MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of the golf balls on the market to help you find the best ball for your money. Today, we’re taking a look at the Mizuno RB Tour. An overview of the equipment we use can be found here. To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.
It’s perhaps not entirely accurate to say the point of the Mizuno RB Tour golf ball is to be different. However, it’s absolutely true that Mizuno made a conscious decision not to produce something akin to a Pro V1.
The RB Tour (and the RB Tour X) is a low-launch/high-spin offering. It’s overstating it a bit to call it “unique” but its space in the ball-fitting world is where not everyone plays … at least not at retail. It’s a tail end of the bell curve offering where the only legitimate performance comps are the Volvik S4 (perhaps the most extreme example of a low launch/high spin golf ball) and what now is the prior Gen of the Kirkland three-piece ball.
It’s not a performance spec for everybody but it will definitely work for somebody.
About the Mizuno RB Tour
The Mizuno RB Tour is a four-piece, 360-dimple urethane-cover design. While launch and spin characteristics differ significantly, from a compression and feel perspective, it’s Mizuno’s answer to the Titleist Pro V1. Originally priced in the $45 range, Mizuno has lowered that to $34.99.
The Mizuno RB Tour is manufactured in Vietnam by Fang Tey, the same factory that produced Nike’s RZN balls. The company continues to produce RZN balls under the RZN Golf brand.
Mizuno RB Tour – Compression
It should come as no surprise that the RB Tour clocks in at 91 compression on our gauge. I’d wager that 90 is the most common compression target across the “Tour ball” category so it’s only logical the more mainstream of Mizuno’s two Tour offerings is more or less on that number.
As with most everything else that hovers around 90, we’d classify the ball as firm by the standard of the market as a whole but, within the Tour ball category, the feel reasonably qualifies as medium.
Mizuno RB Tour – Weight and Diameter
- None of the balls tested exceeded the USGA weight limit of 1.620 ounces.
- A single ball failed to meet our standard for roundness.
- None of the balls tested was smaller than USGA’s minimum allowable diameter.
Three bullet points to tell you that there aren’t any major flags with respect to weight, roundness or size. It’s perhaps notable that the Mizuno RB Tour runs a tick large for the Tour category while it’s also a bit on the light side. Both of those could potentially cost Mizuno some speed and distance relative to others in the category.
Mizuno RB Tour – Inspection
Centeredness and Concentricity
We found some degree of core centeredness and or layer concentricity issue in roughly two-thirds of the balls in our sample.
Nearly 20 percent of the sample had defects significant enough that we flagged the ball. The majority of those were for off-center cores though we also observed issues with inconsistent thickness in both the mantle and cover layers. It’s likely all fruit from the same tree as centering issues will very often cause outer layers to be less than uniform in thickness.
Core Consistency
Core color consistency was generally excellent. There are some visible bits of regrind which was common across our entire sample. We didn’t find any miscellaneous chunks or anything else unusual or out of place.
Cover
Other than the thickness issues covered in the concentricity section, we found no issues with covers in our RB Tour sample.
Mizuno RB Tour Consistency
In this section, we detail the consistency of the Mizuno RB Tour. It’s a measure of how similar the balls in our sample were to one another, relative to all of the models we’ve tested to date.
Weight Consistency
- Consistency (of weight) across our Mizuno RB Tour sample fell within the average range.
Diameter Consistency
- Diameter consistency relative to the other balls in our database also fell within the low end of the average range.
Compression Consistency
- Compression consistency across the sample was average though we did find some issues.
- We flagged a single ball as bad because its compression was about 10 points below the median value for the sample.
- Another ball was flagged for having a significant variation across the three compression points measured.
True Price
True Price is how we quantify the quality of a golf ball. It's a projection of what you'd have to spend to ensure you get 12 good balls.
The True Price will always be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball.
Mizuno RB Tour – Summary Report
To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.
The Good
- The performance characteristics of the ball fit a niche of the ball-fitting world where not a lot of options exist.
