News

Bridgestone introduces JGR driver, Snedeker immediately puts it in play

Published

10 years ago

Jan 13, 2016

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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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

36 Comments

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.

Reply Report comment
gemme illimité clash of clan iphone ifile

Feb 12, 2016 at 8:49 am

This Gems Hack Tool for Clash of Clans makes it possible for you to create a potent clan, like other prime player in the
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prediksi togel hari ini

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.

Reply Report comment
Narrative Clip Camera

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.

Reply Report comment
Simon

Jan 19, 2016 at 1:28 am

Please do an updated 2016 WITB for Kuchar and Sneds

Reply Report comment
Noah

Jan 18, 2016 at 2:33 pm

Agree this would be great looking driver completely murdered out

Reply Report comment
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…

Reply Report comment
- Eric
  
  Jan 16, 2016 at 10:48 pm
  
  No. Awful idea.
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
KK

Jan 15, 2016 at 6:41 pm

Sweet looking driver but not a fan of the glued hosel.

Reply Report comment
Mat

Jan 14, 2016 at 6:21 pm

I see a patent lawsuit coming… the milling is Ping’s “True Roll” but done vertically.

Reply Report comment
- Fahgdat
  
  Jan 15, 2016 at 2:37 am
  
  Nah. On a microscopic level, the shape of the milling is different and that is enough
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- TonyK
  
  Jan 20, 2016 at 6:27 pm
  
  http://www.tourspecgolf.com/bridgestone-jgr-driver
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom

Jan 14, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Great to see a straight neck glued hosel.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Will
  
  Jan 14, 2016 at 11:13 am
  
  Can’t believe I missed that!
  
  Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- Tyler
  
  Jan 14, 2016 at 9:33 am
  
  Available March 4th
  
  Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
gdb99

Jan 13, 2016 at 7:43 pm

Someone in another story commented that the $299 driver is dead. I guess not!!

Reply Report comment
John Krug

Jan 13, 2016 at 7:26 pm

Money talks. That’s the full story.

Reply Report comment
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!!

Reply Report comment
Juan L. Fourqiet

Jan 13, 2016 at 7:10 pm

LH +

Reply Report comment
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!

Reply Report comment
- 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.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - 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.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

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Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

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Henley’s Suitcase

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Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
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Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

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Celine’s Suitcase

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Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
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Alvaro’s Suitcase

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A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

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Niemann’s Suitcase