Bridgestone J38 Driver review

[gvogel]

I'm one of the lucky guys who won a Bridgestone J38 driver on this forum. BTW, I had one on order; well, I think I'll use the funds and get a 5-wood and set of irons.

 

My review:

 

About me. I'm 56, have played golf since I was 12, and have struggled a lot until a few years ago. I did manage to have a few very competitive years when I was playing a good bit, and not trying to over power the ball. But, most of my golf was hampered by a backswing that was too long, and a lot of body movement to try to hit the ball a long way. I've learned that shorter and snappier gets the job done. My swingspeed is only about 95 ish, but my smash factor is pretty good.

 

Current drivers. I have been playing a Geek DCT 10.5*, a SMT DB+ 10* and an SMT Indio 9.5*. All are played with Motore F1 65 R shafts, at 46-1/4" and D6 swing weight. All produce the same trajectory. I find that the Motore F1 65 R plays and frequencies as stiff as a Blueboard or Whiteboard 63S, which I played last year. I also like the longer shaft and higher swing weight, because I find it easier to get behind the ball, and the heavier swingweight gives me a better feel for the clubhead, and helps me stay smoother in the transition.

 

You can imagine my delight when I found that the J38 comes stock with the Motore F1, my favorite shaft. BTW, I have tried the Motore Speeder. It's smoother - too smooth for me.

 

Looks

You've seen the pictures. The head has an elongated pear-shaped head. It sort of reminds me of the new Ping G15, except a bit more pear-shaped. I guess the elongated shape is more aerodynamic. It also allows the maker to put more weight farther back, to provide a higher launch. Visually, I prefer the rounder, "spoonier" shape of the DCT. But, I can get used to any look if the driver performs.

 

I received a 9.5* loft. When I saw the club head, I had doubts about whether I could get the ball up in the air, because I am accustomed to looking at more loft in the clubs that I play. The J38 is a shallow head - so the face is smaller top to bottom and the loft is less apparent. When I hit the club, I was delighted to find that the trajectory was just as high as the current clubs that I play. I guess the engineers know what they are doing by putting the weight farther back.

 

About shallow faced drivers: I love them. Back in the 'late 70's - early 80's I had a Spaulding persimmon driver - I think it was a Gene Sauers model. Gene Sauers owned a small golf course in Erie, PA, which is where i spied the beauty, along with a 3, 4 and 5-wood. What a great set of woods. The Spaulding was a shallow-faced driver, and it was easy to hit, as were the fairway woods. I'm a sweeper. So, I have always gotten along with shallow-faced drivers and fairway woods. Later I had deeper-faced MacGregors and a deep faced Toney Penna. the Toney Penna was a nice piece of persimmon, but looking back, I hit the ball better off the tee more often with the shallow-faced Spaulding.

 

If you need a deep-faced driver to help cure a spin problem - you probably need to fix your swing. Just kidding, a bit. But, if you are convinced that your need a deep faced driver, the J38 will probably turn you off. Too bad; it's a very hittable driver.

 

Feel

Feel is second to none. The ball feels just wonderful jumping off the face. Exceptional in this regard.

 

B'stone does a nice job of getting feel down. Last spring I bought 3 6-irons: AP1, AP2 and J36 PC. I bought the J36 PC's because they felt more solid, and the ball went just a bit farther. Kudos to B'stone.

 

Ball Flight

 

I play a little draw; lately it's been a little too much of a draw. The J38 wanted to go dead straight. Time after time it wanted to go dead straight. I was very impressed with the consistency that the J38 gave me.

 

I think that the fact that the head is elongated and a bit pear-shaped has something to do with the dead straight ball flight for me. having a bit more head out beyond the toe probably helps the head to stay square through impact - at least that's what it felt like and what I can surmise.

 

Conclusion

 

The J38 has been the most delightful surprise of the spring. It could be the gamer of gamers. I'll update after significant experience.

[LSeca]

Great review, I agree with alot of what you mentioned. The head and feed back you get from this club are excellent and perhaps the best I have experienced. I do think many will find this another low spinner, however, it does not launch as low as the venerable J33r. So far, I would say it is the epitome of high launch and low spin for an otr offering. The forgivness is much better than the previous version as well.

The only thing I am not sure of is the Motore, to me it feels like it is on the stouter side but I don't find it plays that way. I was taking a few left and was hoping it would hold up a bit more. Feels tight in the hands, but that doesn't mean it plays that way I guess. Ofcourse, this could be my swing and most likely is lol.

