News
Bridgestone introduces JGR driver, Snedeker immediately puts it in play
Today’s sign the golfing apocalypse is upon us: Brandt Snedeker is switching drivers.
Sneds, who plays Bridgestone irons, has used a TaylorMade Burner SuperFast driver since 2010. Unheard of! That’s five years with the same driver (which currently has an estimated resale value of $39.60).
So, what is Snedeker — who has passed on multiple generations of driver innovation — switching to? The new Bridgestone JGR driver.
Snedeker put the club in play at last week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions where the Vanderbilt alum finished third and was 12th in the field in driving distance for the week (288.3 yards).
“We set out to make the JGR Driver our fastest and most forgiving ever,” said Josh Kinchen, golf clubs and accessories marketing manager for Bridgestone. “The engineers really outdid themselves, as the JGR is not only incredibly forgiving, but also extremely fast and high launching. Combine that with the ability to optimize spin for players of all skill levels, and we expect that this driver will turn a lot of heads this year.”
According to Bridgestone, the JGR driver achieves the combination of distance and accuracy through three key technologies.
1. F.A.S.T Crown
The Flex Action Speed Technology (F.A.S.T.) crown is extremely thin near the clubface and progressively thickens toward the club head rear to enable the crown to slightly flex at impact, creating a higher launch and increased repulsion on shots contacted above center.
2. speeDARC
A pair of internal arc-shaped ridges provides increased sole rigidity and better stability for the F.A.ST. Crown to flex against, leading to a higher launch angle and more ball speed.
3. Power Milled Face
Bridgestone’s patented face milling pattern works to reduce golf ball slippage, and as a result, reduce spin. Milling is spaced further apart at the top of the driver face to maintain spin, while the milling is tighter and rougher at the bottom of the driver face to decrease spin on shots contacted lower on the face.
In addition, a new vertical milling pattern is utilized on the heel and toe of the face to further stabilize spin on mishits. The milling combines to reduce spin (300 rpm based on robot testing) for straighter and longer drives.
The club also features dual zone adjustable weighting (in the heel and center of the club).
Availability
The JGR Driver will be available March 4, and will retail for $299. It will be available in 9.5, 10.5, and 12-degree lofts. The stock shaft will be Aldila’s NV 2KXV Orange.
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SuperStroke announced today its purchase of 100-year-old grip maker Lamkin Grips, citing the company’s “heritage of innovation and quality.”
“It is with pride and great gratitude that we announce Lamkin, a golf club grip brand with a 100-year history of breakthrough design and trusted products, is now a part of the SuperStroke brand,” says SuperStroke CEO Dean Dingman. “We have always had the utmost respect for how the Lamkin family has put the needs and benefits of the golfer first in their grip designs. If there is a grip company that is most aligned with SuperStroke’s commitment to uncompromised research, design, and development to put the most useful performance tools in the hands of golfers, Lamkin has been that brand. It is an honor to bring Lamkin’s wealth of product innovation into the SuperStroke family.”
Elver B. Lamkin founded the company in 1925 and produced golf’s first leather grips. The company had been family-owned and operated since that point, producing a wide array of styles, such as the iconic Crossline.
According to a press release, “The acquisition of Lamkin grows and diversifies SuperStroke’s proven and popular array of grip offerings with technology grounded in providing golfers optimal feel and performance through cutting-edge design and use of materials, surface texture and shape.”
CEO Bob Lamkin will stay on as a board member and will continue to be involved with the company.
“SuperStroke has become one of the most proven, well-operated, and pioneering brands in golf grips and we could not be more confident that the Lamkin legacy, brand, and technology is in the best of hands to continue to innovate and lead under the guidance of Dean Dingman and his remarkably capable team,” Lamkin said.
Related: Check out our 2014 conversation with Bob Lamkin, here: Bob Lamkin on the wrap grip reborn, 90 years of history
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Take it from a fellow who coaches high school golf in metro Toronto: there’s plenty of great golf played in the land of the maple leaf. All the greats have designed courses over the USA border: Colt, Whitman, Ross, Coore, Mackenzie, Doak, as well as the greatest of the land, Stanley Thompson. I’m partial to him, because he wore my middle name with grandeur. Enough about the architecture, because this week’s Tour Rundown begins with a newly-minted, Canadian champion on the PGA Tour. Something else that the great white north is known for, is weather. It impacted play on three of the world’s tours, forcing final-round cancellations on two of them.