- Values for some quality metrics fall within the average range
The Bad
Nearly two-thirds of the balls had some minor defect. In total, 25 percent of the sample was flagged as bad.
True Price
The True Price of the Mizuno RB Tour is $46.64. That represents a 33-percent increase over the current MSRP ($34.99). Obviously, that’s not great. We’ll recommend Mizuno irons all day and we’re increasingly impressed with the woods but unless you really need low launch with high spin from your golf ball, the RB Tour is probably one to skip.
Robert
3 weeks ago@Tony -Anymore dtc in the pipeline? I’ve seen and heard alot about Vice Pro balls but nothing beats a definitive lab test.
scott
1 month agoI’ve found a few of them in the high grass, I had to look them up to see what they were. I found them to have a hard feel off the tee but not off my irons…For the price I see them has a value for all the tech inside..
Then why buy them ,when you can find them , That’s my motto.
P.J.
1 month agoGood info, seen them in the PGA Tour Superstore and thought about buying. After reading this review, pass.
Thanks for the data!
Lou
1 month agoAny chance you might review the TaylorMade Tour Response balls? Seems like a ball many people might use as it is a Urethane cover, 3 piece ball that has distance and spin at a favorable price point. I’ve tried it and like it a lot. Your tests knocked my last ball, Srixon QStar Tour, so badly I just threw them out.
Aztec
1 month agoTaking a look at the picture of the split golf ball, it’s visually obvious the mantle layer around the core is not uniform. Pretty bad…
David C
1 month agoHi MGS, looks like the MSRP or 33% may be incorrect in the statement “The True Price of the Mizuno RB Tour is $46.64. That represents a 33-percent increase over the current MSRP ($44.99). ” at the end of the write-up.
Thanks for all the great info!
Chris C
1 month agoI found one of the RB Tours on the second hole so I put away my ball and played the RB , I have to say I thought the ball performed very well great distance off the driver and excellent spin off my wedges , putting was an excellent feel. My issue is the price here in Canada. Overall I would play this ball anytime.
Mike W
1 month agoTony, great work on all these ball lab reviews. My only criticism would be to publish them faster, but I realize they’re probably very time consuming. At any rate, Merry Christmas to you and the MGS staff!
Desert Hacker
1 month agoMike,
Tony is but one man, a machine, he is not.
Mike
1 month agoHmmm…Mizuno threw in a sleeve of the 2019 RB X balls with my irons (imho: the least they could do). I don’t normally play X variants (e.g. Pro V1x) because I don’t have the CHS but these were by far my favorite of the bunch: longer, more spin, and very durable. Based on your compression #’s I should have hated the X’s.
I was looking out for a deal on the RB Tours but now based on the lab results and comments I am not sure. Good thing I got a deal on z stars.
Pat
1 month agoGreat job on the review. I’m curious – did they change the ball from 2019 to 2020? I bought a dozen in early fall of 2019 cuz the person at the store recommended them for cooler weather rather than Pro V1. I tried them – they were awesome for me, outperforming ProV1 and and the Bridgestone Tour Bs. in distance while doing fine around the greens. I was so happy with them that when the cooler weather hit this year I bought another dozen. These are a 1 1/2 to 2 clubs SHORTER than the ProV1 and the Bridgestone Tour Bs..
Cody Reeder
1 month agoOuch…
I will also add the ball is oddly shiny..
mackdaddy9
1 month agoSo 4 balls per dozen are likely to be duds! Can’t buy those.
Thanks
Michael P.
1 month agoAnd “nearly two-thirds of the sample had minor defects”…that’s eight balls in a dozen…that leaves you with only 4 good balls…no thanks!
GREG
1 month agoFact – Mizuno golf balls are over priced and over rated. If you want to keep hitting a club and a half short with your irons then keep using Mizuno golf balls. I wouldn’t use a Mizuno ball if they were FREE.
wayne
1 month agoThe Mizuno Golf Ball the 566 and 566V is mizunos best balls
Soft feel and very long off the driver and irons
I have played the RB Tour Ball and the 566 and 566V balls are better golf balls .
