[ukok]

Now that the £ (UK) has plummeted against most currencies, buying JDM equipment in the UK has become more expensive than ever and the cost of a new set of irons is almost extorionate. I noticed that Bridgestone have just released their new J38 range of models which bear a stricking resemblance to their Tourstage range, especially the driver. How does this equipment compare to each other and is there still a quality gap between brands or has this now narrowed.

Comments please, especially from people who have played both.

[TourSpecGolfer]

ukok, on Mar 11 2010, 06:07 PM, said:

Now that the £ (UK) has plummeted against most currencies, buying JDM equipment in the UK has become more expensive than ever and the cost of a new set of irons is almost extorionate. I noticed that Bridgestone have just released their new J38 range of models which bear a stricking resemblance to their Tourstage range, especially the driver. How does this equipment compare to each other and is there still a quality gap between brands or has this now narrowed.

Comments please, especially from people who have played both.

There is a fairly large gap between the technologies used in TourStage vs Bridgestone. It's about 2 years IMO and even when released the Bridgestone stuff doesn't have a lot that the TourStage had.

A better way of going about it is looking for clearance sales in the TourSpecGolf ProShop. For example the TourStage 701 & 903 irons as well as the 701 & 701G drivers are at an outstanding close out price right now.

The closeouts sell quickly.

[gocchin]

Not only is their a gap in product releases ie a 2 year delay, typically releases outside of Japan are toned down price wise ie different materials. less technology as TSG said above. The first gen X-Blade iron came out in late 2003 and did not arrive in the US until nearly 2007.

The clear outs in the pro shop are amazing deals. The 701G irons are already sold out and the 701 irons close to being sold out. The 901 Blade has some unique technology in it with an aluminum bar forged into the head and that is a killer price.