Matt Cradock
Bridgestone has been making golf balls for ninety years and has been the number one brand in its native Japan for almost as long. However, it was the signing of Tiger Woods in 2000 that elevated its global standing, and is now the ball of choice for not just Tiger but also Jason Day, Fred Couples and Matt Kuchar.
If professional endorsements alone aren't enough to tempt you, then consider that Bridgestone makes some of the best golf balls for all levels of players. If you’re looking for more distance, less spin and greater accuracy then there’s likely a Bridgestone to fit your requirements. We’ve tested many of its models and have selected our favorites here. And if you’re looking to compare brands then we also have comprehensive guides to the best TaylorMade golf balls, best Vice golf balls, best Titleist golf balls, all based on our extensive and comprehensive testing.
The Quick List
A really strong all-rounded golf ball with exceptional short game performance that will suit any golfer looking for more spin and a soft feeling golf ball. The MindSet technology is a great addition for those wanting to improve their putting from inside 10ft.
Designed to help golfers with slower swings to get the ball in the air more easily. It certainly does that and it will provide more carry and overall distance for the type of golfer it is aimed at.
For high ball speeds, the Bridgestone E6 is a great option thanks to its low-compression core. Easier to compress at moderate swing speeds, this is a great value two-piece ball that feels like an expensive multi-layer model.
The dimpled design on the Bridgestone E12 ball encourages a straight flight and offers less sidespin, while the soft core promotes better spin around the greens, making it a solid choice for high handicappers.
A distance ball that produces a lower, more penetrating flight thanks to the reduced spin on offer. As a result you'll gain distance from the increased roll out. Well-suited to windy conditions.
Extremely high levels of spin make this a really effective and fun ball around the greens. Well struck pitch shots stop obediently on the second bounce and the spin on longer approach shots gives increased confidence to attack pins.
Best Bridgestone Golf Balls 2025
Top pick
The Bridgestone Tour B RXS golf ball is aimed at those golfers wanting a premium golf ball that will perform best for driver swing speeds under 105mph.
We were impressed with this golf ball in testing. From the tee we saw really good distance, while the new Reactiv X system means this golf ball has been designed to perform well throughout the bag. The Reactiv IQ Smart Cover causes the ball to really spring from the clubface with ease and gives a powerful yet high launching ball flight.
We enjoyed the soft feel when striking iron shots and this also made controlling the ball around the greens seem very easy. The addition of MindSet technology could be a game changer for golfers who struggle with putts inside of 10 feet. This cleverly designed visual cue on the golf ball ensures you have a specific and repetitive process over the ball before hitting your putts. It has been co-designed by Jason Day, a Bridgestone ambassador and a golfer who is widely known as one of the best putters in the game of golf.
One slight negative is that we did find that when the wind picked up, this ball wavered off-line more than expected (probably due to the higher spin rate), so this is worth bearing in mind if you tend to play your golf in windy conditions or already have a higher trajectory. Overall though we believe that the soft feeling, high spinning nature of this ball will see it become quickly recognized as one of the best golf balls for slow swing speeds.
- Read our full Bridgestone Tour B RXS Golf Ball Review
Best for slower swingers
The e12 Hi Launch is one of several balls in the e12 range, and as the name states is aimed at golfers looking for a higher ball flight. For many golfers, especially those who are new to the game or have slower swing speeds, getting the ball in the air can prove difficult, making the game far harder than it needs to be.
Thankfully, the ball lives up to its name, and during our testing we saw a towering ball flight with plenty of carry, especially on the irons. This certainly makes it one of the best golf balls for seniors, who typically struggle getting enough height due to a drop off in their swing speed.
While the ball doesn’t generate a ton of spin, the higher elevation alone should help its target audience to hold more greens. When you miss however, the lack of spin does mean that you get plenty of release and stopping the ball on a dime isn’t really possible unless you have the hands of Seve. The same rings true with the putter, with a firmer, faster feel off the face.
