January 27, 2005

BRIDGESTONE J33™ FORGED WEDGES OFFER PIN-ATTACKING PERFORMANCE FROM ALL LIES

Better Players Find Exceptional Feel and Spin Control in New Wedges

Covington, Ga. — The new J33 Forged Wedges offer a perfect blend of performance, feel and playability for skilled golfers looking for an advantage in the scoring zone. The new wedges utilize Bridgestone precision-engineered features to offer golfers the ability to attack the pin from a variety of surfaces.

The J33 Forged wedges are forged from 1020 mild carbon steel for exceptional feel on finesse shots. The wedges also boast U-grooves for maximizing spin and control on approach shots. To ensure, greater workability performance from the wedges, Bridgestone designed them with an optimum “Tour” head size and shape.

Bridgestone Golf also used a double cut sole design to provide golfers with the ability to effectively use the wedges from the variety of sand and turf conditions that one could encounter in a given round. One of the most unique features of the Bridgestone J33 Forged Wedges is the long hosel, which is used to raise the center of gravity and produce a high spin, low trajectory shot for optimum control.

In addition, like the J33 Forged Combo irons all the wedges have been designed with a leading edge grind to reducing digging. The softened leading edge also helps to make the irons more playable from all of the various turf conditions a player could encounter in any given round.

“We designed these wedges from the beginning as clubs that could be played from a variety of different conditions,” said Mike Moxie, Golf Club Marketing, Bridgestone Golf, Inc. “The higher center of gravity in the J33 Forged Wedges allow golfers to hit low piercing shots with great backspin. The distance control of these wedges is sure to enhance players’ short games.”

The J33 wedges are available in a gap wedge (52-degree), sand wedge (56-degree) and a lob wedge (60-degree) and come standard with a True Temper® Dynamic® Gold S300 shaft. The clubs also feature a Golf Pride® Tour Velvet grip.

The J33 Forged wedges will feature a suggested retail price of $149 each and will be available in early 2005 at golf specialty stores and green grass retailers nationwide.

# # #

Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Precept and Bridgestone brand names. Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed golfers including, Fred Couples, Nick Price, Charles Howell III and Brandt Snedeker. Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., whose headquarters are in Tokyo.

Contact Information:
Jared Kelowitz
jaredk@jdpr.com
JDPR, 864-233-3776 x 24