Equipment
Bridgestone J15 MB, J15 CB, J15 DF and J15DPF Forged Irons
Bridgestone is set to release its newest iron line — the J15 Forged family. Each iron has a different size and construction to offer something to serious golfers of all skill levels. The models include the J15 MB (Muscle Backs), J15 CB (Cavity Backs), J15 DF (Driving Forged) and J15 DPF (Dual Pocket Forged).
The irons introduce Bridgestone’s new “Sure Contact Sole,” a design feature that is integrated into the forging process — particularly for the heel area of the sole — to improve turf interaction. Each iron has a slightly different sole shape and sole heel shape that suits the target golfer. For example, the smaller irons models — its J15 MB and J15 CB — have flatter, more narrow soles, while the J15 DF and J15 DPF have wider, more rounded soles that improve forgiveness.
Bridgestone’s J15 Forged irons will come stock with True Temper DG Pro shafts and are available in 3-PW. Standard sets (4-PW) will be available at retail stores on Feb. 1, 2015:
- $789 (J15 MB, J15 CB, J15 DPF) — right-handed only models
- $879 (J15DF) — right- and left-handed models (LH available on April 1, 2015)
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the J15 Forged irons in our forums.
J15 MB (Muscle Backs)
Material: 1025 Carbon Steel
Design Features: Compact head design for shot-shaping, Sure Contact Sole for better turf interaction.
Who’s it for? Better players looking for blade-style irons with narrow, flat soles.
J15 CB (Cavity Backs)
Material: 1020 Carbon Steel
Design Features: Compact head design for shot-shaping and a wider Sure Contact Sole for better turf interaction.
Who’s it for? Better players looking for more forgiveness than the MB model.
J15 DF (Driving Forged)
Material: Two-pieces — 1025 forged carbon steel body, 1025 steel face
Design Features: A hollow cavity between the front and rear of the clubhead improves ball speed, and weight added around the club’s perimeter enhances forgiveness.
Who’s it for? Low-to-mid handicappers who want more distance and forgiveness than the CB and MB models can provide.
J15 DPF (Dual-Pocket Forged)
Material: 1020 Carbon Steel
Design Features: A “Turbo Rubber Design” behind the face allows weight to be added to the club head’s perimeter to increase MOI. A Sure Contact Sole and mid-size head shape combines for added forgiveness.
Who’s it for? Mid-to-high handicappers who want added confidence at address and maximum forgiveness from a forged iron.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the J15 Forged irons in our forums.
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- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
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Welcome to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla, Tiger Woods won in 2000 – when he famously pointed his golf ball into the hole during the historic duel with Bob May – and Rory McIlroy won the 2014 event, basically in the dark on the final hole.
The point is, history shows that Valhalla tends to produce top-tier champions and plenty of drama.
This week at the 2024 PGA Championship, GolfWRX got its first up-close look at what some of the LIV Tour players have in their bags in 2024. We also caught back up with a few PGA Championship legends, such as Rich Beem and John Daly, and we dove into the bags of PGA Sectional qualifiers, too.
In total, we captured 47 different photo galleries this week, including 32 individual What’s In The Bag (WITB) forum threads. Click here to see all of our photos from the event, or continue reading to see my 10 equipment highlights from Valhalla.
1) Brooks Koepka’s new putter
Koepka was previously using a Scotty Cameron T5.5 putter with a slant neck, which he used to win at the beginning of the month in Singapore on the LIV tour. This week, however, he tried a T5.5 with a plumbers neck instead of the slant neck, and it’s immediately going in the bag. According to Scotty Cameron Tour rep Drew Page, Koepka already loved the head, and now finds the plumbers neck a bit more familiar to the blade-style putters he’s used throughout most of his career.
2) The lead tape king returns, with putting goggles
Phil Mickelson has always been one of the GOATs when it comes to lead tape usage, so it was no surprise to see his 64-degree custom Callaway wedge slathered with slabs of lead tape on the back.
