Bridgestone dropped a black golf ball on May 19. It sold out in an hour. And golf Twitter — golf Twitter — lost its mind.
Here’s what happened and whether you should care.
What They Released
The Tour B RX Black and Tour B X Black are limited-edition versions of Bridgestone’s 2026 Tour B lineup, finished in black instead of the standard white. Same ball underneath — same VeloSurge core-mantle technology, same urethane cover — just wearing a tuxedo instead of a lab coat.
Bridgestone’s reasoning: “The new 2026 Tour B’s VeloSurge core-mantle integration is a technological breakthrough, but you can’t see all that technology when looking at a standard white golf ball.” The black colorway was designed to make the tech visible. Marketing, sure — but it worked.
Price: $99.99 a dozen. Available 9am EST on May 19. Gone by 10am.
The Numbers on the 2026 Tour B
The black balls are the same spec as the regular 2026 Tour B, which is genuinely a significant update:
- +2.3 mph average ball speed increase over the previous model
- +8.7 yards distance gain
- Higher MOI (Moment of Inertia) — more resistance to twisting on off-centre hits
Chris Gotterup used the Tour B X to win twice on the PGA Tour this season, which is not a coincidence Bridgestone will let you forget any time soon.
Collector’s Item or Just Hype?
Golf Monthly drew the obvious comparison to Nike’s One Black golf balls — a limited release that became a genuine collector’s item after Nike exited the equipment business in 2016. Single balls now sell for £45+ on resale markets.
Is the Bridgestone black destined for the same fate? Probably not — Nike’s collector value came from the brand abandoning golf entirely, not from a limited colour run. But if Bridgestone never restocks them, the scarcity alone will make them interesting.
For everyone who missed the drop: the standard white Tour B RX and Tour B X are the same ball and available in stock right now. You don’t need the black ones to get the performance. You just need them to feel cool.
Who Should Play the Tour B?
The Tour B RX is built for swing speeds under 105 mph — it’s the softer, more forgiving option in the lineup. The Tour B X is for higher swing speeds who want a firmer feel and lower spin off the driver.
Both are legitimate tour-level balls. Both are worth trying if you’re in the market for a premium option that isn’t Titleist.
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