Gamer V1 vs Gamer V2 vs Bridgestone E5

[mdbuschsr]

When I started trying to take the game more seriously, and quit padding my score, I decided it was time to use a ball that more clearly showed the flaws in my swing. I picked up a box of Gamer V1's. Coming from playing Maxfli Revolution ROCKS, the difference was amazing.

My first tee shot with the V1 went so far right I was too embarrassed to even go look for it. My 2nd was almost as far right. I thought, boy it's a good thing I have a dozen of these bastards in the bag. In pretty short order I was able to get my "swing" figured out and started hitting straighter shots. The stopping power on the green with the V1 was amazing, but the cover became damaged very quickly, especially with all of my mis-hits. I went back to the store and bought another 4 dozen, because they were on clearance, and I really liked the ball.

Eventually I ran out of V1's, and had to buy V2's. The durability was much improved, but IMHO the stopping power on the green suffered for it. What surprised me was that I sprayed the V2 off the tee even more.

Again, I ran out of balls (big surprise huh?). The gamer V2 is obviously pretty well received, cuz' they are getting harder to find in stock. So today I bought a box of the E5's from Bridgestone. UHM!!!, WOW!!! What a golf ball. It may not be a prov1(x), but that is one fantastic golf ball.

First tee shot was a bit of a hook, that I heard clanging around in the trees, so I hit a provisional. It went so far left that I knew I, nor anyone, would ever see it again. So, we pulled up to the wife's tee, and I'm scanning around looking and HOPING to find ball #1. Fortunately it dribbled back out into the rough. I played the rest of my round with that ball today, and other than the grass stains, and one small scuff it's in perfect shape.

The stopping power of this ball is head-and-shoulders above either gamer IMO. I hit a 7i from 155 and mis-hit it slightly. A low little piercing shot (instead of the high arching shot I intended), and it stopped within 5 feet of landing on rock hard, dry greens.

Distance was on par with most any other ball I have played. It will throw a little more draw/fade/hook/slice at you. But not so much to be uncontrollable with even a modestly decent swing. I'm still on the fence with the putter, but that has more to do with the friggen' staff cutting greens in a weird way (ie, hole #1 not cut, #2 cut, #8 cut, #3 not cut, #4 & 7 cut). It was kind of like hopscotch, Slow, FAST, slooooooowwwww, FAST, FASTER, etc.

In any case, if you are looking for a moderately priced ball, that holds up well, and spins great? Try the E5!

[colin007]

have you tried the e6? i like that one too.

[mdbuschsr]

I've hit a couple of found E6's, and a few new E7's. Neither come close to the E5 in terms of pitch/chip control.

[golfro]

  mdbuschsr said:

I've hit a couple of found E6's, and a few new E7's. Neither come close to the E5 in terms of pitch/chip control.

interesting because I've found all three perform just fine. Maybe you have some crazy spin control skills that I don't possess but i've never had a problem with the E6. I've played the E6 right next to a ProV1 and while its definitely not a high spin ball, the E6 provides some of the best pitch/chip control of all the balls I've played aruond that price range. That includes the Nike One Tour I've been playing.

[mdbuschsr]

  golfro said:

interesting because I've found all three perform just fine. Maybe you have some crazy spin control skills that I don't possess but i've never had a problem with the E6. I've played the E6 right next to a ProV1 and while its definitely not a high spin ball, the E6 provides some of the best pitch/chip control of all the balls I've played aruond that price range. That includes the Nike One Tour I've been playing.

It's definitely not skills... But for some reason, I couldn't get the 7 to stop worth a darn. The 6 was better, but gave me more rollout than either Gamer. The 5 (used today for the first time) gave me the most stopping power. I don't generate much back spin, in close (or anywhere), so more is better.

[Chief Broom]

I like the e5's too. Also I really like Titileist's NXT line (old and new). Both the NXT and NXT Tour perform really well for me and the base NXT is priced the same as the Bridgestones "e" line of balls. All good balls IMO.

[mdbuschsr]

I've hit a few found NXT's and they seemed to have a distinct click off the club. The action off the club was nice enough...

[srjorion]

Good thread. I play NXTs and have been thinking of trying the e6.

[Chris223]

I love the e6. Since I hit primarily 3 wood off of every tee I am able to really keep it in the fairway almost all day long with the e6. But on par 3's I usually pull out either a Nike PD Soft or PD High because they do stop quicker than the e6. I find myself off the back edge of the green more than I like to be when hitting approach shots with the e6.

[max power]

  Chief Broom said:

I like the e5's too. Also I really like Titileist's NXT line (old and new). Both the NXT and NXT Tour perform really well for me and the base NXT is priced the same as the Bridgestones "e" line of balls. All good balls IMO.

There's nothing wrong with the NXT balls, but the regular NXT is a 2 piece distance ball, and it costs far too much for what you get. I'd rather play a D2 Feel, and the D2 Feel checks in at half the price of the NXT. NXT Tour is a good ball, but the Gamer V2 spins more, is more durable, and is $10 less per box. Like the OP, I prefer the E5 to all of them.

[jamo]

People talk all the time on here about the Gamer V1 having poor durability, and I have to say I've never had that happen to me. I've gone through about 2 or 3 dozen Gamer V1s over the last few years and have had no problem with durability whatsoever.