For 2022, Bridgestone has introduced seven new balls for a wide range of golfers. Four different tour-level premium balls and several lower-priced value balls. In this post, we’ll be comparing each model and talking about which ball is best for each type of golfer.
These balls are each supposed to provide certain advantages for your particular style of golf. The main takeaway that I got while looking at these balls is that each is designed for a specific swing speed while providing either extra distance or greenside spin.
We’ll start by looking at the Tour B balls. They are all priced similarly at an MSRP of $49.99. Depending on the specific model, these balls are for golfers with swing speeds over 105 MPH as well as under 105 MPH.
All of the Tour balls feature a proprietary urethane cover that Bridgestone refers to as REACTIV iQ, and a “double dimple” technology. They certainly look different than most of the balls I normally play and felt decently soft on the club face.
On their website, they refer to this latest design as using “smart” technology to help improve your game. Here is a quick run-down on the specs of each golf ball.
| Golf Ball | Handicap | Layers | Feel | Compression | Speed (MPH) | Driver Spin | Wedge Spin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour B X | Low | 3 | Firm | 100 | 105+ | Low | High |
| Tour B XS | Low | 3 | Mid | 85 | 105+ | Low | Higher |
| Tour B RX | Low | 3 | Mid | 75 | Under 105 | Low | High |
| Tour B RXS | Low | 3 | Soft | 65 | Under 105 | Low | Higher |
| e12 Contact | Mid/High | 3 | Soft | 60 | Under 105 | Low | Mid |
| e6 | High | 2 | Soft | 50 | Under 105 | Low | Low |
Alternatively, if you want to know about different brands instead, you can read our guides on the best Callaway golf balls or the best Srixon golf balls.
I want to hear from you. In the comments below, let me know what your favorite Bridgestone ball is and why.
Bridgestone Tour B X
- Handicap: Low
- Layers: 3
- Feel: Firm
- Compression: 100
- Swing Speed: 105+
- Wedge Spin: Mid/High
The new Bridgestone B X ball is what I would call the “base” model of the new Tour B style balls for lower handicap golfers. It’s the firmest ball with the highest compression rating and will have less short-game spin compared to the Tour B XS.
While driving, the balls are stated to provide a higher speed off the tee and less side spin resulting in longer drives and an increased roll out. On approach, they provide a longer duration of club face contact providing more spin with a firmer feel for a tight landing.
RELATED: How Backspin And Sidespin Affect A Golf Ball
The first thing I noticed was the “Dual Dimple” technology of the cover. The dimples were uniform and evenly spaced out, one dimple within another. I didn’t notice any imperfections on the balls I was using.
I would say this ball would be a good fit for the low handicap golfer looking to increase his distance, it had a firmish feel and felt decent on the driver. It does require a swing speed of over 105 to maximize its potential, so keep that in mind.
Who’s using it on Tour: The ball was developed with the help of both Bryson DeChambeau and Matt Kuchar. This, along with the other Tour B models are golf balls for professional golfers.
Key takeaway: This ball is ideal if you have a swing speed over 105 MPH and you could use less short-game spin.
Bridgestone Tour B XS
Handicap: Low
Layers: 3
Feel: Mid
Compression: 85
Swing Speed: 105+
Wedge Spin: High
The Tour B XS is regarded as slightly different from the Tour B X in that it is supposed to provide additional short game spin as compared to the Tour B X, hence the S after the X.
RELATED: Which Golf Balls Spin The Most?
Using the same proprietary REACTIV iQ urethane cover and dual dimple technology, simply put, this ball should provide more spin for better control on approach shots while maintaining a softish feel. The compression rating is slightly lower than the B X, which should give it a bit of a softer feel.
For me, I can’t get a whole lot of spin on my wedge shots, and because of that, this ball would suit me better than the B X (if my swing speed was over 105 MPH).
Who’s using it on Tour: The ball was developed with the help of the world-famous Tiger Woods! And he does use it in professional competitions. He really doesn’t need to increase his distance, so it makes sense to go for better green side control with more spin.
Key takeaway: This ball is ideal for golfers with swing speeds over 105 mph who need additional short-game spin.
Bridgestone Tour B RX
Handicap: Low
Layers: 3
Feel: Mid
Compression: 75
Swing Speed: Under 105
Wedge Spin: Mid/High
Bridgestone went a different route with the designation of an R in front of the X. I assume that the R signifies “reduced”, as in reduced swing speed. It is designed for golfers with a LESS than 105 MPH swing speed.
Having the same outer cover technology as the previous models, this ball would be good for low handicappers that are getting older and don’t swing the club as fast as they used to.
It is designed to supply more distance at those slower swing speeds while maintaining a softish feel, reduced spin on the drive, and tight control around the green.
Who’s using it on Tour: Lexi Thomas uses this ball in professional competitions. Her average swing speed is around 106 mph and she is known to be a long hitter.
Key takeaway: This ball is ideal for better golfers with swing speeds under 105 MPH who could use a ball with less short-game spin.
Bridgestone Tour B RXS
Handicap: Low
Layers: 3
Feel: Soft
Compression: 65
Swing Speed: Under 105
Wedge Spin: High
The Bridgestone Tour B RXS is designed to provide extra spin at a reduced swing speed, less than 105 MPH. Going for more greenside control by increasing spin, the Tour B RXS is Bridgestone’s answer for the less than 105 MPH swing speed player.