The face being on the smaller side was intimidating for me too. I have been playing the Suipertri for a few weeks and it is the tallest driver I have ever used. The adjustment didn't take long at all though. I think it sets up and is about the same size as the old 905r's face. I bet they are really close.

Congrats on winning the driver btw.

[MARC 34]

ok so my question is i use a Bridgestone J33R 460 dirver w/ an ACCRA SE80* shaft at 45". How will this new driver look at address compared to the J38?

I really like the fact that they use a real Fuji Motore F1 shaft and not some watered down crap like Taylor Made. ALthough I hit the R9 Super Tri pretty good.

Any help would be appreciated because I want a new driver. I heard great things about the J38.

Thanks

[gvogel]

[quote name='MARC 34' date='24 March 2010 - 03:14 PM' timestamp='1269458052' post='2338166']
[b]ok so my question is i use a Bridgestone J33R 460 dirver w/ an ACCRA SE80* shaft at 45". How will this new driver look at address compared to the J38?[/b]

I really like the fact that they use a real Fuji Motore F1 shaft and not some watered down crap like Taylor Made. ALthough I hit the R9 Super Tri pretty good.

Any help would be appreciated because I want a new driver. I heard great things about the J38.

Thanks
[/quote]

Nothing like it. The footprint of the J38 is much bigger; it is more aerodynamic, but also shallower in the face.

[chisag]

... and much longer face to rear.

[theothertwo]

Thanks for the review. Anybody else gaming the new J38 driver, please provide input and compare it to your old driver.

[suwdawg]

Good information. Gamed a j33 460 for several years and it served me well with the low spin since I am a high spin player unfortunately. So if this is more forgiving may have to look into it, as that was what lead me away from the j33 swing wasn't good enough so needed something more forgiving. Bstone makes solid underated stuff.

[bg1]

I put a J38 into play a couple of weeks ago to go against my R7 Ltd., G15/V2HL, and the VR STR8 Fit. The club is very classy looking and although it is a shallower face it was not too shallow and I was used to it in no time. It is quite a bit more forgiving than the J33. With my moderate SS of 98 it was extremely hot faced. On my home course, from the first drive, I was hitting the ball noticibly farther than my other drivers - enough that I had a club less going into the greens. Nice mid/high launch that never ballooned with plenty of rollout. It feels good, looks good, has a square face, and sounds good. It was very quickly my #1 driver and has got nothing but better with a few more rounds.
I ordered the 3 wood to go with it and will give that a go next. I've tried alot of the new drivers in the past 2-3 years and none of them has impressed me like this club. Whether it is the head or the Motore F1 shaft, I don't know - but for me it is the rocket launcher I've been looking for to bring back some of the distance I've lost with age! The fact that it plays at 45" instead of the longer drivers that seem to be the trend is also a plus for me. The J38 is a winner.
I think the fact that you don't see this club in every golf shop out there is the only thing keeping it from being more talked about.

[theothertwo]

[quote name='bg1' date='24 April 2010 - 04:42 AM' timestamp='1272109364' post='2397808']
I put a J38 into play a couple of weeks ago to go against my R7 Ltd., G15/V2HL, and the VR STR8 Fit. The club is very classy looking and although it is a shallower face it was not too shallow and I was used to it in no time. It is quite a bit more forgiving than the J33. With my moderate SS of 98 it was extremely hot faced. On my home course, from the first drive, I was hitting the ball noticibly farther than my other drivers - enough that I had a club less going into the greens. Nice mid/high launch that never ballooned with plenty of rollout. It feels good, looks good, has a square face, and sounds good. It was very quickly my #1 driver and has got nothing but better with a few more rounds.
I ordered the 3 wood to go with it and will give that a go next. I've tried alot of the new drivers in the past 2-3 years and none of them has impressed me like this club. Whether it is the head or the Motore F1 shaft, I don't know - but for me it is the rocket launcher I've been looking for to bring back some of the distance I've lost with age! The fact that it plays at 45" instead of the longer drivers that seem to be the trend is also a plus for me. The J38 is a winner.
I think the fact that you don't see this club in every golf shop out there is the only thing keeping it from being more talked about.
[/quote]

Thanks for the nice review, I used the J33 for a long time and now I am excited about this J38, I finally bought one used and will get it by this weekend so can't wait. I think Bridgestone/Tourstage produces high quality clubs that are not very famous in the American market.
I still use the J33 CBS and they're excellent forged cavity backs.

