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.
# # #
Bridgestone Golf, Inc., based in Covington, GA, manufactures and markets premium
golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brand names.
Bridgestone is represented on a world stage by a number of internationally famed
golfers including
Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar,
Davis Love III, Brandt Snedeker,
Paula Creamer, Nick Price,
and Lee Trevino.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.,
whose headquarters are in Tokyo.
Bridgestone Golf, Inc. is proud to be the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf as the industry
leader in live launch monitor fittings. Bridgestone provides three ways for golfers
to find the ball that best fits their game: live fittings through the
Bridgestone Ball Fitting Challenge, live online
chats with ball fitting
experts through its B-FIT service, and an easily accessible
Online Ball Selection Guide. For more
information on ball fitting, including a complete schedule of Ball Fitting Challenge
events, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com.
