I have slow swing speed. Can the right ball help my game? I Tried It
What’s it like to play a ball designed for lower swing speeds? In the latest edition of ‘I Tried It’, Jessica Marksbury found out.
The post I have slow swing speed. Can the right ball help my game? I Tried It appeared first on Golf.
What’s it like to play a ball designed for lower swing speeds? In the latest edition of ‘I Tried It’, Jessica Marksbury found out.
The post I have slow swing speed. Can the right ball help my game? I Tried It appeared first on Golf.
Welcome to I Tried It, a GOLF.com series about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.
Earlier this year, I got fit for a full set of Ping’s new G Le4s — clubs specifically designed for women with swing speeds of 80 mph or less. I went into the fitting unsure of whether I was a candidate for that swing-speed threshold, and was honestly shocked to discover that my mid-iron swing speed was only 67 mph. That seemed so … low. Turns out, I am exactly the kind of player the G Le4s are meant to help!
I’ve been gaming the clubs for a couple of months now, and the technology has been so impressive. I have hybrids all the way down to 8, and the ease of launch and soaring trajectory has been awesome to experience.
If anything, these clubs have taught me how great it can be when you not only accept but lean into your natural tendencies. Embracing my “slow” swing speed and flat swing by opting to fill my bag with hybrids has not only helped me mitigate my misses but has also made hitting shots more satisfying. With the 6, 7 and 8 hybrids, I’m able to hit shots that soar in ways my irons never did. It got me thinking: How else can I optimize my swing speed? The next frontier I decided to pursue: balls!
I’ve never been picky when it comes to golf balls. In my competitive-play years, I gravitated toward premium, top-of-the-line models, but mostly because I assumed those balls were the “best.” I never really questioned whether I was actually hitting the right ball for my style of play. In my adult golf life, I will literally tee up a years-old dusty ball from the bottom of the bag. Time for that to stop! Now that I had a metric to work with in that 67 mph swing speed stat, I thought it would behoove me to try playing with a lower swing speed ball. With a golf trip on the horizon, I decided to bring a box of Bridgestone’s Tour B RXS golf balls along for the ride. Spoiler alert: I loved them! Here’s why.
Browse more ball content
Tech specs
Bridgestone’s Tour B RXS and Tour B RX balls are both designed for players with swing speeds under 105 mph. The RX is a max distance model while the RXS offers additional spin. My newfound high launch (and the fact that I pull a hybrid now for shots of 120 yards and up) resulted in me opting for the extra spin model.
A 320-dimple pattern delivers more penetrating ballflight and increased distance; “VeloSurge” core-mantle integration technology provides breakthrough velocity distance, and a “Reactiv iQ” cover adheres to the clubface longer, helping to generate tour-level spin and precision control on shots around the green.
You can also buy these models with Bridgestone’s “MindSet” visual cue on the ball, an image meant to serve as a reminder of a simple three-step process: identify your target, visualize the shot path, and focus on the dot.
Distance and feel
I loved hitting the Tour B RXS, and it absolutely traveled. The feel at impact was smooth yet springy, off both the tee and the fairway. In addition to the golf trip I mentioned above, I also brought the balls to a charity scramble, where I ended up hitting every single club in my bag over the course of the round, and the performance was excellent. While I don’t generally spin the ball back toward the hole on approaches, I was able to hold several greens with my longer clubs, which has not always been the case for me. The ball also felt crisp and responsive on shorter chips and pitches.
On the green, the ball felt nice and solid at impact but not rock-hard like some distance models. After playing several rounds with this ball, I really do think I may have landed on an ideal club and ball combo for my style of play. The Bridgestone Tour B RXS gave me distance and launch when I needed it, without sacrificing any spin or feel as I got closer to the green. For my fellow lower-swing-speed brethren, I highly recommend giving it a try.
You can check out both lower swing speed ball models from Bridgestone below, and click on the link to order yours now.
Shop lower swing speed balls from Bridgestone
View Product
View Product
View Product
View Product
The post I have slow swing speed. Can the right ball help my game? I Tried It appeared first on Golf.
