E12 contact

[munichop]

So 2 weeks ago I tried the new e6 which was lacking a little for me around the greens compared to my normal tru feel, hammer control and soft feel. Yesterday I tried the new e12 version the “contact” which claims more ball surface interaction with the clubs due to its dimple design.  I played in high 60’s to low 70’s in Phoenix with a one club wind for about half the round and almost no breeze the other half. I shot a bogey free 69 and left 3-4 shots on and around the green- poor putting mostly.

The ball is a great mix of the best parts of the previous dual versions the soft and speed.  And the ball does seem to provide a little more feel than the 2 piece ones I have been using which it should as it cost more.  It launches a little lower off the driver and irons than the tru feel with similar distances. I did hit some really good drives with it including driving a driveable par 4 and holding the green for the first time ever for me, which I then 3 putted.   The only ball in this category that has felt as satisfying off the driver was the dt tru soft but feel is subjective.  
it is easier to work size to side than the e6 or tru feel and less lively off the putter too especially compared to the e6. 
I will use it next week in my men’s league to see how I do when the scores matter and follow up.  I like it more than the prior e12 versions.

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

I'm interested in the cover.  The 2020 Top Flite Gamer has similar "pips" inside the dimples as the e12 Contact.

 

And now I've heard that the e12 Contact is similar to the Titleist DT Tru Soft, another one of my favorite balls...were it not for the fact that I got 4 dozen balls between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, I'd definitely bounce all over those e12 Contacts.

[munichop]

Update on e12 contact. I played it in my over 50 league is winds ranging from 15 mpf to still. Low 80’s temps. I am a believer of the “contact” aspect of the ball design. For me it has a great feel off all the clubs. I shot 71 on a par 72 course. It spins more on the 40 to 50 yard shot than similar two piece balls. And it has a little extra gear if you catch it right. This is the closet ball I have found to my old gamer soft.

[CB90]

Great review. You also reviewed the new E6 - how do you think the two compare in terms of straight flight / forgiveness? Bridgestone told me the e12 will be more forgiving, which surprised me. I'm curious how much of a difference you think there really is between the two, or if it's splitting hairs. 

[Tanner25]

Do you know the compression? Does it feel soft like a super soft, mid like a soft feel or firm like a prov v?

[munichop]

Played the e12 yesterday for half the round, the other with the gamer.  Tanner the e12 feels more mid compression to me.  It comes off the driver with a mid trajectory and feels very similar to the titlesit’s dt feel ball that was replaced by their current tru feel.

CB90, the e6 is very straight and launches very high.  The e12 has a wider array of short game shots which it should being a 3 piece ball.  The e 12 is more shapable side to side than the e6. I would say the e6 is a more forgiving point and shoot ball.
For me the e12 has bonus distance if I catch it right.  It will land and release more like the gamer soft did for me.  Now I don’t get the roll  every time but when I do it can be 10-15 extra yards which Is useful.

[munichop]

Played the e12 in my over 50 club on Saturday. Mid 90’s temps and at most a one club wind.  I said earlier that this is the closest ball I have found to my mythical gamer soft and it came thru. Hit 16 of 18 greens with 26 putts for a bogey free 64 on a par 72 winning low gross by 3 shots.  The feedback on contact from this ball is noticeably better for me than other surlyn balls.  And my recent change in putting stance helped me start the ball on line with the putter much more often than I have since covid started.  I hit a couple of really good drives with it but the thing I liked the most was the consistent iron distances I got from it.  After the round I went to my other men’s club pro shop which carries this ball and got another dozen. Can’t argue with the scorecard...

[JohnKHawk]

I've played a few holes with the E12 contact & have found that they are not very durable. Seems to have pieces of outer layer almost look as though it's flaking off...

Edited April 9, 2021 by JohnKHawk

[munichop]

I have an e12 I just finished 36 holes with, 64 and 69.  I intend to use it this Saturday to start the round. I have had no durability issues.

[Pamlico]

I picked up a dozen E12 contact balls at Dick's last week and played 9 the other day. I was pleased- good feel, felt like distance was good but also did well around the green. I will probably get some more.

