2018 Official Forum Review Bridgestone Tour B HF2 Irons

[russtopherb]

I echo what Max says. We are about the same level of player. Except he hits it much further then me. So I have to rely on keeping it play off the tee (Thsnk You JGR Driver!!!) And my short game.

 

Anybody that even threatens breaking 100 can most likely play these irons very easily.

 

 

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Please stop teasing me. It's not nice.

 

ETA: I don't mean teasing my score, I mean teasing that these gorgeous irons could work for me.

[Justinius]

Thank you guys for your responses! I can't wait to try one.

 

On another note, how is the gapping? I think it may be more of a problem with the HF1s, but it looks like the HF2s go from 2* gap between the 4 and 5 to a 6* between the wedges?

[MattF]

This is the gapping straight from Bridgestone: 22°, 24°, 27°, 31°, 35°. 39°, 44°, 50° - that's 4 - AW. I had my 4-PW bent 2° weak to better match my Maltbys.

 

Having said that, I think the gapping is fine and haven't had any weird distance issues with them.

[Nunfa0]

That's similar gapping to my Mizuno Hotmetals 🤔

[Sluggo42]

I echo what Max says. We are about the same level of player. Except he hits it much further then me. So I have to rely on keeping it play off the tee (Thsnk You JGR Driver!!!) And my short game.

 

Anybody that even threatens breaking 100 can most likely play these irons very easily.

 

 

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Hmmm, I wonder then what's the point of the HF1's?

[Nunfa0]

Hmmm, I wonder then what's the point of the HF1's?

Maybe for someone who needs the bigger, confidence inspiring club?

[MaxEntropy]

Hmmm, I wonder then what's the point of the HF1's?

Our understanding is they are super easy to hit. I'd venture a guess that they are for anyone that struggles to get an iron airborne, for whatever reason.

 

I would say that the HF2's are more for someone that is can get the ball airborne, but needs a bit more forgiveness since they may miss the sweet spot a fair amount.

 

It would have been interesting to see these clubs tested by a lower handicap player too, just to get their impression.

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

Hmmm, I wonder then what's the point of the HF1's?

Yeah I think Max hit it on the head.

 

Barbajo has hit the HF1 and they are BIG and also said they are stupid easy to hit high. So yeah maybe a super senior who really struggles with getting enough swing speed to get the ball in the air. Or a beginner who has troubke making decent contact.

 

 

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[GC70]

OMG! Great reviews guys! Great job MGS and Bridgestone.

 

 

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[GC70]

It sounds like everyone gained yards with these.

 

Can we get more pictures with these and you gamers?

 

 

 

 

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[sirchunksalot]

Any ideas what retailers will be carrying these? These are getting such good reviews that I feel like I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't put them on my list to try out.

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

Any ideas what retailers will be carrying these? These are getting such good reviews that I feel like I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't put them on my list to try out.

 

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To start with in October every Club Champion will have full fitting carts.

 

Also sometime this fall Bridgestone is going to bring back the test drive program where you can order up to 3 irons to test for a couple weeks.

 

And by Spring they will have green grass shops and possibly some off course retailers set up as fitting facilities.

 

 

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[sirchunksalot]

Thanks Rob!

 

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[Rickp]

To start with in October every Club Champion will have full fitting carts.

 

Also sometime this fall Bridgestone is going to bring back the test drive program where you can order up to 3 irons to test for a couple weeks.

 

And by Spring they will have green grass shops and possibly some off course retailers set up as fitting facilities.

 

 

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Looking forward to trying them.

 

 

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[Rickp]

Yeah I think Max hit it on the head.

 

Barbajo has hit the HF1 and they are BIG and also said they are stupid easy to hit high. So yeah maybe a super senior who really struggles with getting enough swing speed to get the ball in the air. Or a beginner who has troubke making decent contact.

 

 

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Bigger than the G700's?

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

Bigger than the G700's?

 

 

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I haven't seen the HF1 in hand. But based in pictures. Yes definitely bigger. Probably more like the Cleveland HB irons.

 

 

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[bardle]

Great write ups everyone, not sure how I missed this, but talk about putting the spy in my golf spy. Getting to do a writeups on never before seen clubs is dang cool. Maybe I need a set to match my wedges.

[Justinius]

To start with in October every Club Champion will have full fitting carts.

 

Also sometime this fall Bridgestone is going to bring back the test drive program where you can order up to 3 irons to test for a couple weeks.

 

And by Spring they will have green grass shops and possibly some off course retailers set up as fitting facilities.

 

 

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Bummed to hear that since there are no Club Champions in Phoenix, AZ. 

 

Do they charge for the test drive program?

[Golfspy_CG2]

Bummed to hear that since there are no Club Champions in Phoenix, AZ. 

 

Do they charge for the test drive program?

they haven't released the full details yet, but I believe there may be a small charge of some sort.  I would think more details will come out in the next couple weeks as they will be hitting retail on Oct 8. 

[JohnSmalls]

Awesome write up guys! Looking forward at following along to see how these progress through stage 2

 

 

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[Justinius]

Crickets in this thread for a while. Any updates?