WAYNE SWISHER
1 month agoThe Mizuno Golf Ball the 566 and 566V is mizunos best balls
Soft feel and very long off the driver and irons
I have played the RB Tour Ball and the 566 and 566V balls are great golf balls .
My Golf Spyt should test those balls and compare them
Thanks for the reviewon the RB Tour ball
James Han
1 month agoI believed Mizuno ball worked very well based one other reviews. Not anymore!
How about Vice Pro Plus!
Theo Miron
1 month agoI am surprised at the high % of defects., not quite as bad as the Srixon Q Star Tours, but still unsettling as a consumer. I bout two dozen of the RB Tours and wasn’t impressed at all. The performance seemed adequate and generally similar to it’s like-priced counterparts. However, the durability of the ball was terrible in my opinion. It scuffs easily, small abrasions, etc on balls that never touch a hard surface other than my club face. It’s durability reminded me of those crazy hard Prostaff Bi-Metal balls I played during my youth!
Jeremy Ireland
1 month agoNooooooooooooo!!!! I’ve used the RB Tour X almost exclusively for about 2 years now and never noticed an issue with any of them. Soft off the putter, spinny around the greensides, and consistent on distance.
:-\ Was about to re-order a few dozen also.
Mike
1 month agoI also really liked last year’s RB Tour X. Wonder if this is a 2020 quality issue?
Paul
1 month agoIf you played the ball and it performed well for you, and you liked it, then why would you switch out of it based on a review? Clearly these metrics aren’t that significant of the ball worked well for you.
Wilson
1 month agoVery well-said indeed.
Jeremy Ireland
2 weeks agoI agree, but it’s gonna make it hard to pull the trigger on x-dozens again knowing some may be shaped like eggs! ;-p
I’ve had all kinds of issues with other balls not feeling/performing good, but never had an issue with these Mizuno’s after playing roughly 200+ balls over the years
Terry
1 month agoThis is somewhat eye opening as I have seen these balls used in online videos which has me wondering about how those results might have been skewed due to “bad” balls. I had no interest in playing them given the plethora of other good balls available and this report just reconfirmed that decision. Thanks Tony!
TenBuck
1 month agoGood write-up! I somehow don’t think that Mizuno has an actual ball manufacturing plant or their own R&D (correct me if I’m wrong), so when you rely on and outside manufacturer to make balls for you to “your specs”, Mizuno should have invested in a little QC at their corporate HQ. Nothing worse that having something like this published without an explanation and or corrective measures….if they still want to stay in the ball market.
Mark
1 month agoMizuno has been one of the best selling golf balls in Japan for a while now. They just finally decided to bring their ball over to the US. So this isn’t their first go around when it comes to golf balls. Surprising to see.
Tim
1 month agoInteresting data. I purchased several dozen RB-x this year and was excited to hit them. However, these are definitely not the ball for me. As stated earlier, the “spin” increase led to a club to a club and a half shorter on approach shots. No bueno. Now, with the data analysis you provided, it seals the deal: balls are staying in their package and on the shelf.
Geoffrey Hochenstein
1 month agoI know what ball I am NOT buying now.
Aart
1 month agoThere is mix-up of data…… in tables you indicate 19% bad balls, while in text you write that 25% of the sample is flagged as bad…..So, how bad is it ??
Cipote
1 month ago19% is core and cover issues. Add the single ball (3%) for not being round, and the other ball (3%) for being 10 points off compression median. 19% + 6% = 25%
tscdave
1 month agoAlthough priced right, the inconsistency in construction would not have me put this ball in play. I’m inconsistent enough already!
Thanks for the report.
Jeff
1 month agoTony – I’ve noticed some large derviations of firmness from these tests vs. the 2019 ball test (e.g., this ball was a 106.3 in the ’19 test). I’m assuming that the figures from this year are more accurate given the rigor you’re deploying on these evaluations, but curious for the cause of the differences.