It was an odd week in the golf world. The LPGA and the Korn Ferry were on a break, and only 13/15 of the rounds slated, were played. In the end, we have four champions to recognize, so let’s not delay any longer with minutiae about the game that we love. Let’s run it all down with this week’s Tour Rundown.
PGA Tour: TP takes TS at Byron’s place
The 1980s was a decade when a Canadian emergence was anticipated on the PGA Tour. It failed to materialize, but a path was carved for the next generation. Mike Weir captured the Masters in 2003, but no other countrymen joined him in his quest for PGA Tour conquest. 2024 may herald the long-awaited arrival of a Canadian squad of tour winners. Over the past few years, we’ve seen Nick Taylor break the fifty-plus year dearth of homebred champions at the Canadian Open, and players like Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Adam Svennson, and Mackenzie Hughes have etched their names into the PGA Tour’s annals of winners.
This week, Taylor Pendrith joined his mates with a one-shot win at TPC Craig Ranch, the home of the Byron Nelson Classic. Pendrith took a lead into the final round and, while the USA’s Jake Knapp faltered, held on for the slimmest of victories. Sweden’s Alex Noren posted six-under 65 on Sunday to move into third position, at 21-under par. Ben Kohles, a Texan, looked to break through for his first win in his home state. He took the lead from Pendrith at the 71st hole, on the strength of a second-consecutive birdie.
With victory in site, Kohles found a way to make bogey at the last, without submerging in the fronting water. His second shot was greenside, but he could not move his third to the putting surface. His fourth was five feet from par and a playoff, but his fifth failed to drop. Meanwhile, Pendrith was on the froghair in two, and calmly took two putts from 40 feet, for birdie. When Kohles missed for par, Pendrith had, at last, a PGA Tour title.
360° and in!
A nervy par save by @TaylorPendrith to remain one back as he seeks his first PGA TOUR victory @CJByronNelson. pic.twitter.com/LVFXUSidSg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 5, 2024
DP World Tour: China Open in Otaegui’s hands after canceled day four
It wasn’t the fourth round that was canceled in Shenzhen, but the third. Rains came on Saturday to Hidden Grace Golf Club, ensuring that momentum would cease. Sunday would instead be akin to a motorsports restart, with no sense of who might claim victory. Sebastian Soderberg, the hottest golfer on the Asian Swing, held the lead, but he would slip to a 72 on Sunday, and tie for third with Paul Waring and Joel Girrbach. Italy’s Guido Migliozzi completed play in 67 strokes on day three, moving one shot past the triumvirate, to 17-under par.
It was Spain’s Adrian Otaegui who persevered the best and played the purest. Otaegui was clean on the day, with seven birdies for 65. Even when Migliozzi ceased the lead at the 10th, Otaegui remained calm. With everything on the line, Migliozzi made bogey at the par-five 17th, as his principal competitor finished in birdie. To the Italian’s credit, he bounced back with birdie at the last, to claim solo second. The victory was Otaegui’s fifth on the DP World Tour, and first since October of 2022.
.@adrianotaegui birdies the 16th to tie the lead at -17 ?#VolvoChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/p4tfE5DRJa
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) May 5, 2024
PGA Tour Americas: Quito’s rains gift title to Longbella
Across the world, superintendents and their staffs will do anything to prepare a course for play. Even after fierce, nightime rains, the Quito TG Club greeted the first four groups on Sunday. The rains worsened after 7 am, however, and the tour was forced to abort the final round of play. With scores reverting to Saturday’s numbers, Thomas Longbella’s one-shot advantage over Gunn Yang turned into a Tour Americas victory.
64 held the opening-day lead, and Longbella was not far off, with 66. Yang jumped to the top on day two, following a67 with 66. He posted 68 on day three, and anticipated a fierce, final-round duel for the title. As for Longbella, he fought off a ninth-hole bogey on Saturday with six birdies and a 17th-hole eagle. That rare bird proved to be the winning stroke, allowing Longbella to edge past Yang, and secure ultimate victory.
