Bridgestone J38

[bcheeks]

Who's seen or hit the new Bridgestone J38 line?  I'm particularly interested in the driver and the j38 dual pocket irons.  Any feedback would be appreciated, if you could compare the j38 pockets to the j36 pockets that would be great.  Thanks

[Sillybodkins]

I've got a J38 6-iron ordered.  I'm pretty interested as well!

[bcheeks]

I've got a J38 6-iron ordered.  I'm pretty interested as well!

I figured you would be Greg.  I know you like the j36 pc quite a bit.  Absolutely no one has bridgestone equipment around here so it's usually a buy to try type situation with their stuff. 

[WU_SCgolfer]

I should be able to hit the new stuff in a couple weeks when I am down in Covington for ball fitting training, I will try and get as much info for everyone as possible.

[bcheeks]

I should be able to hit the new stuff in a couple weeks when I am down in Covington for ball fitting training, I will try and get as much info for everyone as possible.

That'd be great.  Thanks! 

[rainyday]

Who's seen or hit the new Bridgestone J38 line?  I'm particularly interested in the driver and the j38 dual pocket irons.  Any feedback would be appreciated, if you could compare the j38 pockets to the j36 pockets that would be great.  Thanks

J38 driver is great but not for everyone as it has a somewhat shallow face and an elongated profile (face is like the old 905r and the profile is below, imo like the FT9).  The head is solid and my 10.5 had an actual loft of 10.7, mid launch and spin I would say and comparible in performance to the FT9 Tour I have been using.  I have not even hit the fairway heads, they are just too shallow for my liking.  The J38 pockets are on the way, going to try out the flighted 6.0 shafts.  I did notice Bridgestone is listing the swingweight at D1, whereas the J36 PCs were D3..kind of found that odd but it may be the lighter magnesium material doing that.

[torrejuan]

Good stuff. I hope to have my review after Good Friday.

[BigKev]

I've got an 8.5* coming to me tomorrow, and am going to take it to the course
in the afternoon.  If everything i've read is true, this could be the driver i've been
looking for. 

[SunsetBeach_CustomPutters]

Bridgestone has created quite a buzz with the J38 line.  I just talked to a guy in Covington and they are out of their original shipment.  The new ones should be in soon, so I should have my clubs as soon as the next shipment shows up.  It was shocking to the guy I spoke to that the original shipment was already gone and the J38 line seems to be moving much faster than the J36 line did.

Not sure if the line is that great, the new groove rule is causing some people to jump, or what the issue is.  From the people I have talked to the J38 is a great line and should garner Bridgestone quite a few more fans.  If you played and liked the J33 driver, the J38 will not be for you.

[Rye]

J38 is old news (18. September 2008). They just took their sweet time to release it:

http://www.golfdiscussions.com/yabbse/index.php/topic,23347.msg364195.html#msg364195

[mitchcumstein]

I just received my J38 cavity back irons. One range session and I am already ho'ing them. Not bad irons at all, just not what I am looking for. A step back toward the J33Cb's in my opinion. Larger clubheads with more forgiveness. Soles that will definitely suit a digger. I actually prefer the J36CB's

[Sillybodkins]

I just received my J38 cavity back irons. One range session and I am already ho'ing them. Not bad irons at all, just not what I am looking for. A step back toward the J33Cb's in my opinion. Larger clubheads with more forgiveness. Soles that will definitely suit a digger. I actually prefer the J36CB's

Do the Dual Pockets have some offset, like the J36 Pocket Cavities?  If so, I'm in.

[mitchcumstein]

Do the Dual Pockets have some offset, like the J36 Pocket Cavities?  If so, I'm in.

Didn't check out the dual pockets. According to Bridgestone's site, the pockets have more offset than the cavities.

[bcheeks]

Greg - When you get your j38 6 iron could you please post pics of it?  Comparison pics with your j36 pc 6i would be great if you could do that. Thanks!

Anyone else hit these yet?

[Sillybodkins]

Greg - When you get your j38 6 iron could you please post pics of it?  Comparison pics with your j36 pc 6i would be great if you could do that. Thanks!

Anyone else hit these yet?

Bad news.  Bridgestone won't allow me to order just one iron.  I need to order a whole set. 

Finances don't allow me to order a whole set, so I have to wait for a demo day.  Bummer.

