50 Words or Less
The new Bridgestone e6 Speed and e6 Soft golf balls are great off the tee with improved feel and performance in the short game.
Introduction
Buying golf balls can be incredibly confusing. Every box, from the $10/dozen house brand to the balls you pay an arm and a leg for, says roughly the same thing. Bridgestone’s e Series golf balls have always been wonderfully different. This year brings a change to make the choice even easier: do you want a softer feel or longer tee shots?
Feel
Both versions of the new e6 golf balls are among the best-feeling e Series golf balls that Bridgestone has made. As you would expect, the e6 Soft is the softer of the two, and the difference is significant. With the e6 Speed, the feel is firmer throughout the bag.
If you prefer a ball that lets you feel like you’re compressing it, opt for the e6 Soft. If you like a firmer ball that provides more feedback off the club face, choose the e6 Speed.
Short Game
Short game spin is the one area where the Bridgestone e6 golf balls make an objective concession to the more expensive balls, though the difference is not as big as you might think. In my testing, I found a gap of roughly 10% when comparing the spin of a tour-caliber ball to the e6 Soft. The e6 Speed was slightly lower spin, but not much.
For the average or high handicap golfer, I would stress two things. First, the spin gap that we’re talking about is NOT the difference between a shot sticking to the green and a shot that runs off the putting surface. It’s more likely that we’re talking about the difference between a shot taking two hops and stopping versus one hop and stopping. Second, higher handicap players should be much more concerned about making consistent contact with their short shots than a ball that maximizes spin on the occasional pure strike.
Long Game
Bridgestone’s golf ball fitting has always focused on driving, so it’s logical that the main thrust behind the new e6 golf balls connects to the tee shot. The company is promoting a pair of bold claims: golfers will be 9 yards longer and 31% straighter with the e6.
What I appreciate is that Bridgestone is willing to put their money where their mouth is. Along with the new e6 golf balls, they sent sleeves of the Titleist ProV1 and ProV1X. In head-to-head testing on the course and the launch monitor, I found the e6 Speed was the longest and straightest for me. The results may be even better for players with slower swing speeds – a major part of Bridgestone’s message is that most players don’t generate enough speed to maximize a tour-style ball.
Once in the fairway, I found both e6 balls to be quite good. I preferred the feel of the e6 Soft, but both were long, controllable, and produced enough spin to hold the green.
Conclusion
The Bridgestone e6 Speed and e6 Soft golf balls are the first to be developed with the data Bridgestone has gathered from millions of ball fittings, and the results are excellent. For many golfers, these balls will perform better than their more expensive counterparts in the facet of the game that is most important: driving.
Buy Bridgestone e6 Speed and e6 Soft Golf Balls HERE
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Matt Saternus
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Matt,
Great article. I one of those that likes to play a few select balls over the year. I live in FL so play is generally 4 to 5 days weekly. Presently I’m playing B330rxs and find the distance a bit more than my previous player Callaway Superhot 55. The Bridgestone is a bit, small bit, more shapable but the dispersion not. FYI my swing speed is greater than 105 but don’t like the feel of a higher compression ball. Question, would the either of the E series benefit my dispersion issues vs the RXS or the new RX which I’m trying next?
Thank’s
Clay,
If I had to guess, which is all I can do from my chair, I would say the e6 Speed might be a bit better. Given the price, it’s worth picking up a box to find out.
Best,
Matt
Could you advise the actual launch monitor results?
Thanks, Mark
Mark,
I did this testing a few months ago when the samples came out, and I don’t have the exact numbers anymore.
Best,
Matt
Hi
When you say the Speed was the longest and straightest, how does it compare to the Soft and to the ProV1?
Jim,
The Speed was longer and straighter. The differences weren’t night and day, but they were measurable on the LM and on the course.
Best,
Matt
Thank you for your response so fast. I’ll order a box and try them out. Hey, trying new stuff in this game is half the fun!
Clay
Matt,
Great article! I play Adams XTD throughout the bag. The irons are super forgiving, but a little harsh in the feel department. Which would you select based on 105 driver speed, looking for soft feel and accuracy is more important than distance. Thanks!
Geoff,
If feel is more important, try the e6 Soft.
Best,
Matt
Please let me know which e6 is most similar to the Srixon Q Star Tour. I love the Q Star Tour, but thought I would give one of these a try.
Sara,
I don’t think either one is nearly as soft as the Q STAR Tour, but the e6 Soft is closer.
Best,
Matt
Which ball is most like the original E6?
