You hear and read about terms like, low compression, soft covers, elasticity, dimple design, etc. And it makes you wonder, aren’t all golf balls the same? I mean they all do the same thing; go in the air, land on the ground, roll, ultimately getting in the hole. All this marketing jargon can’t possibly be true, the manufacturers are just trying to sell golf balls, right?. This is what I thought a year ago when I really wasn’t a very good golfer. What a difference a year makes, because now I’m beginning to see a difference in how selecting the right golf ball can help your game.
Golf balls have come a long way in terms of technology and playability, and choosing the right golf ball is just as important as selecting the right golf clubs. Today I will be reviewing two types of golf balls from Bridegstone Golf, each targeted to the type of game you play.
The first ball is the Bridgestone e6+ Golf Ball aimed at players looking for increased distance, straighter ball flight, softer feel, and low compression around the green.
How does Bridegstone engineer a golf ball that flies straighter, has a longer carry, and soft touch around the green? This is accomplished by having a multi-layer design that has a Anti-Spin/Extra Velocity Inner cover. In my tests, I compared this golf ball to the Titleist NXT Tour, alternating golf balls every other hole. The results of my tests were very surprising.
Off the tee
The first thing I noticed with the Bridgestone e6+ was the long carry distance off the tee and a tremendous amount of roll on the fairway. The ball would land on the fairway and continue to roll long after it had touched down, giving me a much better lie for my second shot. This was greatly appreciated on long Par 4s and Par 5s. Another thing I noticed about my shots off the tee was the trajectory and flight path of the ball. The Ball flight seemed considerably straighter using the e6+ with my driver off the tee and also in the fairway with my irons. The ball would travel at the optimal trajectory every time, something I can’t say was the case with my Titleist NXT Tour. I think a lot of this has to do with 330 Seamless dimple design of the ball that makes the ball more aerodynamic when launched into the air.
Short Game
Since the ball has an Anti-Spin Inner cover the ball has tendency to roll more on firmer greens. So you have to be careful on how you play your wedge shots. Putting with the e6+ ball is easy thanks to the e6+ alignment arrow, which helps with your aim. The soft compression of the e6+ make it more playable and with a soft touch off the putter, I got a better feel for how the ball was going to react.
If your game needs consistent flight path, long carry distance off the tee, and soft feel of multi-layer ball then the Bridgestone e6+ is the ball for you. I think you really can’t go wrong with this all around golf ball.
Key features of the Bridgestone e6+
- Anti-Spin / Extra Velocity Inner Cover
- Soft Surlyn® Outer Cover
- Soft Gradational Compression Energy Core
- 330 Seamless Dimple Design
Bridgestone e6+ Retails $24.95
The second ball is Bridgestone Tour B330-S Golf Ball , aimed at serious players and Tour pros looking for consistent performance, exceptional distance, outstanding control.
To make an equal comparison for the review of the Tour 330-S, I also played Titleist Pro-V1 every other hole. And I was quite surprised at the results of my tests.
Off the tee
Immediately when I hit the Tour B330-S from the tee I could tell this ball was special because of the sound it made off my driver. My drive carried extremely long with a near perfect flight path, shot after shot. From the fairway, the ball had great touch and feel allowing me to easily shape my shots for my approach to the scoring zone. This is all made possible by a couple of engineering feats performed by the Bridgestone R&D team:
1) The Unique Seamless Cover Technology™ of the Tour B330-S produces uniform dimple coverage on the entire ball surface, delivering superior aerodynamics for Tour proven consistency of ball flight and pinpoint accuracy.
2) The newly enhanced Soft Speed Elasticity Core provided increased distance of my shots off the tee and on the fairways. I can’t say I got the same results with the Titleist Pro V1’s I was hitting every other hole. When playing the Pro V1’s the ball would travel about the same distance in most cases, but my flight path was not anywhere nearly the same.
Short Game
The Tour B330-S has amazing feel and control in and around the greens. The soft urethane cover provided the most notable difference in and around the green and I really can appreciate the touch and control of Tour B330-S. I was able to make precise pitch shots and chips around the green that would stop on a dime. It plays like no other ball I’ve played before.
Value
I’m convinced that Tour B330-S is one of the most underrated premium golf balls on the market. Titleist Pro V1’s may be the number one golf ball on the market, but I would recommend Pro V1 users to give the Tour B330-S a try. They may be surprised at how good a ball the B330-S really is. I was a big fan of the Pro V1’s prior to my tests, but I’m going to switch to the Bridgestone Tour B330-S.
If you want a Tour professional ball that plays consistently, has exceptional distance, and outstanding control in and around the green, then pick up a box of the Bridgestone Tour B330-S.
Key features of the Bridgestone Tour B330-S
- 330 Seamless Dimple Design for Superior Flight Consistency
- Newly Enhanced Soft Speed Elasticity Core for increased distance
- Re-engineered Ionomer Inner Layer for Acceleration
- Soft Urethane Cover for Increased Touch and Control
Bridgestone Tour B330-S Retails for $39.99
5 responses so far ↓
1 harvey // Jul 6, 2008 at 8:49 am
I play to a 7 hdicap and have always used the Pro v1 but after trying the new B330 S . I have switched tothe Bridgestone ball I think the distance factor between the two balls is very close in my case but the B330 seems to play around the greens far better. Im a new convert to the B330 S
2 tom // Jul 9, 2008 at 11:58 am
I wasn’t convinced despite the review above, but I have to say my green play is much improved and the better feel noticible. My distance did gain slightly but it goes much straighter, but that might be put down to the those Epoch tees.
3 terry // Jul 24, 2008 at 10:48 am
I found a B330S ball while playing one othe local course. I hit it as a second ball on a par 5 ,The distance was more or less he same as the PROV1 I normally play,but the spin on the shot to the green and the controls around the greens are something I had never eperienced before. I played 3 games with the same ball with excellent results.
4 zach // Jul 26, 2008 at 9:26 am
My buddy first turned me on to the e6+ ball. I liked it so much I thought I would try this ball. I used to be a religious prov-1 player, but bridestone makes a far superior ball. I was hitting everything straighter and control around the greens was great. Feel off the putter was better than any ball I have ever played. I am stocking up.
5 dominic // Aug 12, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’ m a 10-12 h/c, could improve that number if I played and practiced more,but who wouldn’t ? ….E6+ …I love this ball !! Does exactly as advertised. The only thing ( I HATE ) is the sound off the driver, ( A REAL ELMER THUDD),but I’ll give up thudd for short grass any day. It could even be the driver sound.( T/M Burner ). I gave up Titleist with absolutely no regrets. I sink more 4-5 footers now because of the feel, and that to me is paramount because to sum up my short putting in 2 words….I suck !! Excellent ball, excellent value. Nuf said.
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