Equipment
Bridgestone J15 Forged Wedges
Bridgestone’s new J15 Forged wedges are designed to increase spin, versatility and durability using three main technologies — a Sure Contact Sole, Pro Groove Design and Durable Heat Treatment.
The Sure Contact Sole has increased heel relief, which allows golfers to play shots from various lies with both a square and open face. A number of companies achieve a similar effect by hand-grinding the soles, but Bridgestone implements its heel relief into the forging process to better ensure a quality grind on each wedge.
For moree spin, Bridgestone’s has added its Pro Groove design, which increases the area of each groove. The grooves are said to help channel dirt, water and debris away from the face for more consistent contact.
Durability is always a concern for wedges because of their frequent use. To offset that, Bridgestone heat-treats each wedge to give them a longer life.
Bridgestone J15 wedges will be available with black oxide and satin finishes in lofts of 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. They hit retail on Feb. 1, 2015 and will cost $119 each.
Left-handed versions (52 and 58 degrees) are only available in the black oxide finish on April 1, 2015.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Ray
Mar 21, 2015 at 11:50 am
Excellent looking wedges, they have a great forged feel and I really like the design. I have the 54 and 60 chrome wedges and my only comment is they come about 1/2 inch longer so I cut them back to 35.25″ and 35″ respectively and now, they are perfect. Quality offering from Bridgestone.
That guy
Jan 18, 2015 at 1:10 am
Good looking wedge but the grooved grinds will just collect dirt. Everything Bridgestone makes is top notch. Hit their cb’s and mb’s, you will feel the quality immediately.
marcel
Jan 19, 2015 at 5:13 pm
absolutely – can wait to wear my j40s down to get these babies
Steve
Jan 17, 2015 at 9:20 am
A lot of competition in this type of designed wedge. For me I will buy the best priced one, I am not good enough to know any better. Any quality wedge in this design/look is fine by me.
Golfraven
Jan 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm
honestly, don’t decide on price. Any golfer can sense the difference between a good performing and eye pleasing club. If you decide on price you just cheat on yourself. money you saved will not stay in your pocket. Ok dont go out there and spend money in high end stuff if you are not absolutely love that stuff – otherwise choose wisely
christian
Jan 17, 2015 at 4:25 am
Great looking wedges, shades of Tourstage in the shape and “serious” looking graphics and finish.
adam
Jan 17, 2015 at 12:39 am
I’m a righty but I have to say based on all of the recent club announcements that lefties get screwed. I am not familiar with production on these things but have wondered why they don’t make the same options available but require direct order from manufacturer.
Tom Duckworth
Jan 16, 2015 at 8:20 pm
They look great. The long groove across the back reminds me of Mizuno’s wedges. In fact they look very much like Mizuno wedges. Not a bad thing. I would like to see Bridgestone do well with these. They make very nice clubs across the board irons, drivers and fairway clubs. They and Wilson should be getting a bigger market share. I hope more golfers open up and take a look at them. I will try these out.
Golfraven
Jan 16, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Bridgestone came out with some beauties. Entire J15 line ist just gorgeous. black oxide finish is looking really nice but wonder how those will wear out. maybe I may replace my vokey LW with one of those. Forged sounds promising. Way to go. Titleist should come up with some awesome 916 line otherwise they will loose out to Bridgestone fairly soon.
Jim
Jan 16, 2015 at 2:09 pm
I wonder how they will hold up against Vokey wedges. They look really good and stand out against the competition is a very good way too. Love the grooved ‘grinds’ too.