If you’re looking at purchasing a golf ball, Bridgestone and Titleist are two brands you should be looking at. These two brands are at the top of the chain when it comes to making very high-quality golf balls.
Bridgestone has pioneered a lot of golf ball technologies; the brand is at the pinnacle of golf ball innovation. Titleist has been around for a long time too and the brand has continued to dazzle the industry with premium quality golf balls.
The Bridgestone Tour B XS is one of the best tour balls out there while the Titleist Pro V1 is at the top of the premium golf ball list.
These two balls are often talked about and tested, with either of them coming out at the forefront depending on the golfer testing. In this article, we’re going to be looking at some of the similarities and differences between them.
Before moving forward, these two balls are great, have similar performance and features, and are very well made. Therefore, it might be difficult to say one is better than the other. At the end of the day, you may just have to choose one that suits you out of the two.
Bridgestone Tour B XS vs Pro V1: Review
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Titleist Pro V1 Golf balls are the best golf balls based on overall performance and price. The Pro V1 was designed for golfers of every level based on the performance and forgiving nature of the ball.
The ball is designed using an Ionomer layer with a urethane elastomer cover that allows for playability off the tee and around the greens. The Pro V1 features a mark on the ball where you can line up the ball on the greens to help you cut down on your golf score.
The latest Pro V1 offers a larger core (compared to previous models). The result is a ball that produces greater speed and more distance. For better spin, the ball comes with a thinner ionomeric casing layer.
This will allow you to get better control around the greens. The Urethane Elastomer cover formulation will also make the Pro V1 long-lasting, thus offering you good value for your money.
Titleist added the soft-center, high-energy dual-core to the ball to increase the ball speed with lower spin. Ball speed is increased due to its ionomeric casing layer, for more yardage.
Overall the Pro V1 is forgiving and produces low spin on impact and has the soft feel to allow you to work around the greens. Pricing on the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball is around $35-$60. Be sure to shop around to find the best deal or sale on the Titleist Pro V1 ball.
Bridgestone Tour B XS
Bridgestone Tour B XS is not your regular golf ball. It’s used by players like Tiger Woods, which says a lot about the ball. This ball isn’t just designed for the pros though. It’s designed for golfers with fast swing speeds who are looking for exceptional spin control around the greens.
The ball has an excellent feel too, so if the golf ball feel is important to you, this ball is worth considering. The optimum speed for this golf ball is at 105mph and above.
If your swing speed is lower, even though you can still play it, you may not get the most from this golf ball. To be fair, some golfers with slightly lower swing speed find it to be a good option still.
The ball comes with the usual Dual Dimple pattern, a technology that is designed to give you that extra distance and less drag because of the aerodynamic shape.
It also provides a better trajectory for better shot shape. When played on fast greens, the feel comes out as you can putt with it. The feel is soft off the club face and the shots are long and straight.
Cover
The cover is urethane, which might not deliver optimal durability. If you’re after a long lasting golf ball, this isn’t it. The Pro V1 isn’t any better too since the cover on both balls are made from the same material.
The cover is the new Reactiv urethane cover, which is a smart cover that allows the ball to react based on the force on which it is hit. When hit with lower clubhead speed, the cover is able to absorb the shock, providing explosive speed and more distance in the short game.
If you go with more clubhead speed and more force, the resilient cover expends more spin to the ball so that you can gain higher greenside control and better distance for your long game.
Core
In this ball design, Bridgestone adopted a graduating compression core. This means that the compression of the core changes and gets more firm as you hit the ball.
The result is a higher initial golf speed for better distance and a lower side spin for more forgiveness. The ball also has a better feel compared to the previous models.
Bridgestone Tour B XS vs Pro V1: Comparison
Both the Bridgestone Tour B XS and Pro V1 are 3-piece golf balls, but the Bridgestone has a lower compression of 64, as opposed to the 90 on the Titleist.
The cover used on both are urethane but Bridgestone calls the one on the B XS seamless Reactive urethane while Titleist goes for the usual urethane elastomer.
In terms of price, the Titleist Pro V1 may be slightly more expensive. Both balls have been played by high-profile golfers like Tiger Woods, so they’re high quality. In terms of performance, they’re quite similar.
Bridgestone and Titleist tout their balls to offer greater greenside control and distance and both balls deliver on each end. The feel of the iron should be similar for both balls but you can expect the Tour B XS to be softer on the course.
The most important thing is to go with one that works for you if you have the chance to test them both. The difference in trajectory, feel, distance, and spin may be minute as set out prior.
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