These balls have the lowest compression and softest feel compared to the other Tour B balls. If you’re a lower handicap with an average swing speed, but looking for better green side control, this is the ball for you.
Who’s using it on Tour: The iconic Fred Couples is playing this ball.
Key takeaway: This ball is ideal for better golfers with swing speeds under 105 MPH who could use more greenside spin.
Bridgestone e12 Contact
Handicap: Mid/High
Layers: 3
Feel: Soft
Compression: 60
Swing Speed: Under 105
Wedge Spin: Mid
Getting down to the lower-priced balls, we come to the e12 Contact. With an MSRP of $29.99 they obviously don’t have all the features of the Tour B X series.
It does not use the same REACTIV iQ and double dimple technology. Instead, they use something Bridgestone calls a CONTACT Force dimple.
These balls utilize a polymer cover with a unique dimple pattern, which is designed to provide more distance off the tee with less side-to-side spin. You can learn more about if low spin golf balls go further here.
Designed for the average golfer who is looking for more distance off the tee and some help to keep the ball flight straighter. The compression of this ball was somewhat soft, but the outer cover was not as soft as the Tour B series balls.
My personal opinion after playing with this ball was that it was pretty much what you would expect for the price. I didn’t notice any straighter flight or distance with my driver, but I felt that it helped my long irons out. Greenside control was nice and the feel was not bad.
Bridgestone does not call out a recommended swing speed for this ball, so I assume it is modelled for the moderate swing speed golfer (90-100 MPH).
Key takeaway: This ball is ideal for average golfers (mid to high handicap) who don’t want to spend a fortune on balls but could use a little bit of short game spin.
Bridgestone e6
Handicap: High
Layers: 2
Feel: Soft
Compression: 50
Swing Speed: Under 105
Wedge Spin: Low
Similar to the e12 Contact, the e6 is for the moderate swing speed golfer. The design is reformulated from a previous model and features a 2 piece low compression core.
According to the golf pro at the local muni I like to play at, this is a very popular ball. I didn’t feel like I made any gains with my distance, but the ball felt decently soft around the greens.
I know he was telling me the truth concerning its popularity, out of the different balls that they sold in the pro shop, I could see that more players bought these than the others. And, I could see in the “used ball” bin that there were quite a few of them in there.
Key takeaway: At a price point of $24.99, this ball is ideal for high handicap golfers who prefer price and distance over short-game spin.
Which Bridgestone Golf Ball is For You?
Bridgestone makes it really easy to find your balls, pun intended. On the Bridgestone website, you can use their “Fitting” app to find the ball that suits your game. Click here to go to the app.
On the other hand, if you want to know what worked the best for us, we have some recommendations for you. The ball you should play will really depend on your skill level and what you’re looking for. Let’s jump into it.
Our Testing Process: Our goal is to help you find the right product. We continue to use each product over time and will keep our reviews updated. Learn more here.
Best Bridgestone Ball For Low Handicappers
The best Bridgestone ball for most low handicappers is the Tour B RXS. This ball is designed for swing speeds under 105 MPH and more greenside spin, which would suit the majority of golfers.
From what I’ve seen, most people don’t swing the driver over 105 MPH. That’s pretty much going to rule out the Tour B X and Tour B XS. What’s left is the Tour B RX and Tour B RXS.
Both of these balls are ideal for swing speeds under 105 MPH. The main difference is the short game spin. The RX has less greenside spin than the RXS.
I’m pretty sure that most people could use more spin on their wedge shots. That means playing with a 3 or 4 piece golf ball. Even though I’m not a low handicapper myself, out of all the Tour B balls, the RXS performed the best for me.
RELATED: Best Golf Balls For High Swing Speeds
Best Bridgestone Ball For Mid Handicappers
The best Bridgestone ball for mid-handicappers is the e12 Contact. This ball is suited for a wide range of swing speeds, is forgiving and long off the tee, has decent short game spin, and is priced at a reasonable level.
Even though a mid-handicap golfer could use one of the Tour B series balls, I don’t think it’s the best choice. I’m a mid-handicapper myself and I’m not good enough to see any of the benefits, so why would I spend the extra money?
I still hit the occasional hook or slice, I still don’t hit the ball as far as I’d like, and I can’t put much spin on my wedge shots. A 2 or 3-piece golf ball that’s at the tour-value level is all I need.
The main reason I prefer the e12 over the Tour B is that it’s quite a bit cheaper. The reason I like the e12 over the e6 is that the extra layer makes the e12 have a bit more greenside spin.
RELATED: Best Golf Balls For Mid Handicappers
Best Bridgestone Ball For High Handicappers
The best Bridgestone ball for high handicappers is the Bridgestone e6. This ball is one of their cheapest options and is designed for maximum distance off the tee, which is one of the most wanted features for average golfers.
Don’t get me wrong, but you could use any of the other Bridgestone balls at this point and it might work for you. That being said, high handicappers slice the ball off the planet and end up losing multiple balls per round.
I don’t know about you but I sure don’t like losing $5 balls every few holes. High handicaps don’t need a ball that spins a whole lot because they don’t know how to spin the ball anyway.
You’ll be way better off playing an entry-level ball that’s priced well. Both the e12 and e6 are solid options at this point, but the main reason I’d suggest the e6 is that it’s cheaper.
We even did a test to see how the e6 compared to the Pro V1x in terms of distance and there wasn’t much of a difference. You can see our low vs high compression golf balls test here.
RELATED: Best Golf Balls For Average Golfers
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