Bridgestone Unveils TourB Drivers, Fairway Woods, Hybrids, and Irons

[iacas]

Ultra-premium, Japanese-crafted Models Available Mid-Spring

 
(COVINGTON, GA) – Bridgestone Golf – Innovator and manufacturer of premium golf balls, clubs and accessories – unveils its ultra-premium TourB Series of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons, available in limited quantities through specialty retailers beginning mid-Spring.

The drivers are offered in three unique models, the XD-3, XD-5 and XD-7, each featuring a matte finish and adjustable hosel that allows eight face-angle / lie configurations. Details include:

• XD-3 – 455cc head, round shape with deep face to promote a medium launch, neutral shot shape.
• XD-5 – 460cc head, flatter, shallow-face design to promote a high launching draws.
• XD-7 – 445cc head, classic pear shape that encourages low launching, fade-biased shot shape.

Each shares a variety of innovative features, including Flex Action Speed Technology (FAST), which increases ball speed for maximum distance, even on off-center hits. Working in conjunction with F.A.S.T., are Power Ribs in each driver’s base, promoting stability for increased ball speed and dampening vibration for excellent feel. The face of each of the TourB woods feature the company’s Power Milling, which stabilizes the ball at impact to increase quality compression and reduce surface slipping or skidding.

All three driver models come with a set of interchangeable weights (2g, 4g, 6g, 8g, 10g, 12g) to help players dial-in preferred trajectory and shot shape. Additionally, a variety of exotic premium shafts are offered stock, including top models from Mitsubishi Diamana, Fujikura, UST Mamiya and Aldila (estimated added value of more than $300).

“We wanted to do something really special this year and decided to go ultra-high-end in every facet to create a line that combines incredible craftsmanship with the latest technological innovations,” says Zack Kupperbusch, Golf Club Marketing. “To launch the product, we will be working with a select group of authorized fitters, who will custom build each club to perfectly suit customer needs and preferences. Further information on fitting locations will be available shortly.”
 
The XD-F fairway woods feature a shallow-face to encouraging solid contact from both the fairway and tee box and are available in 15* and 18* lofts. Designed with the compact shape preferred by better players, the XD-H hybrids are available in 18*, 21* and 24* options. Both fairway woods and hybrids include the same technological features outlined above for driver models.
 
Adding to Bridgestone Golf’s celebrated line of forged irons for low handicappers is the cavity-backed X-CB and traditional X-Blade. Both feature high-quality 1020 Endo forging, 15 premium shaft options and minimal offset for a clean address and excellent workability. Additionally, the two have a forged mass strategically placed behind the impact zone for incredibly solid feel and response. The X-CB is engineered with a wider sole to prevent digging and encourage smooth turf interaction, while the X-Blade has a narrow sole, preferred by many Tour players, to help shape shots of all varieties.
 
Drivers will be priced at $699, while fairway woods and hybrids are listed at $399 and $249, respectively. Both the X-CB and X-Blade will be $1200 (4-PW).
 
The Tour B Series joins the respected Bridgestone line-up of Tour-proven drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges and putters tailored to players of all abilities.
 
Bridgestone’s professional staff features 14-time major championship winner Tiger Woods, FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker, Olympics bronze medalist Matt Kuchar, Masters winner Fred Couples, three-time major champion Nick Price, Bryson DeChambeau, and LPGA Tour star Karrie Webb.

 

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[Wanzo]

I'm not a huge fan based on looks alone but boy, the high end market seems to be doing pretty well and gaining participation. 

[SavvySwede]

14 hours ago, Wanzo said:

I'm not a huge fan based on looks alone but boy, the high end market seems to be doing pretty well and gaining participation. 

Hard for me to believe these are supposed to be Bridgestone's high end stuff the soles of the woods and hybrid look like the Top Flite clubs at DSG. They just look off somehow

[iacas]

53 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

Hard for me to believe these are supposed to be Bridgestone's high end stuff the soles of the woods and hybrid look like the Top Flite clubs at DSG. They just look off somehow

I think they look pretty good. What driver or whatever these days doesn't have a weight port or two, the adjustable hosel bit, etc.? And at address, they look pretty sweet.

[SavvySwede]

2 minutes ago, iacas said:

I think they look pretty good. What driver or whatever these days doesn't have a weight port or two, the adjustable hosel bit, etc.? And at address, they look pretty sweet.

It's not the features, the real bargain stuff doesn't have those things. The paint has a strangely flat look to me and the lettering doesn't look sharp. See the difference in the capital B between the driver and fairway model?

[iacas]

7 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

It's not the features, the real bargain stuff doesn't have those things. The paint has a strangely flat look to me and the lettering doesn't look sharp. See the difference in the capital B between the driver and fairway model?

I compressed the images a bit to save some space. And whatever you're viewing them on, it's probably not full-size and is doing some browser down-sizing.

Those are the images straight from Bridgestone, and even then it takes a few steps to get to the full-size versions of them.

[dkolo]

45 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

It's not the features, the real bargain stuff doesn't have those things. The paint has a strangely flat look to me and the lettering doesn't look sharp. See the difference in the capital B between the driver and fairway model?

I'm actually with you on this. Not so much that this looks cheap (it's whatever; I subconsciously think that a club that plasters TOUR too prominently is trying too hard, but, again, whatever). But they're in the same boat as Srixon and, to a lesser extent, Wilson in my mind: I'm sure their stuff is fine, but their brands have no appeal and built-up goodwill in clubs with me, so if they don't make their clubs cool and enticing, why on earth would I bag them over a Callaway, Taylormade, PING, or Titleist, especially when we all know the first two will be going on firesale within months, eliminating any price advantages of a Bridgestone or Srixon? Mizuno has taken this tack in recent years: they're super well-respected for their irons, but not really a name in woods or wedges. But they went out of the box and made really gorgeous-looking clubs in blue that draw my attention. Nike kept trying the same approach, with varying success. Wilson is at least trying to get attention with their Driver vs. Driver gambit. But when you're a challenger brand, you can't just come out with boring clubs.