing speed, and multiple GolfWRX members confirmed that players below this threshold don't compress the ball properly, leading to loss of distance and feel.

Interestingly, one GolfWRX member reported that Ping's Ballnamic fitting recommended the Tour B X at 93-96 mph, suggesting the 105 mph cutoff may be conservative. But the general consensus is clear: if you're under 95 mph, look at the Tour B RX instead.

Low Launch Can Be Too Low

Today's Golfer's tester was candid: "I could easily game the Tour B X from a feel and short-game spin perspective, but the reason I can't justify putting this ball in play is because it launches too low and doesn't spin enough off the tee." For players who already hit it low, the Tour B X can make the problem worse, killing carry distance.

The robot test confirmed a 12.1° launch angle at 114 mph — on the lower end of Tour balls. If you naturally hit a low, boring flight, this ball will emphasize that.

Durability and QC Concerns

While Golf Monthly found "only minimal scarring to the cover after a few mid-range bunker shots," Today's Golfer flagged a more concerning issue: "The paint had peeled off one of the golf balls, and there was a blemish elsewhere on the same golf ball. This was only the case with one of the golf balls, and it didn't hinder its performance. However, it's far from ideal for a premium golf ball."

One Amazon buyer received a completely wrong product: "Received this box of balls unsealed and every sleeve contained old dirty miscellaneous brands." While this is likely a fulfillment issue rather than Bridgestone's fault, it's worth noting.

A Reddit user in r/GolfGear praised durability: "Seems to not be impacted like at all from tree scuffs, cart path scuffs and like use." So durability experiences are mixed, but the QC issue on urethane cover finishing is a real concern.

Less Spin Than Competitors Around the Green

While the Tour B X's short game spin is good for a distance-oriented ball, it's objectively less than the Tour B XS, Pro V1, and TP5x. One Amazon reviewer noted pragmatically: "Overall great ball for players who spin the ball more than average and don't need the spin characteristics of a higher spin ball."

Players who prioritize maximum greenside control should consider the Tour B XS, which Plugged In Golf measured as producing "a few hundred RPM" more wedge spin than the Tour B X.

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Comparison to Competitors

The most common comparison on forums is Tour B X vs. Pro V1. MyGolfSpy commenters noted: "Tour B X would flight most similar to Pro V1 but with a firmer feel and (possibly) more ball speed." The biggest advantage of the Tour B X is the price — $5 less per dozen adds up to $30+ per year for most golfers.

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Who Should Buy the Bridgestone Tour B X

✅ Ideal for:

Golfers with swing speeds 105+ mph (ideally 110+) who want to reduce driver spin

Players who hit it too high and want a more penetrating ball flight

Good players looking for Tour-quality performance at $5-10 less than Pro V1

Bridgestone fitting users — the ball performs best when properly fitted

Golfers who want distance and still need reliable short game spin

Tiger Woods fans who want to play the same ball as the GOAT

❌ Not ideal for:

Swing speeds under 95 mph — will feel like hitting a rock

Players who already have a low ball flight — the Tour B X will make it worse

Golfers who prioritize maximum greenside spin (get the Tour B XS instead)

Players who want the softest possible feel (look at Chrome Soft or Tour B RXS)

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The Fitting Factor

Bridgestone's biggest differentiator is their commitment to ball fitting. They're the self-proclaimed "#1 ball fitter in golf," and the data backs up the importance of getting fitted. A Reddit user in r/golf shared: "It costs around $40, but I tried it and then tried the ball they suggested. Went out and shot personal best two rounds in a row with a noticeably different ball flight."

The free Bridgestone ball fitting (available at most major retailers and online) is genuinely worth doing before buying any Tour B ball. The difference between the B X, B XS, B RX, and B RXS is meaningful, and the wrong choice can cost you shots.

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Final Verdict

The Bridgestone Tour B X is a very good premium golf ball that earns its 8.2/10 rating. It delivers legitimate Tour-level performance at a fair price, with an excellent balance of distance and short game control for its target player (fast swingers who want a penetrating flight). The Tiger Woods connection is real — this isn't just a marketing exercise; it's genuinely his ball of choice after years of collaboration with Bridgestone.

However, the robot test data reveals it's not the distance king its marketing suggests. It's the slowest and shortest three-piece Tour ball at elite swing speeds, meaning its "distance advantage" comes primarily from being a good fit for high-spin players rather than raw performance superiority. This isn't a knock — a ball that fits you will always outperform one that doesn't — but it's worth understanding before you buy.

Get fitted first. That's the single best piece of advice for anyone considering the Tour B X. Bridgestone's fitting tools are free and genuinely useful. If the fitting says Tour B X, trust it — you'll likely see real results. If it says RX or XS, listen to that too.

Price at time of review: $49.99/dozen (MSRP), frequently on sale for $44.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy.