Founded in 1931 as Bridgestone Tire Company, the Tokyo-based Fortune 500 company is one of the largest manufacturers of tires on the planet today. But that’s not all it’s good at making.
Bridgestone founder Shojiro Ishibashi turned his passion for golf into commercial success when the company first began manufacturing golf balls in 1935 and then golf clubs in 1972. Leveraging technological developments from tire manufacturing to golf ball technology breakthroughs helped Bridgestone become Japan’s No. 1 golf ball producer.
With a roster of top professionals, including Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Lexi Thompson, and Matt Kuchar using Bridgestone balls week in and week out, the No.1 ball-fitter in golf has cemented itself as one of the top manufacturers in the game. Here are our recommendations for the best Bridgestone golf balls.
Top 8 Bridgestone golf balls
Fred Couples Approved: Tour B RXS
Best budget: e6
Best distance: e9 Long Drive
Best spin (and Tiger approved): Tour B XS
Best women’s: Lady Precept
Best contact: e12 CONTACT
Best for faster swing speeds: Tour B X
Best for moderate swing speeds: Tour B RX
How we chose the best golf balls from Bridgestone
To create a shortlist of the top Bridgestone golf balls, we researched manufacturer specifications, including cover material, compression rate, price, and more. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best Bridgestone golf ball for each category.
Fred Couples Approved: Tour B RXS
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Benefits
— Ideal for swing speeds under 105 mph
— Trusted by Fred Couples
— REACTIV iQ technology
Drawbacks
— Not for faster swing speeds
PGA Tour pros average upward of 110 mph of swing speed, and if you’re not a PGA Tour pro or anywhere close, the Bridgestone Tour B RXS is the brand’s ideal golf ball for you. Engineered for players whose swing speeds are under 105 mph and who are looking for more spin, this golf ball features Bridgestone’s proprietary new REACTIV iQ technology.
REACTIVE iQ is a smart cover technology that not only rebounds quickly for increased velocity and farther distance off the tee but also stays on the clubface longer on approach shots resulting in more spin and a softer feel around the green.
Trusted by 1992 Masters champion Fred Couples, the Tour B RXS also features dual dimple technology that offers extra distance from a more efficient ball trajectory thanks to its reduced drag while in flight.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Low | Colors: 2
Best budget: e6
Benefits
— Affordable price
— Ideal for slow to moderate swing speeds
Drawbacks
— Not for faster swing speeds
— Lacks greenside control and feel
The e6 features a softer and larger core engineered for faster compression and longer distance off the tee. Not to mention, it comes at a very affordable price and is a great ball for slow-to-moderate swing speeds. Bridgestone’s seamless cover technology aids in spin and feel.
Ideal for slow to moderate swing speeds, the e6 ball is an affordable option for higher handicaps and seniors looking for an optimal option that won’t break the bank if a few go astray.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Surlyn | Compression: Low | Colors: 2
Best distance: e9 Long Drive
Benefits
— Additional distance
— Sneaky spin and control
— Co-developed with World Long Drive Association
Drawbacks
— Only comes in white color
Who better to work alongside than the World Long Drive Association when developing a distance ball? That was Bridgestone’s thought when developing the e9 Long Drive, which features the brand’s extreme gradational core technology for increased ball speed, while a soft inner area adds spin control for a consistent flight.
An aerodynamic and seamless 330-dimple cover reduces drag and maximizes ball speed to help deliver farther distance and power on each shot, especially off the tee box.
While other distance-oriented models are designed for faster swing speeds, the e9 Long Drive was designed with a slightly lower compression core making it great for anyone, including average swingers seeking higher launch, more speed, and longer carry distance.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Surlyn | Compression: Mid | Colors: 1
Best spin (and Tiger approved): Tour B XS
Benefits
— Ideal for swing speeds over 105 mph
— Tiger Woods ball of choice
— REACTIV iQ technology
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for slow to moderate swing speeds
— Premium price
A great option for players with swing speeds over 105 mph looking for additional spin, the Bridgestone Tour B XS features the brand’s REACTIV iQ smart cover technology that rebounds quickly on tee shots, delivers intense velocity and enhanced distance, and stays on the clubface longer for more spin on your approach shots.
Dual dimple technology helps assure efficient trajectory and limit drag to promote better ball flight. With a urethane cover and mid-compression rating, this ball certainly isn’t for everyone, but if it’s good enough for Tiger Woods, it’s probably good enough to try. Just to note, Tiger switched to the B X model in 2023, seeking more distance off the tee as he evolves his game in lieu of his health issues.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Mid | Colors: 2
Best women’s: Lady Precept
Benefits
— Engineered for women golfers
— Higher flight
— Soft feel means less vibration at impact
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for men golfers
— Low compression not ideal for faster swing speeds
Engineered for female golfers, the Bridgestone Lady Precept features a softer core that not only provides a soft feel but also offers more control and less vibration at impact thanks to its two-layer construction and seamless 330-dimple design resulting in a higher ball flight.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Surlyn (ionomer) | Compression: Low | Colors: 2
Benefits
— Engineered for straighter drives
— Creates 46% more surface contact
— Available in 4 colors
Drawbacks
— Better players may opt for a more premium product
Golfers are looking for any advantage they can get on a golf course to go lower. The Bridgestone e12 CONTACT can be a bit of a cheat code for golfers looking to improve their game.
