BRIDGESTONE LAUNCHES VFIT GIVING GOLFERS THE ABILITY TO FIND THE RIGHT BALL FOR THEIR GAME ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
Proprietary Technology Allows Bridgestone To Calculate Golf Swing Launch Data from Smart Phone Video Submissions
COVINGTON, Ga. – (January 22, 2020) – Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf, officially launched today its innovative, new VFIT video ball fitting service, providing consumers with the ability to receive an expert person-to-person golf ball analysis anytime, anywhere. VFIT, which has undergone extensive Beta Testing since October of last year, is officially debuting in its go-to-market form at this week’s 2020 PGA Merchandise Show. Excitingly, Beta Testing proved that VFIT has a 98% accuracy rate, matching golfers into the same ball live fitting does in greater than 9 out of every 10 swing analyses conducted.
In 2006, Bridgestone disrupted the golf ball category with the introduction of Ball Fitting, empowering consumers to make a more educated decision about which ball to play, based on personal performance data. Bridgestone’s new VFIT service builds on that heritage by giving more players access to Bridgestone’s ball fitting experts than ever before. It allows players to be fit for the golf ball best suited to their swings by using their smart phone. By following simple set-up instructions provided by Bridgestone, any golfer can record, submit and get fit. Using a cellphone video camera to record a “swing video” in slow motion, the video can then be uploaded to Bridgestone’s ball fitting technicians for a detailed analysis of what ball is right for them. Within 24 hours, each golfer will receive a ball fitting report by email, detailing their launch conditions (swing speed, ball velocity, launch angle, spin rate, carry distance and total distance) and providing an analysis of what ball fits them best.
“Working with Tour Pros is a big source of information and inspiration for us in product development. That’s true too for VFIT. Tour Pros and elite amateurs are often on the road and away from their swing coaches,” said Adam Rehberg, Golf Ball Fitting Manager – Bridgestone Golf. “We noticed how often they use swing video to maintain person-to-person contact with their coach and get needed advice. With VFIT we are doing the same thing – empowering players to make person-to-person connections with experienced ball fitting technicians that can help them improve their game. It’s simple and effective – we are excited to bring this complimentary service to players.”
VFIT is free, easy-to-use and ensures that nearly every one of the 24 million golfers in the United States has the opportunity to receive two pieces of information critical to improving their games – a detailed analysis of swing data and a golf ball that corresponds to those results. To learn more about utilizing VFIT, golfers should visit https://www.bridgestonegolf.com/vfit.
About Bridgestone Golf
Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has 800 golf ball design patents. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over 2.2 million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection and its B-FIT App. The consumer data gathered from ball fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau, Rocco Mediate and Lexi Thompson. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.
