Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back vs Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | J36 Cavity Back loft | J38 Cavity Back loft | J36 Cavity Back lie | J38 Cavity Back lie | J36 Cavity Back length | J38 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 Cavity Back
- J38 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.
Both are players irons, built for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. Small-to-mid cavity backs with traditional lofts, modest offset and workable shaping for low-handicap players. Because they target the same golfer, the decision comes down to the specific loft, feel and shaping differences rather than who the sets are made for.
The J36 Cavity Back is listed as forged with progressive muscle thickness and the J38 Cavity Back as midsize forged with a magnesium-composite cavity insert. The J36 Cavity Back's muscle-back shape keeps mass directly behind the strike for feedback and control, where a cavity spreads it to the perimeter for forgiveness.
The J38 Cavity Back arrived 2 years after the J36 Cavity Back, a typical one-generation refresh. Changes over that span are usually incremental: refined face thickness, revised weighting, updated looks and small loft tweaks rather than a new concept.
Which should you choose?
The J36 Cavity Back and J38 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 Cavity Back specs and Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back stronger lofted than the J38 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 Cavity Back and J38 Cavity Back?
There is none. Every club both sets include has the same loft, including the 35° 7-iron.
Are the Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back and J38 Cavity Back aimed at the same golfer?
Yes. Both are players irons, built for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. Choose on feel, looks and gapping, ideally after hitting both.
Do the Bridgestone J36 Cavity Back and J38 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 Cavity Back
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