Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft Ball Review: PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

The Bridgestone Golf e12 Soft golf ball is a three-piece surlyn covered ball that's meant for the everyday golfer.  But don't mistake that to mean it's not as technologically advanced as the Bridgestone B XS and B X Tour balls played by Tiger and Bryson.  

 

e12 Soft is a ball that puts you first, and actually gives you Tour quality innovation that's not usually seen in a three-piece surlyn ball. 

We talked about what makes the e12 Soft a unique and high performance ball for particular players a bit at the PGA Show last year.  And I took e12 Soft on the course over multiple rounds to give you feedback on how it performs through the bag in my twitter and Instagram reviews. 

Again now though, since one of you is about to win a season supply of e12 Soft balls (4 dozen in Matte Red and Matte Green colors - for Christmas of course), we're going to revisit a few points to highlight why this ball can be a real game changer for a lot of golfers. 

 

e12 Soft targets swing speeds of 105 mph and lower.  It's designed to reduce sidespin for straighter shots, increase distance throughout your bag, and deliver a soft feel around and on the greens. But a lot of balls hype those points don't they? 

Well the e12 Soft undeniably delivers on these performance promises, and the big reason is a new mantle and core that work together to create more speed without sacrificing feel. 

 

If you have a ball that's too soft (the e12 Soft compression is 50 overall), the lower compression can be a velocity detriment.  Think of a marsh-mellow as an extreme example.  Very soft and low compression for sure, but utterly useless for hitting with a golf club. 

On the other hand when a ball has a higher compression, it can eventually feel too firm, almost rock-like at times.  And if you don't have the swing speed, you won't get any distance from this either. 

 

So Bridgestone started with a new core they call a Gradational Compression Core.  This essentially means the core is softer in the middle, and progressively firmer towards the cover.  This gives you more speed (and distance) than if the core was entirely soft throughout.  So far so good. 

e12 Soft also has a new mantle between the cover and called the Active Acceleration Mantle.  The mantle uses a tighter, more cohesive compound that's increases speed even more because it produces additional and more efficient energy transfer at impact.  

 

Together these technologies allowed Bridgestone to design e12 Soft with the lowest possible compression core for feel, but still deliver the longer distance of a higher compression ball.  The e12 Soft cover also contributes to straighter and longer ball flight with a dimple pattern that reduces drag. 

And finally a word on spin.  This ball won't give you the same spin as a urethane cover, that's just the fact.  But I was definitely surprised at the spin I did get still e12 Soft.  I didn't see any spin and stop on a dime or spin back shots with this ball.  But on both full and  half swings on approach into greens, it had some decent check up ability that slowed the roll without any real fear of the ball just cruising over the green.  If you play a surlyn ball, the spin you get from e12 Soft will be one of the best. 

 

PROS: 

Great distance with low spin and straight ball flight off the tee and with the long irons 
One of the better feeling and spinning surlyn balls you'll play 

CONS: 
Higher swing speed players would better off with e12 Speed 
If you're spin-obsessed stick with a urethane ball 

 

We're at the halfway point in this year's 12 Days already, and it's been more fun than ever.  And remember you always have three different ways to win the daily gifts in my giveaway this year.  On twitter just retweet my giveaway announcement and follow all; on Instagram like the post, follow all, and Repost or tag some friends; and here on my blog leave a comment in the section below in the daily review/giveaway articles.