Bridgestone J40 Wedges (Interpreting the Data)

From day one of the new review system we've talked about not only the importance of data, but the importance of actually being able to share that data with our readers.   What you see below is each and every shot that our 6 golfers took during the test process.  Hovering over any point on the map will give you all the pertinent details of that particular shot.  Raw averages were compiled for each and every piece of data we culled from our simulators.  If the screen looks a bit cluttered for your taste you can simply de-select any golfer to remove his data from the charts.

On each of the bar graphs, we include two reference lines.  The dotted gray line will always represent the average for all golfers for whom we collected data.  The dotted black line represents the averages for only those golfers you select. This way you are able to quickly see how the numbers from an individual, or sub-set of testers compares to both each other and the testing group as a whole.  We also include sliders which allow you to filter golfers based on driver swing speed and handicap.  Finally, for reviews like this which use radius-based scoring, we've also added a new slider that gives you ability to filter shots based on their proximity to the target (the hole).

What's New

This is the first wedge review to use tab navigation on our interactive data pages.  Be sure to check out both the individual shot data on the range, as well as the raw averages on the data tab.

Some Key Things to Keep in Mind

  • The hole is located at the intersection of the X and Y axes
  • As always, shots are color coded by golfer
  • The X and Y axes labels are in yards, however, each shot is labeled with its distance from the pin in feet
  • Charts for Accuracy and Consistency, which are the basis for our performance score, are now listed first in the comparative data section
  • The "Yards Offline" chart refers to distance from the centerline without regard to distance (similar to our driver tests)
  • The Distance charts refer to carry, roll, and total distance without regard for the hole location.

What to Look For

Looking over the performance charts and the range map a couple of things stand out. First, our testers showed an extreme left side bias with the J40 wedges. While it's not uncommon for testers to favor the left slightly (pulls are more common with wedges than pushes), this is perhaps the most lopsided chart we've seen to date. I'm not willing to read to much into it since overall each of our testers was extremely consistent with the wedge. This suggests that with a tweak to alignment, or perhaps a minor swing adjustments, results could be much better.

Distance numbers (especially averages) can be a bit misleading since our senior tester tests to a shorter distance. When we look at the guys who hit to the 100 yard target we again see incredibly consistent numbers, with most, on average, landing within 2 yards of the target.

Finally, the number suggest the J40 wedges spin a bit less than some of the others we've tested this season. And while we don't want to discount the value of spin (stopping the ball when you need to is certainly important), ultimately what matters is how close the ball finishes to the hole, and in that respect (at least where absolute distance is concerned), the J40 wedges do very, very well.

How are we doing?

If there's anything you'd like us to try and add to these interactive pages we generate, stop by the MyGolfSpy forum and let us know.  If it's possible, we might just do it.