Equipment
Bridgestone J15 fairway woods and hybrids
Along with its new J715 drivers, Bridgestone golf will release new J15 fairway woods and hybrids that promise improved ball speeds, higher launch angles and more versatility than their predecessors.
The new woods and hybrids produce “high launching distance with soft landings and the ability to be played from anywhere, including the tee, fairway, rough and even greenside,” says Josh Kinchen, Golf Clubs and Accessories Marketing Manger at Bridgestone Golf.
To accomplish the desired performance improvements, Bridgestone designed its J15 woods and hybrids with three core technologies — F.A.S.T (Flex Action Speed Technology) Crowns, Hyper Stainless 455 Steel Faces and Weighted Port Technology.
The F.A.S.T Crown, made of High Strength AM355 Maraging Steel, is thinner near the clubface and gets progressively thicker toward the rear, which allows the club to flex more at impact producing a spring-like effect for higher launch and ball speeds.
Club faces of both the fairway wood and hybrids are made from Hyper Stainless 455 Steel, which is the thinnest face ever from Bridgestone, measuring 1.8 millimeters in thickness. This gives the clubs the “maximum repulsion within conforming rules” according to the company.
Bridgestone aficionados will notice alterations to the sole shapes, which enhanced the versatility of the woods and hybrids. By removing material from the sole’s heel, engineers were able to reduce club head drag from a multitude of lies. Also, Bridgestone lowered the rear soles to help encourage a sweeping motion as the club meets the turf at impact, eliminating the tendency of woods and hybrids to dig.
Both the fairway woods and hybrids have a removeable weight in their sole that allows golfers to tweak swingweight.
J15F Fairway Woods ($199) come stock with Mitsubishi Rayon’s Fubuki Z Fairway shaft and custom yellow Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip.
- Lofts: 13.5, 15 and 18 degrees (15 and 18 available for left-handers on April 1).
J15HY Hybrids ($189) come stock with Mitsubishi Rayon’s Fubuki Z Hybrid shaft and a custom yellow Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip.
- Lofts: 17, 19, 21 and 23 degrees (21 and 23 available for left-handers on April 1)
The J15 fairway woods and hybrids will be available on Feb. 1, 2015.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB 2024 (April)
Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2024 (April)
Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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theo
Jan 13, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Wishon…pffff.
kloyd0306
Jan 13, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Far from all good ideas originate with the major OEMs.
The name inscribed on any branded club is merely that – inscribed. It does not mean that it is superior. Nor does it mean that that brand is the first to design something.
To “raspberry” Tom Wishon and his ideas only indicates that you know very, very little about function and design.
MAM
Jan 13, 2015 at 8:13 am
someone please explain what Hyper Stainless is, actually curious not being sarcastic!
it says “This gives the clubs the “maximum repulsion within conforming rules” as well as being the thinnest face ever from bridgestone. Do other OEM’s do this as well
Wilbur
Jul 24, 2015 at 11:51 pm
its a buzz word like spin skin, zip grooves, or speed slot
You don’t know what it is, but you know its good
Garbage
Jan 12, 2015 at 2:05 pm
Everybody playing catch-up with TM
frendy
Jan 13, 2015 at 12:39 am
No, everyone is playing catch-up with Wishon Golf. Carpenter 455, max COR, and cutaway soles were Wishon staples long before any Bridgestone or TM fw.
Nah
Jan 13, 2015 at 3:35 am
The weight forward in that spot is all TM
TR1PTIK
Jan 13, 2015 at 6:56 am
Actually, other clubs had the CG positioned forward before TM. The only difference was their CG placement wasn’t visible. For instance, the Titleist 905S had a CG placement that was low and forward to lower ball flight and produce less spin. The TM drivers at that time were still placing the weight low and toward the rear for easy launch. I’m sure someone else probably had the weight low and forward before Titleist did…
Wrong
Jan 13, 2015 at 8:56 pm
No, the 905S did NOT. Nowhere near forward as this or any of the TMs.
Next!