Conference 7.286::golf

                    <<< Note 1151.0 by UNXA::PERCIACCANTE >>>
                              -< "J" Drivers!?? >-

>>>    Can anyone tell me what a "J" driver is?

A metal head driver designed by Jumbo Os...(forget) and made by Bridgestone.

>>>    What's so different/special

People (pros) are hitting it  farther than "normal".  I hit the driver and
5 wood both with Bridgestone graphite shafts.  I loved the clubs.  The driver
is very light and extremely well balanced.  Don't know how far I hit them
because it was dark out, but the ball seemed to screem off the tee.

>>> Can you get "J" 3, 5, 7 metal/wood woods?

Don't know about a 7 wood. If you have $1200 to spare you can get the 1,3,5.
They're $400 a pop (At Whirlaway in Methuen, Ma).

>>>Are there    "J" irons?

Not that I know of.

    INTERSTING THING ABOUT THE "J" CLUB.  NICKLAUS/MACGREGOR HAS A J COPY
    ON THE MARKET.  BOTH NORMAN AND NICKLAUS STOPPED USING THEM AFTER A FEW
    TOURNAMENTS LAST YEAR.  NOT SURE THAT THE AVERAGE GOLFER WILL GET $400
    OF BENEFIT FROM THE CLUB.  YONEX, MIZUNO AND TAYLOR MADE ALL HAVE
    HI-TECH WEAPONS THAT ARE 1/2 THE COST AND CAN HELP YOU HIT THE BALL FAR
    ENOUGH TO BE IN MORE TROUBLE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.
    
    SO CAL DANDY

    
    
    I won a Bidgestone driver last year, very nice club.
    Metal head and a hm-40 staft.
    
    I was the weapon last year also, same club head, but 
    a HM-70 staft and a $400 price tag. :-(
    
    Check out the stafts, I believe that is the expensive part.
    
    To bad Gene isn't here, I'll bet he could put together
    a hm-70 club for a lot less money.
    
    
    dave

    Golf Digest Dec. 1990 did an entire article on J's professional weapon.
    The bottom line is that it isn't an advantage for amateurs.  Get the
    article, it's a good one.
    
    Rick

re -1

The golf digest article basically said that for very high clubhead speeds 
(tour level, > 100 mph with a driver) the J's club would impart slightly less
spin on the ball and launch the ball at a lower trajectory.

So, for guys like Norman and Niclaus who hit the ball very hard and high, and
can  CARRY a conventional driver over 250 yards, the J's club gave them
about the same amount of carry with a lower trajectory and less spin which 
means they will have more  roll and there for, more total distance. 

However, as the club head speed drops the launch angle and the spin rate fall
below a satisfactory level.  Basically, the average player wouldn't get the ball
up in the air enough for good playability (ie, carrying hazards, or keep from
rolling into trouble)

Plus alot of it depends on the kind of game you need to play for a particualar
course.  On a Brithish Open course, a low trajectory with lots of roll may be
the high percentage shot.  However, for most courses alot of roll is a dangerous,
unpredictable thing.  Nicklaus himself said of his high, soft-landing shotmaking
ability, "There isn't any trouble in the air."  I suspect that Jack, 
losing a little distance with his age, was romanced by the extra roll (and total 
distance) he got with the J's club, but realized later that a higher, softer 
landing trajectory kept him in the fairway more often.  So he switched back 
to his old club, and his wise shotmaking strategy.

Rick J.

    Has anyone found clone clubs of the J?.  
    
    Is the HM-70 available or is it a Bridgestone propreitary shaft?
    
    What are the limitations of the clone?
    
    Please reply.
    
    Thanks!
    
    
    
    

    Hi,
    
    I believe the HM-70 must be a shaft made by ALDILA but I have not 
    seen spec.'s of this shaft.
    
    Looking for further information...Please reply

    The HM-70 is made by Aldila, however, the J's is made by Brunswick and
    has a Brunswick graphite shaft.
    
    Ken