The big surprise was that lefty was spotted using ProAim putting training goggles on Wednesday during his warm-up session.
The ProAim goggles are helpful to find center lines and ensure proper alignment to the target.
See Phil Mickelson’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship
3) Dobyns’ old-school gamer setup
Speaking of lead tape, check out Matt Dobyn’s old Titleist 718 T-MB irons, which are so loaded with lead tape that the club is nearly unrecognizable.
Respect.
The head professional at Meadow Brook Club is making his sixth start in a PGA Championship, and he’s using a throwback Callaway GBB Epic driver with MOI-boosting lead tape and adjustable weight placements.
As GolfWRX Forum user “InTheBag” pointed out in our Matt Dobyns’ WITB thread, he has the type of setup that makes you want to hide your wallet: “I don’t know Mr. Dobyns, but one look at that bag tells me he can take your money,” writes InTheBag.
Spot on.
4) John Daly’s custom Sub70 irons and wedges
We first saw John Daly using $750 direct-to-consumer Sub70 659-CB irons and TAIII wedges at the 2023 PNC Championship, and he still has them in the bag, but he’s since stepped up the customization on the Sub70 clubs.
Does Daly ever NOT keep things entertaining?
View this post on Instagram
A true showman.
5) DJ’s custom putter
Dustin Johnson has always been one to test multiple putters week-to-week, and he has a keen eye for different alignment lines and crowns. This week, he’s opting for a completely gray TaylorMade Spider Tour “T3.0” prototype with a short slant neck.
See the rest of DJ’s WITB from the week here
6) Patrick Reed still rocking GrindWorks irons
Patrick Reed knows his stuff when it comes to equipment, and he’s a prolific tester. Still, however, the GrindWorks PR-101A irons are squarely in the bag after his departure to the LIV tour.
The most notable new addition to Reed’s bag is this Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood.
Click here to see Reed’s full WITB from this week
7) Beem’s Scratch set
Rich Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, came to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with a bag full of Scratch Golf irons, which are loaded with lead tape and equipped with some of the coolest custom ferrules in professional golf.
See Rich Beem’s full WITB here
8) Jon Rahm’s 10-iron
Before going to LIV, Rahm was using a Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge.
Now, he’s using a Callaway Apex TCB “10 iron.”
He’s also since upgraded to three Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke metalwoods, and fresh stampings on his Jaws Raw wedges. Click here to see Rahm’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship.
9) “Why so serious?”
Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player in the 2024 PGA Championship field, channels his inner Joker to ask everyone, “Why so serious?”
10) Block’s “Proto” iron, from address
As you probably know by now, Block switched out of his old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2014 irons, and into a full set of TaylorMade’s new “Proto” irons. We’ve already seen the Proto 4-iron in the bags of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, but this is our first look at the higher-lofted irons in the set.
Here’s a look at the 7-iron from address:
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Proto irons in our Forums
And, with that, we say goodbye to Louisville, and the second major championship of the 2024 season. We’ll see you next week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas after a champion has been crowned.
Until then, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week at the 2024 PGA Championship!
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We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much better last week, so he is hoping to continue that success and post another good score.
Here are the 14 clubs that will hopefully win him some skins!
Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops (9 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (2024)
3-wood: Cobra Dark Speed LS Titanium (14.5 degrees, set +1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-7x
Fairway: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Blue 8 X
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops 4h (22 degrees, Flat Setting)
Shaft: KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 85 S
Irons: TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black (5-PW)
Shaft: KBS Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (50-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (56-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (60-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Putter: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max
Shaft: Accra x L.A.B. White
Ball: Titleist ProV1 Enhanced Alignment
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Patrick Reed WITB 2024 (May)
Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
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We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much...
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Joe
Jun 23, 2016 at 8:50 pm
Can someone who plays(ed) the DF’s please post their thoughts on them?