[bg1]

I've put the matching three wood into play since that post. It is every bit as good as the driver. Off the tee or off the deck it doesn't matter. I have not mishit it since I got it other than one shot from the deep rough that I had no right to try and hit with a three wood. A month ago I was giving up 3 woods forever - they are my nemesis, and now my whole strategy of attack on the course has changed.
I truly can't believe these clubs don't get more talk. I realize there is no one club for everyone but I can't be the only one to be able to get this much out of these clubs.

[schlebrock]

The J38 driver is everything that I'm looking for in a driver. Square clubface, 45.00", D2 swingweight, no alignment aid, premium shaft, etc.

Although I'm still in the honeymoon stage, it's definitely the longest and probably the straightest of all of the following combos that I've used this year:

[list][*]Supertri w/Fubuki 73
[*]G15 w/Whiteboard 73
[*]G15 w/Devotion 6
[*]G15 w/Devotion 7
[*]G15 w/Attas 6
[*]MP-600 w/AxivCore Black 79[/list]

It's defintely worth a try for anyone out there looking for a new driver.

[hfcasino]

[quote name='schlebrock' date='10 May 2010 - 07:06 PM' timestamp='1273532805' post='2433370']
The J38 driver is everything that I'm looking for in a driver. Square clubface, 45.00", D2 swingweight, no alignment aid, premium shaft, etc.

Although I'm still in the honeymoon stage, it's definitely the longest and probably the straightest of all of the following combos that I've used this year:

[list][*]Supertri w/Fubuki 73[*]G15 w/Whiteboard 73[*]G15 w/Devotion 6[*]G15 w/Devotion 7[*]G15 w/Attas 6[*]MP-600 w/AxivCore Black 79[/list]

It's defintely worth a try for anyone out there looking for a new driver.
[/quote]


Schlebrock--We spoke when you were selling the Ping G15. I think we have similar SS 97-99. Does the Bridgestone launch high? Higher than your 10* Ping? I see you're using the 9.5. Also are you using the Motore in stiff or reg? I've read where that shaft plays firmer to flex. Some people have said the reg plays like another manufacturers stiff. Thoughts? Thanks

[schlebrock]

[quote name='hfcasino' date='10 May 2010 - 06:12 PM' timestamp='1273533142' post='2433383']
[quote name='schlebrock' date='10 May 2010 - 07:06 PM' timestamp='1273532805' post='2433370']
The J38 driver is everything that I'm looking for in a driver. Square clubface, 45.00", D2 swingweight, no alignment aid, premium shaft, etc.

Although I'm still in the honeymoon stage, it's definitely the longest and probably the straightest of all of the following combos that I've used this year:

[list][*]Supertri w/Fubuki 73[*]G15 w/Whiteboard 73[*]G15 w/Devotion 6[*]G15 w/Devotion 7[*]G15 w/Attas 6[*]MP-600 w/AxivCore Black 79[/list]

It's defintely worth a try for anyone out there looking for a new driver.
[/quote]
[b]Schlebrock--We spoke when you were selling the Ping G15. I think we have similar SS 97-99. Does the Bridgestone launch high? Higher than your 10* Ping? I see you're using the 9.5. Also are you using the Motore in stiff or reg? I've read where that shaft plays firmer to flex. Some people have said the reg plays like another manufacturers stiff. Thoughts? Thanks[/b][/quote]
I have the 9.5 stiff version and it's trajectory looks perfect to me. I haven't been on a launch monitor with this setup (don't plan to either) but this combo launches slightly higher than all of my previous digitally lofted 10.0 degree G15 combos. The stiff flex Motore F1 is just fine for me too.

All I can tell you is that I'm hitting to areas of my normal driving range that I haven't hit in several years. Don't know if its due primarily to the head or the shaft and I don't care.

This baby is staying in the bag!

[hfcasino]

[quote name='schlebrock' date='10 May 2010 - 07:35 PM' timestamp='1273534548' post='2433427']
[quote name='hfcasino' date='10 May 2010 - 06:12 PM' timestamp='1273533142' post='2433383']
[quote name='schlebrock' date='10 May 2010 - 07:06 PM' timestamp='1273532805' post='2433370']
The J38 driver is everything that I'm looking for in a driver. Square clubface, 45.00", D2 swingweight, no alignment aid, premium shaft, etc.

