Bridgestone releases Tiger Woods’ Tour B XS-TW ball to consumers

Golfers around the world can now play the same version of the Bridgestone ball Tiger Woods uses, complete with TIGER stamping.

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Many Tiger Woods fans were sad to hear the 15-time major winner did not enter this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, but Bridgestone, the maker of the golf ball that Woods uses, has given those fans a reason to cheer up. The Japanese equipment maker announced Monday that it is releasing the Tour B XS-TW.

In a release, Elliot Mellow, Bridgestone’s golf ball marketing manager said, “Tiger Woods has proudly stated that he has never been more involved with the design of a golf ball from birth of concept to final model, than he has with the new 2020 Tour B XS golf ball, so it is only fitting that we offer a version to consumers with the same TIGER sidestamp that Woods himself uses.”

Aside from the sidestamp, the Tour B XS-TW, which will cost $44.99 per dozen when it arrives in stores in the coming days, is identical to the standard 2020 Tour B XS. As with Bridgestone’s other ball made for tour-level swing speeds, the Tour B X, the Tour B XS is ideally suited for players who have a driver swing speed over 105 mph, but it has a softer feel than the Tour B X and spins more around the greens.

Like all the 2020 Bridgestone Tour B balls, the Tour B XS-TW has a Reactiv urethane cover that rebounds more quickly than other urethanes Bridgestone has used to help golfers generate more ball speed and distance off the tee. However, on pitches and chips, it absorbs shock and helps the ball stay in contact with the face to enhance spin and increase greenside control.

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Rickie Fowler to use new Arnold Palmer inspired gear by Puma at Bay Hill

See the limited edition, Arnold Palmer-inspired shoes, bags, hats and accessories that Rickie Fowler will use at Bay Hill.

Whenever golfers hear the words “bay” and “hill” together, they are going to immediately think of Arnold Palmer, and that’s not going to change. The King passed away in 2016 and no current player pays homage to Palmer, and what he meant to golf, more visibly than Rickie Fowler. In addition to competing in the Arnold Palmer Invitational several times, and again this week, for the past few seasons Fowler has teamed with Cobra-Puma Golf to create limited-edition gear that pays tribute to Palmer.

That tradition continues this week at Bay Hill, and golf fans will have a chance to buy some of the same gear on Puma’s website and at select retailers, Puma has also announced people who make a donation to the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation this week will have a chance to win a trip to the Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando to play the course, tour Palmer’s office and received Fowler-autographed gear. Click here to learn more about the charity sweepstakes.

Puma Vessal Arnold Palmer stand bag
Puma Vessal Arnold Palmer stand bag. (Puma)

The new API CobraVessel stand bag ($599) is not only designed to hold anything you might need on the course, according to the company it is 60 percent lighter than a typical stand bag. It is decorated in Arnie Camo, a pattern that was inspired by the iconic Palmer umbrella logo.

Puma Ignite NXT Arnie Camo
Puma Ignite NXT Arnie Camo (Puma)

The Puma Ignite NXT Arnie Camo shoes ($150) have the same Arnie Camo pattern on the outsole, heel and collar lining while the sock liner inside the shoe features Palmer’s signature.

Puma Proadapt Palmer
Puma Proadapt Palmer (Puma)

Palmer loved to fly so much that he got a pilot’s license and logged over 20,000 hours of flight time. The Puma Proadapt Palmer shoes ($250) not only offer lots of lateral stability and traction but honor Palmer’s favorite plane, the Cessna 750 Citation X. On the medial side, N1AP has been added, which was the tail number on Palmer’s plane and his signature has been added to the sock liner.

2020 Puma Arnold Palmer hats
The Latrobe and Bay Hill hats. (Puma)

Several different hats are also being offered ($35 each), including the Bay Hill and Latrobe hats.

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Wilson selling Super Bowl edition Staff DUO+ balls

Wilson is selling a special version of its new Staff DUO+ golf ball on its website that commemorates the Chiefs win in Super Bowl LIV.

Fifty years is a long time for any fanbase to wait for a championship, but now that the Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl, it’s time for their supporters to celebrate.

Wilson is selling a special version of its new Staff DUO+ golf ball on its website ($29.99) that commemorates the Chiefs win, complete with the team’s logo and the officially licensed Super Bowl LIV logo.

Wilson Staff DUO+ ball
Limited-edition Wilson Staff DUO+ Super Bowl golf balls. (Wilson)

Like the standard Staff DUO+ ball, the commemorative edition is a two-piece ball designed to provide golfers with more distance thanks to a new core formulation. Wilson claims the Staff DUO Soft+ produces 1 to 1.5 mph more ball speed than the previous version, and that should give players about 4 to 6 more yards of distance.

With an overall compression of 36, the Staff DUO+ also feels extremely soft at impact, which many golfers like.

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