As someone who prefers a firmer ball (current -ProV1x) I’m always interested in the top right corner of that Compression vs. Ball Speed chart.
James
1 month agoTony explained this (I think in the very first one). New machine doesn’t read the same as the old machine. Like many measurements in golf (driver length, ugh), there’s no firm standard for how it’s measured.
Their new machine reads close to what the manufacturers have traditionally used. The current Pro V1 & Pro V1x are the descendants of the old Professional 90 and Professional 100 balls. And most vendors are sticking close to those numbers for their “tour” and “tour X” variants. Titleist has inched a little higher than 100 on the Pro V1x to keep up with the TP5x ball speeds.
Jeff
1 month agoSuper helpful, thanks James! Unfortunately I only have time to read these Ball Labs on the balls I’m interested in so I had missed that.
Joe Perez
1 month agoWow! Before this, I’d heard only good things about the ball, with the only grip being cover durability. I picked up three dozen at the local PGA TOUR Superstore when they were selling at 3 doz/$75, and I was able to toss a $10 reward certificate onto it as well. Didn’t want to try them in the Winter since I didn’t want to use them in crummy weather, but maybe I should toss a sleeve in the bag. I hop0e I don’t have to put them in the stack of Winter balls with the all the older Callaway Chrome Soft dozens..
PDT816
1 month agoLong-time Mizuno Irons player…. Bought the balls from golf galaxy a while back on a 2-for-1 sale. These are the least durable covers since the balatta balls.
Vern Haynes
1 month agoI bought a couple dozen when they were on deep discount. I found nothing special about them at all. I normally play Srixon Z Star and the Mizuno were significantly shorter plus I found they scuffed much easier. I personally would never buy them again no matter the discount. I’ve always loved Mizuno irons.
Bob
1 month agoSame here(except I normally play with Bridgestone).
shawn
1 month agoI have been told the cover is easily damaged. I did play with a guy who found one and played one of his best rounds of the year.
j
2 weeks agoNot true. I use these regularly and have no issues with cut covers. It’s urethane and is soft like any other urethane ball.
Walter
1 month agoSo far this one must rank as the worst ball yet. Great work Tony.
MIGregB
1 month agoHmmm… that really surprises me. The very FIRST thing I think about when the name Mizuno is mentioned is quality. Regardless of whether a particular Mizuno product works for me (their 919 Hot Metals do), quality is never even a remote thought because I believe Mizuno quality is fundmental.. However, based on Tony’s findings, it almost looks like they jumped into golf balls as a “me, too” item, despite the target player. I admittedly have never tried them myself mostly because of the dizzying array of good balls to choose from (and I’m easily confused). But I would never have avoided them because of quality.
JS-1979
1 month agoWhat type of player does a low launch / high spin combo ball work for? You mention the small segment numerous times but not what type of golfer that would be.
I’ve used these balls. Outside of some welt scuffs they perform awesome for me as a 6 cap.
Great job on labs.
J
2 weeks agoI’ve used Mizuno for the last two years, these balls cut the wind like almost no other.
Aside from that, to each their own. I hit a high ball and prefer to keep it lower by using more of a 3/4 punch shot sometimes, the spin checks it up with a one-hop stop or backs up 4-5′.
Andrew Baumann
1 month agoThe dimples on this ball are designed with some cool intentions. They took the deeper and more conical dimples from their baseball bats and miniaturized them with the intent being to limit drag around the ball. The cover durability is pretty low. Every single ball that I have tried has cut through the cover and detached from the mantle
david coleman
1 month agoi hit this ball a few times.. a full club shorter than a prov1.
wayne
1 month agoThe Mizuno Golf Ball the 566 and 566V is mizunos best balls
Soft feel and very long off the driver and irons
I have played the RB Tour Ball and the 566 and 566V balls are better golf balls .