New Bridgestone JGR Series

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Introducing the new 2017 Bridgestone Tour-B JGR Series Woods & Irons – Bridgestone is flying under the radar with many new Japan releases like the CBP & X-HI series irons along with their latest JGR line.  The general theme I get from looking over the tech and specs of this new series is that it caters to the decent amateur player almost a more forgiving version of their original Tour B models.  The line up consists of a new driver, fairway wood, hybrid and two new forged irons.  I am also thankful these have fixed hosel’s.  Bridgestone offers optional wrench and weights for those who want to tinker with bias and balance.  

Let’s start with the woods.  The driver has an 811 Ti body with 6AL-4V Ti face,  power boost tech / boost wave crown / power & wave power slit / power rib.   That’s a lot in one driver but does it do anything?  The truth is not really anything most people would notice.   Today most drivers are maxed out and it becomes about trying new things,  buying new stuff,  and most importantly finding the head, shaft, spec characteristics that best match your swings attributes and flaws but that’s not to say these are not going to be fabulous clubs.  The fairway wood and utility have a faces made of HT1770M (same as pxg)  in the #3 and #5 while the #7/8/9 woods have stainless faces.   The body of both the FW and UT are made of SUS630

Bridgestone Japan is offering all the newest and hot custom shaft upgrades.  The new Fujikura EVO IV!  the Tour AD IZ series,  Diamana RF,  ATTAS COOL,  Speeder G and more!  If your considering a new era top notch shaft with a new head this is a great way to get the shaft at a lower cost then purchasing aftermarket and I would go with the EVO IV myself.

The Irons:  Many people are still not aware of the X-CBP that was quietly released by Bridgestone 05/17.  Its a good iron that is forged with a medium high trajectory.   Today I will go over the new JGR irons,  2 types both forged they are called the HF1 and HF2.  The HF2 is the smaller model yet has some new tech to make them easier to hit starting with in irons #5 thru #9 they use a hotter face material for extra distance,  they call it ultimate strong metal 2.0!  it’s applied with an L-Face structure which makes a stable face that is only 2.2mm thick.  Also very telling are the standard suggested shafts.  The smaller HF2 is offered with the NS950 and Modus 106 or 60g range carbon while the HF1 (larger head) is sold with Zelos8 and Air Speeder G Iron shafts, this is a general indication of who should be playing  which iron.

There is also a new JGR line up for women that will be released along side these.  For stronger and taller women the JGR HF1 for men with the air speeder G shaft is a worthy consideration as well.  So there you have it.  TSG is now selling these with a shipping date near and around September 22nd. 

 

[dickyfowler]

if only they had added a few more letters and numbers to the names of each line....

[ekinwang]

are these Tour B JGR Irons still forged by Endo in Japan?

[nobmontana]

Nothing from big name brands are forged in Japan these days.   For those specific models, it says the overall club are made in China and Japan. But they aren't specific about where the heads are made.  But I assume the heads are made in China.   Regardless,  these heads are Body: Carbon Steel + Face: Maraging Steel or what are known as multi-material heads similar to a lot of heads that are deceivingly labeled as "Forged" these days.  I stay away from those kind because they do not feel the same as full carbon steel forged heads.  Not the same category as "Forged" heads as I know it where the whole head is made of mild Carbon steel.  

The special editions made by Miura Giken for OnOff Labospec and PRGR are full carbon steel forged.   Oh... and some of the Yonex models are still supposedly forged in Niigata Japan..  Other than that,  my understanding is that Endo's stuff mostly come from their Thailand factory.   ( not necessarily a bad thing by the way )