2023 Bridgestone 221cb in hand pics (comparison w/ the Srixon ZX7)

[easyyy]

These Bridgestone 221cb irons look good. They are shorter heel to toe more in the short irons than the long vs the ZX7. The satin finish and frosted face quality is what you would expect from Bridgestone. Not sure what the grade of steel is but they were very easy to bend. 

 

 7 Iron

 

 

5 Iron

 

 

PW

 

 

 

Comparison 7 irons 221cb vs the ZX7

 

[tgleex]

Drool!  

[RH82]

Thanks for this!

[Dill Pickleson]

Those look fantastic.

[Tree Levino]

About as close to a Mizzy 223 as you could get

[jetmech879]

Well so much for no iron purchase in 2023. These are going to be hard… impossible not to give a shot! I am loving that sole grind with the leading edge bevel! 

Edited November 24, 2022 by jetmech879

[ChristopherMcDonald]

Yeah those are absolutely mint. Did you bend them for lie or loft?

[easyyy]

13 hours ago, ChristopherMcDonald said:

Yeah those are absolutely mint. Did you bend them for lie or loft?

I went to loft and lie to check the specs and they were right on. Tweaked the PW and bent like butter. Soft butter. 

[wam78]

Man these look good.  I’m such a huge fan of Bridgestone irons.

[Rosco1216]

Aaaaand I’m getting new irons now. I’ve never bought anything from Japan though and don’t have a clue with regards to the customs fees disclaimer on the eBay auction. @easyyy can you give any info on the customs costs to the states for these?

[GHIN n Juice]

Are those cavity pockets supposed to mimic the 40dpc’s?  Tough to tell from just the pics.

[buckI]

Wish they had more presence in the US.   Great looking.   I almost bought Bridgestone irons a few years ago and then they stopped showing up here.

[easyyy]

9 hours ago, Rosco1216 said:

Aaaaand I’m getting new irons now. I’ve never bought anything from Japan though and don’t have a clue with regards to the customs fees disclaimer on the eBay auction. @easyyy can you give any info on the customs costs to the states for these?

 

There weren't any. They were $963 + 30 for shipping + 59 for sales tax. Bought them on the 16th and got here on the 21st. 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/403988784669?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11051.m43.l1123&mkcid=7&ch=osgood&euid=d30284bedbd944e9a851d5d3e4d1d279&bu=43207773538&osub=-1~1&crd=20221122135450&segname=11051

 

[easyyy]

They are 1/4" short as I expected, but I dont mind that. I hit them today and they were solid and very impressive. Soft as I expected and typical numbers for a solid forged players cavity. The sole matches up pretty close to the ZX7. That is a loaded statement given the ZX7 has the V sole but the beveled leading edge will mimic some of what I like about the Srixon. I do like the shorter heel to toe on the scoring clubs.

 

They are gems. Certainly in the mix for 2023.

[Christen_The_Sloop]

Bridgestone have been really hit or miss in recent years. When they get it right though... The new woods look really nice too.

[aiyyer]

Just when I was getting used to the ZX-7s after J40/J15/JGR irons….

[buckeyevalley]

I have a set of 201cb’s.  Just can’t get used to the 5 degree gap between irons.  I love Bridgestone irons, but may have to sell the 201’s.  

[Fairways_and_Greens]

On 11/24/2022 at 11:46 AM, easyyy said:

These Bridgestone 221cb irons look good. They are shorter heel to toe more in the short irons than the long vs the ZX7. The satin finish and frosted face quality is what you would expect from Bridgestone. Not sure what the grade of steel is but they were very easy to bend. 

 

 7 Iron

 

 

5 Iron

 

 

PW

 

 

 

Comparison 7 irons 221cb vs the ZX7

 

Daaaamb. How is the turf interaction?

[Tar_Heel_93]

6 hours ago, buckeyevalley said:

I have a set of 201cb’s.  Just can’t get used to the 5 degree gap between irons.  I love Bridgestone irons, but may have to sell the 201’s.  

That is my fear with this set of irons. I posted in another thread that these irons are almost exactly what I want but the lofts are wrong. 8 iron and down are scoring clubs. Why would you make the gaps larger? I realize you can change the loft but that will impact the effectiveness of the sole grind. At least I can still play my J40 DPC irons. 

[buckeyevalley]

Turf interaction is perfect.  If these were 4 degrees gaps in scoring clubs, I would keep.  Thinking about putting mine up for sale.  The gaps are the only things wrong with them.  

[Rosco1216]

1 hour ago, Tar_Heel_93 said:

That is my fear with this set of irons. I posted in another thread that these irons are almost exactly what I want but the lofts are wrong. 8 iron and down are scoring clubs. Why would you make the gaps larger? I realize you can change the loft but that will impact the effectiveness of the sole grind. At least I can still play my J40 DPC irons. 

 

22 minutes ago, buckeyevalley said:

Turf interaction is perfect.  If these were 4 degrees gaps in scoring clubs, I would keep.  Thinking about putting mine up for sale.  The gaps are the only things wrong with them.  

Simply tweak them 1* weak 4-9 and 1* strong in PW and they will still be perfect. That makes 4* gaps and only 1* stronger than DPC. 

[bigdawg]

On 11/26/2022 at 1:05 AM, easyyy said:

They are 1/4" short as I expected, but I dont mind that. I hit them today and they were solid and very impressive. Soft as I expected and typical numbers for a solid forged players cavity. The sole matches up pretty close to the ZX7. That is a loaded statement given the ZX7 has the V sole but the beveled leading edge will mimic some of what I like about the Srixon. I do like the shorter heel to toe on the scoring clubs.

 

They are gems. Certainly in the mix for 2023.

 

Apologies if you have covered this elsewhere on the thread but where are the 221cb's in terms of forgiveness and distance? Anything to compare them to? For ref, I have played (and loved) Tourstage Z101 in the past myself. Hence my interest in these. Thanks. 

[jholz]

Tough to complain about those. Bridgestone makes a very attractive iron.

[ram01002]

they look awesome - anyone have the bounce specs on them?

[bigdawg]

Just bumping to see if there are any playing reports on these irons from guys who have acquired them recently? 

[dlovage]

How are the newer Bridgestones compared to say the J15CB, a classic? Same soft feel and sound? Worth a look at gaming in this new era of jacked up lofts? 

[aiyyer]

Just a reminder how good the J40 looked.

[ignitewvu]

On 11/25/2022 at 10:18 AM, GHIN n Juice said:

Are those cavity pockets supposed to mimic the 40dpc’s?  Tough to tell from just the pics.

 

The 222 set is the direct replacement of the 40DPC's.....The 221's are really "Players" cavities they are 760mm Blade Length while the 222's are 790mm.  The Dual Pockets are only in the 4 & 5 i in the 221 set.

Edited December 9, 2022 by ignitewvu

[landshark]

Currently play the original j40dpc.  Would I tell get anything diff out of these?  Couple is back to his old dpc too

[easyyy]

I have yet to game these. Still cant get out of the ZX7's. Going to the range today to hit these, Artisans and the new 770's for fun.