Bridgestone E6 Golf Ball Review

Right out of the sleeve, the e6 feels different. There's a certain heft to it, not heavy, but substantial, that immediately tells you this isn't some cheap range ball masquerading as a premium product. The seamless cover has this subtle sheen that catches the light just right, and the dimple pattern is unlike anything I've seen from Titleist or Callaway. Those web dimples (Bridgestone calls it their "Delta Wing" technology) create this almost textured feel when you roll the ball in your hand.

I've tested everything from ProV1s to Kirkland Signatures over the years, and the e6 sits somewhere in between regarding initial quality feel. It doesn't have that ultra-premium touch of a tour ball, but it's miles ahead of most two-piece distance balls I've tried. The Surlyn cover feels durable without being plasticky, a balance that's harder to achieve than you'd think.

Let me get technical for a minute because this is where the e6 really shines. With a compression rating around 45-50, this ball is softer than my grandmother's banana bread (and that's saying something). But here's what shocked me: that softness doesn't translate to mushy feel or lost distance. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

I swing my driver around 92 mph these days, not slow, but definitely not tour speed. With firmer balls like the ProV1x, I've always felt like I was leaving distance on the table because I couldn't fully compress them. The e6 changed that completely. From my initial drive, I could feel the ball compressing against the clubface, almost like it was loading up before launching. My typical drive with a ProV1 carries about 215 yards. With the e6? I'm consistently seeing 225-230 yards of carry. That's not a typo.

The larger core design means the energy transfer happens more efficiently at moderate swing speeds. Think of it like this: if you're trying to squeeze a stress ball versus a baseball, which one responds better to your grip strength? Same principle here. The e6's core is engineered to work with your swing, not against it. This low compression core generates the high ball speeds I'm seeing, which explains why I'm getting tour-level distance without tour-level swing speed.

What really sold me was watching the ball flight on my launch monitor. The initial launch angle is slightly higher than what I get with tour balls, but the spin rate is remarkably lower; we're talking 2,200 rpm versus my usual 2,800 rpm. That combination creates this penetrating flight that just keeps going. On calm days, I'm getting an extra 10-15 yards of roll, which puts my total distance close to 245 yards. For a 58-year-old with creaky knees, that's Christmas morning.

Here's where most distance balls fall apart: approach shots. They either balloon up with too much spin or come in hot with no stopping power. The e6 splits the difference beautifully, and I think it's because of that two-piece construction working in harmony with the cover technology.

With my 7-iron (which I hit about 155 yards), the e6 produces a mid-trajectory flight with enough spin to hold greens. I'm not getting tour-level spin rates, maybe 5,500 rpm compared to 6,500 rpm with a ProV1, but honestly, that's perfect for my style of play. The ball still takes one hop and stops on firm greens, and on softer conditions, it's checking up nicely.

The real revelation came with my longer irons. My 4-iron has always been a problem child – either I hit these low runners that bound through greens, or I try to help it up and hit weak fades. With the e6, that club suddenly became playable again. The ball launches easier (probably due to that soft compression), carries further, and still lands at a steep enough angle to hold the green. I've hit more greens in regulation with long irons in the past month than I did all last season.

Even my wedge play hasn't suffered as much as I expected. From 100 yards and in, I'm still getting decent spin, enough to attack pins when I need to. The ball doesn't zip back like a tour ball would, but it's checking up consistently. For someone who's more worried about getting on the green than spinning it back to the fringe, that's exactly what I want.

This is usually where I tear into distance balls. Most of them feel like putting with a ping pong ball and a chip, like you're using a shovel. The e6? It's surprisingly competent. No, you're not getting tour-level feel and spin, but for a ball in this category, it performs way above its weight class.

Chipping feels solid without being clicky. There's enough feedback through the club to know if you've caught it thin or heavy, which isn't always the case with harder distance balls. The Surlyn cover provides just enough grip on the clubface to impart some spin on chips and pitches. I can still play my standard chip-and-run shots with predictable results, and when I need to loft one over a bunker, the ball responds adequately. The Seamless Cover Technology really shows its worth here, creating a uniform surface that delivers consistent contact and spin on delicate shots.

Putting is where personal preference really comes into play. The e6 feels firmer off the putter face than premium urethane balls; there's no getting around that. But it's not unpleasant. The sound is a solid "tock" rather than a harsh "click," and distance control is consistent. I've found I need to hit putts slightly softer than with my usual ball, but after a few rounds, that adjustment became second nature.

What impressed me most was the greenside bunker play. With distance balls, I usually struggle to get any height or spin from sand. The e6 actually performs respectably here. The ball comes out with decent height and lands softer than I expected. It's not going to check up and spin back, but it's predictable enough that I can plan my landing spot accordingly.

After six weeks of play (roughly 15 rounds), my first sleeve of e6 balls still looks nearly new. The Surlyn cover is taking a beating and asking for more. I've hit cart paths, trees, and more than a few skulled wedges, and the balls show minimal wear. Compare that to urethane balls that start showing scuffs after one round, and you're looking at serious value.

At around $25 per dozen, the e6 sits in that sweet spot where you're not afraid to pull out a fresh ball, but you're also not carelessly firing them into hazards. For comparison, I lose about 2-3 balls per round (don't judge), so a dozen ProV1s at $50 might last me four rounds. A dozen e6 balls at half the price gives me the same duration but saves me $25. Over a season, that's real money.

The consistency from ball to ball has been excellent, too. Sometimes with budget balls, you get that one dud in the dozen that flies differently or feels weird. Not with the e6. Every ball I've played has performed consistently, which speaks to Bridgestone's quality control.

Let me be crystal clear about something: this ball is designed for a specific player, and if you're not that player, you might be disappointed. The e6 is tailored for driver swing speeds between 80-95 mph. If you're swinging faster than that, you're probably compressing the ball too much and losing the benefits of the design.

I've let a few of my younger, stronger playing partners try the e6, and their reactions were mixed. My buddy Tom, who swings around 105 mph, said the ball felt "mushy," and he was losing distance. Meanwhile, my regular foursome partner Bill, who's 72 and swings around 85 mph, immediately ordered three dozen after trying mine. He gained 15 yards off the tee and suddenly started hitting more greens.

The e6 also works beautifully for senior golfers who've lost some clubhead speed but still want to play a quality ball. My regular Saturday group has an average maturity of 65, and three of them have switched to the e6 after seeing my results. We're all hitting it farther and scoring better – though that might also be because we moved up a tee box (but don't tell our wives).

Women golfers with moderate swing speeds would also benefit from this ball. My wife, who swings her driver around 75 mph, tried the e6 and immediately noticed longer, straighter drives. The lower spin characteristics help minimize her slice, and the soft compression means she's getting more out of her swing speed.

Absolutely, while the Bridgestone E6 Golf Balls are a great product, there are a few pros and cons that you need to be aware of:

Pros:

• Exceptional distance gains for moderate swing speeds (80-95 mph)

• Surprisingly good all-around performance from tee to green

• Outstanding value at $25 per dozen with tour-level durability

Cons: 

• Firmer feel on putts compared to urethane tour balls

• Limited spin on scoring shots for aggressive short game players

• Not suitable for faster swing speeds (over 95 mph)