With this article, I conclude the all-new Bridgestone e12 golf balls series of reviews. So far, I have covered the e12 HiLaunch and the e12 Straight. This leaves us with the e12 Speed, the ball Bridgestone intended for golfers who want to lower their flight trajectory and still reach a long distance.
I have to say I am a fan of the whole e12 concept. All the balls are engineered to maximize distance, but in three different ways that can help three different types of golfers.
This particular one should produce a longer piercing flight for increased distance, according to Bridgestone. They also mention the fast gradational core that contributes to a more penetrating ball flight.
So, based on everything I have read, this ball should fall into my wheelhouse. Well, at least when it comes to the flight trajectory. I am not expecting as much spin as I like in a ball, but that is fine. Therefore, I was looking forward to testing this one more than the other two. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun with the e12 HiLaunch and e12 Straight. Now, let me tell you how the e12 Speed did.
Who Is This Ball For?
In a nutshell, this ball is for players who prioritize distance and want to keep the ball flight lower. However, due to its construction, there is not enough stopping power to keep the ball from rolling too long after landing. Yes, it might produce a bit more spin than the other two e12 models, but it is not enough.
Don’t expect great control of your shots, this ball is not built for that. As with any other two-piece distance ball, you will have to calculate that into your game. But that is fine, you just have to give it a few extra feet after landing.
Durability is another reason you might opt for this ball. Despite the medium-range price, you could get more out of a single ball.
My Verdict
This is simply a quality ball that does the job it was engineered to do. It performed like I thought it would. Additionally, it showed good durability and provided good feedback on shots.
Its flight trajectory suits my style of play, but it does not offer the level of control I prefer in a ball. Besides feedback on strikes and long distance, I can single out putting as the area where it performed well. Too bad Bridgestone does not offer it in colored options, at least for now.
PROS
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Distance
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Durability
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Good Feedback on Shots
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More Penetrating Flight Trajectory
CONS
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Less Spin in All Areas
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No Colored Options
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Not Suitable for Fast Swing Speeds
2025 Bridgestone e12 Speed Golf Ball Review
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On the Green
Straight from the get-go, I adjusted to the ball’s pace on the greens. That is usually a sign of a decent putting performance ahead. Sure enough, it was decent. I had numerous long putts, of which all but a couple ended within 2-3 feet from the hole or inside the hole. The other two were too short.
I would compare the feel off the putter face to the other two models in the lineup. If anything, it was a bit firmer feel that did not translate into much different sound. I can say the putting experience was positive.
Around the Green
Yes, I did chip a bit, but less than some other rounds I recently had. It was enough to experience different types of shots around the green. Something that stood out right away was a bit firmer feel compared to the other e12 balls. However, this was a positive thing since I got better feedback on chips.
On every type of chip I tried, the ball rolled longer. Whether it was my go-to bump-and-run or a higher trajectory softer chip, the story was the same. There is a lack of greenside spin. I expected this from this type of ball. It was landing softly on delicate chips. Overall, it wasn’t too bad, but still, too much adjustment was needed to get it working.
Approach Shots
I review balls on a par 3 course, so every shot is an approach shot. Let’s start with the bad strikes. There was one in particular when I hit the ball too low on the clubface. As a consequence, the sound was quite clicky, and my hands felt the vibration more than usual on those occasions.
Even on some other decent strikes, the produced sound was louder. I was a bit surprised by that, but most strikes made a more muted sound. I could not find the compression rating for this ball, but it is the highest compressed among the three e12 models. For that reason, I would say the louder sound and a bit firmer feel are anticipated.
Distance-wise, the ball went further than the two other models. It wasn’t a crazy difference, but enough to notice. It was consistently flying on a mid-trajectory as expected by design. For that reason, I did not have to manipulate the trajectory as much to match my playing style.
The stopping power is not that good. That is in line with the lower spin the ball creates overall. I had to calculate the longer roll into every shot.
Finally, I tried to shape the shots once or twice. It worked out, but the draw was slightly more prominent than the one I tried with the e12 HiLaunch. Again, not a huge difference, but enough to notice. It was going fairly straight on average.
As a firmer ball of the three e12 models, it gave me better feedback on strikes. Lately, I have started to like it when I get more feedback. For that reason, I enjoyed striking it.
Durability
This ball is fairly durable, but it does have a bit more prominent scuffs and marks than the e12 HiLaunch. I can’t compare it to the e12 Straight, since I tested the matte green version. Nonetheless, I did hit a tree trunk dead on, which did not leave any bad damage. Therefore, I deem durability as one of the ball’s strongest features.
Appearance and Price
Bridgestone has a nice logo that looks good on golf balls. For that reason, I find every ball in their lineup nice-looking. However, I have a couple of remarks for this one. First, as someone who aligns the ball for putts, the putting alignment is a bit too small, or short, if you want. Then, as much as I understand the value the MindSet technology provides, I am not the biggest fan. It would take me a bit of time to get used to it.
I am going to repeat myself here. I think the price is a bit high for a two-piece ionomer golf ball. This is the same case as with the e12 HiLaunch. Again, I get it from the R&D part and the targeted audience. But there are balls that could offer you similar performance for less money than $34.99 per dozen. It is available only in white.
