Bridgestone J36 Blade vs Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | J36 Blade loft | J36 Cavity Back loft | J36 Blade lie | J36 Cavity Back lie | J36 Blade length | J36 Cavity Back length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 21 | 21 | 60 | 60 | 38.75 | 38.75 |
| 4 | 24 | 24 | 61 | 61 | 38.25 | 38.25 |
| 5 | 27 | 27 | 62 | 62 | 37.75 | 37.75 |
| 6 | 31 | 31 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 37.25 | 37.25 |
| 7 | 35 | 35 | 63 | 63 | 36.75 | 36.75 |
| 8 | 39 | 39 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 36.25 | 36.25 |
| 9 | 43 | 43 | 64 | 64 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| PW | 47 | 47 | 64.5 | 64.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- J36 Blade
- J36 Cavity Back
What the differences mean
Every club the two sets share has exactly the same loft, starting with a 35° 7-iron. On paper there is no distance or trajectory difference: with the same swing, a 7-iron from either set should launch and carry about the same. The real differences are in how the heads are built, how they look at address and how they feel at impact, none of which a spec table can show. Lie angles and lengths match as well, so any fitting adjustment made to one set would carry straight over to the other.
The J36 Blade is a blade iron and the J36 Cavity Back a players iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The J36 Cavity Back is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The J36 Blade trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
The J36 Blade is listed as forged muscle-back and the J36 Cavity Back as forged with progressive muscle thickness. With the build method this similar, differences in feel come down to head size, sole width, topline and offset rather than how the heads are made.
Both sets were introduced in 2008, so this is a choice between two models from the same lineup rather than an upgrade: Bridgestone designed them to sit side by side for different players.
Which should you choose?
The J36 Blade and J36 Cavity Back share the same lofts on every club on file, so the difference is in head construction, feel and forgiveness rather than trajectory.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Bridgestone J36 Blade specs and Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bridgestone J36 Blade stronger lofted than the J36 Cavity Back?
No. Both have a 35° 7-iron and the same loft on every club they share, so neither is stronger lofted. The difference is in construction and feel.
What is the loft difference between the Bridgestone J36 Blade and J36 Cavity Back?
There is none. Every club both sets include has the same loft, including the 35° 7-iron.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Bridgestone J36 Blade or the J36 Cavity Back?
The J36 Cavity Back. As a players iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The Bridgestone J36 Blade is a blade iron, better suited to low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
Do the Bridgestone J36 Blade and J36 Cavity Back have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 63° lie and 36.75 inches long.
Shop Bridgestone J36 Blade
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