If you are a golf nerd like we here at The Hackers Paradise are, then it is very likely that you have seen quite a bit about the “VS Proto Project” from Bridgestone Golf over the last year. In fact, if you frequent our piece of the internet golf wilderness, then you know that our very own THP Community did substantial testing in collaboration with the brand on their newest release.
While the VS Proto name is not sticking around, they were, as most surmised, the proving ground for the newest iterations of the Tour B lineup from Bridgestone Golf. Make no mistake, though, this is not intended to be just a subtle evolution. The new Tour B lineup is here to make noise and generate a whole lot of speed.
Driven By Dedication
One thing that Bridgestone Golf wants to make perfectly clear is that this specific line of golf balls has been under development for a very long time. There are years upon years of R&D efforts invested to make sure that they have something which could change the very roots of Tour B moving forward.
On top of the innovation within this new lineup of Tour B golf balls, Bridgestone remains a leader in golf ball innovation as a whole. To this day, they continue to be the “#1 Ball Fitter in Golf,” a space which they not only established, but have used as the ultimate tool for pushing modernization within the segment as well. In fact, it was a key aspect of their development for the newest Tour B’s.
Performance from the Inside Out
While it isn’t to say that Bridgestone doesn’t get excited about all of their releases, there is another level of pride and enthusiasm surrounding the official debut of the new Tour B’s. This time around, it is very much an inside-out driven story, and at the root of it is the namesake for all of the “VS” Proto testing: VeloSurge.
Yes, golf ball companies do tend to come up with some of the wildest names for things within any particular segment of golf, but you have to admit that among the crazy, there is a lot of fun too. As it pertains to VeloSurge, this isn’t just an entertaining name slapped onto something; this is a core-mantle technology that is the foundation of everything Bridgestone is doing.
During development, the company’s engineers created over 240 prototype variations, narrowing them down to just four which delivered eye-opening gains. At the root of those gains is VeloSurge. When talking about this new tech, you will see Bridgestone showcasing the integration quite often. This is specifically in reference to the mantle and core relationship, and making them work together as never before.
The large gradational core, which is proprietary to Bridgestone, sits at the center of things and this year has new materials added to help it work better with the rest of the ball. On top of the core is a mantle which now has a density that more closely matches that of the cover, and much more so than we saw in the 2024 version. This added density means better energy transfer through impact, and thanks to engineers also increasing the rigidity of the layer, there is more overall speed potential as well.
While this formulation is fine-tuned for each of the balls within the Tour B lineup, the changes still mean more speed across every ball in the lineup. How much speed? According to internal testing from Bridgestone, they have seen an average gain of 2.3 MPH when compared to the 2024 models, and that is among both their elite Tour staff as well as amateurs like us.
Improved Durability with REACTIV iQ
The REACTIV iQ Smart Cover material remains one of the best cover technologies out there. Its use of “impact modifiers” within the material means that the cover actually responds accordingly to the forces imparted on it, meaning shots in the short game react with more spin, while drivers and woods at higher speeds see a decrease.
Everything can be improved however, and Bridgestone heard the feedback on the overall durability of past iterations. For 2026, Bridgestone refined its urethane formulation through an updated injection molding process which results in much-improved durability, not only increasing performance longevity but also delivering better quality value.
2026 Bridgestone Tour B Golf Ball Models
The 2026 Bridgestone Tour B lineup continues the brands commitment to ensuring that it remains a Tour ball with something that fits the broadest range of needs possible.
The same color-coding system we all know and understand is back:
Tour B RX (Red)
Tour B RXS (Green)
Tour B X (Black)
Tour B XS (Blue)
Bridgestone still uses swing speed as the broadest guide to fitting. Of course, the “Over 105” (X, XS) and “Under 105” (RX, RXS) distinctions are not hard-and-fast rules, which is potentially why we don’t see them pushed quite as much as when the B-Series first broke onto the scene.
The Details – 2026 Bridgestone Tour B
The new 2026 Tour B lineup of golf balls officially hits shelves on January 30, 2026 and will be priced at $54.99 per dozen. All models will be available in both standard and MindSet versions.
For more information on all the full Tour B lineup, and to find out which ball might work best for you, visit www.BridgestoneGolf.com