Bridgestone e9 Long Drive Golf Ball

The Bridgestone e9 Long Drive golf ball is a long-distance ball designed for maximum distance on every shot. Bridgestone designed this ball alongside the World Long Drive Association, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used from tee to green. It features a unique Extreme Gradational core technology that combines a soft inner core with a firm outer core. This helps to deliver maximum ball speed and distance, while also providing good spin control for a consistent ball flight. While definitely built to be a long and powerful off the tee, the e9 Long Drive is impressively playable all the way through the green.

How Does it Feel?

Like most “distance balls”, the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive golf ball has an overall firmer feel. That said, I was absolutely shocked at how responsive the ball felt off of irons, wedges, and putters. Distance balls tend to feel too firm, clicky, or difficult to compress. With the e9 Long Drive, while it felt firm, it certainly didn’t feel “resistant to compression”. I might even go so far as to say that it felt soft on approach shots. This is a key benefit of Bridgestone’s Gradational Core technology.

Off the Tee

Off of the tee is definitely where the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive golf ball shines. The Extreme Gradational core technology helps to deliver maximum ball speed, while the aerodynamic cover helps reduce drag. That cover is seamless and comprised of 330 dimples. Its reduced drag allows it to cut through the air better for more distance, but also more control. Though players with bigger swing speeds will likely see the most distance benefit from the e9’s design, I believe plenty of other players seeking longer yardages off the tee will be able to benefit from this ball as well. In short, you 100% don’t have to be a monster to hit it well. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

On the Approach

I’d be lying to you if I told you I had high expectations for the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive golf ball anywhere other than the tee box. That skepticism all but disappeared as soon as I hit my first approach shot with the ball. You see, I was playing a sort of unplanned 18 holes fairly far from home and needed to replace my ball after the second hole. (In short, the ball had already seen better days and a run in with a tree didn’t help anything.) Having forgotten to throw a couple sleeves in my bag, all I had was this new Long Drive ball Bridgestone had sent me. It’d have to do on this sunny morning…

So I hit my tee shot comfortably in the fairway and I’m about 160-165 yards out. I hit a pretty clean, easy shot right on my line and it hits the green and just sticks. Nice little 8 footer with a little slip for birdie and I was on my way.  I would experience much similar results throughout my day and was legitimately impressed with how well this “Long Drive” golf ball played with iron shots into greens. I would even go so far as to say that it played well above average for any golf ball, let alone a long drive/distance ball.

Around the Green

Not unlike the surprise in quality from approach shots, the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive ball performs well around the green. I won’t claim it has hop and stop bite like the Tour B XS or e12 Contact, but it did grab a bit and was easy to control on all wedge shots. Putting had the right blend of softness and response for precision in putting. In fact, I would say I felt really comfortable putting the e9 Long Drive which you will generally not find in this “category” of golf balls.

Final Thoughts – Bridgestone e9 Long Drive Golf Ball

Though a distance or “long drive” golf ball, the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive is a well-rounded ball that offers a good combination of distance and control, but has good feel and performance through the green. The thin aerodynamic cover makes the e9 a good option for players of all skill levels really looking for more length without sacrificing feel off the tee. And at the very affordable price of $30 a dozen, the e9 Long Drive is at least worth the experiment. I think many players will genuinely be very impressed at the e9’s all-around performance.

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