The golf ball that I purchased the most this past 2007 golf season was the Bridgestone e5.

The e5 is or was an excellent golf ball, well priced and about the only thing it could not do well is spin enough when you really needed it to. The original e5 was really quite comparable off the driver with any other premium golf ball on the market and better yet, at half their price. Its durability was unsurpassed as well; certainly better than many of the so-called premium golfballs. The lack of spin and consistency around the greens was it’s only real downfall.Enter the new and improved (maybe) two-piece Bridgestone e5+. According to Bridgestone, “the new e5+ provides superior performance with longer carry distance and tour caliber spin with its advanced with its advanced urethane cover construction and explosive large core.”

I promptly bought a dozen of the new e5+ and teed them up while golfing in Pinehurst this past weekend. Upon first swing, it was readily apparent that the e5+ is nothing like it’s predecessor, the e5. Where the e5 is literally a rocket ship off the tee, the new e5+ somewhat flames out. I really felt that the new e5+ offers a consistent loss of distance off the driver. I was somewhat disappointed with its performance off the tee. Although just a theory, if your swing speed is high you might be able to get the desired distance out of this ball. The e5+ played extremely similar to the Titleist NXT Tour, in fact I almost could not tell the distance between the two on full iron shots. I had several NXT Tours in my bag and played a second ball after a few e5+ iron shots and they were almost dead on. Of course, the Bridgestone e5+ is $5.00 cheaper per dozen.

The e5+ displayed classy manners on and around the greens compared to the previous version e5. They really shine here, but I am not so sure that it is enough to compensate for the perception or feel of decreased tee shot distance. Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that anyone actually purchased the original e5 for its ability to spin; it was purchased for a higher ball flight and distance off the tee. I likened the original e5 to the poor man’s Nike One Platinum. The same cannot be said for the new e5+ and that’s too bad.

The e5+ is a seamless ball and the quality control looks to be first rate. The same alignment aid was carried over with the addition of a small “+” sign after the e5. One can easily tell that Bridgestone golf balls are well constructed and of high quality.

Overall, the e5+ is a very good golf ball and well worth the price ($24.95). Buy these over the Titleist NXT Tour and save yourself a few dollars at the same time.  If you really enjoyed playing the old Bridgestone e5, go out and buy a bunch right now while you still can, they are on sale everywhere for $19.95. Remember the old adage, you never realize what you had until its gone? It rings so true here. If you played the old e5 and really liked it, you’ll be missing it soon enough.