Major brand launches a golf ball designed specifically for juniors

With junior golf participation booming, one of the game’s biggest names is stepping up with a ball designed from the ground up for young players.

With junior golf participation booming, one of the game’s biggest names is stepping up with a ball designed from the ground up for young players.

For years, junior golfers have had access to clubs built just for them – with lighter shafts, smaller grips, custom flex profiles – all designed to make the game easier and more enjoyable at a young age.

But when it comes to golf balls? That’s been a different story.

Most young players have been stuck using normal golf balls that aren’t suited for their swing speeds. Which seems like an oversight, considering the golf ball is the one piece of equipment they use on every single shot.

That’s what makes the new Bridgestone ELECTRON golf ball so interesting.

“The new ELECTRON is an entirely new product for Bridgestone,” says Dan Murphy, President of Bridgestone Golf. “It’s designed to help younger players launch the ball more easily and have more fun playing golf. Bridgestone pioneered ball fitting and we’re proud to have used our data to develop the ELECTRON specifically to meet the needs of junior players.”

Launching 29 April, the ELECTRON is the result of a collaboration between Bridgestone and youth development non-profit organization First Tee.

It’s being sold exclusively at DICK’S Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy for $21.99 per dozen, and it may well be the first mainstream ball designed specifically for junior golfers.

Rather than modifying an existing adult ball, Bridgestone says it used data from extensive junior ball fittings — collected during golf’s recent youth participation boom — to design the ELECTRON specifically for younger players.

“We’re looking forward to this new golf ball helping juniors play better,” says Murphy.

Why this golf ball matters

If you’ve been around junior golf, you know that gear can make or break the experience. Kids trying to swing clubs they’re not big or strong enough to use can make the game feel like hard work, putting them off the game at a time when they could be falling in love with it.

If the Bridgestone ELECTRON can help juniors hit shots higher, further, and more consistently, it will boost enjoyment – and that can only be a good thing.

Part of the genesis for the design of the new ELECTRON is the massive boom in popularity of golf enjoyed over the last few years, which continues to carry over in the junior market. In fact, since 2019, youth participation is up approximately 48%, and in 2024 alone, the junior market grew another 6%. This “junior boom” has allowed Bridgestone to ball fit a substantial number of younger players, providing the data necessary to design the ELECTRON.  

Features of the Bridgestone ELECTRON

The Bridgestone ELECTRON has been designed to deliver easy performance for junior golfers. Here’s how they’ve done it:

• Low-compression core: This generates easy launch and maximum distance for slower swing speeds generated by junior golfers.
• Shallow dimple design: This produces faster launch and increased peak height, as many juniors struggle to get shots sufficiently airborne.
• Soft feel: This is designed to help with short game touch and performance.

The ELECTRON comes with four different facemark colors, each stamped with a different word representing key principles golfers should embody:

• Character
• Honesty
• Kindness
• Respect

“We believe in the power of sports to change lives,” says David Progar, Senior Vice President of Golf and Hardlines Merchandising at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “With this partnership with Bridgestone and First Tee, we’ll be able to offer junior players a new experience as they learn the game of golf and hopefully build a love for it over a lifetime.” 

The ELECTRON will be available exclusively at DICK’S Sporting Good and Golf Galaxy from 29 April at $21.99 per dozen.

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