If you are the type of golfer that struggles with a hook or a slice off the tee, you might want to consider changing your golf ball to something that can offer you a bit of assistance. The Bridgestone e12 Straight has been engineered to help golfers find more fairways, so perhaps this is the golf ball you need to straighten out those wayward drives?
Bridgestone has conducted millions of golf ball fittings and concluded that 85 percent of golfers would benefit from playing a ball that has been optimized for their own specific launch tendencies. So the brand came up with three models of e12 golf balls to cover all bases. For golfers who struggle to get the ball up in the air, there’s the e12 Hi-Launch. For those needing a bit of extra distance there is the e12 Speed, while the subject of this review, the e12 Straight, is of course designed to fly straighter.
The first thing I noticed when I looked at all three models side by side was that the dimple pattern on the e12 Straight is rather unique. Whereas the other two models just looked like your standard design, the dimples on the Straight are very different to the majority of balls on the market. The pattern is a carry over from the popular e12 Contact ball which is a Golf Monthly favourite and has been one of the best value golf balls over recent years.
The pattern is so unusual that my first question upon seeing it was whether this design is competition legal or not. The answer to that, for the record, is yes. My second question was whether it actually works. I’ll get to that shortly.
Before we come to performance though I’ll talk you through the technology element. It’s a three piece construction featuring a new FlexATIV cover and a polymer Active Acceleration Mantle. It is not a urethane covered ball so it will not perform like the best premium golf balls on the market, but the price also reflects that and the e12 range are some of the best mid price golf balls around.
The dimples are the key to performance with the e12 Straight, as it is designed with a Contact Force dimple pattern, which as mentioned already visibly sets it apart from its e12 siblings. This design reduces excess sidespin and flight curvature, giving you a better shot at keeping your ball in play.
Another thing to mention is the Mindset logo, which is a staple on all of the best Bridgestone golf balls and features on all three models in the e12 range. Essentially it’s a visual cue to start a three step process; identify the target, visualise the shot path and then clear your mind and focus on the green dot before executing your shot.
The jury is out for me on whether this is actually of any benefit, but from a purely aesthetic point of view I really like how it looks.
In terms of feel, all three balls in the e12 range are different. The softest of the three is the High Launch, the firmest model is the Speed which had a distinctly clickier sound, and sitting in the middle of the two is the Straight.
As for performance, the e12 Straight did indeed fly straighter than the other models, specifically off the tee and most notably with longer fairway wood shots. My go to shot with a 5-wood is a controlled fade, but I was unable to get the e12 Straight to move much. That’s a good thing for those that need it, but if you do like to work the ball then this is not for you. There is also a trade off in distance as you will likely lose a few yards compared to the ball you have been using.
While it is not the highest spinning on approach shots, I had no trouble stopping the ball on the green and it provided ample grip for me. I would say that it is more than adequate for the level of golfer it is aimed at.
Around the greens it performed as I would have expected. It doesn’t give the level of spin or control you get from a premium golf ball but for the level of golfer it is aimed at it does the job.
All in all, this is an excellent option for the wayward golfer who needs a bit of help keeping the ball on the fairway. It will be particularly useful for those with a slice and teaming this ball up with one of the best draw biased drivers could really help keep the ball in play more which in turn will help to lower scores.
