Tiger Woods is changing an important piece of gear | Wall-to-Wall

Tiger Woods Returns to the Green with Bridgestone’s 2024 Tour B X

Golf enthusiasts eagerly await Tiger Woods’ return to competitive play at the Genesis Invitational, where all eyes will be on his equipment and apparel for any changes. While in the past, fans would have to wait until Woods hits the Riviera grounds for visual confirmation, this time, the anticipation is different.

Bridgestone has announced that the Genesis Invitational will mark Woods’ inaugural competitive round with its latest offering, the 2024 Tour B X ball. Following extensive testing at home, Woods expressed his confidence in the new ball, emphasizing its ability to deliver both distance off the tee and control around the green.

“The Holy Grail for me is always seeking more distance off the tee and more control around the green, and that’s exactly what Bridgestone’s delivered with the new Tour B X,” Woods remarked.

Prior to 2022, Woods had been using the Tour B XS, a softer ball with higher spin, to maneuver shots in various directions and achieve optimal performance around the green. However, his equipment journey took a turn when he started testing the Tour B X on his at-home simulator. He noticed a significant increase in carry distance, approximately 10 yards, translating to the need for one less club on approach shots.

The Tour B and Tour B XS are both designed for swing speeds over 105 mph, but the Tour B X, with its firmer construction, promises lower flight and spin. Despite initial skepticism, Bridgestone’s adjustments, including a softer cover and added mid-layer in the ’24 Tour B X, ultimately won Woods over.

“With Bridgestone shifting to a softer cover and adding a mid-layer with the ’24 Tour B X, I was refit for my ball and found it to still be the best model for my game,” Woods explained.

Emphasizing the importance of proper ball fitting, Woods encouraged players to revisit their fitting process regularly. He credited Bridgestone for re-fitting him into the new Tour B X, which offers enhanced performance off the tee and the control essential for his short game.

Even Bridgestone’s product team expressed surprise at Woods’ transition to the Tour B X after more than two decades with the Tour B XS.

“When we signed Tiger Woods, there was no way I would have guessed he’d play tthe Tour B X,” remarked Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone’s golf ball marketing manager. “But the fact that the cover continues to get softer each generation, now [Tour B is] his golf ball. It’s a testament to the work we’ve done on the cover construction.”

In conclusion, Woods’ endorsement of the 2024 Tour B X reaffirms Bridgestone’s commitment to innovation and performance excellence in golf ball technology. As the legend returns to the green with renewed confidence in his equipment, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing his continued success with Bridgestone’s latest offering.