presented is a socket contact structure for electrical connectors , and a fabricating method utilizing a half - pitch contact spacing for the electrical connectors . the socket contact structure includes a terminating section formed at one end of the contact . a mating section , with a u - shaped intermediate portion and a pair of spaced cantilever arms extending therefrom , is formed from metal strip stock at the other end of the contact . the mating section is stamped and formed from a first strip having a first free end and a second free end , with the first free end bent through about 180 degrees toward the second free end in a spaced overlapping relation . the first strip is also bent through about 90 degrees with respect to the second strip along a bend line of the adjacent portion toward the second strip .