Golf Tutorials

What Golf Ball Does Charlie Woods Use?

By Spencer Lanoue
July 24, 2025

Curiosity is building around the next generation of golf talent, and a big part of that is wanting to know what gear they’re using to hit those incredible shots. So let's get right to it: Charlie Woods, following closely in his father's footsteps, plays the Bridgestone Tour B X golf ball. This article will not only confirm that detail but also explain exactly what that ball is designed to do. Most importantly, we'll walk through how you can apply the same pro-level thinking to find the perfect golf ball for your own game.

The Straight Answer: What Ball is Charlie Woods Playing?

As of his most recent appearances, including the PNC Championship, Charlie Woods uses the Bridgestone Tour B X. This isn't a random choice, it’s a deliberate one that mirrors his father, Tiger Woods, who has a long-standing and deeply involved partnership with Bridgestone Golf. In fact, Tiger was instrumental in the development and feedback process for the entire Tour B lineup.

For Charlie, playing the same ball as his dad makes perfect sense. He is being mentored by one of the greatest golf minds in history, so adopting the same equipment streamlines the learning process. It allows Tiger to provide feedback based on a ball he knows intimately - how it flies in the wind, how it reacts on the greens, and how it feels off the clubface. This creates a consistent playing experience and a shared language between father and son as they navigate the course together.

Why the Bridgestone Tour B X? A Closer Look

The Bridgestone Tour B X is not your average golf ball. It's a premium, tour-caliber model specifically engineered for players with high swing speeds who are looking for a combination of powerful distance off the tee and pinpoint control around the greens. It’s part of a family of balls, with the Tour B X being the model designed for golfers, like Tiger and Charlie, swinging their driver over 105 mph.

Designed for a High-Speed Swing

At its heart, the Tour B X is a 3-piece ball built for speed. The key to its performance lies in a graduated compression core, which is softer in the center and gets firmer toward the outer layers. When compressed by a high-speed swing, this design promotes a very high initial ball speed with reduced spin off the driver. In simple terms: less backspin on your drive equals a more penetrating ball flight and more roll-out, which leads to maximum distance.

The magic ingredient on the outside is Bridgestone’s proprietary “REACTIV iQ” cover technology. This isn't just a simple cover, it’s a "smart" urethane that reacts differently based on the impact speed.

  • On fast impacts (driver, woods): The cover acts firmer, reducing spin and maximizing ball speed for distance.
  • On slow impacts (wedges, short irons): The cover acts softer, allowing the ball to spend more time on the clubface. This extra "grab" or friction increases spin, giving skilled players greater control and stopping power on approach shots.

Urethane Cover: The Key to Greenside Feel and Spin

What really separates a premium tour ball like the Tour B X from a standard two-piece distance ball is its thermoset urethane cover. If you really want precise short-game control, a urethane cover is non-negotiable. This soft, premium material allows the grooves of a wedge or short iron to grip the ball effectively, creating a high-spin shot that will check up and stop quickly on the green.

For a player like Charlie Woods, who is learning to execute a variety of creative shots, this spin is essential. It’s what allows him to hit soft-landing pitches, aggressive shots that stop on a dime, and controlled chips that release a predictable amount. Without this level of greenside control, it’s much harder to score well, no matter how far you hit your drives.

Should You Play the Same Ball as Charlie Woods?

Now for the most important question: is the Tour B X right for you? As a coach, I'll be direct: for the vast majority of amateur golfers, the answer is probably no. And that's absolutely fine. Playing the right ball for your game is far more important than playing the same ball as a professional.

Think of it like getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. It's an incredible piece of engineering, but if you don't have the skills to handle its power and sensitivity, you won't be able to get it out of the pit lane effectively. The same logic applies here.

You might be a good fit for the Tour B X if:

  • Your driver swing speed is consistently over 105 mph. If you don't have this speed, you simply won't be able to compress the core enough to unlock its distance and feel benefits. For you, the ball will feel hard and will likely perform worse than a softer, lower-compression model.
  • You are a low-handicap player. This ball is built for players who can control their ball flight, work the ball both ways (draws and fades), and manage spin effectively around the greens.
  • Your short game is a strength. If you can already execute crisp chip and pitch shots, a urethane-covered ball will reward your good technique with even better results.