Pingback: Easy Solid Golf Advice From The Pros | Golf Mind To Win
Fran
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:00 am
Those J15 DPF’s look sweet, almost a Titleist look about them. I was convinced I would buy the Mizuno JPX 850’s as my next set but I think their is now competition for my money. I look forward to hearing reviews about these clubs
marcel
Jan 9, 2015 at 6:52 pm
wait for Brigies – you golfing life will be much more pleasant 😉
Curt
Jan 8, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Havin played blades all my life these MB’s just make my mouth water!! So much I have to keep coming back to look at them every hour or so…….and to all the “funny guys” out there – no, I do not have a forged/metal/blade fetish that we need to devote some time to………..
marcel
Jan 9, 2015 at 6:53 pm
me too… i am looking the DPF… played j38 DP and now j38 CB… will be heading back to forgiveness and fun
Bstone
Jan 8, 2015 at 12:26 pm
I’ve been rocking the J33 Forged Pro Combo for about 7 years. This new line looks good enough that I will have to give them a serious look.
Good job Bridgestone – I just wish it was easier to find in golf stores.
RobG
Jan 8, 2015 at 10:05 am
I’d LOVE to give those CB’s a try!
Jason
Jan 8, 2015 at 9:40 am
I wish Bridgestone had a presence in my local gold shops. I would love to test them out!
Carlos Danger
Jan 8, 2015 at 8:36 am
These look as good as any iron I have seen at address, but i can think of three or four other sets that look the exact same (CMB, 714, MIZ, etc)
The standout for me is the awesome graphics. That simple “B” stamp on the blades is pretty BadA$$
Bore
Jan 8, 2015 at 3:23 am
Yawwwwnnnnnn…… so boring. Everybody copying each other. Bridgestone is becoming the Titleist. Decent balls but their clubs are just average. Don’t believe the hype! We all know they play different clubs on Tour!
bradford
Jan 8, 2015 at 7:13 am
…don’t believe the internet
Justin
Jan 8, 2015 at 1:11 am
I stopped breathing when I saw the MBs
Ballstrikaaa
Jan 8, 2015 at 12:18 am
Yes please!!! Da blades look delish!!!
Chip
Jan 7, 2015 at 9:24 pm
These look great! But, too bad no stores really carry their brand to my knowledge. I would like to try before I buy!
RG
Jan 7, 2015 at 9:14 pm
Ok, just went threw the photos for the 2nd time and I am loving the MB. Great lines, heel looks graby but not bitey,toe is sublime, graphics are present but not overpowering ( although I wish I could get a club with NO graphics). All great blades will only ever be variations on a theme and this club is making classic lines look brand new.
Marc
Jan 8, 2015 at 3:56 pm
I’ve got graphic-free blades from Geotech Japan. I do like the lines on these Bridgestones though.
RG
Jan 7, 2015 at 8:55 pm
Wow.. Beautiful clean blade, striking MB, a dual cavity and a dual pocket..I see a combo set coming on. Or I just rip those blades because they are TIGHT! Can’t wait to see the reviews. Visually they are new classic. Well done Bridgestone!
Steve
Jan 7, 2015 at 6:38 pm
I don’t know but they look like clubs I’ve seen million times before. The cb’s look like the titleist cb’s. The blades don’t really stand out from any others blades. The df’s and the dpf’s look fugly
Curt
Jan 7, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Its the subtle differences that matter. How “different” should they look? And why? If they were too different then you would complain about that.
Steve
Jan 8, 2015 at 8:18 am
Not complaining, why would I? Just calling it the way I see. that CB design has been done by titleist, Nike and I believe Cleveland had a set that look like it. Blades are blades all depends on the quality control and the forging itself. What house do they use for their forgings?
RG
Jan 8, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Your moms.
Steve
Jan 8, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Get off mom’s I just got off yours.
LaMont
Jan 8, 2015 at 11:53 pm
All Bridgestone forged irons come from the Endo plant. Some of the best forgings in the game are done there and I don’t see these being anything short of that.
