Martin Hopley
By

The Bridgestone J15F fairway is the classy looking companion to the Bridgestone J715 460 driver and the clean looking and generous sized head is simple and will appeal to all golf purists.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

Whilst it all looks very serene, there is a lot of technical advancement in the J15F over previous Bridgestone fairways.

The crown is made from AM355 Maraging steel and is shaped in what Bridgestone call their FAST Crown, where it is thinner towards the clubface and then gets thicker towards the rear of the head.

FAST stands for Flex Action Speed Technology and the thin/thick construction enables the crown to flex more at impact to increase ball speed and launch angle.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

Working with the FAST crown is a Hyper Stainless 455 Steel Face that is the thinnest Bridgestone has ever made at just 1.8mm.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

What this does is create a lovely sound and feel at impact that is a combination of a deep solid sound, with a little bit of zing thrown in, which is close to perfect.

Bridgestone has contoured the sole by removing material from the heel and toe to make it more playable from a variety of lies, which is important for fairways and I think it works well.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

Also in the sole is a 6 gram weight that can be removed, but there is not an alternative supplied so it is probably more for tour fitting, so don't take it out in case you lose it. If you do want a pack of a 2g, 4g, 6g, 8g, 10g and 12g weights to play around with then you can get them as an extra for an RRP of £41.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

It does highlight that the weight in this club is moved forward to increase speed and keep the spin down from the nice deep head, to provide a penetrating flight that better players will approve of.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

And this is where I get a little confused as to who this club is aimed at. The performance, looks, and even Bridgestone, indicate that this is for professionals and better players, but for me the face is too closed at address for this category.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

It is more a mid-handicap set up, but the flight is really for mid to high swing speed players, unless you can get a lighter weight in there to increase the launch.

I let the J715 driver off with a few things, because not only did it perform, but it also had a little bit of that X-factor you need to stand out. And the parade gloss head cover had stitched numbering, rather than the less appealing, interchangeable velcro option on the fairway version.

Bridgestone J15F Fairway

Even though the J15F is a good performer and the sound really is lovely, the competition in this sector is fierce from clubs that are cheaper and offer better players extra adjustable options in a more neutral looking package.

However, if you prefer a closed face, or are a high single figure player looking for something more premium and traditional, then the Bridgestone J15F fairway is still going to be a good choice.

Golfalot Rating: 4 stars
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Bridgestone J15F Fairway Wood - Product Details

UK LaunchMarch 2015
UK Launch RRP£199
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens
Hand AvailabilityRight
Right Handed Lofts13.5°, 15°, 18°
MaterialSteel
Lie58°
Swing WeightD2
AdjustabilityWeight
Shaft NameMitsubishi Fubuki Z
Shaft TypesGraphite
Shaft FlexRegular, Stiff, X Stiff
GripGolf Pride Tour Velvet
Number/Loft3+/13.5°, 3/15°, 5/18°
Manufacturer's WebsiteBridgestone Website

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