Bridgestone Golf 2019 Tour B XW-1 Wedges Review: Refined Feel with All-Terrain Versatility

When you think of Bridgestone Golf, you probably think of their award-winning golf balls and commitment to fitting golfers into the best, most technologically-advanced ball for their games.  But don't make the mistake of thinking Bridgestone is just a golf ball company. 

 

The folks at Bridgestone Golf made the path to better wedge play a whole lot easier in 2019 with their new Tour B XW-1 wedges.  Distinct sole grinds and new groove designs allow you to control your distances, manage various lies, and ultimately hit your intended targets.  And you can trust the Tour B XW-1 to hit a variety of shots on full swings, half swings, and everything in between. 

The new Tour B XW-1 lineup features lofts ranging from 50 to 60 degrees (in two degree increments), with three optimal grinds that are crucially important to the design and purpose of each wedge. 

 

 

The 50-degree wedge, for example, comes in one grind, the F-Grind.  The F stands for "flat," so there's minimal heel and toe grinding.  This is basically your gap wedge that nine times out of 10 you're going to use on full swings without ever really needing to open or close the face. 

 

 

The 56-degree wedge comes in an A-Grind.  This loft of course is your traditional sand wedge, and the A stands for "forgiving."  It features an aggressive heel grind so you can easily open the face and blast through any kind of sand or thick rough.  And it also makes it easy to execute those delicate, touch shots around the green. 

 

 

And for all other lofts (including my 60-degree wedge), you have an M-Grind which stands for "multipurpose."  This grind features heel-toe relief for maximum versatility on just about any shot you might face on the course. 

 

 

The XW-1 are classic looking wedges, though slightly rounder than a traditional tear shape, and also with a slightly higher toe.   A premium Japanese 1020 forging makes their feel at impact one of the softest and satisfying on the market.  And the mass centered behind the Bridgestone "B" logo makes flighting these wedges up or down incredibly easy. 

 

 

Another thing I really enjoyed about the XW-1 wedges is their leading edge.  Most classic wedges have sharp leading edges which can make them very unforgiving, especially if you have a steep swing.  The XW-1 however feature a more radiused or beveled lead edge that pretty much makes them anti-dig.  Yet at the same time this doesn't add much bounce to them, so you can still aggressively attack from tight lies without the fear of catching it thin or skulling your chips and pitch shots. 

 

 

 

The biggest story for me however was the XW-1 spin.  It's not only Bridgestone's best, it's also one of the best spinning wedges from any company out there.  The new groove design is called Biting Rail Milled grooves, and the spin is exceptional on full swings, half swings, and from the fairway, sand, and rough. 

 

Between the actual grooves are microgrooves that almost feel like fine sandpaper if you run your fingers across them, and they extend across the entire face to increase spin and prevent sliding up the face.  And quite honestly, if these microgrooves were any sharper or larger, they would be actual grooves themselves.  The XW-1 wedges gave me some of the most spin of any wedge I used all year. 

 

 

If I had to nitpick about the XW-1 wedges, I'd say they're not extremely forgiving.  But that's to be expected because they're not perimeter weighted or designed primarily for that.  In the hands of a skilled player these are deadly.  And I'm willing to bet they will lower most players short-game handicaps.  

 

 

No matter your skill level, wedge play comes down to one common denominator.  And that's feeling dialed in with them and being able to stick shots close.  And I can tell you in a nutshell, the Tour B XW-1 will make your good days on the course great, your off days still pretty good, and you'll probably hit a few shots that make your friends ask if they have magical powers.  These wedges are destined to be the most consistent performers in your bag. 

 

 

 

PROS: 

Distinct, efficient sole grinds allow for various and precise shots from anywhere on the course 
Radiused lead-edge makes them very anti-dig 
1020 forging is incredibly soft with fantastic feedback
Exceptional spin that rivals anything on the market 

CONS: 
Zero to minimal offset might not suit higher handicaps
Stock N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 gram shafts might feel a bit too light for some players 

 

And always, if you have any questions about these new Bridgestone Tour B XW-1 wedges, feel free to shoot me an email or DM on twitter or Instagram.