Five Questions With Bridgestone Golf

1. Things are looking up at Bridgestone, with a handful of new SKUs for golfers to choose from. How important is getting fit for the right ball? What mistakes do most golfers make in choosing golf balls? Do many golfers use a certain ball because their favorite Tour players use it?

The golf ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every shot during a round, so it stands to reason that having one that fits your game could be more important than anything else. Some amateurs still play a golf ball because it may be heavily used on Tour, but that's an ego selection, not a logical one. Tour players have swing speeds over 110 mph, and the average amateur has a swing speed around 95 mph. After having fit over 150,000 amateurs through our ball-fitting program, we found that most play a golf ball that produces excess spin with a low launch. Excessive spin further exaggerates slices or hooks, reducing accuracy and leading to a loss of distance. Using a properly fit ball can help minimize spin and produce a higher launch with overall increased accuracy and longer carry distance.

2. What are the benefits of Bridgestone's Dual Dimple Technology?

Bridgestone's Dual Dimple Technology cover has optimized the aerodynamic and wind performance of the B330 line. The smaller inner dimples further reduce drag at launch for faster elevation, while the larger outer dimples promote a shallow angle of descent for increased rollout on landing. The result of the improved performance at both takeoff and landing is greater overall distance performance and more consistency in the wind.

3. You reformulated the yellow on your golf balls this year. What's different, and how does yellow help improve performance?

We were able to increase the brightness of the yellow through a new pigment blend in the urethane. Bridgestone's golf balls are not painted, so the yellow is actually in the cover. Overall, players who find a yellow ball easy to follow in flight will see an improvement in this new blend. Also, we find that many players just like to play yellow because they'll always know which ball is theirs when playing in their foursome.

4. What are your thoughts on a dozen golf balls, with each sleeve being a different type of ball? Is this something you might do in the future?

For testing purposes, it can be useful for players to go out and compare golf balls to find which one gives them the best distance, accu-racy and control that helps them score lower. This is why with the new B330 series, we have an introductory-offer six-pack. For players with pro-level swing speeds above 105 mph, we put one sleeve each of our B330 and B330-S together so players can compare and find which one works better for their game. We did the same for our B330-RX and B330-RXS golf balls for players who swing below 105 mph. In each pack, there's a model that has more of a distance and accuracy edge (B330 or RX) and one with more of an edge on added greenside spin control (B330-S or RXS).

5. Speaking of fitting, Bridgestone is a leader in golf ball fitting. How long does it take to find the right golf ball for your game? Is it a complex process?

Ball fitting is not a long or complex process and is an easy and effective way to help shave strokes off your game. In our Bridgestone ball fittings, we can provide a science-based recommendation through a launch monitor in about 15-20 minutes. Bridgestone believes we have the best golf ball in the industry, and we're not afraid to prove it, as all of our competitors' golf balls are available to compare. So if you typically play another brand, we want you to test us against it. We don't always win, but about 8 out of 10 times we can prove to you we have a better ball that fits your swing. Although we have 25 ball-fitting teams across the country, access to fittings may be a challenge for some, so we've introduced our B-FIT online chat service where you can consult with a ball-fitting expert on your own terms. You can call, click or text and get tremendous expert guidance at your convenience and from the comfort of your office or home computer and/or your cell phone.