Like many Bridgestone balls, the e12 features its Mindset logo, which is designed to help you to develop a consistent pre-shot routine; the pattern is created to trigger a three step process; identify the target, visualise the shot path and then clear your mind and focus on the green dot before executing your shot.
All told, the ball does its primary job impressively well and the drawbacks around the green are likely to be less of a concern for a player who’s really focused on getting more height and more distance with their full shots.
- Read our full Bridgestone Hi Launch Golf Ball Review
Best value
The e6 is a two-piece ball aimed at moderate swing speed golfers. It has a low compression core to give high ball speed while maintaining a soft feel. The ball comes in both white and optic yellow and we think it is one of the best golf balls for high handicappers and best golf balls for seniors.
Why do we think this? Well, in our testing, we were expecting solid distance and we got that. This ball is easy to shape and move both ways, so would suit better players who have plenty of shots to call on. The thinner cover and varied dimple pattern seems to encourage the movement through the air, which is both a weakness and a strength, depending on how accurate you are in the long game.
What's more, on the green, it performed really well. It was butter soft to putt with and came off the putter at a measured calm pace after making a pleasing soft sound.
- Read our full Bridgestone e6 Golf Ball Review
Best mid-price
Another e12 ball that does what it says on the…box. The Straight is the third offering in the line up and is created for golfers who generate too much side spin either way, resulting in out of control hooks and distance-zapping slices.
So how has Bridgestone made its fairway finder? The magic is largely in the dimple pattern, which is a development on the brand’s popular e12 Contact ball which is a Golf Monthly favourite and has been one of the best value golf balls over recent years.
It’s certainly a distinctive pattern and differs from most golf balls on the market, including the other two models in the e12 range. But it works.
During our testing the ball flew straighter than both the e12 Hi Launch and the e12 Speed, especially off the tee and with our fairway woods. Our stock shape with these clubs is a controlled fade, but with the e12 Straight in play I couldn’t get it to turn left to right much at all. If you like to shape your shots it's an issue, but then if you’re a shotmaker at heart you probably won’t be using this golf ball.
In terms of feel, it sits squarely in the middle of the two other e12 balls, and has a sound to match that. Not clicky like the firmer Speed model or the soft thud of the Hi Launch ball.
If you struggle with accuracy off the tee then it could be part of a combination that sees you hitting more fairways, although we’d also suggest arming yourself with a compatible driver; if it’s a slice that’s hurting your game then one of the best draw biased drivers paid with the E12 Straight could work a treat.
- Read our full Bridgestone e12 Straight Golf Ball Review
Best for distance
The e12 range makes selecting the right ball for you a breeze, with the additional name a clear guide as to its claimed benefits. So, surprise, surprise, the e12 Speed is for golfers looking for more ball speed and with it some extra yards.
To achieve this Bridgestone uses a surlyn cover paired with a ‘Gradational Compression Core’ to form Bridgestone’s “Opti-Flight” system, which is designed specifically to deliver less spin, with a lower launch and greater roll out as a result.
Out on the course, the e12 Speed did just as the name suggested it. We saw plenty of roll out, which really added yards to our drives. If you play throughout the winter months or on softer, slower courses in general, then its real bonus. Obviously there’s a flipside to this, and a fast running ball on firm fairways is great for added distance but can see you running into trouble as result.
Our ball flight was noticeably lower with the e12 Speed, which helped in windy conditions. If you play a good amount of links golf, this could be a match with the lower flight able to cut through the wind. Likewise if your high ball flight is costing you distance then this ball is well worth considering.
On approach shots, pitches and chips, the lack of spin does mean that your shot options are more limited due to the inability to really spin the ball enough to stop it quickly. But its extra yards that will really draw a golfer to this ball, and it delivers on that promise.
- Read our full Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Ball Review
Best for spin
Like the Tour B X, the Tour B XS has a new Reactiv X system and is designed for players who produce more than 105 mph of driver speed. However, where the two differ is in the spin levels and speed, with the B XS producing a high amount of spin and slightly less distance.
