Bridgestone Tour Ball Compression Confusion

[ABOsborn20]

The Bridgestone tour line of balls really has me scratching my head. Typically you see a harder tour ball around a 100 compression rating (Prov1x) because the higher swing speed can/will compress it. Titleist has their softest tour ball in the AVX at about 80 compression.

Enter Bridgestone with the XS which is supposed to be for swing speeds over 105 and has a compression of 75. Baffled. The RXS comes in at a crazy low 64 compression and would theoretically fit where my swing speed would come in just over 100.

I'm confused as to how the XS with a compression of 75 is for swing speeds over 105? Any insight or has anyone tried them to be able to report back?

[DavidH88]

I don't read into the boxes If i like them then its a buy and try. The boxes are always designed to confuse and I believe they are pointless, I agree with you too. the Bridgestone lines have always been too confusing with the names and the supposed stats based on Swing Speeds. Swing Speeds can alter day to day and round to round so I would say ignore the box and if you can afford to try the ball.

I have been playing the Tour B XS for the past couple of seasons and I love them. They are excellent balls and great all around performance and have outstanding durability. I have the Tiger edition (Last Years model) for this year and probably won't change until I use them all ^_^.

try them and you'll not be too disappointed I hope. Best of luck and Good Golf :)

 

[HyzerFlipDG]

Are the bridgestone compression ratings just core compressions? Core compression doesn't equal total compression.

[hammergolf]

Don’t pay attention to the boxes or “recommendations” I played the 2018 Tour B XS and I’m only about 90-95 with the driver. However, my short game is where I make my hay. It was awesome inside 100yds. However, even though it was “to hard” for my swing I hit it longer than other balls I tried and the added spin on the mid irons was great. As if I needed another reason to like the ball, it felt softer than other Tour balls. Well, fast forward to now. I went out a month ago to test the 2020 Bridgestone balls. I gave switched to the new Tour B X, which is the recommended ball for the highest swing speeds. Well at my 95 mph swing, it was 10yds longer than my gamer but still had plenty of spin. It’s a little firmer feeling than the XS but not hard by any means. My advice, don’t read the box. Have an open mind and just let the results and your preferences make the decision.

[storm319]

Correct. There hasn’t been an industry standard for measuring compression in the multilayer solid core era. Not only is there variance in measuring devices, but also what is actually being measured (core vs entire ball) therefore comparison of different OEMs stated figures is not really possible. The best resource that exists for cross company comparison would be MyGolf$py’s 2019 ball test as they consistently measured overall compression for all balls tested.

[elwhippy]

Compression is a waste of time since the introduction of solid balls.

[RWbloom]

Bridgestone applies an initial 27 lbs to the ball before testing....They then add 260 lbs and report a compression rating for all their models. No other brand does it this way.

The two businesses that reported robot testing results in 2019 also reported compression ratings using the traditional 200 lb load. The B XS was a 99 at one test and a 103 at another. As a comparison, the ProV1 was a 102 and 104....so they are very close.

[BB28403]

Didnt someone say that another golf site found that compression in balls is inconsistent from box to box?

is there a specific compression test manufacturers do before boxing? I’m sure it has some name like pressureometor or balankoscope test

[arbeck]

As others have said, comparing compression from one manufacturer to another is a fools game because none of them are reporting the same thing. Manufacturer reported compression is only good to compare balls within a single maker's line. That being said, you'll find most of the tour balls are right around 100 with the X versions hovering around 110. The balls with urethane covers that are softer tend to be in the 85-90 range.

MG$ is reporting that yes, compression is inconsistent from ball to ball from some makers. It's even inconsistent on the same ball. They have not published the results yet, but they are heavily implying this is much more prevalent on DTC balls and other budget balls. Part of what you are paying for when you move up to the expensive balls is quality control.

[ABOsborn20]

I was going to quote a couple different post but the list got too long.

If there is no standard between manufacturers, why don't independent ball reviewers (the big ones) have a standardized measure for compression. Seems crazy to think Bridgestone's main tour ball would be playing at 74 compression and the 1x at a 100+.

I read the golfspy review on the new Bridgestone balls and that guy made you feel like they are really revolutionizing something here. A generational cover. I have been gaming the AVX and really do like it over the TM and Titleist balls I was playing. Will be giving the RSX a run here soon to see how it compares.

[storm319]

First there is no industry standard because there is no financial incentive for the OEMs to compromise on a standard (independent reviewers are technically not part of the industry). IMHO there isn’t much hope for any industry standards considering that the OEMs can’t even agree on a common standard for measuring club length.

What MyGolf$py provides last year is good enough given that a relatively low percentage of consumers even care and their upcoming Ball Lab looks like it will be even more in-depth as they are also testing a few conformance measurements.

[Mahamilto]

Their "R" balls are softer and more geared toward armatures, their "S" balls are spinner. This has always been true, but I’m hearing the 2020 balls the "R" finally stepped up to tour level performance. The old “RX" didn’t spin well, and the “RXS" still spun less than the BX. The new RXS is said to be very spiny and the RX much spinnier than its predecessor.

Unlike Titleist, where the X of the V1 line is the spiniest, the X here is the less spinny of the two firmer balls.

‘I think the new X spins much more than it’s predecessor, which for me makes me like it more around the greens, but less off the driver than last years Tour BX.

All in all, they make an incredible range of balls. If you want spin, pick one of the S models, if you want soft, pick one of the Rs. Problems solved.

[ABOsborn20]

With all the scrutiny that the golf ball has taken over the last several years I'm surprised its taken a 3rd party this long to develop a consistent test. Very intrigued by the results when they are released.

[Mahamilto]

It’s been out for 6 months.

[storm319]

I think he is talking about the new Ball Lab comparison results which have not been released yet although high level anecdotes have been mentioned on their podcast as well as a teaser article in April that detailed the testing methods.

[Mahamilto]

Ah. My bad. Just trying to let him know to seek out the other if he didn’t know

[ABOsborn20]

Yes, what storm said.

[ABOsborn20]

Just reporting back. Bought a box of yellow RSX. They are very similar to the AVX that I was playing. Extremely soft feel off the putter (as well as all other clubs). They do tend to jump off the putter more so than a pro v or other "harder" balls but that should be expected. Spin was good around the greens.

Had a rough start with them for 6 holes and bagged them for the final 3. That was more me than the ball though. Brought them out and played a really good 18 hole round with them.

They will definitely be given more play time.