Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Ball Review

For mid-high handicap golfers looking to add a little distance to their game, Bridgestone has released the all new e12 Speed golf ball, which is one of three options in the e12 range. All three models are designed to offer a different type of ball flight and provide whatever solution is needed for golfers who need help flighting their shots.

Bridgestone claims that 85% of amateur golfers are using the wrong ball and would benefit from being fitted for a ball to suit their own specific flight. The brand believes the e12 models cover all of those bases. So for the golfer who needs help getting the ball in the air, there’s the e12 High Launch. For golfers who suffer from a hook or a slice there is the e12 Straight, and for the golfer needing a lower, more penetrating flight with extra distance there is the e12 Speed.

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The e12 Speed features a surlyn cover paired with a ‘Gradational Compression Core’ to form Bridgestone’s “Opti-Flight” system, which is designed specifically to lower spin for a lower launch and greater roll out.

Off the tee this ball delivered great results for me. I have a high ball flight and that occasionally costs me distance as I tend to not get much roll out on drives, and most of my distance comes from carry. In winter that’s a good thing, but sometimes when the fairways are firmer you really want that extra roll that comes with a lower ball flight and I often feel like I’m missing out.

The e12 Speed certainly lowered my usual flight and will suit the golfer who plays in windy conditions and needs to flight the ball lower and puts a premium on roll out. So I could see this ball being very effective for links golf as an example. The conditions were quite firm when I tested this golf ball and that obviously helped, but in terms of distance the e12 Speed was going as far as any of the best premium golf balls I have used.

As with most distance balls, there is a trade off when it comes to approach shots. The e12 Speed is at the lower end of the spin scale which helps with distance but harms control. More accomplished players will not enjoy the lack of control and spin with short iron and wedge approaches, although personally I was impressed with the performance the e12 Speed delivered with the mid-irons. The distance was impressive and I was able to hold greens. I prefer more spin with my wedges but at the top and middle of the bag I couldn’t fault this golf ball.

Around the greens, again, it isn’t the most responsive and you are limited in the type of shot you can play with it. That being said, realistically the kind of golfer that is likely to be needing a game improvement ball such as this one is probably not going to be blessed with a short game like Phil Mickelson and won’t be requiring something that stops dead on the second bounce.

I should also mention the Mindset logo, which is a staple on all of the best Bridgestone golf balls and features on all three models in the e12 range. The idea behind this is to encourage golfers to adopt the same pre-shot routine to help with focus. Mindset is a visual cue to start 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.

If you need extra yards off the tee or if you feel like you need to lower your ball flight and spin rate, the e12 Speed might be a good option for you so give it a try and see.