Although I'm still in the honeymoon stage, it's definitely the longest and probably the straightest of all of the following combos that I've used this year:

[list][*]Supertri w/Fubuki 73[*]G15 w/Whiteboard 73[*]G15 w/Devotion 6[*]G15 w/Devotion 7[*]G15 w/Attas 6[*]MP-600 w/AxivCore Black 79[/list]

It's defintely worth a try for anyone out there looking for a new driver.
[/quote]
[b]Schlebrock--We spoke when you were selling the Ping G15. I think we have similar SS 97-99. Does the Bridgestone launch high? Higher than your 10* Ping? I see you're using the 9.5. Also are you using the Motore in stiff or reg? I've read where that shaft plays firmer to flex. Some people have said the reg plays like another manufacturers stiff. Thoughts? Thanks[/b][/quote]
I have the 9.5 stiff version and it's trajectory looks perfect to me. I haven't been on a launch monitor with this setup (don't plan to either) but this combo launches slightly higher than all of my previous digitally lofted 10.0 degree G15 combos. The stiff flex Motore F1 is just fine for me too.

All I can tell you is that I'm hitting to areas of my normal driving range that I haven't hit in several years. Don't know if its due primarily to the head or the shaft and I don't care.

This baby is staying in the bag!
[/quote]

Sounds like a winner to me!!!

[elrey23]

I just hit the J38 for the first time today and man, I think I might be getting a new driver. Feel off the face is as good as any driver I've ever hit, period. I hit a 9.5* and I usually play a 10.5* and the J38 launched about the same as the driver I play now. Shaft was a Motore F1 stiff flex. The shaft I play now is a Prolaunch Blue so I really couldn't comment on how stout the shaft is because I'm pretty used to a stout shaft. Felt smooth though. For those who are trying to get an idea of what the headshape is like, it's very similar to the 909 D3.

[bjjmd]

I just picked up the J38 10.5 deg stiff and played 4 rounds without any practice/range sessions and I'm thoroughly impressed. I have a PING G15 10.5 deg with a YS 7+ stiff shaft and a Titleist 909D2 10.5 deg with Fujikara F1 Motore 65 stiff shaft. I love my other two drivers but the J38 outperforms them both. The face is hot, launch angle is high and spin rate is low. I was averaging about 270-280 with the other two drivers but with the J38, I've noticed that I'm getting a lot more roll out on my drives. The result is that this club is "sneaky "long and I'm frequently 300+ yds of the tee. Fairway bunkers and hazards that were previously out of reach are now in play..lol! The sound of the face is nice and not super loud (I prefer not to wake up the neighborhood on the 1st tee at 8 am)

The stiff shaft is quite stout so you can feel confident swinging aggressively. The only draw back is that the club really wants to go straight so working the ball has been a challenge (compared to my titleist) BUT like I said earlier, I haven't been to the range yet.

The forgiveness of this club makes it great for high handicappers and the tour trajectory/low spin offers the ideal specs for low handicappers.

I would highly recommend this club to anyone

[dawgfan03]

Thanks for the great reviews.

[theothertwo]

Anyone else with reviews of the J38 Bridgestone driver? Thanks.

[Jack Pearsall]

I hated it. Completely disappointed. Had very high expectations. I thought it was brittle feeling, the ball didn't really compress well off the face as i like. it felt cold. I also thought it over sized and the banding on the bottom gaudy in person. I did not like the matore (?) shaft it had either. Also, the headcover was gaudy too.

total fail.

[KickGolfer]

[quote name='Jack Pearsall' timestamp='1306890494' post='3276181']
I hated it. Completely disappointed. Had very high expectations. I thought it was brittle feeling, the ball didn't really compress well off the face as i like. it felt cold. I also thought it over sized and the banding on the bottom gaudy in person. I did not like the matore (?) shaft it had either. Also, the headcover was gaudy too.

total fail.
[/quote]

I've used 910 D3 & G15 7.5* and J38 just feels better than the rest. I had very high expectations for this driver, too and it exceeded my expectations. Face felt really hot and the stock shaft is as good as any other stock shafts out there. I(and most people) could care less about the headcover as long as the driver performs well. I love my J38.

[vwgolfer]

The face feels different depending on your ball of choice. Funny but the best feeling is the b330s for me. Prov's not as good, range rocks feel horrible and I would not have bagged this driver based on hitting it on range. I hated motore shaft. Too boardy. Like tha shallow face, I tee it low anyway. Great driver, no frills, 3 wood is better.

[Jack Pearsall]

I hit it with range balls.

[vwgolfer]

The sound and feel are a lot different depending on the ball used. Much more so than with my other drivers like g15. But the range balls I hit were Soooooo bad, barely any dimples on about half the balls, and the still charge 8 bucks for large bucket!! Oh well at least it's grass.

