Bridgestone J33 Drivers

[paulgrot]

I am in the market for a new driver (currently using Nickent 3dx and the closed face has become a hook machine). I am interested in the Bridgestone J33 as I am looking for something with a square face. I have found a new 420cc with the NV and a very lightly used (two rounds)460 with the VS Proto both around the same price.

I am seeking peoples opinion on which is the better combo of shaft/head? Unfortunately there are no local shops where I live that sell Bridgestone gear so I have not had an opportunity to hit them at a range.

[MIKE1218]

460 w/ VS Proto.

Make sure you try before you buy either one, as they are pretty low spin. Might have to go to a higher loft.

[paulgrot]

The 460 is 9.5 the 420 is 10.5. My current driver (the Nickent) is 10.5 and I tend to hit the ball quite high. I am wanting a slightly lower more boring ball flight.

[MIKE1218]

Some may disagree, but I think the Bridgestone stuff is as good as anything out there, and better than almost everything. Try the 9.5 if you are looking for a more penetrating flight.

[SilverUberXeno]

I'll be perfectly honest.

460 w/ VS Proto. Fire away.

I hit mine for the first time a few days ago, and I've never had a driver feel sweeter at impact. It feels like it just MASHES the ball. You definitely want to swing up into the ball a bit with this stick if you get the VS Proto. It really hits the ball flat. So if you start it high, it's gonna FLY.

I was stroking EVERYTHING today, so even my other drivers were sailing the ball out there.

But the Bstone definitely feels the best, and sounds wonderful. My Geek sounds good too, but the Nakashima 460 I have sounds like a tin can compared to the J33r and the DCT.

I do not regret, in the LEAST, buying this J33R. It is currently IN THE BAG for my round Tuesday.

[MIKE1218]

I'll be perfectly honest.

460 w/ VS Proto. Fire away.

I hit mine for the first time a few days ago, and I've never had a driver feel sweeter at impact. It feels like it just MASHES the ball. You definitely want to swing up into the ball a bit with this stick if you get the VS Proto. It really hits the ball flat. So if you start it high, it's gonna FLY.

I was stroking EVERYTHING today, so even my other drivers were sailing the ball out there.

But the Bstone definitely feels the best, and sounds wonderful. My Geek sounds good too, but the Nakashima 460 I have sounds like a tin can compared to the J33r and the DCT.

I do not regret, in the LEAST, buying this J33R. It is currently IN THE BAG for my round Tuesday.

I fricken told you! They're amazing! Graman is good?

[chemboy2]

Go with the 460 model. If you're looking at Bstone then forgiveness isn't #1 on your list, but just a little doesn't hurt.

The J33 is very low spin and produces BOMBS! A good buddy of mine plays an 8.5* with Diamana Blueboard (XS). I can barely get the ball off the groud with that combo but he crushes it (~115 ss).

There is a reason why they haven't replaced the J33 wood line yet, they are THAT good. I played the fairway woods for the past couple of years and only recently moved on as I decided to move to a 4W. With that being said, I'm planning on picking up a 7W and have been eyeing the bay to see if I can steal a J33 VS Proto combo myself.

[twofast2s]

420cc is hottest face of the 3 j33 drivers. j33p is 375cc (my current gamer) 420 and 460 j33r is more deeperface. they're not the easiest driver to hit, so if you're game isn't solid, i'd go w/ 460cc. if you hit them on the screws most of the time, 420cc j33 is way to go.

i have all three, and i play j33p just bc the way it looks. smaller head and shallower face. either way they are good drivers.

420cc w/ NV shaft will be low launching and low spining then 460cc w/ proto. however, 460 combo will be little bit more forgiving and launch higher b/c of the loft and extra 40cc difference, and shaft will fill little bit smoother.

but when it comes to shafts, you gotta find the shaft that fits you. try them b/f you buy them to see how you like them.

cheers!

[SilverUberXeno]

I hit mine a bunch more today and I want to stress one thing:

The feel at impact is extraordinary.

Maybe it has to do with the shaft I've got in my club, but I absolutely LOVE this combo. I'm playing tomorrow and I didn't even hit either of my other 2 drivers. I just kept hitting the Bstone over and over again. Draw. High fade. Arrow straight.

I got mine for like $110. LOL.

[MIKE1218]

Fade? Just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

[spartyon8]

I have a used J33p that was beat up for 30 bucks to try. I loved it the other day on the range and the front 9. The back 9 I hit my Exotics/Limey combo and was way more consistent. I just bought a new J33p for 50 to use as my gamer. I am a stickler for nice looking clubs.

I really liked the J33p and Mike1218 mentioned to me in my thread that I need a different shaft in it. I am going to put a v2 in it this weekend and test that one out.

[MIKE1218]

My J33P head came in the mail today. WOW - sexy head. Can't wait to hit it, if it's anything like the J33R series...

[paulgrot]

The new driver turned up today, when I rang the shop they guy said that the 460 had a NV65 in it instead of the VS Proto that I thought, however the price was cheaper (only $150 aus or $95us) so I wasn't complaining too much. It is is superb nick, only a few ball marks on the face. Going to head out for a good hit with it tomorrow to see how it goes.

[chemboy2]

The new driver turned up today, when I rang the shop they guy said that the 460 had a NV65 in it instead of the VS Proto that I thought, however the price was cheaper (only $150 aus or $95us) so I wasn't complaining too much. It is is superb nick, only a few ball marks on the face. Going to head out for a good hit with it tomorrow to see how it goes.

You're going to really enjoy that!

[BrandonM7]

FWIW, and I know it's too late now, that Nickent is a pretty high launching club. I've yet to try another 10-10.5° club that goes nearly as high (granted I've only tried about a half dozen.) Since you got the 9.5° J33 it's probably gonna launch a LOT lower.