Bridgestone J40 CB

Bridgestone J40 CB features premium forged 1020 carbon steel, a compact head with a higher face progression provides tour control and better feel and relief at trailing edge, leading edge, toe, and heel for improved versatility.

Looks-wise, there's not too much going on but the laser etched Bridgestone ‘B’ is an elegantly cool touch.

I initially thought this club was going to be hard to get in the air with its very thin topline but when flipping the club over, I realised otherwise as Bridgestone has included a perimeter-weighted design and added weight behind the sweetspot. The clubhead itself is compact and clean looking, too.

Bridgestone says the compact head gradually increases in size as you progress up the set.

In terms of feel, there's a very soft feel through impact on offer. I’d never previously encountered the Project X Flighted shaft before (only the Project X) and was instantly taken by the slightly lower kick point that provided a piercing mid-to-high ball flight and easy launch.

As for performance, there's a surprising amount of forgiveness as well as sufficient distance on off-centre hits. I will say this isn't the longest player iron I've tested this year as balls were flying a little too high for my liking, although many lofts appear higher than most sets of clubs I've been testing this year. The 6-iron for example is set at 31-degree.

Consistent accuracy more than made amends for lack of distance, however.

Verdict

Although J40 CB is a cavity back forged iron, I don’t think it acts like your typical cavity back.

When you hit the ball flush, the feeling is second to none. The forgiveness on the heel and toe of the club is exceptional, too.

If you have a consistent swing, are a good ball striker, and place a premium on accuracy, then these forged babies will definitely be worth a swing.