The brand’s FLEXATIV Cover Technology and Contact Force Dimple design work together to create 46% more surface contact. The increased surface contact means a more efficient energy transfer and, more importantly, longer and straighter drives.
Not just a distance-focused ball, the cover also helps improve spin and repels faster off the clubface for iron shots, while increased friction aids with spin and control around the green.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Surlyn | Compression: Low | Colors: 4
Best for faster swings: Tour B X
Benefits
— Ideal for swing speeds over 105 mph
— REACTIVE iQ technology
— Used by Tiger Woods, Jason Day, Matt Kuchar
Drawbacks
— Premium price
— Not for slow to moderate swing speeds
Trusted by Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and Matt Kuchar on the PGA Tour, the Bridgestone B X is optimized for golfers with faster swing speeds over 105 mph looking to add distance, especially off the tee box.
Like the rest of the models in the Tour series, the B X features Bridgestone’s REACTIVE iQ smart cover technology to increase distance off the tee while offering more spin and a softer feel around the green.
Slow to moderate swing speed golfers should be wary: As tempting as it is to use the same ball as the GOAT, it might not be the optimal option for you.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: High | Colors: 2
Best for moderate swing speeds: Tour B RX
Benefits
— Ideal for swing speeds below 105 mph
— REACTIVE iQ technology
— Trusted by LPGA Tour pro Lexi Thompson
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for golfers with faster swing speeds
— Premium price
Trusted by 11-time LPGA Tour winner Lexi Thompson, the Tour B RX is one of Bridgestone’s top-selling models. Perfect for golfers with swing speeds under 105 mph looking for additional distance, like the other models in the Tour series, this golf ball features the brand’s REACTIVE iQ smart cover technology to boost distance off the tee.
And at the same time, it promotes a high amount of spin and feel around the greens.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Low | Colors: 2
Take advantage of the No. 1 ball-fitter in golf
Utilizing a system as meticulous as it employs for crafting its renowned tires and other products, Bridgestone analyzes a database of more than 320,000 live launch monitor fittings to help determine the best ball for your game. After all, they are the No. 1 ball-fitter in golf for a reason.
While not everyone has that information at their fingertips or is as serious of a player to warrant such a detailed conversation around which ball to use, the aforementioned list should help point you in the right direction.
How to pick the right Bridgestone golf ball for you
If you’ve ended up on this page, that means you’re at least interested in learning more about Bridgestone golf balls or figuring out which model is just right for you. If you need some factors to keep in mind when making your purchase, don’t forget to consider the ball’s cover material, compression rate, and price.
Cover material
The majority of golf balls are made with either an ionomer or urethane cover. Ionomer covers are softer and offer more compression upon impact, so they’re great for beginners, seniors, and women golfers, or, quite frankly, anyone with slightly slower swing speeds. Urethane covers are harder and give more distance off the tee — perfect products for more skilled golfers boasting higher swing speeds.
Compression rating
Going hand in hand with cover material is a golf ball’s compression rate — a numerical value and range that denotes how much a ball will — you guessed it — compress upon impact. Slower swing speeds will optimize their distance and control with a softer compression rate, while faster swing speeds need high or firmer-compression golf balls.
Price
The varying combinations of cover materials and compression rates typically equate to a golf ball’s price. High-end balls with higher compression rates and a urethane cover cost more than softer compression ones with an ionomer cover. If you’re a beginner or casual golfer, buying the most expensive ball, more times than not, does more harm than good — not only to your game but to your ego and pockets when you hook a few into the woods each round.
FAQ
What’s the best Bridgestone golf ball for mid-handicappers?
The Bridgestone Tour B RX and B RXS are ideal for mid-handicappers with moderate swing speeds under 105 mph. The B RX offers additional distance off the tee, while the B RXS model has greater spin, control, and feel. Don’t punch above your weight by trying to tame the Tour B X or B XS unless your swing speed is 105 mph or higher.
Which Bridgestone golf ball do the pros use?
Because professional golfers have average swing speeds of 110 mph or greater, they need to utilize balls with urethane covers and a higher compression rate. Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and Matt Kuchar have used the Tour B X in competition, while Fred Couples relies on the Tour B RXS, and Lexi Thompson trusts the Tour B RX.
Which ball is better: the Bridgestone e6 or e12?
The short answer is whatever works best for you, your needs, and your game. Both the Bridgestone e6 and e12 come at a more affordable price than the brand’s Tour series, while the e6 has a lower compression rate than the e12. The e6 is great for novices, high-handicappers, and seniors, while the e12 is the step between that model and the Tour series.
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