[mitchcumstein]

Ho'd my J38 irons away. I have to say that I am quite disappointed with Bridgestone. Not because I think the cavity backs are bad, but becasue they fall short of what I consider a true player's iron. Too long heel to toe. Head weight is entirely too light. Sole is pretty big and very round. Feel was just not as solid. I understand that Bridgestone didn't want to release a true blade, but the they could have at least kept the cavity back blade like.

[Braithwaite]

I would like to try their new driver eventually, from the pic it sets up pretty nice, even with a shallow face I would give it a go.

That is a bit disappointing about the CB and being bigger then expected, I have always like the Bstone lines, and still think the J33CB are a great iron!

[Backspin9]

I have the J38 driver and 3 wood coming.  Should be here at the end of the week. 

The J36PC's are staying in the bag for this year.  I'd like to try the new ones but these have been good to me. 

[Sillybodkins]

I hit the new J38 driver today for the first time.

I was very, very pleasantly surprised.

One, it comes stock with the shaft that I have been playing since last fall, the Motore F1.  Two, it feels very, very good.  Three, the trajectory is fairly high for the stated loft (I have a 9.5*).  And, best of all, the ball seems to really like to go straight.

It's a bit on the shallow side - but I always liked shallow.  Shallow is easier to hit high, solidly.  Ball go far.

The overall head shape will take a bit to get used to; but with great performance, I can get used to the head very easily.

[Backspin9]

I've seen several comments about how this driver hits it high for the loft.  I normally play a 10.5* and got that loft in the J38.  Since it's a shallower profile maybe teeing it a bit lower will keep the ball down.  I don't mind a higher flight but don't want to hit moon balls with it.  I never thought that would be an issue with any Bridgestone driver.  Once I get it I'll see what it does. 

[Sillybodkins]

I've seen several comments about how this driver hits it high for the loft.  I normally play a 10.5* and got that loft in the J38.  Since it's a shallower profile maybe teeing it a bit lower will keep the ball down.  I don't mind a higher flight but don't want to hit moon balls with it.  I never thought that would be an issue with any Bridgestone driver.  Once I get it I'll see what it does. 

I think that it will work if you tee it down, because the face is shallow.  It will be interesting.

For me, it is a very playable driver. 

[BigKev]

Got mine out to the course on friday, no warm up straight to the first tee.  Sets up very square and
is easy to look at, did find that teeing the ball lower helped me hit more in the center of the face.  Stock
stiff shaft was to soft for me, so i've re-shafted it with a Pershing 75X tipped 3/8" & playing at 45".  Much
better feel and ball flight at the range on sunday. 

[LoveSick666]

I hit the J38 driver and the Dual Pocket irons the other day. was not very impressed with the driver, but to each their own. i preferred the FT-IZ, new Mizuno MP630 and my Titleist D2 personally. now the J38 dual pocket irons are SWEEEEEETTT! Was so shocked when i hit them and they felt like a Mizuno iron! i only hit the Dual Pocket version, but i am considering picking up a set as a winter/back-up set because they felt so nice. i am waiting for the local shop to get a set of the other J38 irons so i can try those too before picking one or the other. and i can get them new for just under $600 which is a bonus as well. they are worth a shot though if you can find a place to hit em.

[torrejuan]

I went to demo their line today. I was impressed with their wedges. They just need more options. The dual pockets were ok, but I would rather game the cb's. They are just like my J33's, which I love. The driver... I was disapointed... at first. The tip is way too stiff for me, so I tried one with a NVS shaft and ...KAPOWW!!! I could game it with the right shaft.

[Backspin9]

Got my J38 last week and played it with the stock Motore.  It was cool (50's) and windy and not the best conditions.  Most of my shots with it were low to mid trajectory and hardly what I expected from a 10.5*.  Distance wasn't bad for the conditions and I was getting a lot of roll-out.  Carry distance was less than I got from the Cobra I was playing, but overall the two are pretty close.

Put a Graman S-50 in it and will play it today to see if it helps.  I can't really blame the driver as I haven't hit balls outside in a couple of months.  Have to work with it to get a true feel for how it plays.  In my case, sadly, it probably is the indian and not the arrow.  

Edit to add:  also got the J38 3 wood.  Awesome club, and very pleased and impressed with it.