Best Bridgestone irons?

[Ben Berube]

20 hours ago, Moonlightgrm said:

Go here: https://www.golfworks.com/iron-head-mpf-ratings/a/870/

 

Click on Bridgestone, or any other manufacturer, and trust what the numbers tell you. Maltby is usually spot on.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. 

 

I am currently on the J15df (dual forged I believe) and they are awesome. 

Ive owned a few J15 MB’s and have a CB set coming soon. I got the DF’s because of a low bid on ebay and won them. 

 

These are easiky a full club longer than the CB’s. I am blown away because at 42 my 9i hasn’t been my 150y club for years. Now its back and my PW is my 140 club which stinks because I need a gap wedge to go 125-130 haha. 

 

These are long but still stop on a dime. Soft but because of these being a little linger have a different sound. Like a “tink” in there but nothing to complain about. 

 

All my buds play p790’s and many Wrx buds make fun of me for always playing irons from the last decade. But I have too much gear so buy at discount. Try and then sell if they don’t work out. 

 

Well these j15df’saren’t going anywhere. They have i95 Steelfibers too. Way to light but really digging them. 

 

But eventually will go back to the j15cb’s because of the gap issues. Just cool to see a 9i go 155+ if I stomp on it and watch it bounce tice and stop!

 

bStone is still a great choice and will put them up against any brand! 

[deep18]

If you can find a set of J33 cbs in good shape that’s what I’d recommend.  Played a set for a few months and wished I’d kept them. Really solid players cavities. 

[Mitchell]

MR-23 US Spec is a great choice that I have not seen mentioned so far from a cursory glance at posts.

[Mudguard]

On 7/23/2021 at 4:49 PM, RogerinNewZealand said:

As most of us are Off Contract and Free Agents at present,hence playing Mizuno Irons, i didnt think  groove compliance was important,sorry

Depends if you keep a handicap or not. Or play club haggles. Still have to use legal golf clubs. Otherwise may as well go full noise and track down an Air Hammer or the original Callaway ERC.

[Whatnogarnish]

I went to get fitted this past January for irons. My efficiency rating on trackman was almost ideal with the X-CBs with x100s. The fitter said he to keep them. The only setup that beat em by a couple yards were the new apex 21 and those are 3 degrees stronger. 
 

I played the J15 CB, HF2 in long irons. Both are super solid. I wish Bridgestone would release more often.
 

 

[jonflesh]

On 7/23/2021 at 2:22 PM, Drewhill44 said:

My J15 CB's have been in the bag for 4 years.  Best combo of looks, feel, and forgiveness of a players CB iron that I've ever played.  Plan on keeping them until they wear out. 

 

I agree with everything here. I’m still gaming my j15s as well and won’t move off them till they wear out

[flybyublue]

My j40 dpc's are back in the bag, just like Freddies! 

[Gnomesteel]

They're all so good, but the J15 CB is truly special. 

[ccorrada]

I played J40 CB's and now play TourB X-CB's.  Very similar clubs and both fantastic.  I wish Bridgestone wasn't so elusive with their irons.   

[shippy18]

J38 DPC.  Best irons I have owned. 

If (and that’s a big ‘If’) I could find some mint J38/J40 DPC irons in regular flex I would definitely purchase again.  

Edited July 27, 2021 by shippy18

[Caesar's shank]

The J15CBs rightly get a lot of love but the J15DFs are an absolute unicorn for getting a bit more help in while still in a smaller profile and somehow maintaining a great soft feel

[Stanks]

Stil have never played any Bridgestone irons but, the Tour BX Blades and Cavitys look great. Always wanted to try those out. 

[J. Breeze]

Recently picked up a set of x-cb's to test against my 785's.  So far very impressed.  Anyone know what the difference is between these two?

Edited July 29, 2021 by J. Breeze

[hwturner17]

The lack of J36 love in this thread is despicable 

[RolandofGilead]

J36 PC

 

+

 

J15DF

 

=

 

New Level 902

 

Edited July 28, 2021 by RolandofGilead

[HandsomeMatt]

Played the Tourstage X blade for a bit, then the J40 CB's, brief stint with the J33 CB, 2 years with the J15 DF (driving forged) , have a set of raw J15 CB's that just haven't been able to stay in the bag, most recently kicked out by  New Level 902's that were in turn kicked out by the Honma TW717's  . Of all of them, the J40 CB's probably felt the best, the J15 DF's were the best all around, that radius sole was a great fit  and the fact that they were hollow bodied made them sneaky long, played some good golf with those...love me some Bridgestone irons. Would love to get a set of the Tour B cavity backs

[dmeeksDC]

On 7/27/2021 at 12:02 PM, J. Breeze said:

Recently picked up a set of x-cb's to test against my 785's.  So far very impressed.  Anyone know what the difference is between these two?

Not much is the difference. The bottom one has a little more meat right behind the ball but some people didn’t like the look. I think it is fine. I hit them both and I honestly could not tell them apart. I actually like these models a tad more than the J15CB — it’s great, I played it and loved it — because the blade lengths on the Tour B heads are slightly shorter. Not a huge difference but you can see it. All of them have the nice Bridgestone sole. 
 