In testing, because of the spin, we saw a significantly greater peak height and, as such, a sharper descent angle which would be ideal for hitting into firm greens. As mentioned, the distance is slightly less than the Tour B X, with there being around 8-10 yards difference.
It's around the greens where this model excels, though, with the cover gripping onto the clubface excellently through impact. The performance, when hitting into greens, was almost like Velcro, such was the stopping power on offer. Overall, we don't know if we have tried a spinnier ball around the greens and, with the superb durability, we were big fans of the Tour B XS.
- Read our full Bridgestone Tour B XS Golf Ball Review
How we test golf balls
When it comes to testing golf products, we have a thorough testing procedure that revolves around our ethos of giving insightful and honest reviews of golf gear so you are well informed if you want to make a buying decision. At Golf Monthly we are all regular golfers and therefore seek to be as honest and insightful as possible in all our reviews and buyers' guides so that you can make an informed decision.
Firstly, we look to test golf balls indoors, in a controlled environment to get some baseline data. We always use launch monitors for this and then we often hit new models up against other new balls, or previous generation balls to see performances differences.
Next is outdoor testing which means hitting balls on the driving range, and most importantly, on the course. Playing with the ball helps us gauge performance when playing different shots, and in different lies and conditions. This testing also usually takes place over several rounds to see how balls perform on variables like durability, distance, feel and so on. The final point worth mentioning is no manufacturer can buy a good review.
How to choose golf balls
Picking the right golf ball for you can be quite an overwhelming choice, especially because of how technical golf ball design and construction is right now. Many balls have different features and working out which is best for you, can be tricky. Because of this, we've put together this section on how to choose your next ball.
1. Soft or firm?
Working out what you like to feel from a golf ball is a good place to start. Do you prefer a firmer feel at impact and when putting, or maybe something softer? The range of Bridgestone golf balls we selected above all have different designs which fit into either soft or firm categories, so we would always recommend trying different golf balls from different distances to find your preference.
2. Cover material
Different cover materials offer slightly different performance. For example the urethane-covered models on the market tend to offer better spin control, but they do cost more than surlyn covered balls. Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to justify the extra cost, or whether the best mid-price golf balls might be an option.
3. Long game or short game?
Linking with the above factor, do you want to put more emphasis on long-game or short-game? Are you seeking more distance or better feel for short game improvements?
If distance is your focus, then the Tour B RX is going to be the top model in all likelihood, whereas if you want a premium feel, then the B XS model will give the best spin and short-game control. On that note, you may also want to check out our best soft feel golf balls guide for more models that are designed for feel.
4. Color
Bridgestone is one brand that usually offers different colored golf balls in select models. For example the e12 Contact, e6 and some others often come in yellow, red and sometimes green, as well as the traditional white.
5. Budget
We would always recommend being aware of what your budget is when it comes to golf balls and then you can choose a model accordingly.
For more advice on what golf balls you should purchase, take a look at our guides on the best premium golf balls, best golf balls for high handicappers and best value golf balls.
FAQs
Which Bridgestone ball is most like Pro V1?
From our testing the model we think that is the closest in terms of performance is the Bridgestone Tour B XS model.
Which Bridgestone golf ball is best?
Bridgestone makes several high-quality golf balls across every level of the game and across different player abilities. Therefore when answering this question it is about what you are after from a golf ball. If you want a Tour level design, then one of the Tour B X or B XS balls will be the best, or if you want distance then the e12 will probably test best. Then you have factors like soft-feel, firm-feel and so on and so forth. Whatever you are after, Bridgestone has you covered.
What golf ball does Tiger Woods use?
Tiger Woods has been using Bridgestone golf balls for 25 years and currently uses its Tour B XS TW Edition golf ball. Like many premium balls it’s aimed at high swing speed players looking for a blend of spin, distance and control.