[Jack Pearsall]

pro v range balls

[vwgolfer]

Pro v range balls...NIce. Guess for you driver aint no good.

[fatmouse]

face was way too closed, went back to the trusty old j33r

[Jack Pearsall]

[quote name='vwgolfer' timestamp='1306982944' post='3279025']
Pro v range balls...NIce. Guess for you driver aint no good.
[/quote]

It was at a private club. Normally, my range balls are like most, part terra cotta and part gaberdine.
I WANTED to like the j38 club, as they can be found cheaply sometimes, being a bridgestone and somewhat off the beaten path of the mass of US golfers.

I also did not like the Cally Ft, the new white TM driver - r11? nor the ping g15

finding a driver I really love the look and feel of has always been a problem, which I wish wasn't the case. so far, my mizzy 630 is very close, but maybe not the perfect fit yet. I am tweaking my swing to accomodate it better. these big ol' 460cc or thereabouts, I think i need to really be a little less aggressive in my strikes, just slow down a bit and forgo the extra 10 yards I am pounding away to achieve...I need to remember the drive is a layup shot, but just cant seem to keep that in my head...

unlearning is so hard to do consistently for me

[Puttersaurus Rex]

> @Strodaddy said:

> (Quote)

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm playing the J38 driver and, after taking 3 years to find ''the one'', the search stops here.

>

>

>

> Recent combos I've tried are:

>

>

>

> -9.0* Titleist 910 D3 with Diamana 'Ahina White 70 X Stiff, Aldila RIP Beta (green eyes, tour only blk. model) 60X

>

> -8.5* Taylormade R11 TP with Graphite Design Tour AD DJ6X, Graffalloy Prolaunch Platinum X

>

> -10.5* Cleveland Launcher with Fujikura Speeder 757 Tour Spec X

>

> -9.0* Taylormade Burner Superfast 1.0 with Matrix Ozik X

>

> -10.5 Bridgestone J38 with Fujikura Motore F1 S

>

>

>

> Of all of these combos, the longest was the R11 with the tour ad setup. However, I had difficulty controlling that shaft b/c it played 48'' (as an experiment for raw length). The J38, on the other hand, is quite easy to control and shape both ways. The Motore F1 does play stiffer than comparable models... And is actually the only Stiff shaft I've ever hit that didn't whip. My SS is 115-118 MPH, which is why I have to swing X-stiff shafts. But the F1 is an exception. It feels a lot like the 'Ahina, except it has a nice kick through the ball where the 'Ahina feels boardy throughout. Overall, the J38 with the Motore F1 can be swung easily and still produce extremely long drives; it's the only driver/shaft combo I've ever hit that has that capability. Also, the J38's shallow face is great if you like to tee it lower (which is why I got the 10.5*). It hasn't balooned on me once in countless rounds. In my last round, I only missed 2 fairways on a course with a 140+ slope rating...from the tips. To summarize, if anyone wants a solid club w/o all the touring pro-wannabe hype -- try the J38.

 

Dude, I hope you did not pay full price for those drivers.

[Nixhex524]

I was wondering why this old thread came back to life... now I see....

[braveheart]

I know this thread is old but I have to get into it. I went to a used golf club store I frequent. Had some time to kill and decided to hit some "old loves and find perhaps a new one". Starting hitting some Titleist 913, 915 and 917 D3 (I'm a high spin guy), Nike Covert 1&2 and TM SLDR. I currently use a Ping G410 plus 10.5 degree with a 97-100 swing speed, quick aggressive transition. I adjust the loft lower though.  My miss with most of the drivers I hit and use now is a push/slice with a high spin/low launch, not much roll.  I was looking to find a low spin club for backup purposes. I then saw a Bridgestone J40 430. I had one once but it was not as forgiving as I wanted but I loved the look and feel of it. I hit it, okay but not in love again. Next to it was a J38 460  8.5 degree with the FI Motore 65 stiff flex shaft. I picked it up and immediately thought in 8.5 degree I won't get the flight off the ground. Upon hitting it I was struck by how nice it felt. Really hot. Every shot had a higher launch and went left of center, straight not hooked. I could not get it to go right. How am I able to launch such a low lofted driver so much higher than my gamer and all the others that were much higher in loft? Perhaps, its the shallow face or maybe the shaft suits me well. I don't do well with light and whippy shafts, so maybe I found something special to take home with me. Anyone still have enough fond memories of this club to offer some thoughts? I hesitated due to the 8.5 loft but I have some stuff to get rid of, so at $99 it seems worth it. Should I go for it?

Edited December 29, 2021 by braveheart