Bridgestone’s new Tour B JGR line was designed with the mid- to high-handicapper in mind, but even the best players in the world can get behind more forgiveness and ball speed. Earlier this season, Tour staffers Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar added the Tour B JGR driver to the bag after noticing an uptick in speed and distance during testing. Snedeker would go on to shoot 59 during the first round of the Wyndham Championship with the club in the bag. A 9-time TOUR winner, Snedeker admitted he was somewhat surprised by how seamless the transition was from the previous version to the new driver. “I didn’t expect to make the switch so easily,” Snedeker said, “but when I compared the data on trackman, I was seeing three mph more ball speed and an extra six yards.” The new Tour B JGR driver (9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degrees; $399), fairway woods and hybrids all feature the company’s Boost Wave Crown technology, comprised of internal and external channels that assist the crown in flexing more effectively at impact for a higher initial launch and increased ball speeds. The rear portion of the crown has been thinned out as well to allow the entire structure to flex. While the Boost Wave Crown is found in all three woods (driver, fairway and hybrid), only the driver boasts a rib-like design in the sole that works in tandem with the Boost Wave Crown technology to stabilize the lower portion of the face, while allowing the crown to flex more at the same time. A redesigned power milled face offers double the depth of its predecessor to reduce slippage at impact and keep the ball on the face longer at impact, decreasing the amount of unwanted spin on off-center shots. For the high-handicapper, the driver offers a 25-gram internal weight in the heel for a built-in draw bias; an external 10-gram weight port can be found in the heel as well. With so much weight positioned in one area of the head, it’s clear Bridgestone is trying to help those players who fight a considerable slice. The Tour B JGR fairway woods (15 and 18 degrees; $229) and hybrids (19, 22 and 25 degrees; $219) come with a Boost Wave Crown and variable thickness face designed to help with ball speed protection, particularly on mishits that find the low portion at impact. Taking a page from the metalwoods, the Tour B JGR HF1 (1030 forged construction; $849) and HF2 (1025 forged construction; $899) irons were designed with a power slit face design, whereby the junction of the face and sole is noticeably thinner than the surrounding areas. The design is supposed to improve initial launch and ball speeds by acting as a hinge at impact. “Our JGR lines have built up a loyal following since the original launch in 2015. The new TOUR B JGR builds on that success by providing golfers with the combination of style and forgiveness,â€� said Zack Kupperbusch, Bridgestone, golf club marketing. The HF1 offers slightly stronger lofts, a larger profile and wider sole with a hollow cavity that “provides easy launching distance in an extremely low COG forged head.” The forged two-piece HF2 is geared more for the mid-handicapper with a slightly more compact profile and rubber polymer insert that was added to the cavity to enhance feel and sound while reducing unwanted vibrations at impact. Bridgestone’s Tour B JGR line will be available Oct. 12, with the following stock shaft offerings: UST Mamiya Recoil 460 ES (driver), UST Mamiya Recoil 460 ES FWY (fairway wood), UST Mamiya Recoil 780 ES (hybrid), UST Mamiya (HF1) and True Temper XP 95 (HF2). PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE: Buy equipment here
Online Sports Betting
First look: Bridgestone’s Tour B JGR metalwoods and irons
Bridgestone’s new Tour B JGR line was designed with the mid- to high-handicapper in mind, but even the best players in the world can get behind more forgiveness and ball speed. Earlier this season, Tour staffers Brandt Snedeker and Matt Kuchar added the Tour B JGR driver to the bag after noticing an uptick in…
Westbrook has knee surgery, may miss games
Russell Westbrook might miss the opening few games of the 2018-19 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. Click here to read the full article…
Snell handles Tribe en route to MLB-high 19th W
Blake Snell continued to state his case that he’s the best that the American League has to offer during the Rays’ 3-1 win over the Indians on Wednesday at Tropicana Field. The left-hander allowed just a single hit over seven innings, including no hits through his front six, en route to his Major League-leading 19th…
Westbrook to miss a month after knee surgery
Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday, the team announced, casting doubt on his availability for the start of the season. Click here to read the full article…
Bregman reaches 100 RBIs, 100 runs, 50 2B
It was a milestone fifth inning on Wednesday afternoon for Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, who notched his 50th double of the season, 100th run scored and 100th RBI in the series finale vs. the Tigers at Comerica Park. Click here to read the full article…
Westbrook to miss a month after knee surgery
Russell Westbrook had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday, the team announced, casting doubt on his availability for the start of the season. Click here to read the full article…
Lamoriello not crying about Isles losing Tavares
Based on the comments Lou Lamoriello made to The New York Post recently, the New York Islanders have turned the page on John Tavares. Click here to read the full article…
Packers QB Rodgers (knee) to work with rehabbing players
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will work out with rehabbing players on Wednesday as head coach Mike McCarthy decides whether his star will be able to play in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. Rodgers was carted to the locker room in the second quarter of Sunday night’s opener against Click here to read…
Dirk praises Doncic: ‘Couldn’t believe what I saw’
Luka Doncic, a EuroLeague MVP from Slovenia who is eight months younger than Dirk Nowitzki was as a rookie from Germany, is in many ways already a better player than Nowitzki was when he entered the league 20 years ago, Dirk says. Click here to read the full article…
SI’s Top 100 list highlights the Celtics depth
With six players ranked in Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 NBA players list, the Celtics are again recognized as one of the deepest team’s in the league. Click here to read the full article…
BREAKING: Snell loses no-no on Ramirez HR
Rays starter Blake Snell didn’t allow a hit against the Indians until Jose Ramirez launched a leadoff homer in the seventh inning. Click here to read the full article…
Kyle Van Noy likes where Patriots defense is at
Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy talks about the growth and continuity of the defense, how the players are responding to defensive coach Brian Flores, and the play of cornerback Stephon Gilmore during a Wednesday appearance with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand. Click here to read the full article…