Equipment
New Bridgestone J715 Driver, J15 irons spotted
Golfers got a sneak peak of Bridgestone’s 2015 equipment line this week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, where Brandt Snedeker was testing the company’s new J715 driver, as well its J15DF and J15CB irons.
The J715 driver appears to have two removable weights: one on the front portion of the driver’s sole and one that’s more rearward and on the heel-section of its sole. There’s also an interesting face pattern on the impact area of the driver, which a company representative called a “proprietary clubface design that reduces spin, resulting in longer more accurate drives.”
The J15 irons look to be available in at least two models: the J15DF and J15CB. The J15DF appears to be the replacement for Bridgestone’s J40 Dual Pocket cavity irons, which are slightly larger size than a traditional forged iron to improve forgiveness and launch conditions. The J15CB appear to be a smaller, one-piece forging and look similar to the J40 Cavity Back irons that Snedeker is currently using.
Click here to see the clubs Snedeker has in the bag.
The prototypes are said to be precursors for a larger Bridgestone Golf consumer club launch coming in January, which is said to be much friendlier to left-handed golfers than the company’s previous equipment launches.
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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 x
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)...
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here....
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
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marcel
Aug 20, 2014 at 9:16 pm
can help it -tried the other day Mizuno Mp64, Cobra blades… to compare with my stock j38 6.0… and Bridgies are just so sweet and buttery and perfect… can wait to try our new irons the best in the whole world!!!
Slowpoke
Aug 12, 2014 at 4:07 am
The J40 CB’s were probably some of the nicest looking and feeling irons I’ve ever played ? These look a lot like so many others now, I hope they play better.
slimeone
Aug 4, 2014 at 6:27 pm
This gear reminds me of the earlier J-series. The irons look very similar the J-38s and the driver definitely references the classic J-33 driver. Should be a spin-killing monster!
But I would have loved to see a classic blade!
rbgntx
Aug 4, 2014 at 1:31 pm
I am hopeful they will expand their club marketing. It is very difficult to find their equipment in golf retail stores. Years ago, I had a set of the Precept Tour CBs. They were a great iron. I would like to give these new models a try.
marcel
Aug 4, 2014 at 9:53 pm
hope they dont. we know were the quality and price is. and you can say there are no fake Bridgestone on the market because of this best kept secret. Bridgestone j38 and j40 are the most affordable players new club.
JBIII
Aug 4, 2014 at 11:52 am
davis love is playing the black TM driver so those are the graphics you saw.
paul
Aug 3, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Anyone else think the DFs look exactly like Adams MBs? And the CBS look exactly like 712 titleist CBs? They do look great.
Mark
Aug 2, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Gorgeous irons.
Ollie 123
Aug 2, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Them irons look rather nice,a brand I have never tried but would like to give these a try.
marcel
Aug 4, 2014 at 12:13 am
only clubs im playing… tried Mizuno but got back to brigies j38 CB… smooth as… Dual Pocket just a butter and pleasure to play
RAT
Aug 2, 2014 at 10:19 am
WAITING TO GIVE THESE A TRIAL RUN.
MHendon
Aug 2, 2014 at 12:52 am
I find it interesting the face looks like it has tiny grooves in it. I thought the whole purpose of a driver was to keep spin down.
TheFightingEdFioris
Aug 2, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Not sure if the grooves are for anything more than cosmetics… The B’Stone drivers historically are as low-spinning as anything else on Tour.
melrosegod
Aug 1, 2014 at 4:56 pm
That driver looks like a deep faced beast! Me want!
David
Aug 1, 2014 at 3:00 pm
I’m pretty sure there is a decal on the top similar to the R1 Black, black/grey decal on top. All I saw was DLIII hit a Driver yesterday on the television.
Davie Crockett
Aug 1, 2014 at 2:37 pm
Wish I could see what the top of the club looks like
tyler stockdale
Aug 1, 2014 at 2:02 pm
any news if this will be released to leftys?
mhendon
Aug 1, 2014 at 6:57 pm
No to small a market, learn to play right handed! lol
Geoff
Aug 3, 2014 at 10:05 am
Is says in the article that left handers will have options. As a lefty I spoke with Bridgestone about it last year and they said that lefties would have some options coming soon. But for the most part, Bridgestone believes its footprint is too small for the lefty market.