[munichop]

Above are pics of an e12 I have been using.  The ones with the grass are after 36 holes.  The ones in my hand are after 54 holes.  I had to re-dot the blue twice during the use of the ball.  For me durability has been no issue.

[MattM97]

3 hours ago, munichop said:

Above are pics of an e12 I have been using.  The ones with the grass are after 36 holes.  The ones in my hand are after 54 holes.  I had to re-dot the blue twice during the use of the ball.  For me durability has been no issue.

 

54 holes with one ball, oh how I would love a stretch like that. 

[garyt]

Other than Munichop (who surprisingly found it easier to move than the E6) nobody has mentioned it's most touted feature, that it goes straight! Does it work as advertised? Is it straighter than your gamer?

[munichop]

Ok today was my first round with the e12 at elevation. Had steady 20+ mph wind all day. Tied my career best on this course with a 66   par 72 with three missed putts inside 6 ft. Hit 16 of 18 greens. The ball was very consistent especially putting. Was 5 under thru 6 then hit an approach to 4 ft on 7 which I missed. Then 3 putted 8 but chpped in on 9 after my first missed green turning in 5 under. The wind got worse on the back but I managed one birdie and 8 pars.  Really solid ball for me. And the third straight round with the same ball.

[rkillian]

A buddy of mine had been playing one for a few rounds. He had previously been using the Q-star tour for the last year or so. Said he’s gonna switch to the e12 contact. 
 

I’ve still got 3 dozen of the new Kirkland but I’m intrigued enough to try the e12 next.

[jjfcpa]

Played my first round yesterday with the e12 contact.  Game ball has been the Maxfli Tour, which has been a great performer.  

 

Yesterday was my low of this season.  Shot an 83 (par 72) and I couldn't get over how this ball performed.  I had a couple drives that were exceptionally long compared to any other ball I've played on this particular course.  Ball also seemed to hold the greens just fine.  

 

I was particularly happy with the feel off the putter.  Had 6 1-putts for the day and a couple were outside 15 feet.  

 

Need to do some more comparisons to the Maxfli Tour, which comes out to about the same price if you buy them 2-dozen at a time (2 for $ 60).  I think they are both about the same compression, but the e12 contact felt softer.  I could get used to this ball quite easily.

[jjfcpa]

On 4/12/2021 at 10:37 AM, munichop said:

Above are pics of an e12 I have been using.  The ones with the grass are after 36 holes.  The ones in my hand are after 54 holes.  I had to re-dot the blue twice during the use of the ball.  For me durability has been no issue.

That's the one thing I noticed... I mark my ball with a sharpie and after a few holes, I either have to remark it or just let it go.  I do wipe off my ball off quite often and don't seem to have this issue with any other ball but this is my first go at using a non urethane ball.

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

Can anyone compare the Top Flite Gamer, with a similar dimple pattern, to the e12 Contact?

[NoTalentLefty]

Tried the ball out today on the back nine today. My usual ball is the Callaway SuperSoft so I compared. Better launch angle with the e12 contact and better spin on greens. Picked up a few yards with the e12 as well. My one wow moment was on the a par 5 with a creek going across at 280. My drive was only 15 yards short of the creek. 265 for me is unheard of. Nice drive of 250 on the next even that above my average on well struck it. So I’d say it’s longer and stops better than my traditional 2 piece. It will be my go to ball the rest of this year. That is all. 

[munichop]

The gamer compared to the e12 platys similar but with a higher compression. It is a great substitute if you want to save a little money. I think the e12 feels more like the hammer control which is a 2 piece. For me the feedback off the face on short game shots is what gives the edge to the e12. Plus that one good launch window with the extra yards off the tee.

btw I holed a 116  yd wedge for eagle on a par 4 yesterday with the e12. It was dead straight the entire way, landed eighteen inches in front of the hole, one small hop, then rolled in.

[Hoyoymac]

My regular golf ball is a Bridgestone Tour BRX.  Recently was given a free sleeve of 2 of the new E12 contact.  Played a couple rounds with them.  They were definitely longer off my irons and chip shots didn’t check up quite as soon.  Overall though I was impressed with them.