.@TBalla21 eagles 17, shoots 65 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the KIA Open. pic.twitter.com/TTOL2LxSdh
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) May 4, 2024
PGA Tour Champions: Dunlap survives Saturday stumble for win
Scott Dunlap did not finish Saturday as well as he might have liked. After beginning play near Houston with 65, Dunlap made two bogeys in his final found holes on day two, to finish at nine-under par. Hot on his heels was Joe Durant, owner of a March 2024 win on PGA Tour Champions. Just behind Durant was Stuart Appleby, perhaps vibing from his Sunday 59 at Greenbrier on this day in 2010. Neither would have a chance to track Dunlap down.
The rains that have forced emergency responders into action, to save hundreds of lives in the metro Houston area, ended hopes for a third day of play at The Woodlands. Dunlap had won once previously on Tour Champions, in 2014 in Washington state. Ten years later, Dunlap was the fortunate recipient of a canceled final round, and his two days of play were enough to earn him TC victory number two.
Off the green? No worries for @ScottDu12500063
8-under solo leader @InsperityInvtnl pic.twitter.com/hoj5OujL5C
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) May 4, 2024
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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Peter Kuest WITB 2024 (May)
Peter Kuest what’s in the bag accurate as of CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (8 degrees)...
Kelly Kraft WITB 2024 (May)
Kelly Kraft’s what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here. ...
Taylor Pendrith’s winning WITB: 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Accra TZ Six ST 3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Buy here....
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)...
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Dave
Mar 20, 2016 at 1:16 am
Does anyone know what the length is? And the swing weight as well? I have a 12 degree and it really goes. Very light.
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Feb 9, 2016 at 9:14 pm
I think what you published made a ton of sense.
However, consider this, suppose you composed a catchier post title?
I am not suggesting your information is not good., but suppose you added a
post title that grabbed a person’s attention? I mean Bridgestone introduces JGR driver, Snedeker immediately puts it in play
| GolfWRX is a little boring. You should look at Yahoo’s front page and see how they create news headlines to grab people to click.
You might add a related video or a related pic or two to grab readers excited about what you’ve written. Just
my opinion, it would make your blog a little livelier.
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Jan 22, 2016 at 8:27 pm
Hi everyone, it’s my first go to see at this web site, and article is really fruitful in support of me, keep up posting such articles.
Simon
Jan 19, 2016 at 1:28 am
Please do an updated 2016 WITB for Kuchar and Sneds
Noah
Jan 18, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Agree this would be great looking driver completely murdered out
AGF
Jan 16, 2016 at 8:01 am
They should have left the JGR graphic on the sole light gray (like the B). Or white. Would make the club look more sleek…
Eric
Jan 16, 2016 at 10:48 pm
No. Awful idea.
Double Mocha Man
Jan 17, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Boring. A little color is good. AGF, I’m guessing you wear a white shirt and khakis on the course.
KK
Jan 15, 2016 at 6:41 pm
Sweet looking driver but not a fan of the glued hosel.
Mat
Jan 14, 2016 at 6:21 pm
I see a patent lawsuit coming… the milling is Ping’s “True Roll” but done vertically.
Fahgdat
Jan 15, 2016 at 2:37 am
Nah. On a microscopic level, the shape of the milling is different and that is enough
KK
Jan 15, 2016 at 6:39 pm
LOL. Ping TR is variable groove depth for putters and is designed to control ball speed off putts. This is variable groove width for spin control off drives. Two completely different things. Not to mention no one gives a hoot whether drivers roll true or not.
jgpl001
Jan 14, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Bridgestone make quality equipment, but if it wasn’t for ball sales they would surely exit the golf market and that would bet a shame
LK
Jan 14, 2016 at 2:40 pm
Golf Wrx, why do you have so many club articles without a topline view? It is kind of important.
TonyK
Jan 20, 2016 at 6:27 pm
http://www.tourspecgolf.com/bridgestone-jgr-driver
Tom
Jan 14, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Great to see a straight neck glued hosel.
Chris C.
