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.
- LIKE14
- LEGIT38
- WOW14
- LOL3
- IDHT6
- FLOP4
- OB0
- SHANK0
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade SIM TI (14 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P-Series Proto (4), P7CB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (5-PW)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-SB09, 56-LB08), TaylorMade MG4 TW (60-SBC)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Soto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 2.0
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
- Wyndham Clark what’s in the bag accurate as of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 60 6.5 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX
Irons: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi, Titleist 620 CB (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 100HY X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (P, G, S), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey AI-One Jailbird
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wyndham Clark’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
About the 2024 Ventus: Fujikura has big shoes to fill with the 2024 Ventus shaft lineup as the previous shafts were deemed iconic by most. VeloCore Plus is the technology that will set the new Ventus lineup apart and we saw its debut earlier this year in the 2024 Ventus Blue shaft.
Now it is Ventus Black and Ventus Red’s turn with VeloCore Plus to round out the lineup. VeloCore Plus is the shafts bias core that is made up of different layers, and types, of carbon fiber sheets. This core is built around stability of the club head to ensure it can help deliver center contact more often while adding ball speed. The 2024 Ventus line is now complete with Red for mid/high launch, Blue for players seeking mid-launch, and Black for low launch.
Look & Feel
Out of the box, the Ventus Black and Red match their Blue sibling with a new matte finish to their paint. Black has a simple matte black finish that almost looks charcoal grey in the sunlight. Red is a little more of a drastic change with a deeper hue. I would consider the new Ventus Red’s paint a maroon color that has some nice depth with the matte finish. Out in the sunlight, both shafts look great and don’t transmit any glare from the sun. The classic Ventus graphics are present up near the grip and the Ventus text is now a silver outline near the center. While everything seems new with the 2024 Ventus line, they are easily identified as Ventus shafts.
Feel is such a subjective thing to describe, but both of the new Ventus shafts have good feel to them. For me, the new Black and Red shafts have a slightly stouter feel to them through the swing. The Ventus Black is definitely a stiff profile that is designed for players with speed that takes a little more power to load. The great thing about Ventus Black is that you can get the low spin and launch you need without having a harsh feel and lots of vibration. At impact, you get a little less “kick” as your hands get to impact than the previous Ventus Black. Black will also feel a touch harder to turn over, taking away that feeling of losing it left.
Ventus Red has a softer and more active feel to it than Ventus Black. The handle section feels very stiff and stable while the mid and tip sections allow you to feel the flex of that shaft throughout the swing. As you start your downswing, you can feel Red flex lower down the shaft compared to Black. The softer tip section makes the shaft feel like it really is releasing energy at the point of impact and Red is a little easier to square up and hit a draw with.
Performance
I think we can all agree that the Ventus shafts released in 2018 performed exceptionally well. This new 2024 lineup leans on VelCore Plus to do even better. Ventus Black sticks to its roots as a low launch and low spin shaft. It keeps spin down no matter where you hit it on the face of the club. Typically a low heel shot ramps up the spin number but Ventus Black kept that, and other shots, spin down. Looking at launch monitor numbers, I never had a shot hit 3,000 rpm of spin, while there were a few under 2,000. Launch was also lower than Red both on the monitor as well as just looking at the window of the shot. A flat penetrating flight is what Ventus Black produced shot after shot. The starting line of my shots with Ventus Black were also a little more right of Red. Stability is key with the Black and swinging hard won’t cause the shaft to get loose and create an offline shot.
Ventus Red will offer a higher flight but without adding too much spin. I noticed almost 1.5 degrees more launch but with only around 350rpm more spin. I know people get scared of higher launching shafts, but the new Ventus Red can add some height without adding spin and losing control. While the flight isn’t as penetrating as Ventus Black, Red has not ballooned on me or shown any rise into the wind. The shaft is easier to square up and hit a draw with, but even as a drawer of the ball, I haven’t feared going left with it. For me, Red wasn’t high spinning either with shots averaging just under 2,400rpm for good and poorly struck shots. Shots that didn’t hit the center of the face stayed online well and had less curvature on them than I would have expected.
Final Thought
Fujikura had a tough job to replace the original Ventus, and I think they have done well to make an updated shaft that still shares the core Ventus DNA. You have the same three flight and spin options with a slightly tighter and stiffer feel to them. Performance is top-notch, and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with the new shafts.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Experts on understanding ground force and how shoes can impact your golf game
Brooks Koepka rules incident comes under scrutiny at LIV Golf Houston
Three Swing Challenge: Testing the Edel Array F-2 putter
‘Most overrated course in the world!’ – Major champ rips ‘awful’ Pinehurst No. 2
Miura launches new forged wedge series
AimPoint under attack again as footage from U.S. Open enrages golf fans
What clubs do equipment free agents choose to use on tour? We found out
‘You’re right, we’re always wrong!’ – Sergio Garcia receives warning during Open qualifier
Rory McIlroy releases statement following crushing U.S. Open loss
Patrick Cantlay switched driver, irons ahead of the U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (July)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches) 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM TI (14...
Wyndham Clark WITB 2024 (July)
Wyndham Clark what’s in the bag accurate as of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees) Shaft:...
Xander Schauffele’s winning WITB: 2024 Open Championship
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 70 TX (45.5 inches) 3-wood:...
Daniel Brown WITB 2024 (July)
Daniel Brown WITB accurate as of The Open Championship. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6...
-
Product Reviews1 week agoThree Swing Challenge: Testing the Edel Array F-2 putter
-
Equipment2 weeks agoWhat clubs do equipment free agents choose to use on tour? We found out
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago‘You’re right, we’re always wrong!’ – Sergio Garcia receives warning during Open qualifier
-
News2 weeks agoHighlights from the Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience at Pinehurst
-
News2 weeks agoDavis Thompson’s winning WITB: 2024 John Deere Classic
-
Equipment3 weeks agoQ&A: The truth behind Bryson DeChambeau’s new Avoda irons from company founder Thomas Bailey
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoMajor champ ‘disappointed’ not to be chosen as U.S. Ryder Cup captain
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoLIV pro explains how he believes players are ‘cheating’ on DP World Tour
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!