My biggest hope is that the company puts a huge effort into showing the golfing world that they make equipment, as well as balls. They are very hard to find in stores and when you do find them, if you have to special order, it can be challenging.
That said, I have my driver, 3-wood, 19* hybrid and 3-PW coming, already. I went with the J15DF irons with Steel Fiber shafts to match my current set-up in J40’s. I think they are absolutely gorgeous, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Pretty soon, I’ll be-holdin’ a new set of J15’s and am more excited than I can say.
Marc
Jan 8, 2015 at 3:57 pm
gotta agree…you can’t really re-invent the wheel when it comes to club design.
slider
Jan 7, 2015 at 5:48 pm
the MBs look amazing
Curt
Jan 7, 2015 at 5:45 pm
I hope all companies take note of how clean and beautiful these blade MB’s look. No colors or busy crap, just pure metal and cleanness with a B stamp!!!
I have no choice but to buy these beauties. If they perform as good as they look, they will become one of the best of all time.
Don
Jan 7, 2015 at 5:24 pm
The irons look sweet. Only one lefty option though. For a company that has 9 different types of golf balls to cater to every possible golfing possibility this seems very … limited.
gdb99
Jan 7, 2015 at 5:14 pm
So, is the fifth iron cast?
LaMont
Jan 8, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Yes, there is a fifth iron that is a cast offering. The only place I have seen pix of that one is on the dealers price list at a local shop. I don’t recall its look, but something tells me it was similar to the CB.
Greg
Jan 7, 2015 at 4:14 pm
Wow.
Golfraven
Jan 7, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Entire line looks awesome. Would love to test the DFs. Nice classic look with fine finish.
Mike
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Will be interesting to see how the offsets look throughout each set. Was odd with the J40 to have less offset in the DPC than in the CB models. Made the combo sets look somewhat backward. Love all of the designs, but would like to see similar progression to build a nice set of combo irons.
Jungho
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:45 pm
It is also too bad that they stamped “forged” so prominently on the back of the irons. The MBs would have looked so much cleaner if they didn’t do that.
Winmac80
Jan 7, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Jungho, where are you from? I’ve been trying to get my hands on the 545s or the 745s but couldn’t find any.
Regis
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:28 pm
That’s marketing. It’s so that people will buy them even though 75% of the purchasers won’t be able to get them airborne. But their friends will know they play “forged”
Jungho
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:43 pm
I was going to order a set of J15DFs but decided to go with the Srixon 745s… Already have a J40CB/DPC combo set that are awesome so these didn’t make sense.
marcel
Jan 9, 2015 at 6:58 pm
good choice… and going to be full circle experience… when you play bridgestone you feel like there must be something better than this… and you go and try… in my case Mizuno… and then 3 months later… back to bridges…
Chris
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:41 pm
I’d love to put those DFs up against my Adams CMBs.
cdvilla
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:10 pm
The J15 CB (Cavity Backs) are a dead ringer for my Nike Combo CBs that I’m currently playing. Are the longer irons slotted? Can’t really tell from the pictures. Good looking clubs.
Max
Jan 7, 2015 at 1:42 pm
oooh, cleanest mb’s I’ve seen in a while. Paired with steelfiber i95 will be an amazing set to aspire to.
enrique
Jan 7, 2015 at 2:05 pm
CB’s for me – BUT NO RETAILER will have them. They will not be stocked at Golfsmith, Golf Galaxy, PGA Tour Superstore….
armypilot84
Jan 7, 2015 at 9:02 pm
That has always been the problem with Bridgestone stuff; there is absolutely no where to demo it. I heard that Bridgestone does something where they send you a 6 iron to demo for like a month, and if you like it then you just purchase the rest of the set, if you don’t then you just send it back. Don’t really know if it is true, or if that is exactly how it works, but it might be worth looking into.
On a side not though: I think all of these irons are gorgeous. Especially the MB’s. I find it interesting that the DPF are marketed to “Mid to High” handicappers. That is an awful thin sole and top line for a 20 Handicap to be playing.