Practically every golf ball manufacturer out there has an option or design with some type of visual alignment aid implemented into it. However, Bridgestone Golf had been a notable holdout, until now. Previously, the brand stood by the notion that they weren’t going to follow trends for the sake of it, but would entertain such an offering if there was one they believed to be both unique as well as a difference maker.
Apparently, it took Bridgestone staff member Jason Day and his mental coach to get there.
Bridgestone Golf MINDSET Visual Technology
With a name like “MINDSET”, it makes sense that a mental coach was involved with this one. However, it isn’t just any mental coach, it is Jason Day’s mental coach, Jason Goldsmith. The two worked in coordination with Bridgestone golf to create a “graphic pattern” which originates with the three-step mental game process which Day has been using for almost a decade.
“Jason Goldsmith and I worked together to develop a pre-shot technique that went beyond the simple visualization I did when I was a kid,” said Day. “He understood how critical pre-shot visualization was to my game but also knew I needed a more structured, complete routine. The MINDSET process we developed gives me everything I need to perform at my best on every shot.”
You, like me, are surely asking aloud at this point, “but what is it”? Well, that is a complex question. The process which the design is rooted in hinges around three steps: Identify, Visualize, and Focus. Those steps are each represented on the golf ball by three circles. The red outer level coincides with working to “Identify” the shape, trajectory, distance, and club choice of the given shot. Once those decisions are made, the yellow then prompts the golfer to “Visualize” the shot to its entirety within their head. Once there is a picture painted within the mind, the green inner dot should remind the player to “Focus” on execution. Green, of course, also means “go”.
Seem like a lot to follow? Well, Jason Day’s mental coach breaks it down as such:
“The MINDSET process allows anyone to do what all professional and high-level players do, which is to utilize a pre-shot routine that gives them the focus they need to perform at their best,” said Goldsmith. “When we started developing the pattern it consisted of concentric circles only, and there was no flow to the design. After some experimentation we came to the current pattern with three different colored circles with arrows, which provides a natural progression through the process. I’m very happy with the final product and believe it can be effectively used by players of all skill levels to improve their scores.”
The Details
Bridgestone always said that they wouldn’t do any type of “printed golf ball” unless it was unique, and it certainly feels like the Bridgestone Golf Mindset checks that box.
This new MINDSET pattern will be available 2/16/24 and be an option on all four of the 2024 Tour B golf ball models. They will not cost any more as the price per dozen will remain at $49.99.
Another round where I was all over the place today. Played a mix of regular and Mindset balls, sticking with the process is getting pretty automatic regardless of if I’m hitting the Mindset ball or not, and although I’m not really seeing any difference in my overall play/scoring, I think I do get over the really bad shots better than I used to. I lost a couple more Mindset balls, hopefully I’ll get drawn as one of the next hundred testers for a THP restock, but I was able to recover from losing balls and getting penalty strokes without compounding bad results with worse results. This was another round where I finished really strong, parring the par-5 16th and 18th, and although parring 16 isn’t that unusual, parring 18 is rare for me, so doing it two rounds in a row is definitely finishing stronger than normal.
[QUOTE=”mson, post: 12319955, member: 66070″]
I had a pretty rough round with the Mindset ball in play this past weekend. I struggled to get off the tee and went OB on a number of holes and burned through most of the remaining test balls I had with maybe 1 or 2 left. I think I’ve been getting a little too complacent with my mental game after some of the early success with Mindset and admittedly have become a little lazier with the three step process. Still absolutely think there’s positive coming from Mindset, but I think I just need to re-focus and make sure I’m being as diligent with the process as I was day 1 using the ball. The early success I saw doesn’t mean I’m out of the woods and am smooth sailing just yet. Should hopefully have my next round on Friday/weekend and can really focus back in on the three step process.
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[USER=66070]@mson[/USER] I agree with you on becoming complacent at times. I’ve seen that creep in myself as the MindSet has become second nature. I believe that is why the logo is such an important reminder of what is needed to be successful.
[QUOTE=”J4U, post: 12316028, member: 10934″]
Pace of play is starting to be a concern here :ROFLMAO: Going to check them out today. Not any high hopes as it’s only the second round this year and lessons in progress. Looking forward to it
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You might be joking but it’s really not any longer pace of play for me. If anything I’m a bit faster as the process keeps me focused on the task at hand.
It’s not like I’m taking a 60 sec meditation every shot ?
[QUOTE=”mson, post: 12319955, member: 66070″]
I had a pretty rough round with the Mindset ball in play this past weekend. I struggled to get off the tee and went OB on a number of holes and burned through most of the remaining test balls I had with maybe 1 or 2 left. I think I’ve been getting a little too complacent with my mental game after some of the early success with Mindset and admittedly have become a little lazier with the three step process. Still absolutely think there’s positive coming from Mindset, but I think I just need to re-focus and make sure I’m being as diligent with the process as I was day 1 using the ball. The early success I saw doesn’t mean I’m out of the woods and am smooth sailing just yet. Should hopefully have my next round on Friday/weekend and can really focus back in on the three step process.
[/QUOTE]
It’s easy to fall into this, almost going through the motions at times. It’s certainly cost me some of the dozen I’ve seeded to the local woodland and aquatic friends.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12320765, member: 62865″]
It’s easy to fall into this, almost going through the motions at times. It’s certainly cost me some of the dozen I’ve seeded to the local woodland and aquatic friends.
