This is the second review from the Bridgestone e12 family series. After the e12 HiLaunch, the time has come for the e12 Straight. Like the other two variations, this one is a new release. This variation is aimed at golfers who need to reduce hooks and slices. Familiar? I have certainly been there for a long time (and still am sometimes). I have chosen the e12 Straight Matte Green variation because more and more players are using colored golf balls.

According to Bridgestone’s ball fitting data, a large number of golfers have distance issues. But it is not mainly related to swing speed. The challenge comes from hooking and slicing the ball. Therefore, they believe around 44% of the distance ball players will fit into the e12 Straight. Interesting. Now, the only thing left is to tell you how straight this ball travels.

My Verdict

If this ball were available back when I started golfing, I would have seriously considered it. You have no idea how slicey my shots were for the longest time. Going into the right rough, bushes, trees, and water was a regular occurrence. This ball could have helped me at least slightly lower my level of frustration and suffering.

Even though now I look for different things in a ball, I have enjoyed testing this one. I rarely test matte colored balls, but I think I will start doing that more often. It made my round more fun. Also, its green color helped me spot it easier whenever it landed in the rough. This is a solid golf ball, and if you recognize yourself above, I recommend trying it.

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On the Green

First, let’s talk about feel. This is probably the most important part of putting with any golf ball. I am unsure if it is because of the matte finish, but it felt soft on every stroke.

My putting was a bit off, which made me miss a couple of short putts in the process. Basically, nothing dropped from over 4 feet from the hole. Again, this has nothing to do with the ball itself. However, I just had a hard time adjusting to the pace.

Around the Green

It was a chipping bonanza out there. I had the chance to experience almost every possible scenario around the green. That was bad for my round, but it was good for testing the ball.

I’ll go from bump-and-runs, which are my go-to chips. Similar to putting, I could not find the rhythm. More than once, I overshot the hole by more than 4-5 feet. And one or two of those occasions were chipping from under the hole, which makes it worse.

Other chips were not much better. One consistency was the soft feel off the clubface. No matter the type of chip, it felt soft. The lack of greenside spin was evident as the ball rolled more than I wish it did almost every time.

Approach Shots

I test golf balls on a par 3 course, which makes each shot an approach shot. Recently, I mentioned how I enjoy striking different balls, and today was no exception.

This ball felt soft on each strike, and it consistently produced a muted sound. Even though it was not as muted as with the e12 HiLaunch. I prefer a bit different sound of slightly harder balls for better feedback. There were a couple of instances when the ball produced a clickier sound. One time when I manipulated the shot for a lower flight, and another time when I unintentionally hit it too low on the clubface.

It was going a fair distance, similar to the e12 HiLaunch. The flight trajectory was high on average, and the ball was going as straight as it gets. I give props to Bridgestone because it delivered as promised. Even when I tried to hit a small draw, it went pretty straight, and I missed right of the green. It probably had more to do with my clubface alignment and club path than anything else. But it happened twice.

The high flight helped it to hold the greens as much as it could. However, a few times it just rolled too long after landing, making me chip more than needed. The lack of spin was more prominent on lower-trajectory shots when nothing stopped the ball from rolling too long. This is a characteristic of matte golf balls, which spin less. Also, it gets more prominent if you face a bit of moisture, like I did.

Durability

One thing with matte balls is you can’t notice the damage at first. When you look better, you find it. It was nothing exaggerated, but there were a few points with scuffs and marks. As a reference, the e12 HiLaunch had less damage after a round of golfing.

That is no surprise, since matte balls are known to pick up damage faster than regular ones. It is nothing concerning the short term, but in the long run, you might have to replace them sooner.

Appearance and Price

I like colored golf balls, they always look so fun. This is the first one I tested with Bridgestone’s MindSet technology. It does not impact the fun look, probably because it blends more with the color than with the classic white ball. It has the same-looking putting alignment as the e12 HiLaunch, which is just ok.

I will point out the same as when reviewing the e12 HiLaunch. The price is not bad, but at $34.99 for a dozen, it might be too expensive for what it offers. I understand that it has the targeted user group, and that is the only thing that can justify it. It is available in matte green, matte yellow, and white colors.