Equipment
Bridgestone J15 Forged Wedges
Bridgestone’s new J15 Forged wedges are designed to increase spin, versatility and durability using three main technologies — a Sure Contact Sole, Pro Groove Design and Durable Heat Treatment.
The Sure Contact Sole has increased heel relief, which allows golfers to play shots from various lies with both a square and open face. A number of companies achieve a similar effect by hand-grinding the soles, but Bridgestone implements its heel relief into the forging process to better ensure a quality grind on each wedge.
For moree spin, Bridgestone’s has added its Pro Groove design, which increases the area of each groove. The grooves are said to help channel dirt, water and debris away from the face for more consistent contact.
Durability is always a concern for wedges because of their frequent use. To offset that, Bridgestone heat-treats each wedge to give them a longer life.
Bridgestone J15 wedges will be available with black oxide and satin finishes in lofts of 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. They hit retail on Feb. 1, 2015 and will cost $119 each.
Left-handed versions (52 and 58 degrees) are only available in the black oxide finish on April 1, 2015.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Ray
Mar 21, 2015 at 11:50 am
Excellent looking wedges, they have a great forged feel and I really like the design. I have the 54 and 60 chrome wedges and my only comment is they come about 1/2 inch longer so I cut them back to 35.25″ and 35″ respectively and now, they are perfect. Quality offering from Bridgestone.
That guy
Jan 18, 2015 at 1:10 am
Good looking wedge but the grooved grinds will just collect dirt. Everything Bridgestone makes is top notch. Hit their cb’s and mb’s, you will feel the quality immediately.
marcel
Jan 19, 2015 at 5:13 pm
absolutely – can wait to wear my j40s down to get these babies
Steve
Jan 17, 2015 at 9:20 am
A lot of competition in this type of designed wedge. For me I will buy the best priced one, I am not good enough to know any better. Any quality wedge in this design/look is fine by me.
Golfraven
Jan 17, 2015 at 5:38 pm
honestly, don’t decide on price. Any golfer can sense the difference between a good performing and eye pleasing club. If you decide on price you just cheat on yourself. money you saved will not stay in your pocket. Ok dont go out there and spend money in high end stuff if you are not absolutely love that stuff – otherwise choose wisely
christian
Jan 17, 2015 at 4:25 am
Great looking wedges, shades of Tourstage in the shape and “serious” looking graphics and finish.
adam
Jan 17, 2015 at 12:39 am
I’m a righty but I have to say based on all of the recent club announcements that lefties get screwed. I am not familiar with production on these things but have wondered why they don’t make the same options available but require direct order from manufacturer.
Tom Duckworth
Jan 16, 2015 at 8:20 pm
They look great. The long groove across the back reminds me of Mizuno’s wedges. In fact they look very much like Mizuno wedges. Not a bad thing. I would like to see Bridgestone do well with these. They make very nice clubs across the board irons, drivers and fairway clubs. They and Wilson should be getting a bigger market share. I hope more golfers open up and take a look at them. I will try these out.
Golfraven
Jan 16, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Bridgestone came out with some beauties. Entire J15 line ist just gorgeous. black oxide finish is looking really nice but wonder how those will wear out. maybe I may replace my vokey LW with one of those. Forged sounds promising. Way to go. Titleist should come up with some awesome 916 line otherwise they will loose out to Bridgestone fairly soon.
Jim
Jan 16, 2015 at 2:09 pm
I wonder how they will hold up against Vokey wedges. They look really good and stand out against the competition is a very good way too. Love the grooved ‘grinds’ too.