Bridgestone e7+/e7

[ScooterMcTavish]

Hype of Not? And a few questions......

Hi All,

Still searching for the perfect ball, and have been struggling with trajectory off my driver. However, my iron trajectory is nicely medium.

So, I'm wondering if the e7+ or e7 is actually as good as it's hype. A couple of additional thoughts:
- Does it lower the trajectory off all clubs, or mainly off the driver?
- How does its spin compare to other 3-piece ionomer balls?
- Chipping and putting feel - again, compare to other 3-piece ionomer balls.

I had tried both the e5+ and e6+ last year, and can't say that either one impressed me greatly. For being a urethane covered ball, I found the e5+ to have the worst combination of feel (hard), durability (cut easy), and spin (couldn't get it to spin like others). I also found the e6+ one club shorter than my gamer at the time (Nike One Vapor - yes, I know maufactured by Bridgestone for Nike), and also found it firm, and especially harsh when putting.

Worth trying the e7 or e7+? Thoughts?

[storm319]

If you thought the e5 and e6 felt harsh, you will hate the e7. The e7 is one of the hardest, if not the hardest surlyn 3-piece ball (not as hard as the B330 though).

I will say that it is one of the longest and straightest balls I have ever hit off the tee but also the lowest spinning around spinning around the green. Trajectory was slightly lower than most balls but not a drastic difference.

[domer]

I've been playing the e7 for my last couple of rounds and storm is spot on with his post above. The ball is noticeably harder than most others, feel off the irons is extremely firm and it's serviceable but not great around the green. (I've certainly played worse short-game balls at this price point though *cough* NXT *cough*.) I also didn't notice much of a difference in trajectory, at least not with my irons. All of that said, if I had to pick one ball [b]just for use off the tee[/b] (at any price point), the e7 would be it. It doesn't spin much and my driving distance has been off the charts. So if you're desperate to get some confidence back with the driver (and don't mind the trade-off around the green), maybe give the e7 a shot?

[VA_Astra]

The E7 is a great ball!! I am a super high spin player and can even back one of these up with out issues.

The ball flight is lower off of the driver and I have had my biggest drives with this ball. I have also noticed that my iron shots are a little bigger as well. If you can spin a ball, you can spin this one. If you have a slow swing speed, you will not like this ball as it is a little harder.


Now the Top Flight Gamer's and other balls are WAY harder IMO that the e7.


I still keep a dozen or so of these around and some in my bag at all times, no matter what ball im playing at that time. I have played this ball for 2 years now since it came out and I will not be pulling it out of the bag any time soon. But I did just play the MG tour ball, that may end up kicking these out....to early to tell yet.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks guys,

Funny with the "hardness" issue - I played the HX Hot Bite this year and thought it might be "the ball" for a bit. It is also a firmer ball, but seemed to "butter up" on nice iron shots. I can live with a bit of a firmer ball if need be. I just hated the Hot Bite as its cover shredded.

Domer, interesting comment "just off the tee" - that's sort of the predicament I'm in. However, if I get to keep the 5i in the bag and use a 7i instead, that could be a positive thing for my game regardless of greenside spin (GIR = no pitching or chipping). That it impoves the driver trajectory without punishing the irons - that is very interesting indeed.

Storm, interesting as your post describes how I'd describe a "low trajectory" e6. Mind you, I've experimented with some harder balls this year including a number of Callaway offerings, and I find the hardness didn't bother me as much this year (my SS went up 5 mph in the offseason).

VA, you find the Gamer hard? I've played V1 quite a bit and found it to be a very serviceable ball, it just sucked horribly in the durability department (another almost "the ball"). I have a box of V2's waiting to be used - maybe these are a bit harder.

Storm, BTW where's your buddy Cornbread?

Regardless, the wife is at Wally World tonight, and they had some very nice quality preowned e7+ for $9.99/doz. Cheap way to see if they work, though I already feel old man winter looking over my shoulder......

[Golfo5]

Very good comments on e7.

I like the performance of the tee. It is one of the longest/straightest balls I´ve ever played, but I don´t like the firm feel (cold/normal temperature).
It is low spin of the driver, but with wedges (half shots) you will get more spin and a higher trajectory compare to e5/e6.

On windy conditions and when temperature peaks, the e7 is on of the best (3-piece) balls in the market.

