Bridgestone J40 Driver Review

A few years back, Bridgestone Golf launched a driver that quickly garnered the nickname of “The Spin Killer” because of the fact that it was a driver head that was extremely low spin. For the next 36 months or so following that release, the driver gained a cult like following around the internet from players looking for those dynamics off the tee. Since that time, hundreds of golf clubs have come and gone, but few have been able to take over top billing in that circle.

Technology
Available in either 445 or 430 head size.
Improved Face Thickness design for additional stability and higher MOI
6-4 titanium construction with thin crown wall section allows discretionary weight to be moved to the perimeter for added forgiveness
Stainless steel weight at heel and short hosel to optimize CG for mid to high launch with low spin
Project X Shaft
Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip
445 – 9.5°, 10.5°, 12°
430 – 8.5°, 9.5°

First Impressions

Spin Killer
For many golfers the holy grail is considered a high launching driver while still maintaining extremely low spin and it is something that does not always come together as well as you would be expected due in part because spin is one element that determines ball flight.

“The J40 Driver and Fairway Woods maintain Bridgestone’s focus on producing low spinning and high launching heads to maximize distance,” said Corey Consuegra, Golf Club Marketing Manager, Bridgestone Golf, Inc. “In the J40 445 construction, we’ve made forgiveness the most important aspect of the driver design and with the J40 430 we focused our efforts on workability and control. We now have high launch low spin offerings for two very different types of players, both of whom value increased distance and consistency.”

Based on THP launch monitor testing on the AccuSport VectorX, the J40 driver being tested performed as advertised. Even the highest spin players were seeing huge reductions and bringing the ball flight down quite a bit.

Testing
Sound & Feel – One of the most interesting aspects of club testing is the different impact sound that each driver makes and how that relates to the feel of the club through our perception. The J40 has a deep and full audible tone while still maintaining that metallic sound that has become familiar with their previous offerings. This translates to a driver that has a “hot” feel to it and something that relates to the ball jumping off of the face.

Shaft – The Project X line of golf shafts are incredibly popular and offer tour proven success across the board. The shaft in the Bridgestone J40 driver is not a shaft that is designed by the company, but the same as the after market version that people have been upgrading to for some time. A quality shaft is crucial to finding a driver that will help your golf game and Bridgestone does offer many shaft options if for some reason the Project X line of shafts do not work well for you. One thing to note about the Project X line is that it is offered in 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5 and THP strongly recommends getting fit for the right option. During a recent survey, it appears that most casual golfers viewed the 5.5 as a “regular flex” and 6.0 as a “stiff flex” and that is not entirely correct. It is important to find the right flex for your game and Project X offers more than the traditional R, S and X varieties.

Performance – The nuts and bolts of every club is the performance that it offers on the golf course. Looks, sound and feel are purely subjective and when push comes to shove, the club must perform to earn a spot in the golf bag. Bridgestone has really put out an impressive driver in the J40 and while it will not be for everybody, in the right hands, it is as good as anything on the market right now and should not be overlooked.

Bridgestone describes the launch as mid-high and they hit the nail on the head with that statement. A penetrating ball flight that seems to lift off like a jet and fly forever is something that is cherished by any person on the tee and the J40 delivers in that aspect. If you are in search for the super forgiving driver that launches the ball extremely high, the J40 might not be the best fit, however with two sizes available, THP found that the larger size offered far more forgiveness laterally across the face than was expected.

Overall
A pioneer in golf ball aerodynamics for quite a while, Bridgestone Golf has brought their development to the equipment side of things and the J40 delivers in every area it sets out to. A low spinning driver with a penetrating ball flight that performs right out of the box is something sought after heavily and you will not have to wait much longer to try it out. For more information on this or any other Bridgestone Golf product, check out their website at www.bridgestonegolf.com.

Till Next Time

Josh B.

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