Equipment
Bridgestone JGR CB Forged irons: Forgiveness with a sleeker look
Does a forgiving iron need to sacrifice sensory pleasures such as compact looks or a forged feel in order to perform better? With its new JGR CB Forged irons, Bridgestone looks to answer that question with a “no.”
“Our expert engineers created game-improvement irons specifically for those who need a little extra forgiveness, but refuse to compromise on look and feel,” says Angel Ilagan, President and CEO of Bridgestone Golf. “It’s our obligation to easily enable better performance and more enjoyment, and JGR technology answers that call.”
Bridgestone’s JGR family began with its JGR Hybrid Forged irons, which were launched at the 2016 PGA Show. They were designed as thick-soled, distance-first irons that had low and rearward CG (center of gravity) for higher launch and greater forgiveness. By all means, they were game-improvement irons.
The company’s new addition to the family — the JGR CB Forged irons — use similar technologies to improve performance, but are put into a more compact clubhead that’s made from 1020 carbon steel.
Compared to Bridgestone’s J15 CB irons, the JGR CB Forged irons have a wider sole for improved turf interaction, a longer iron head for greater MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness), a lower CG and more offset for higher launch, and a 4 percent larger sweet spot, according to the company.
That means they are made to perform better for mid-to-high handicaps, but are sleeker than the JGR Hybrid forged irons, with the added benefit of one-piece 1020 carbon steel forgings.
Bridgestone’s JGR CB Forged irons (5-PW, GW) will be available on November 1 and come stock with True Temper’s XP 95 shaft for $899; graphite will sell for $949.
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...
Meaks
Oct 20, 2016 at 5:31 pm
I like the simplicity especially if they packed in as much forgiveness as they say they did.
Feel the Bern
Oct 20, 2016 at 5:13 pm
Soon they will be selling iron “sets” or 6-PW for $899, and you will be able to buy individual packs of skittles for $1.25. On a more serious note, I’m slightly offended that the article doesn’t mention LH (or RH) availability, but then again, neither does Bridgestone’s website:
http://www.bridgestonegolf.com/product/clubs/jgr-cb-forged-irons
J.R.
Oct 19, 2016 at 10:46 pm
They look like some Taylor Made irons from about 15 yrs ago.
Joe Golfer
Oct 22, 2016 at 11:50 pm
I thought the same thing. I don’t recall the model’s name. I think perhaps they had three models that year, a 300 for lower handicaps, a 320 for mid handicaps, and then a 360 for higher handicaps.
Of course, that was many years back, so my memory may be incorrect on this.
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