Equipment
Bridgestone J715 460 Driver
If you’re not a fan of companies that release several new drivers each year, Bridgestone’s philosophy could be music to your ears. The company’s new J715 460 driver is its first new model in four years.
“We want consumers to know that when we introduce a new club, it will always offer real tangible performance benefits,” said Josh Kinchen, Golf Clubs and Accessories Marketing Manager at Bridgestone Golf.
Bridgestone incorporated four new technologies into its new J715 460 driver that allow it to launch higher and spin less than its predecessor — the recipe for more driver distance.
The most important of those technologies could be the Flex Action Speed Technology (F.A.S.T) in the crown, which will help golfers launch the ball higher and faster. F.A.S.T. means that the crown is thinner near the face, and gets progressively thicker towards the rear of the club head. The construction allows the face to flex more at impact, imparting more spring-like effect to improve launch.
Since the crown is designed to add a little “give” at impact, the Flex Action technology increases what the company calls “repulsion,” which means the ball moves away from the face faster than before. Think about it like this — you can jump higher off a diving board than rock hard cement, right?
You know when it’s raining and your driver face gets wet, and you can feel the ball slip off the face and go astray? On most driver faces on the market today, this happens when it’s dry, too. When the ball slips around on the face during impact, it causes unwanted spin and amplifies the effect of off-center strikes.
Bridgestone’s power-milled face (see it magnified above) is said to reduce that unwanted slippage at impact by adding friction, which enhances the quality of compression while the ball is on the face and reduces spin by 200-to-300 rpm’s, according to Bridgestone’s robot testing.
Bridgestone also added its new Spin Flight Control Technology to the driver that allows golfers to adjust the center of gravity — golf’s hottest trend to increase distance. The J715 has two adjustable weights in its sole that allow golfers to customize CG — either more forward for less spin and more fade, or more rearward for more spin and more draw.
The J715 460 also has an adjustable hosel that can set the face angle 1 degree open or closed, and the lie angle can be set to standard, or 1- or 2-degrees upright.
The J715 driver ($399) will be in stores on Feb. 1, 2015 in lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12-degrees for right-handers (9.5 and 10.5-degrees for lefties available April 1). The stock shaft is a Mitsubishi Fubuki ZT with a Yellow Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip.
See more photos and read the discussion in the forums.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes
As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Equipment
Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage
Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.
It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.
When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”
“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”
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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.
Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:
“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.
“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.
“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.
“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.
“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”
So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.
His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.
See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here
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Romanempire
Jan 19, 2015 at 10:21 am
I am excited for this product as I play and promote Bridgestone to the fullest. Driver down through the wedges along with the balls. They have been successful with their rise to #2 in the ball market, more importantly the gap they have built between themselves and the #3 ball company, so now they can focus on being a force in the club market. Product looks great and they are a great company!
denny c
Jan 14, 2015 at 9:58 pm
I have this driver and I love it. I wish it came with jdm tour ad mj shaft but then again i do not want to drop another 300+
jim b
Jan 7, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Love what I see and read about this club.Will probably be buying one in about two years when they are much cheaper and I recover from my daughters wedding expenses this July.Thanks & good luck.
Regis
Jan 7, 2015 at 1:25 pm
I’m hoping its distributed widely enough so I can at least demo it. By the way the photo of the crown when examined seems to show no leaves on the trees, snow on the windshield and the author wearing a stocking cap. Same here and it makes me want to demo the club even more.
Mike Honcho
Jan 7, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Did I eat too much peyote for Christmas??? Left handed??? Be still my beating, hallucinating melon.
Chris c
Jan 6, 2015 at 10:07 pm
I look forward to trying this driver. I hope that when it is actually released in North America that both weight ports remain adjustable. I had been looking forward to trying the Srixon 545 until they decided to only release a “dumbed down” version in North America.
leon
Jan 6, 2015 at 10:12 am
Nice club! I have the J40 irons and wedges in the bag but am hesitate to put the woods in. Their lie angles are way too much upright for me, plus a closed club face, man, I will keep searching the balls on the left side all day long.
Fred
Jan 6, 2015 at 11:23 am
All the J40 drivers I’ve seen sit dead straight (neutral). That’s one thing I love about them, so easy to align.
stripe
Jan 6, 2015 at 9:38 am
Would love to try it if any places had them.
Jonny B
Jan 6, 2015 at 8:40 am
This likely won’t reach the masses or sell in high numbers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Bridgestone clubs in a big box retailer – mostly seen them online or in pro shops.
I do applaud the shaft choice, I have a Fubuki ZT in my current Callaway driver and love the control it gives me. Heavier and stiffer than most stock offerings which actually will benefit the amateur golfer, help them keep it in the fairway more often.
Square
Jan 6, 2015 at 4:41 am
I’d put in the bag right now….nice!
other paul
Jan 6, 2015 at 1:55 am
Looks like a Callaway driver from the top to me…
slimeone
Jan 5, 2015 at 7:34 pm
I love Bridgestone and I’m sure this is a great driver but all this tech is old and already semi-redundant. TM just release their tech as soon as they can because they know that it gets old quickly. What is with the F.A.S.T acronym which sounds like the thick-thin face that others have been using for years? And the term “repulsion” sounds to me like COR.
I feel like Bridgestone Golf are pretty lazy and they don’t really care either way which I somehow respect. They also put out quality gear so it’s cool.