I also noticed that Bridgestone's website still lists these clubs as "Coming Soon". Anyone have any updates when we might start seeing these in stores?

[MaxEntropy]

1 hour ago, Justinius said:

Crickets in this thread for a while. Any updates?

I also noticed that Bridgestone's website still lists these clubs as "Coming Soon". Anyone have any updates when we might start seeing these in stores?

Thanks for the bump. I should have my final thoughts on these posted some time tomorrow. As far as availability, I'm the wrong guy to answer that.

[MattF]

I should be getting out for one more round with them this weekend and have mine done on Sunday.

[GC70]

Good bump! I wish I could get my hands on these to hit.


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[Justinius]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see these reviews start trickling in!

[Golfspy_CG2]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see these reviews start trickling in!

Just an FYI. The reviews are posted already in the beginning of the thread.

Also another review thread on the Driver and FW.


Bridgestone Tour B JGR Driver and HF2 irons Pre Release Testing

[MaxEntropy]

I got to very quickly spend a little time on a simulator/launch monitor to wrap up my thoughts on these irons. I did not have much time and the opportunity came around pretty last-minute. The simulator was a TruGolf simulator that is in the basement of a friend's office. I watched a youtube video comparing this to a GC launch monitor in terms of accuracy and it seems pretty decent as far as that goes. From my personal experience, it seemed pretty accurate, too. We did have some struggles with the software - I have never played with it and my friend had never operated it by himself, so I would have liked to eliminate obvious outliers (I had a few shanks that are included in averages).

Here are some pics of the screen:

HF2 7 Iron:

PowerBilt TPS 7 Iron:

In general, the HF2's are MUCH longer, with a little lower spin and launch (consistent with a slightly "jacked" loft). Of the 8 shots with each club, 5 or 6 were what I would consider "good" so I would have loved to be able to remove the really pitiful shots so the dispersion might mean more.

The only other irons I was able to compare directly were the 4 irons, but that was only 3 shots with each club - the HF2 was good for about 200 yards and the PowerBilt was 180.

One other comment on these clubs related to forgiveness - I had previously mentioned that there was not as much loss as I was used to on toe hits, but had not commented on the response when you catch the ball a little high or low on the face. I can't really comment on what happens when I hit a ball a little high on the face because I don't do that - it's a fat chunk rather than being a few grooves high. I will occasionally hit a long iron a little thin when I am trying to pick it clean and the few times I have done this with the new clubs has resulted in very little loss in distance (but noticeably different feel).

Summary: I love the feel, sound, and performance I am getting out of these clubs. I also really like the added distance I am getting and I'd be lying if I said I didn't find a little satisfaction in grabbing one club less than the guy I play with most often. Over the past few years I have struggled with my irons and I believe my ego takes much of the blame. In my younger years, distance was my game and as I have lost quite a bit, I suspect I was subconsciously trying to put a little extra into my swings which was making things worse. With the Bridgestone irons, I feel very comfortable taking a smoother swing which has generally resulted in cleaner contact.

I don't keep an official/attested handicap, but I do log my scores on The Grint just for my own tracking purposes. Since I started playing these irons, my 18 hole average score has dropped from 93 to 87 and my 9 hole average dropped from 48 to 45. The drop of 9 hole scores is probably more meaningful since all those scores are on the same course, whereas I don't think I played the same course twice for a full 18. Regardless, I am very happy with the direction things are going and am really bummed the end of the season is upon us.

I would suggest that if you're handicap is in the teens and are in the market for irons, you really ought to consider these if you can find some to try. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing them and look forward to my scores dropping even more. I would also really like to see what someone with a single digit handicap thought of these irons, especially in light of what @jacustomgolf was able to do with the G700's.

The last thing I really feel I need to do with these clubs is a gap analysis. I don't feel like I have any glaring gaps anymore, but that does not mean there aren't any. Hopefully I'll be able to get more time on the simulator. I've dropped the hint that my friend needs to hire me as an unpaid intern just so I get keys to the building, but I don't think he's going for it just yet.

Thanks, again, to MGS and Bridgestone for this opportunity!

FYI - I'm also in the process of finalizing my thoughts on the Tour B JGR Woods, so head over to that thread later today!

Any questions?

 

[MattF]

29 minutes ago, MaxEntropy said:

I got to very quickly spend a little time on a simulator/launch monitor to wrap up my thoughts on these irons. I did not have much time and the opportunity came around pretty last-minute. The simulator was a TruGolf simulator that is in the basement of a friend's office.

 

 Must've missed your call!  Nice summery mate.

[MaxEntropy]

14 minutes ago, MattF said:

 

 Must've missed your call!  Nice summery mate.

Lol. Sorry about that, it was a last minute deal with a very tight time window for him. I'm hoping to get there more and will keep you in the loop.

[Wedgie]

Did someone mention golf in Florida this March? RevKev, Foz and MattF. I’ll be down there in March. If the dates match up and you need a fourth let me know?


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