2025 Bridgestone e12 Golf Ball Review (e12 Speed, e12 HiLaunch, e12 Straight)
The new 2025 Bridgestone e12 lineup of golf balls are here and they are targeting very specific issues that face the everyday golfer. Bridgestone have a knack of creating very specific balls to do very specific things – the e12 range is no different.
Bridgestone have replaced the previous e12 Contact with three new balls: e12 Speed, e12 HiLaunch and e12 Straight. So, let’s find out if these balls do what Bridgestone say they do, and if they’re worth adding to your golf bag.
Why 3 new e12 balls?
Bridgestone claim that during hundreds of thousands of golf ball fittings they’ve discovered that beginners and high handicappers have very unique issues when finding the right ball for them. Whereas the previous e12 was an all rounder that went head to head with the Callaway Supersoft, these new balls are targeted to very specific golfers. And, in particular, very specific tee and long shot performance balls for high handicappers.
Overview of the 2025 Bridgestone e12 Lineup
These 3 balls all target launch, flight characteristics and distance. They’re geared towards long shot performance and consistency. Let’s dive into the three balls:
Bridgestone e12 Straight: this ball is designed to reduce side spin off the tee – reducing slices and hooks. It is a 2 piece contruction with a low compression and soft feel.
Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch: the HiLaunch is tailored to golfers who struggle to get the height and carry on their tee shots and long irons. It’s a two piece construction with a soft feel.
Bridgestone e12 Speed: this ball is built for those looking for a low piercing flight and long distance. It is a 3 piece construction with a firmer feel than the Straight and HiLaunch.
So, each ball in the line-up is tailored to a specific golfers in mind. Let’s find out if they deliver on their promise and most importantly – whether they’re worth adding to your golf bag.
Bridgestone e12 Straight Review
The Straight will appeal to the largest spectrum of golfers out there. Beginners and high handicappers will benefit most from decreasing their slices, hooks and mishits. But, how straight is it?
After a full round of 18 holes with the e12 Straight I did notice an increase in fairways hit compared to my usual ball – AVX. The flight trajectory was good, mid height and carry was comparable with other 2 piece balls on the market. The overall distance was okay, not great, not bad.
The short game performance was not quite there, I struggled a little with this ball with my approaches. It didn’t really have the height or spin I’m after, but, that’s not really what it’s designed for. I tend to sometimes pull my irons to the left and with this ball that was reduced.
Is it worth it? I’d say yes, if you have a slice or hook you’d like some help with it’s certainly worth a shot!
Bridgestone e12 HiLaunch Review
Well, straight up I’d say that this ball is the least relevant for my golf game. I usually have no trouble getting height, so knew this would be interesting.
Off the tee – this was a great ball to hit, it felt easy to compress and yep – it launched higher than most competitors’ balls. Even with the higher launch it still carried very well, I was impressed by the distance I was getting and it was straight as well.
Greenside control was a challenge (as it is with all 2 piece golf balls) but, with the extra height you can fly it in at a steep angle and it pulls up fairly quickly. The feel around the greens is great, I really liked this ball.
If you’re a casual golfer, beginner or high handicapper I’d definitely recommend this ball. It’s not just a high flyer, it’s a pretty good all rounder too.
Bridgestone e12 Speed Review
The Speed differs from the other two balls – it is a 3 piece urethane covered ball instead of a 2 piece ionomer covered ball. Due to the construction and materials, it is a higher compression ball and firmer. This is all to create more ball speed at impact – increasing distance.
So how far is it? I really liked the distance I was getting from this ball. It was a good 10-20 yards longer than the other two balls in the lineup. And, most importantly, I like that it has a softer urethane cover which gives you more response off the club face compared to other distance balls.
The slightly firmer feel might not suit some golfers. I can’t imagine it’ll throw too many off though – especially if you want that extra distance.
Around the greens it was decent, it obviously doesn’t perform at the level of a Tour level ball but it did just fine.
Would I buy some? Certainly, if I wanted extra distance. Otherwise I’d probably give this one a miss.
Other factors to consider with the e12
These balls are priced well, they’re a little higher than some competitors but you shouldn’t let it deter you.
One of the best thing with these balls is that they come with the Mindset alignment aids. I really, really like this design – always when hitting the ball I focus on a specific dimple on top, but with the Mindset it gives you a dot to focus on. And, the alignment is more subtle than a big line around the ball, but it is still very effective. This was previously only available on the Tour level balls from Bridgestone. They’ve now brought it across to the e12 lineup which is a brilliant move by them.
Summary
Okay, these balls are very good at what they’re designed to do. I’m not surprised considering the amount of data and research that Bridgestone have put into their development of these balls – and their whole lineup. Perhaps this comes through a little in the price.
Bridgestone really have set themselves apart in their development of golf balls designed for very specific needs. They have a huge lineup that is ideal for golfers who like subtle changes in their ball and finding the perfect match.
If you’re struggling with keeping your long shots straight, getting sufficient height or getting more distance. One of these balls will do a job for you.