[lchang]

I'm coming from 2017 E6 Soft ....  And finally ran out.  Is this where I should go?

[NoTalentLefty]

10 hours ago, lchang said:

I'm coming from 2017 E6 Soft ....  And finally ran out.  Is this where I should go?

My research indicates yes. It’s not exactly the same ball but very close on feel.

[A.Princey]

Been looking for a ball that’s a bit more durable and more conducive to “check and tumble out” vs “check and stop. Enter the E12 Contact.
 

Well, I just finished 18 with the E12, FWIW my normal ball is the BRX, and this ball plays very, very similar. Full shots flight higher but spin equal to RX for me, however, my long irons are slightly shorter with the E12 due to this uber high flight. It’s about a half club shorter off long-mid irons than the RX but equal everywhere else. The ball seems moderately straighter, but more testing will be needed to assess that part. Ball is soft in feel and equally soft off the putter, IMO. Durability is quite good, and probably better than the RX. I was religious about cleaning them and my club faces, and the 2 I interchanged throughout my round show a couple scuffs but no crazy shred marks. 

 

The part that really intrigues me is the E12’s consistency for me under 50y. It certainly spins a bit less than it’s cousin the RX, but the spin is more consistent for me. The course I just played is on the softer side, but the check and runout was very, very good. Many times with the RX it would bite like hell and die, and on other similar shots that same RX would release more, with little or no explanation. Basically, the E12’s first bounce really kills the main speed of the ball and the rollout is very predictable, and definitely less than other surlyn balls I’ve played in my time. 
 

I will continue to test and report back, but this ball is every bit as good for me as the RX. Price difference is a no-brainer, and I noticed too, that on really firm/fast greens last year, the RX wasn’t super ideal for holding power anyway. So, it’s potential urethane advantages in firm conditions seem non-existent, or at least not when it’s most needed.
 

As always, ymmv.

[Justsomeguy]

I've been wanting to try this ball and reading this thread has made me very optimistic. If you guys are shooting 60s with it then there's no reason I can't stay under 100!

😉

How's the distance for those of us that don't go 300?

[NoTalentLefty]

17 minutes ago, Justsomeguy said:

I've been wanting to try this ball and reading this thread has made me very optimistic. If you guys are shooting 60s with it then there's no reason I can't stay under 100!

😉

How's the distance for those of us that don't go 300?

I don’t hit it 300 but was getting up to 250 so I’d say 220 to 230 in air. My average is  225 with a two piece. I’d say maybe 234 on the average with the E12. That’s my real average. 
  I did hit one 265 but that may have been wind aided. Couldn’t tell .

Edited June 8, 2021 by NoTalentLefty

[Pamlico]

Do you think the added cost over the e6 is worth it?

[HappyGilmoresBoots]

On 6/3/2021 at 12:10 PM, munichop said:

The gamer compared to the e12 platys similar but with a higher compression. It is a great substitute if you want to save a little money. I think the e12 feels more like the hammer control which is a 2 piece. For me the feedback off the face on short game shots is what gives the edge to the e12. Plus that one good launch window with the extra yards off the tee.

btw I holed a 116  yd wedge for eagle on a par 4 yesterday with the e12. It was dead straight the entire way, landed eighteen inches in front of the hole, one small hop, then rolled in.

That's got me supremely interested in the e12 Contact.  I got 3 holes apiece out of 2 TF Gamers in my last round before the covers got chewed up.  I gotta blast through my last dozen e6 Speeds (2017ish model year) before I really move on though.

[NoTalentLefty]

2 hours ago, Pamlico said:

Do you think the added cost over the e6 is worth it?

My opinion? Yes BUT is any ball really worth an upgrade??? My scores haven’t gone down or up. 

[Pamlico]

9 hours ago, NoTalentLefty said:

My opinion? Yes BUT is any ball really worth an upgrade??? My scores haven’t gone down or up. 

Valid point! My scores don't seem to vary based on ball.