So, if you are looking for a long/straight ball of the tee with better short game performance and a softer feel, you could give the following balls a try:

Taylormade TP Red LDP (4-piece): On discount
- Off the Driver: Very, very long and straight. Lower trajectory than e7. Much roll.
- Softer feeling
- Much better for short game

Bridgestone RXS (3-piece):
- Fore someone maybe to much spin off the driver; shorter than e7
- One of the best feeling balls I´ver ever played
- Very good short game performance. Putts like a dream.

Callaway Diablo (2-piece):
- Very long of the tee (but not for higher ss). Straight (not as e7)
- Trajectory is high, so you should tee it "down" (driver). With 3-wood / irons a dream.
- Short game: Nice. Putts very well.
- Feel: Very soft (66 compression). Maybe more for colder days.

[toc]

I wouldn't call the Gamer hard at all. The V2 is one of my favorite balls.

[CAT GOLFER]

[quote name='timinsprings' timestamp='1281532056' post='2632036']
I wouldn't call the Gamer hard at all. The V2 is one of my favorite balls.
[/quote]

I second that notion, great ball.

[storm319]

If you have no problems getting this ball to stop, by all means play it because it is a monster off the tee. For being a hard ball it doesnt feel all that bad off irons (better than the HX Bite or Gamer IMHO). Iron distances were a little shorter than the NXT Tour for me.

I hit a sky high 70 yard wedge shot and the e7 still rolled about 12 feet past my pitch mark on a relatively flat green. At first I thought it was me so I hit the same shot with an NXT Tour and the ball stopped dead.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks again guys. Storm, I'm not a big spin hitter, so maybe my experience will be similar to yours. Mind you, I've never minded playing bump and run either - my home course only has two of nine holes where the green is guarded, but both are receptive greens (usually). Funny that you don't like the Gamer off irons - this is where I absolutely love the springy feel of the ball.

Nice to hear the long/straight comments as well as the endorsement of the V2 - I have a sleeve in my bag to try at the course tonight.

Golfo, I have tried all three balls you listed and my thoughts were (briefly):
TP Red - Good ball, as was the TP Black. however, both felt a bit "heavy" to me, though the Red did have a very nice low trajectory. Maybe time to stock up on closeouts?
RXS - Good ball also, but also an expensive tour ball. Plus, a little too much spin off the driver. The RX was better for driver spin, but this was at the cost of feel.
Diablo - Meh. Really nothing to get me excited. I still prefer the AD333 to the Diablo, mainly based on feel. Generally, I haven't liked any 2-piece ball Callaway has put out.

FYI, Wally World was out (of course) of the e7+ yesterday, so I may have to hold off on trying them until I can get my mitts on a sleeve.

[ScooterMcTavish]

Additional note - finally played the Gamer V2 today and hated it. I loved the V1, and although it wasn't the most durable ball, it flew off the club, and bit well for an ionomer covered ball.

Let's just say that although I found the V1 not to be a hard ball, the V2 seems to have sacrificed this feel for durability.

Still planning on playing some e7's though.

[Buddyjay]

[quote name='ScooterMcTavish' timestamp='1281582275' post='2633863']
Additional note - finally played the Gamer V2 today and hated it. I loved the V1, and although it wasn't the most durable ball, it flew off the club, and bit well for an ionomer covered ball.

Let's just say that although I found the V1 not to be a hard ball, the V2 seems to have sacrificed this feel for durability.

Still planning on playing some e7's though.
[/quote]


For me, the E7 is a great ball. I get long drives and it bounces once and stops on the green, even in firm conditions. I do not like a hard ball and don't think the E7 is hard at all.
I never thought I would replace my Srixon AD333, but the E7 has...at least for now in this heat.

[soliari]

I had a chance to play the e7 on 3 holes thanks to the generosity of a friend. My impressions are that the e7 is very long and straight off the tee. The balls feels "ok" with the driver and full iron shots. I did notice that the ball doesn't hold the green as well as the HX Bite or the NXT Tour (previous version of the NXT). My biggest problem with the ball is how hard it felt with the putter. I wonder if what helps it on the tee fails it on the green. I over putted by a long shot several times with the e7, so much so I placed a HX Bite down just to see and with a similar swing it didn't roll nearly as far and left a manageable 2nd putt.

For me, the performance off the tee and full iron shots didn't overcome what it did on and around the green. I'm just not willing to give up all the action I get from the HX Bite or the NXT Tour (which is the lesser of these two IMHO).