Bridgestone walking away from UK golf....

[Robobum]

Ah, that's a shame. Good good ball especially at the price. If I had to buy a ball it would be a b330 - but you always tend to win or get given enough provs during the year not to need to.

Hardware didn't really take, although the J (I think?) series seemed decent in the small cavity/ blades ones

 

[dgparry]

I have been playing Bridgestone balls for the last few years, switching between the E6 and the B330RX. However at the back end of the summer i tried a sleeve of chromesoft, which i found to be very comparable to the B330RX but not as 'clicky' when putting. Looks like the decision has been made for me....chromesoft it is then!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Blimey - didn't realise Bridgestone were that powerful a ball maker

At our level I'm sure most of us can't tell the difference between the respective level balls bar the effect on the wallet.

Bridgestone did seem a bit cheaper

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Never hit a Bridgestone anything, perhaps I'm part of the problem. Don't get much alternative-to-mainstream stuff here in the backwaters. Seem well liked from the posts on here, though. Those new Gutta's look nice though..

 

[ruff-driver]

Cue folk bulk buying :mmm:










Oh 100 b330's just purchased

 

[MendieGK]

Cue folk bulk buying :mmm:










Oh 100 b330's just purchased

Where from?

 

[ruff-driver]

Where from?

mail order golf

 

[HomerJSimpson]

They definitely didn't make the inroads into the club market and so you can see the commercial success and I guess never got the unit sales for the balls. There did seem to be a fairly large portfolio of balls on the market and you can't help wondering if they had scaled that down they could have kept a presence, especially with the premium end balls being as good (in my opinion) as the Pro V

 

[3565]

What was the name of their ball back in the 1970's that had hexagonal dimples ?

I got no idea tbh. The first main stream ball I used would of been the Titleist balata, then onto the professional, Then Rexstar cos of Faldo before 96 actually, then in 96 at The Open Lytham St Anne's there was a huge launch for Precept Tour Double cover as Faldo started used them and not for sale but I got 2 dozen and then a few weeks later I won our club championship using them, still got them in the box to. Then Maxfli Revolutions, onto ProV 1's then Bridgestone 330s for past 3-4yrs.

 

[3565]

You won't go back to a Pro V? Is that the Pro V that Titleist had to pay Bridgestone off for?

Yeah what Titleist ripped off Bridgestone and then charge nearly double the price...... Well that's how I heard it anyway.

 

[Val]

Yeah what Titleist ripped off Bridgestone and then charge nearly double the price...... Well that's how I heard it anyway.

It's alleged the original Pro V was a stolen Bridgestone patent and Titleist had to settle out of court to save a long running legal battle. Unsure if that's true or myth but it's true there was something amiss.

 

[upsidedown]

It's alleged the original Pro V was a stolen Bridgestone patent and Titleist had to settle out of court to save a long running legal battle. Unsure if that's true or myth but it's true there was something amiss.

True it seems http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119162032229150556

 

[3565]

It's alleged the original Pro V was a stolen Bridgestone patent and Titleist had to settle out of court to save a long running legal battle. Unsure if that's true or myth but it's true there was something amiss.

Well you got to hand it to titleist, the most expensive premium ball on the market and going strong. Makes you wonder how they survive if the rumour is true that they did steal patent from them for the original ProV? Yet Bridgestone being one of the biggest rubber manufacturers can't outsell titleist? The power of advertising and branding?

I know your not swinging from the rafters about Bridestone pulling out of UK, but I did here that the only true golf ball manufacturers are Bridgestone Callaway and Srixon, do you know if it's true?

 

[Jacko_G]

Bridgestone balls are an acquired taste, the B330 & S are too solid unless you have a very high swing speed and can compress it. The RX & RXS models cut up, feel guff off the putter face and are poor "premium" offerings in my opinion.

Not surprised they have struggled to get a foothold in the British market.

 

[Garush34]

Shame to see this happen. I do like the Bridgestone gear but was just never advertised enough here, except for the balls.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Last year they asked to host a "Bridgestone Day" where they gave away bags and balls to winners of a medal comp - it was an attempt to get them a bit more recognised

The winner of each of the clubs then went to I think it was Belfry and played in a comp as well

It wasn't the greatest success with not many playing at the Belfry and pro shops not stocking their balls

 

[3565]

Shame to see this happen. I do like the Bridgestone gear but was just never advertised enough here, except for the balls.

Well you only get out what you put in, if they don't market their stuff, how can they be a success. Probably successful in Japan, and maybe in US, but you never saw much over here in the UK about them?

 

[351DRIVER]

Just buy them from the USA if you like them that much, problem solved

 

[ChrisB0210]

Not sure they said they were unhappy, its just clearly not viable... Interestingly I was told by someone who would know that the product is A1 the staff are Z10....

That ties in with what my sources have told me in the past, apparently the reps carried the clubs at the ball fitting sessions but didn't push them. In fact, almost the opposite.

From my personal perspective it is disappointing as I really get on with the E6, so I will add to my stocks bit by bit whilst I can. Then I'll need to find a replacement, which won't be the AD333 as I just don't get on with them! Plenty of other choices though I suppose, so I'm sure I'll find something.

I'd also say it's disappointing from a competition perspective, the more competition in the equipment sector, the better the products become and better prices for consumers. Will be interesting to see if this is a one-off or if any others follow suit.

 

[Fish]

After losing a B330 RX early in the round, I finished it off with a Callaway Chrome Soft, so that will be my new ball from now on, although I may get a few Bridgestones for Christmas.