You should probably look at other options if:

  • Your swing speed is below 105 mph. The majority of amateur men fall into this category. You would benefit much more from the Bridgestone Tour B RX (for sub-105 mph players seeking a similar feel) or the Bridgestone e12 Contact ball.
  • You're a mid-to-high handicap golfer. The extra spin that helps a pro can hurt an average player, potentially making hooks and slices worse. A lower-spinning ball will often be more forgiving and produce straighter shots.
  • You lose more than one or two balls per round. These are premium balls with a premium price tag. There are fantastic, high-performing golf balls at lower price points that will better suit your game and your wallet.

The Pro's Method for Choosing Your Golf Ball

Instead of just grabbing the box with a famous name on it, let's go through the process a golf professional would use to fit you for a ball. It's a simple approach that helps you cut through the marketing noise and find what truly works.

Step 1: Know Your Swing Speed

The most important piece of data for selecting a golf ball is your driver swing speed. This an easy number to find these days at any retail golf store or driving range with launch monitor technology. If you don't have access to a monitor, you can estimate it with your driver distance:

  • Under 200 yards: Your speed is likely below 85 mph. Focus on 2-piece, low-compression balls.
  • 200-240 yards: You're likely in the 85-100 mph range. Look at a wide range of 2-piece and 3-piece "soft" golf balls.
  • 240+ yards: You're in the 100+ mph range and can start considering multi-layer, tour-caliber balls if your game needs it.

Step 2: Start from the Green and Work Backwards

The best golfers prioritize feel and performance on and around the greens. A ball can promise you five more yards off the tee, but that's useless if you can't putt it with confidence or can't get a chip shot to stop near the hole. The most significant differences in how a golf ball feels are found within 100 yards.

Here’s what to do: Get a sleeve of three different types of balls that fit your swing speed (for example, a Titleist Pro V1, a Bridgestone e12 Contact, and a Srixon Soft Feel). Take them to a practice green.

  1. Putt with them: Which one feels best off the putter face? Too "clicky" or too "mushy"? Sound and feel are critical for confidence and distance control on the greens.
  2. Chip with them: Hit a few identical chip shots with each ball. Does one check up more than the others? Do you prefer that or one that releases more? Note the differences.

Choose the ball that gives you the best feel and predictable performance in the short game. That’s your primary candidate.

Step 3: Match the Ball to Your Common Misses

Now, think about your tendencies on the course. What are you trying to fix?

  • You need more distance and straighter shots: If you have a slower swing speed or struggle with a slice, a low-spin, 2-piece "distance" ball is an excellent choice. Balls like the Callaway Warbird or Titleist Velocity are designed to reduce side spin and maximize distance for a wide range of players.
  • You want softer feel with good all-around performance: Here's the sweet spot for most amateur golfers. Balls like the Titleist Tour Soft, Bridgestone e6, or Srixon Q-Star offer a great combination of feel, distance, and control without the high spin rates and high price of a premium tour ball.
  • You want tour-level spin and control: If you have the swing speed and skill, you need a multi-layer ball with a urethane cover. This includes the Bridgestone Tour B family, the Titleist Pro V1 family, and the TaylorMade TP5 family. Just be certain your game can handle it.

Step 4: Commit to One Ball Model

Once you find a ball that feels good on the greens and performs predictably off the tee and with your a tour-caliber ballirons, stick with it! Playing a different model of ball every hole scrambles your internal computer. You’ll never develop a true sense for how far a pitch shot will fly or how much a chip will release. Consistency in your equipment, especially your golf ball, is a massive step toward consistency in your scores.

Final Thoughts

Charlie Woods uses the Bridgestone Tour B X because its tour-caliber design perfectly matches his high-speed, high-skill game. For the rest of us, the bigger lesson is in the "why" - understanding that a golf ball is a piece of precision equipment that should be matched to your unique swing, not just purchased based on who plays it. By checking your ego at the door and evaluating your own needs for speed, feel, and performance, you can find the perfect ball that will genuinely help you play better golf.

Thinking through all these choices - tee strategy, club selection, shot type - can sometimes feel like more work than play. That’s exactly why we created Caddie AI. Our goal is to give you that expert guidance instantly, right on the course. If you’re ever wondering if the ball you play is right for your swing, you can simply ask for an analysis of your game. When you're standing over a tricky greenside lie and unsure how your ball will react, you can get an immediate, A.I-powered recommendation, so you can stop guessing and start playing with confidence.

Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. His mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.

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