January 16, 2008
BRIDGESTONE UNVEILS J36™ IRONS DESIGNED TO OFFER BETTER PLAYERS
TOUR FEEL AND CONSISTENCY
Three Premium Forged Iron Models and "Ultimate Combo Set" Concept Take
Equipment 'Customization' To New Level
Covington, Ga. — Bridgestone Golf, headquartered outside Atlanta, GA, introduced
today its highly anticipated J36 series of irons. The J36 series offers three different
models (J36 Blades, J36 Cavity Backs and J36 Pocket Cavity) designed to meet the
discerning preferences of low-handicappers and professionals.
All of the new irons are premium forged from 1020 mild carbon steel for the ultimate
in soft feel and feature U-grooves for the best in distance and spin control. Standard
across the J36 line is a tapered sole-design for more versatility in shot making,
allowing players to 'work the ball' and more easily control trajectory. Another
key feature is the trailing edge relief for better performance from a variety of
lies, especially out of the rough. Each iron features a satin chrome finish that
produces the glare-reducing appearance that better players demand.
"The J36 irons have been extremely popular in testing with our TOUR Pros and some
elite amateurs," said Danny Le, Golf Club Marketing, Bridgestone Golf, Inc. "In
addition to sleek appearance, the J36 irons provide incredible workability and buttery
soft feel from a variety of turf conditions."
J36 Blades (J36 B)
The new Bridgestone J36 Blade Irons offer a handsome, clean muscle back design
for a solid and soft feel that Tour players and highly skilled amateurs desire.
The J36 Blade Irons feature a compact and sharp face design for ultimate precision
and consistency. To make the clubs playable from a variety of lies they were designed
with a thinner sole width for less resistance and a rounded leading edge for less
digging, as well. The enhanced trailing edge relief accounts for better performance
from a variety of lies. In addition, the Blades were designed with a higher center-of-gravity
for more penetrating ball-flight.
Perfectly complimenting the precision-crafted face and sole is a traditional muscle
back design for unrivaled feel on purely struck shots. The J36 Blades offer many
of same playing characteristics as their predecessor, with new, more modern cosmetics.
J36 Cavity Backs (J36 CB)
The new Bridgestone J36 Cavity Backs offer golfers more forgiveness, yet maintain
the same premium forged feel and precision of the blades. The J36 Cavity Backs feature
a tapered sole design similar to that in the J36 Blades making them easier to ‘work’
than other premium cavity backs on the market.
In addition, like their predecessor, the J36 Cavity Backs are designed to redistribute
weight to the club head perimeter providing everyone from TOUR pros to mid-handicappers
with more forgiveness, added consistency and a higher moment-of-inertia. The J36
CB feature a Progressive Muscle Cavity Height, creating a descending weight concentration
through the set from thinnest in the 3-iron to thickest in the pitching wedge, so
that the greatest amount of feel and control are in the short iron scoring clubs.
The J36 Cavity Backs also utilize a Progressive Horizontal Center of Gravity design,
which ranges from closest to the heel in the 3-iron, to closest to the toe in the
pitching wedge, making long irons easier to square at impact and helping to prevent
premature shutting of the face on short iron approach shots. Like the J36 Blades,
the J36 CB irons also feature a thin top-line and sole for premium, classic appearance
at address.
J36 Pocket Cavity (J36 PC)
New to the Bridgestone line of premium-forged irons, The J36 Pocket Cavity irons
are designed for an optimum balance of feel and forgiveness. The J36 PC irons boast
a variety of stroke-saving design features, intended to provide tremendous feel
in a club that is easier to control.
The J36 Pocket Cavity irons provide a thicker top-line and sole, designed to inspire
confidence at address. In addition, the Pocket Cavity design provides a deeper center-of-gravity
to help get the ball in the air easier, and the higher moment-of-inertia to limit
off target shots. The J36 PC irons also rely on a tapered-sole design for more control
from a variety of turf conditions.
All three models are available in 3-PW and come standard with the Tour-proven Rifle
Project XTM flighted shafts. The clubs also feature a Golf Pride® Tour Velvet
grip. Custom options for grips and shafts are available.
J36 Combo
The standard J36 Combo set features a sampling from all three of the new models
in the J36 line. The J36 Combo set includes 3-5 in the Pocket Cavity model, 6-8
in the Cavity Back model and 9-PW in the J36 Blade, providing golfers with the more
forgiveness in the longer irons, and more precision in the short irons.
The J36 Blades, J36 CB, J36 PC and J36 Combo irons will feature a suggested retail
price of $899. The J36 Combo irons will be available in March 2008 and the J36 Blades,
J36 CB and J36 PC irons will be available in April 2008, at golf specialty stores
and green grass retailers nationwide.
New Concept Offers Golfers Freedom to Choose Iron-Set Make-Up
With the launch of the J36 line, Bridgestone Golf will take golf club customization
to the next level, allowing consumers to fashion a set of irons from the three J36
models. In addition to finding the right shaft, grip, lies and lofts to suit consumers’
games, Bridgestone Golf will encourage customers to mix-and-match between the J36
Blades, J36 CB, J36 PC iron line-up and J36 hybrids.
This new concept, called, "The Ultimate Combo Set," allows golfers to choose where
they need the most forgiveness and precision in their iron make-up. For instance
a player that needs more height on his 3 and 4 iron shots may opt to choose the
J36 Pocket Cavity model, but still want more workability in the rest of his set,
so choose the Cavity Back or Blades for the rest of the set. The mixed-set approach
is one of the hottest trends on TOUR, with at last count nearly 1 in 3 players relying
on a non-traditional set make-up. In fact, newly signed PGA TOUR Team member, Charles
Howell III uses a mixed-set of J36 irons.
"The Ultimate Combo Set seems to be the natural progression in custom-fitting,"
said Dan Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing – Bridgestone Golf, Inc. "In the golf
industry, we’ve come from playing all of the same manufacturers equipment (driver
through putter) to increased specialization throughout the set, actually choosing
different brands of driver, irons, wedges and even hybrids, based on our individual
needs and preferences. Now, we’re encouraging golfers to apply that same mindset
to their irons. We want golfers to think about what different needs they have in
their long-irons, mid-irons and short-irons and then use that knowledge to choose
from different models that best meet those needs."
For more information on the “Ultimate Combo Set” visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
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* Rifle, Project X, and Golf Pride are trademarks of other property of their respective
owners.
Editors Note: High-Res images of all new Bridgestone equipment are available upon
request.