Now in its third generation, Bridgestone’s e-series is the company’s mid-range line of balls, marketed to players seeking to optimize trajectory and correct specific ball flight faults. The e5 line is designed to promote a higher trajectory and additional spin control, while the e7 line is designed to promote a lower and more penetrating trajectory for windy conditions or for players who struggle with overly high ball flight. The e6, reviewed here, is designed to reduce sidespin, which helps promote a straighter ball flight. Although Bridgestone dropped the “+†designation from the 2010 line, the latest incarnation of the e-series of balls is not a step down from the 2009 e6+ model. To the contrary, Bridgestone claims all three 2010 “e†balls have been improved over the 2009 models.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The 2010 e6 is a three-piece ball with a Surlyn cover and a seamless 330 dimple design. The cover encloses a middle “mantle†with Bridgestone’s updated “anti-sidespin inner layer.†Beneath the mantle is a “soft gradational compression core,†which is presumably Bridgestone’s way of saying that the more the core is compressed, the firmer it becomes.
Although the most prominent feature of the e6 has always been straighter ball flight, for 2010 Bridgestone is promoting the softer feel of the new e6. Bridgestone calls the 2010 e6 the “softest multilayer golf ball available for long and straight distance.â€
HOW WE TESTED IT
THP put the 2010 Bridgestone e6 into play where it counts – on the course. The e6 was used in some rounds as the only ball type, and in other rounds with different balls for comparison. (None of the rounds with multiple balls were recorded for handicap purposes, and multiple balls were never played unless course pace-of-play allowed for it.)
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Appearance: The 2010 e6, like its predecessor, has a bright white cover that gives the ball a clean appearance. The graphics are typical of most modern balls with the manufacturer’s logo and a ball number on the front and back, and a small combination e-series logo/alignment aid on one side of the ball.
Feel: With a putter, the e6 feels solid off the face with a medium-deep sound and none of the “clickiness†found in some balls. The “weight†of the e6 feels about average, with a slightly lighter feel than the Titleist NXT Tour, and slightly heavier feel than the Nike Power Distance Soft and Top-Flight D2 Feel.
With lofted clubs (woods, hybrids, irons, and wedges), the e6 lives up to its hype as a soft ball with anti-spin attributes. What makes the softness of the e6 significant is that most “straight flight†balls suffer from hardness and lack of feel. But the e6 feels only slightly firmer on full shots than the Nike Power Distance Soft or the Titleist NXT Tour, neither of which is designed to reduce sidespin. The new e6 also feels slightly softer than the 2009 e6+.
Performance: It would be naïve to believe that a ball – any ball – could compensate for serious swing flaws. The best a player can hope for is that ball technology can mitigate the effects of a mis-hit so that the shot ends up in a better position than it would have without the technology. But no ball can turn a 50 yard slice into a fairway shot. So the key in choosing a ball is matching the ball flight problem to the correct ball technology. Bridgestone’s e-series makes that easy with clearly described balls for specific problems. And if a player is struggling to determine what his or her problem is, Bridgestone offers “Ball Fittings†around the country to help players pick the ball that is best for their game.
So does the e6 actually help reduce sidespin? In a word, yes. On-course testing showed that the e6 tended to travel straighter and slightly longer when hit side-by-side with balls not designed to reduce sidespin. Sometimes the distance and trajectory was nominal, other times it amounted to as much as five or ten yards. And while the testing was subject to human swing variances, the consistency with which the various balls traveled (relative to each other) was sufficient to demonstrate that Bridgestone’s claims about the e6 are valid.
The downside of any ball designed to promote a straighter ball flight is, of course, the loss of spin at times when spin is desired. Around the greens, the e6 does not check up or spin back like a ball designed for high spin. That does not mean the e6 is completely devoid of spin. It is still possible to stop the ball on the green from a chip shot – just not to the same degree as with a high spin ball. As a result, using the e6 around the green requires some adjustment. However, for a player fighting to keep tee shots and approach shots on line, the lack of spin around the green is a small price to pay for full shots that often stay several yards straighter.
Durability: The e6 balls displayed acceptable durability during testing. No severe cutting or shredding was present after a typical round. Scraping and wedge damage was normal and did not affect playabilty of the ball. Oddly, however, the cover of the e6 does not seem to retain Sharpie markings well. By the end of a round, the ball needed to be remarked because only shadows of the original Sharpie ink remained. A potential benefit, perhaps, for players who like to occasionally alter their markings.
CONCLUSION
The 2010 Bridgestone e6 is a “must try†for any player struggling to reduce the effect of sidespin on his or her shots. While there are several balls designed to promote a straighter ball flight, none have the feel of the e6.
JUST THE FACTS
WHO (is it for?): Players who struggle with sidespin that causes shots to hook left or slice right.
WHAT (is its construction?): The e6 is a 3-piece ball: Surlyn cover, anti-spin inner layer, soft gradational compression core.
WHERE (can you buy it?): Almost any golf or sporting goods store.
WHEN (will it be available?): The 2010 e6 ball, along with its e5 and e7 siblings, is making its way into stores right now.
WHY (would you want to use it?): The Bridgestone e6 can help keep your shots in the fairway or on the green. Straight is good.
HOW (does it work?): According to Bridgestone, the e6 has an improved “anti-spin†inner layer that reduces the sidespin that causes a ball to hook or slice.
LONGSHANKS RATING: Birdie.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Price (MSRP): $38.00
Price (Street): $26.95
Standard one dozen ball package with four 3-ball sleeves.
Contact Information
Bridgestone Golf, Inc.
15320 Industrial Park Blvd, NE
Covington, GA 30014
Phone: 770.787.7400
Toll-Free: 800.358.6319
http://www.bridgestonegolf.com
