Bridgestone e12 Series Golf Balls

Bridgestone’s research shows that 85% of golfers would benefit from a ball optimized for their launch. That might seem obvious to some, but I’d bet most golfers don’t consider how a ball actually performs for their game. Many choose based on feel or brand perception. Sure, feel matters, but a “premium” ball isn’t always the best fit. My dad and Jason Day, for example, are not candidates for the same ball. I promise you, they aren’t. To help more golfers find the right match, the new Bridgestone e12 series features three versions: e12 Speed, e12 HiLaunch, and e12 Straight.

With three different balls to test, and plenty of opinions to unpack, I brought in some help for this review. I teamed up with our own Jon Heise and Andrew Jesernig, and we each played all three e12 balls over 18 holes. This review covers all of our thoughts, experiences, and takeaways from that round.

How Does it Feel?

Feel is one of the most subjective aspects of a golf ball, and our testing group really proved that point. The three of us generally agreed on the overall traits of each Bridgestone e12 series ball, but how we perceived their feel varied quite a bit. It ended up being a bit of a “Three Bears” situation: each of us found one ball that felt just right.

For both Andrew and me, that ball was the e12 Speed. It struck the perfect balance – firm enough to get good feedback off the face, but still soft enough to feel like we were compressing it. It had that satisfying “snap” off the club, without ever feeling harsh, clicky, or unresponsive. That said, the e12 Speed is the firmest compression of the three balls.

Jon, on the other hand, preferred the e12 Straight. He felt it gave him better feedback and was more responsive to his swing. The slightly softer feel gave him the impression that he could really compress the ball, especially with his irons.

We all agreed that the e12 HiLaunch felt the softest of the three. It wasn’t marshmallowy at all, but it definitely compressed and had more squish than what the other two models provided. But again, that softer feel might be what some players are looking for.

Off the Tee

Each Bridgestone e12 ball is designed to serve a specific purpose off the tee. The e12 Speed is built for distance, offering a faster, lower-launching flight for players who benefit from a more penetrating trajectory. The e12 HiLaunch has the highest compression of the three, making it easier to get the ball airborne with added carry. Meanwhile, the e12 Straight is engineered to reduce side spin for straighter, more controlled drives, thanks to its Contact Force dimples, low-compression core, and spin-reducing mantle layer.

Andrew and I both gravitated toward the e12 Speed. It had the most pop off the face and delivered a strong, consistent flight we could trust. It even held up well against my usual gamer, the Tour B X, which was impressive. We had no issues with control and appreciated the solid, yet responsive feel and reliable distance.

Jon found the e12 Straight to be a better fit for his game. The slightly softer compression made it easier for him to pick up a few extra yards and the ball flight more naturally fell into his game.

All three of us agreed that the e12 HiLaunch did exactly what it’s supposed to – high launch and easy lift – but it wasn’t ideal for our swing speeds. It lacked the impact feedback and control we prefer. However, it’s likely a great option for players with moderate swing speeds who need help getting the ball up in the air.

On the Approach

The Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch was the most interesting of the three when it came to approach shots. Its higher launch and extra compression gave it great stopping power, especially with short irons. We had fun attacking pins knowing the ball would sit quickly, and even zip back a bit. However, we still struggled with control on longer iron shots not dissimilar to what we saw off the tee.

For Andrew and me, the e12 Speed was the “Goldilocks” option again. It launched high enough for a steep descent and had enough spin to hold greens. It had just a bit of everything for us to be a reliable and predictable ball into the greens.

Jon had a similar experience with the e12 Straight. He noted it stayed on line and didn’t drift as much on approaches. In his opinion, combining the Straight’s control with the HiLaunch’s spin would have made the perfect ball. But the consistency of the Straight made it the better fit for his game.

Around the Green

Our experiences around the greens were similar to approach shots, with some key differences. The Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch however, gave us less control issues thanks to lower swing speeds and shorter shots. It was the most responsive ball on chip shots and could be manipulated easily with wedges

However, for a ball that performs well across the entire scope, the e12 HiLaunch wasn’t ideal for me or Andrew. We needed something that could handle both tee shots and approach shots to get to the green with consistency. The e12 Speed was the best option for us so it was the best option around the green. It provided plenty of grab for pitches, chips, and flops. While firmer, it still felt softer than expected. Far from a “rock” or clicky feel.

The e12 Straight played similarly to the Speed, but its cover produced a slightly different reaction. I didn’t notice a big difference unless paying close attention, though I preferred the feel of the Speed for touch shots. Both balls performed well around the green.

For putting, the e12 Speed was my favorite. I prefer a ball with just a touch above “soft”. Not too firm or jumpy, but still responsive off the face. All three balls felt good on the greens, but the Speed consistently worked best for me.

Also, the Mindset graphic on the ball seemed to help us focus better on our putts. While we weren’t sure how much it really impacted performance, we all agreed it added a little extra focus and planning to our putting routine, and that seemed useful.

Final Thoughts – Bridgestone e12 Series Golf Balls

The new Bridgestone e12 series offers a ball for every type of golfer. For Andrew and me, the e12 Speed delivered the best all-around performance with excellent distance, control, and feel. Jon preferred the e12 Straight for its more controlled flight and consistency. Interestingly, the e12 Straight is the most similar to the previous generation of e12 ball, maintaining its focus on reducing side spin and enhancing accuracy, but with improved feel and consistency.

Bridgestone has done well to cater to various swing types and preferences offering the benefits of the e12 series to a wider golf audience. Even better, the e12 is available at an extremely accessible price point of $34.99 per dozen.