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[IMG alt=”Players Association Sport GIF by NBPA”]https://media4.giphy.com/media/S7atCycNm2z8ujA3Lp/200.gif[/IMG]
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12316286, member: 22997″]
One last question about visualization, especially for those that visualize their ball flight. Does your visualization influence the [I]actual [/I]ball flight? For example, have you found if you visualize a fade or draw, you’re more likely to hit a fade or a draw?
[/QUOTE]
This is difficult for me as I do not have the ability to hit a fade on command so I don’t visualize that. My vizualization is always a draw as that is my preferred shape, it’s really just chosing a good starting line and seeing it take the amount of draw i want. So I can’t say wethere it influences my actual ball flight as I’m usually only visualizing my normal draw ball flight.
[QUOTE=”Scooby45, post: 12320765, member: 62865″]
It’s easy to fall into this, almost going through the motions at times. It’s certainly cost me some of the dozen I’ve seeded to the local woodland and aquatic friends.
[/QUOTE]
Looks like we have a lot of mutual friends :LOL:. I still have one or two left so I’m going to try and go back to being very purposeful with these and try to get back on track.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12316286, member: 22997″]
One last question about visualization, especially for those that visualize their ball flight. Does your visualization influence the [I]actual [/I]ball flight? For example, have you found if you visualize a fade or draw, you’re more likely to hit a fade or a draw?
[/QUOTE]
Like [USER=11048]@TWright971[/USER], I can execute a draw far better than I can a fade. I’ve tried, but for some reason I have a hard time with the fade.
I feel like the visualization increases the chance of me executing the desired shot shape, but not all the time. I generally understand the mechanics of what you need to do to execute a draw or fade, but I have a hard time – throughout the entire swing, I’m thinking about too many things (path, club face, stance, etc.). With the visualization piece, it almost feels like when I really visualize the shot shape well, it helps my body do what it needs to in order to execute that shot a little more naturally.
Could very well just be coincidence, but even if the visualization only helps me execute 1% better, I’ll take it.
[QUOTE=”mson, post: 12321537, member: 66070″]
Looks like we have a lot of mutual friends :LOL:. I still have one or two left so I’m going to try and go back to being very purposeful with these and try to get back on track.
[/QUOTE]
I blew my last two over the weekend. Have some RX mindset now, not sure I’m sold on it vs the RXS for my game but I’ll add those thoughts to the ball thread as I get some conclusions for me.
One or the debates I find funny, is people who say saving a stroke or 2 per round isn’t worth changing their ball, but they will spend $600 on a driver to save a stroke or 2.
These golf balls and the MindSet philosophy have helped me enjoy the game more and score better A LOT better!
They ? are staying in the bag this year!
[QUOTE=”hadi05, post: 12322573, member: 50784″]
These golf balls and the MindSet philosophy have helped me enjoy the game more and score better A LOT better!
[/QUOTE]
Is the visual reminder, the Mindset graphic, that critical to employing the process? Can’t you pick a target, visualize the shot and focus on a spot on [I]any [/I]ball and be successful?
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12323133, member: 22997″]
Is the visual reminder, the Mindset graphic, that critical to employing the process? Can’t you pick a target, visualize the shot and focus on a spot on [I]any [/I]ball and be successful?
[/QUOTE]
I’ve found that the MindSet graphic is a great visual reminder to follow the process and is a security blanket for me.
I’ve got a “imprint” of what the logo means and it is my visual cue to start the process instead of internally verbalizing it.
I suppose that a person could use any logo, but they would have to go through the same process of identifying parts of the logo with the process.
[QUOTE=”Phil75070, post: 12323133, member: 22997″]
Is the visual reminder, the Mindset graphic, that critical to employing the process? Can’t you pick a target, visualize the shot and focus on a spot on [I]any [/I]ball and be successful?
[/QUOTE]
Probably different for everyone, but for me the graphic was a starting point, it got me started following the process. It then became a reminder to stick with the process, which was very helpful. Long-term I don’t think I’ll actually need it, as I’ve played plenty without it and have been able to stick with the process pretty well, but since the ball is so good I’ll probably stick with the Mindset version of the Tour B balls when I’m using a premium ball. I’m sure people could do just fine following the 3-step process without ever trying the Mindset balls, but they are a good tool to use getting into it, and maybe make it easier to ingrain the process into a normal routine.
[QUOTE=”hadi05, post: 12322573, member: 50784″]
One or the debates I find funny, is people who say saving a stroke or 2 per round isn’t worth changing their ball, but they will spend $600 on a driver to save a stroke or 2.
These golf balls and the MindSet philosophy have helped me enjoy the game more and score better A LOT better!
They ? are staying in the bag this year!
[/QUOTE]
So I got chosen to test out the Mindset Tech on the Bridgestone.
Help a “Skimmer” if you can.
How do you remind yourself to Identify, Visualize and Focus?
Could it be as easy as writing “TVF” on my Glove for Target, Visualize and Focus”?
I’m looking forward to trying these out. I know my dad has often mentioned that he seems to lose focus during the round. He’s a firearms instructor and talks about how he can focus when he’s shooting but often seems to lose that mindset on the course. I’m going to let him try these out too to see if this is something that can help him with that.
Excited to put these in play once they arrive! Very curious to see if they help my game at all
Really excited to jump in and be a tester for these. I work hard on my mindset (no pun intended) when I play, so curious to see how this may enhance that or make my process easier