And to all praising the J15DF, I could not agree more. Compact and long. I found it a 1/2 club longer than a same-loft CB head. IMO a really underrated iron for those who want a little forgiveness across the face without it being a huge head. It feels so solid into the ball. 

 

[easylittle5wood]

Always thought the J33B irons were pretty special, along with the CBs. 
 

Never seen a TourStage iron in person, but can only imagine their quality. The US Spec MR-23 blades and CBs must be something else. 

[Paybax]

I had a J33 Combo set that was amazing and my backup set is J40 DPC, they are buttery soft and forgiving. Doesn’t hurt that I paid less than $350 for either set brand new either. 

Edited August 3, 2021 by Paybax

[mootrail]

[aiyyer]

On 7/23/2021 at 5:21 PM, Enzogorlami said:

J40s no brainer. I have a combo set I most likely won’t ever well 

Same. J40 Combo to J15 DPC to JGR HF2 to now trying a Srixon Z5/Z7 combo. Will never sell any of the Bridgestone sets 

[Lefty19]

Are the J15 CBs still considered as some of the better irons STILL to this day? I ask as I found some on FB and grabbed them, hard to find good forged irons without costing a fortune. They're on the way and back to playing a bit after a 5 year hiatus due to back & family life. Clubwhore Anonymous (wife- haha)  advised they would let play golf but only be wise on my wallet and decisions. 

 

Was drawn to them for the worn leading edge and slightly wider soles; kept reading on how soft they are and how they felt better than the JPX forged with about the same forgiveness? Hit 919 forged and liked them but my miss is to get steep, not the most conducive swing miss with them.

 

Appreciate any input.

 

David

[Rosco1216]

I have played the j38, j38 pocket cavity, j40 cb, j40dpc, j15cb.  The best out of the group IMO is easily the J40dpc. They are unique. J40cb and j15cb have a thicker sole but the DPC is narrower sole but with the same leading edge bevel and trail edge relief, same if not lower offset than the CBs, touch longer blade length with sweet spot further away from heel. They are super forgiving and basically a game improvement iron but with low offset and a thin topline and a great players cb look and feel.

[Lefty19]

Thank you Rosco, the only issue is I've never seen the J40 in LH. Not saying they weren't made in LH but never seen one myself, sucks from the right side of the ball. I need to double check that before the hunt for the rare unicorn  and need to first hit the J15 CBs that are headed my way.

 

Again-I like the slightly blunted leading edge and wider sole along with slight amount of offset. Most forged CBs weren't good fits for me as I tend to get steep- I get irons to fit my swing- too old to fix what I've done for the last 30 years... haha

 

Appreciate the response,

David 

 

 

[Rosco1216]

1 hour ago, Lefty19 said:

Thank you Rosco, the only issue is I've never seen the J40 in LH. Not saying they weren't made in LH but never seen one myself, sucks from the right side of the ball. I need to double check that before the hunt for the rare unicorn  and need to first hit the J15 CBs that are headed my way.

 

Again-I like the slightly blunted leading edge and wider sole along with slight amount of offset. Most forged CBs weren't good fits for me as I tend to get steep- I get irons to fit my swing- too old to fix what I've done for the last 30 years... haha

 

Appreciate the response,

David 

 

 

Yeah unfortunately being lefty it would be a miracle to find. 

[Henning]

On 7/24/2021 at 3:32 AM, lefthack said:

I've been looking at various Bridgestone irons, but there aren't a ton of lefties on the open market and that one's that exist tend to be pricey. I am taking notes based on this thread. 

There are the Tour B JGR HF2 available for lefties in 5-AW. Bought my set here mint for $500. Nice clubs and very soft.

 

[Lefty19]

Thanks Henning- I picked up a set of J15 CBs off FB and should get them this week. Heard good things about the Tour B JGR HF2 but decided to go with something I won't ever see another person's bag. Found them on FB by chance and bought them right then, I like to be the odd ball out and got tired of everyone having the JPX forged line. 

 

 

David

[Caerus`]

This is crazy, the answer is simple, just point and shoot at whatever set of tourstage irons whether they be x blades or mr23 or z101 but as long as their tourstage your safe and pick the head shape that fits your game.  You can tell by where the weight is positioned in the head of the club how forgiving the set will be and be honest about your game.  J33cb would be my favourite but I would try to get a set that was made for the Japanese market to ensure they are soft and forgiving endo forged clubs.  My true favourite Bridgestone iron would be the X-Blade CB 2008 model that has perimeter weighting at the sole with a big gap in the middle of the cavity, this makes them incredibly forgiving on heel or toe mishits and still money in the bank if you hit it in the sweetspot, the heads are heavy, heavy, heavy so they move the ball a long way for being traditionally lofted.  The domestic version of the J40CB and the J15CB felt like hitting the ball with a hard rock, super hard to hit and even when you do hit them well they don’t feel nearly as nice as my old j33 cb or any set of tourstage irons.

[Caerus`]

would you look at that?  Even found a lefty example of my favourite model of Bridgestone iron.  These are amazing clubs still today.

[NicholasP]

Not sure if they've been mentioned, bit I'm going J38cb.  I've had J15cb, j40DPC, and the best of the 3 to me, and they are in the bag, are the J38's.  Love the shape, feel, and finish.  Real sleepers as I don't see a lot of discussion