It is abundantly clear that Bridgestone Golf has rounded back into form and are hitting a groove of bringing revolutionary golf ball technology to golfers. The TOUR B release with its REACTIV cover has been a game changer across its four different golf ball designs, but even still, Bridgestone believes there is more to do in order to create a complete assortment of offerings across the spectrum.
So, with that in mind, it is time to look at the eSeries with the release of the 2021 Bridgestone e12 CONTACT golf ball.
Bridgestone e12 CONTACT
First, this new e12 will remain true to much of what we have come to expect from Bridgestone, as it will be a 3-piece design with a surlyn cover focused on distance, forgiveness, and the softer impact feel that golfers who fit into this segment prefer. Whereas previously there was a “Speed” and “Soft” model of the e12, the CONTACT will be a single release which is actually made possible by the namesake
“CONTACT force dimple” design.
What is CONTACT? Well, before we dive into that it’s worth pointing out just how forward thinking and on the cutting edge that Bridgestone Golf has always been when it comes to cover and dimple designs with the goal always being increasing efficiency and performance. With CONTACT, the design centers around the new “Force Dimple” which has a raised area in the center and outer portion of each dimple. This has increased the amount of golf ball surface area coming into contact with the clubface by an eye opening 38%.
What that means, according to Bridgestone, is that more surface area impacting the clubface allows for a more consistent energy transfer. Translation? More ball speed and distance from driver all the way to wedges. Additionally, the internal design of the ball combined with the CONTACT Force dimples should mean helping to tame the big right or left misses which amateurs can be plagued with. It also bears mentioning that Bridgestone is adamant this will help golfers who fit into the e12 when it comes to short game as well, as the dimple design will keep the ball on the clubface longer and actually help increase the spin and control compared to other surlyn golf balls.
The Details
The new Bridgestone e12 CONTACT is set to hit retail on February 26, 2021 and will come in with a $29.99 price point. As has become the custom with the eSeries in recent years, the golf balls will also be available in several color and finish options including white, matte yellow, matte red, and matte green. Upon release, the e12 CONTACT will also enter Bridgestone’s VFIT matrix as an option in their video fitting consultations.
Plan on picking the new e12 CONTACT golf balls up for a tryout? Be sure to let us know how it goes both below as well as on the THP community!
About the only thing negative I could say about them would have to do with greenside spin – and it’s not a big deal to me because I’m not a high spin player and it fits my game to allow for runout on my chips and pitches. They’ll hold the green well enough on approach shots, but if you hunt pins and want an immediate drop and stop, or want to zip the ball back, this is not your ball. The greenside performance occasionally bites me on shortsided chips/pitches, but I can deal with it in exchange for all the offsetting positives the ball offers me.
Probably not the ideal ball for the golfer who relies on firing at pins and stopping the ball quickly, and probably not optimal for high swing speed guys who don’t want/need a softer/lower spin ball – but if you’re not in one of those two categories, I think it’s a great ball for the price and worth a try. It’s going to remain my gamer for the foreseeable future.
The Supersoft was my ball before the e12 Contact. I was very fond of the Supersoft, but like the e12 Contact even better.
I am curious what they used as a constant to get the "38% more contact" figure.
Also wouldn’t this potentially reduce any backspin on wedges?
Key to remember there is wedges aren’t compressed at the same speeds as the longer clubs that will see the 38%.
Into greens I’ve seen good height and descent, and the expected reactions given the cover. Closer to the green there is the expected roll out, but anything 3/4 and above swing wise sits really really well.
This type of dimple pattern looks great to my eye, but Topflite has been using a similar technology. Topflite has dimple in dimple pattern for some years now, but it looks a bit different then the Srixon pattern:
All of these golf balls have some things in common. Take the "Dimple in Dimple" pattern on the covers, for example. Top-Flite says this unique dimple design (small dimples positioned inside 332 larger primary dimples) promotes increased distance for a wide range of players. The Dimple in Dimple pattern reduces drag, provides additional lift and maintains the optimal spin so the balls are able to stay in the air longer and fly farther.
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Bridgestone has used dimple in dimple for a LONG time. This is a different animal.
Very similar to the older e6 models, IMO. They feel a bit softer, fly a bit further and perform maybe a bit better on the greens, but the main commonality with the e6 is that they’re a super straight ball. I’m really enjoying playing these.
