Bridgestone partners with US Kids Golf to create a low-compression ball designed specifically for developing players.
The junior golf market has exploded — more than 50 percent since 2019, according to Bridgestone — and with that growth comes a simple reality: Kids need equipment that fits their game, not watered-down versions of what adults play. With that, Bridgestone and US Kids Golf (both based in the Atlanta area, for what it’s worth) have teamed up to create the BOOM IT Junior—a low-compression golf ball purpose-built for swing development, body development, and the kind of clubhead speeds that come from being, you know, a kid.
What’s in the ball?
The BOOM IT Junior features an extremely low compression core—Bridgestone puts it at just over 40, and while our gauge tends to measure a touch firmer than theirs, the BOOM IT should land among the softest balls on the market regardless. The dimple design is engineered to promote a high launch for maximum carry, which makes sense for players who aren’t exactly generating tournament-level velocity.
At $22.99 a dozen, the price is reasonable—perhaps more so than some of the alternatives. And here’s the thing: while this is positioned as a small ball, this compression value suggests it could work as a slightly more affordable alternative to something like the Callaway Supersoft for adults who prefer soft feel and easy release. Bridgestone probably won’t market it that way, but math is math.
MindSet makes the cut
BOOM IT Junior also includes Bridgestone’s MindSet alignment chart – a visual system developed by Jason Day and performance coach Jason Goldsmith that is built around a three-step pre-shot sequence: Identify, Visualize, Focus. In 2026, Bridgestone employees Jason Day, Chris Gotterup, Kurt Kitayama and Boo Weekley are all competing with MindSet graphics on their tournament balls.
Will MindSet transform your eight-year-old’s short game overnight? No. But as a tool to reinforce the habit of going through a pre-shot routine—visualizing the shot, committing to the execution—it has real value, especially for youngsters who learn and master the process early. Building these habits is now the kind of thing that blends into a lifetime of golf.
The greatest game
Let’s be honest about what BOOM IT is beyond the product itself: it’s a brand game. The name appeals to kids (because of course it does) and serves as an introduction to the Bridgestone ecosystem. The company surely hopes that a youngster who starts with BOOM IT will eventually graduate to an e6, then a Tour B, and stay in the family for a long time. I think it’s worth a try.
And the graduation path makes sense. As players and their games mature, it’s natural to move to more complex constructions—multi-layer tournament balls with urethane covers and the spin separation that comes with them. But for the kid still swinging US baby clubs and figuring out which end of the putter to hold, a softer, easier-to-release ball is the right call.
The partnership with US Kids Golf – founded in 1996, running over 2,000 youth tournaments annually – adds credibility. While competition in the youth gear space has grown significantly in recent years, US Kids remains one of the most recognized names in the category. Their inclusion from the ground up rather than a co-branded logo as the fact suggests this was a collaborative effort, not a licensing deal.
Availability
The Bridgestone BOOM IT Junior Golf Ball ($22.99/dozen) is available online and at retail beginning March 27 at bridgestonegolf.com.