Howard,
The e6 Speed is closer to the original.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
I’m 80 yrs old, shoot 90, hit tee shots straight. Have played Bridgestone E6 and now Callaway SuperSoft as my club head speed is getting slower. Didn’t like the lack of “sound” putting with the Callaway at first but adjusted. Would like to try either E6 Speed or E6 Soft. Not worried about short irons stopping on green, need to add more distance off tee. How do they compare to the Callaway? Thank you. Bob Bianconi
Bob,
The best way to find out would be to test a sleeve. I have not tested these balls head to head, so I can’t say anything about their relative length off the tee.
Best,
Matt
I bought a sleeve of each, the soft and the speed and compared them today to each other. I have about a 92 mph swing speed and surprisingly like the E6 soft over the speed. I say surprisingly because I usually like firm golf balls for feedback(TF XL Dist) , but I thought the Soft provided great feel of all of the club faces to my liking. Just wondering what the compression value is of the e6 soft?
Tom,
I don’t know what the compression is. I would suggest asking Bridgestone via social media.
Best,
Matt
Thanks Matt for your time and insight on both products. I’m a Teaching professional and have done many fittings and many brand testings and Bridgestone is always at the top of the quality list. With 20 plus years in the industry there’re many great products, the key to your game improvement is honest comparison to fit that product to your ability.
I am always following this website to get perfect idea about golf idea. this post is really great ands helpful resources. thanks for the this best suggestion
Hi Matt
Thanks for your article on the e6’s.
I’m a high handicapper returning to golf at the age of 70. My driver swing speed is about
80mph with a distance of about 180yds to 190yds using Srixon soft feel balls.
Could you please advise me on which e6 ball I should try.
Thank you
Ian,
I would start with the e6 Soft, it will be a closer match on feel.
Best,
Matt
In your opinion what is the big differences between the RXS and E6 Soft? Do you think either make much difference for swing speeds around 90mph with the driver. I am going try both.
Gil,
The main difference is the cover: the RXS has a urethane cover which will give you a lot more short game spin.
Best,
Matt
Were you able to shape your shots at all with the e6 soft? Or did the anti side spin qualities not allow you to do so?
Scott,
There’s no such thing as “anti-side spin”, despite various companies’ marketing claims. These balls are low spin, so there’s less side and less back spin. That said, yes, you can still shape the ball, but not as dramatically as with a higher spinning ball.
Best,
Matt
I would like to know the difference between the Bridgestone Treosoft, E-6 speed, and E-6 soft. I have always liked the Treosoft, and feel it gets more distance than the Bridgestone Super Soft. I am not sure the Treosoft are even manufactured any more. I have a swing speed, with the driver, at about 85mph. Pls advise. Thanks.
Richard,
I haven’t tested the Treosoft, so I can’t offer a knowledgeable comparison of that. From the online blurb, it appears to be very similar to the e6, though perhaps a bit softer.
Best,
Matt
I have played e6 for years. Finished my last box and started using e6 Soft. I’ve been coming up short or needing on more Club. Is it the golf ball? My imagination? Or just and old hacker getting older?
Ed,
The e6 may be slightly higher spin which could be cutting into your distance. Perhaps give the e6 Speed a try.
Best,
Matt
How would you compare the e6 soft with the Taylormade burner soft or the RBZ soft?
Ted,
I haven’t tested either of the TaylorMade balls you mentioned, so I can’t offer a comparison.
Best,
Matt
Hey Matt,
Would you say that the e6 Speed is similar to the Titleist Velocity? I’ve played the Velocity but recently I have been playing the Chrome Soft. I feel I don’t get as much distance as the Velocity and the Chrome isn’t as straight. I want to try one of the Bridgestone but not sure if it should be the Speed or Soft, maybe the RX. What do you suggest I give a whirl.
Kevin,
Yes, the e6 series is similar to the Velocity. There’s not a big gap between the Speed and Soft, I would get a sleeve of each and see what feels better.
Best,
Matt
I got a dozen of the e6 Speed last year, and tried them out recently.
Same tradeoffs as the e6 from 2016: Speed has straight flight, good if you play bump and run, BUT inside 20 yards the only shot you have is a chip and run. With a SW or even LW from just off the green, it might check a little or it might run 20 feet past. Anything less than a half wedge was unstable on landing.
With the e6 Soft, it’s much more stable on landing for short shots. The Soft on a decent shot ends up within 6-8 feet of the pin.
On full approach iron shots both the Speed and the Soft settle down with only slight runout.
What is the compression of the e6 soft?
Forrest,
I don’t know. Compression doesn’t seem to be a focus of Bridgestone’s marketing.
Best,
Matt
I read somewhere that the e6 soft is 40 compression and the e6 speed is 70 compression.