Better all around.
I really like the matte green. It looked so “limey” compared to the optic yellow Supersofts I used to play – then one of my buddies bought the matte green Supersofts and man, those are *really* limey! They make the e12s look almost straight yellow by comparison!
I could put it in play no problem.
I hit a 112 yard tee shot on a par 3 today and the ball came to rest just over a foot from my ball mark on the green. Had several approach shots from 120-150 where it stopped within 3-8 feet of the ball mark.
Compression is around 70 from what Ive found on the internet. I would say for the price alone you should buy it! I think they are perfect for a high handicap as well. Im around a 17 and shot my best round ever last week. I wont say it was all because of the ball but I will say my misses stayed in the yard as opposed to the OB!
I’ve played 22 rounds with the e12 Contact and somehow only managed to lose 3 balls. These things really want to go straight and stay in play. I’ve also shot my all-time PB with them, gotten a hole-in-one, and on average I’ve been shooting my best scores ever. Not saying that’s all the ball, but they certainly haven’t hurt either.
My ave drive was in line with the higher profile balls usually looked at for distance and my green stoppage was on point.
The greens were playing very hard and fast and the e12 consistently was able to hold the green on approach shots, plus my chips had a nice spin for control.
Everyone’s different You like it, great, keep playing it. I didn’t
Works well with Ping G400 Max!
Anyone have additional insight? Stay safe!
For me, the Contact is much better in the short game and on the green, and it’s not close. Feel and responsiveness are much better with the Contact.
I could play the Supersoft, and the AVX works very well in my game, but the Contact is best overall and a great value.
That very closely mirrors my experience with the e12 Contact, with the exception of the driver distance. I’m so inconsistent with my driver that it’s hard to tell what difference a ball makes, my erratic swing makes a lot more difference than the ball does! Other than that, same – definitely straighter, better in the short game, and better feel (albeit the difference in feel is small to me).
I like both the Supersoft and the Contact, could easily play either one, but have stuck with the contact since I started playing it. Supersoft wins for price, but overall the Contact is a better ball for me.
TBH I was quite pleased with them, not the longest off the tee but straighter, Got some nice iron distances and the greenside spin while not ProV spin, was not bad and were "Playable" once I adjusted – and I did get a couple to land and turn to the side, so there is some spin to them.
When you hit them flush, they feel great off the club face. The ball has some forgiveness to them.
The also seemed quite durable – I don’t think I really scuffed one.
Probably won’t buy more because I have standing inventory of other balls however if I didn’t, I’d have no issues putting them in play long term.
Good choice!
I totally agree with your assessment of the e12 contact – Not a bad ball however not one I would choose over a TourB RX or RXS.
I’d pay the extra $$$ for a Urethane cover.
I have the same big ponder with these – am I giving up distance? But the alternatives for me appear to be the AVX at $50 or the always very serviceable Supersoft. FWIW, I found the green to be the most visible solution for me, with yellow OK, and red too difficult to pick up, even for young eyes.
Hmm, wouldn’t have guessed the green to be most visible. I played the red last year and found once on the ground they were very easy to find but I (and playing partners) had trouble tracking them in the air.
If $ was no issue I’d be playing the CSX LS, but when I get wild I have a hard time swallowing almost $5 per bad shot ?
I can understand having to adjust a bit for spin, if you are close. But from the fairway is you are a big ball hitter, my buddy seems to drop it in pretty well
so these are my "winter balls." I have trouble compressing the X LS and Bridgestone Tour BX when it’s under 50 degrees up here. I so so wish the contacts were urethane. I do feel like I give up a bit of distance, but it could also be due to the cold Temps. played them in 55 degrees last week and hit drives of 223 (up hill), 266, 248, 244, 258. Shot Scope says I averaged 272 normally, averaged 282 in Hawaii with the X LS but that’s also Temps in the 80s. that being said, I am super straight with the e12 contacts.
I adjust pretty well to the roll put on the greens. not that big of a difference from last year’s tour bx or X ls but a slight difference from the 2022 balls.
Same here they work for me.
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Only thing I don’t like is how matte and dull they look. And the dimple pattern is a bit angular. I guess if it works though…..