Jan 14, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I hope I have the opportunity to try the JGR. I gamed the J-815 all of last year and it proved to be the best driver I have gamed in many years. Indeed, my playing partners have threatened to hurt me if I ever showed up at team outings with a different driver. If the JGR proves to be better than the J-815, I might be approaching driver nirvana.
AA
Jan 14, 2016 at 8:33 am
I love my non-adjustable, no graphics J40 driver, but I didn’t see much love out there for the J715/718. Will be interesting to hear how this JGR driver performs. What’s strange is Bridgestone usually doesn’t have a rapid product release cycle, but last year they rolled out the J815 and J715. Now they have three drivers they have to somewhat differentiate with technical mumbo-jumbo. I guess the $299 price reflects non-adjustability, but if their highest profile touring pro chooses it over the 715/718, what does that say? I don’t care about adjustability, so I might give it a try in spite of the garish graphics.
Rich
Jan 14, 2016 at 7:12 am
This is nothing new. It’s just a glued Tourstage x-drive GR with Bridgestone on it instead of Tourstage. Released in Japan in 2014. Get with the program folks.
Will
Jan 14, 2016 at 11:13 am
Can’t believe I missed that!
Tyler
Jan 14, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Incorrect, there are a couple added technologies that make a significant difference as well as a brand new Aldila shaft.
Rich
Jan 17, 2016 at 12:00 am
You mean technologies off the J715. And of course a new shaft makes a driver new. Ok, you got me, it’s a new driver.
Mark
Jan 14, 2016 at 2:41 am
Love the shape. Not so keen on the graphics. Unfortunately Bridgestone is quitting UK so no chance to try it or their new range of balls. A shame as their hardware is excellent quality.
shimmy
Jan 13, 2016 at 9:31 pm
the different zones of face milling on this guy is interesting, especially if it does reduce sidespin.
Chuck
Jan 13, 2016 at 9:00 pm
So Brandt went from one driver without an adjustable hosel… to another one with a non-adjustable hosel.
I always liked the idea of adjustable hosels, but mostly for the fact that while tour pros could get drivers that were measured for loft, lie and face angle to within a tenth of a degree, retail buyers were stuck with whatever it said on the bottom of the club. (And, of course, testing stuff on our own, which is like finding a needle in a haystack.) It was nice, as a retail buyer, to get something that approximated what the tour players had.
But of course, when you are a tour player and they will let you choose from two dozen heads, all built the way you’d like, and then bend them and measure them to however you’d like… Who needs an adjustable hosel? It’s just a little extra weight in a place you don’t need any weight.
Joshuaplaysgolf
Jan 13, 2016 at 8:14 pm
When is it available? Or did I miss that? I’m excited to play around with this, I’m about to start my annual comparison of new equipment to my current bag and it’d be fun to get some numbers on this. It looks like you’ll pay quite a bit to get your shaft put in it, but honestly that really doesn’t matter. I always like hitting clubs from a company that isn’t on a 6-12 month product cycle, sometimes you find something that stands out from the crowd a little more definitively.
Tyler
Jan 14, 2016 at 9:33 am
Available March 4th
Double Mocha Man
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:46 pm
I’m still using the same driver Snedeker used for 5 years. I’ve always said, while trying out demo drivers, that if I found anything longer and straighter I’d buy it, no matter the price Never happened… trying SLDR, Titleist, Nike and Callaway (and some others). I’m thinking in March I might be swinging the JGR.
gdb99
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:43 pm
Someone in another story commented that the $299 driver is dead. I guess not!!
John Krug
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:26 pm
Money talks. That’s the full story.
Will
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Can’t wait to try this, especially since it was good enough to get Sneds to switch so fast….I will miss that Superfast he rocked all those years though!!
Juan L. Fourqiet
Jan 13, 2016 at 7:10 pm
LH +
Steve-O-Steamer
Jan 13, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Will Bridgestone finally offer their clubs for lefties? always wanted to try their irons but was never been offered in left handed version. Thank you!
Tyler
Jan 14, 2016 at 9:29 am
The J15 CB irons are available left-handed, as well as the J15 hybrid, FW, and J715 driver.
Gene
Jan 14, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Wedges available in lefty as well. Bridgestone did release the GC Mid irons in lefty some years back as well.