Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back vs Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | J38 Cavity Back loft | J40 Cavity Back loft | J38 Cavity Back lie | J40 Cavity Back lie | J38 Cavity Back length | J40 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
- J38 Cavity Back
- J40 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 J38 Cavity Back is listed as midsize forged with a magnesium-composite cavity insert and the J40 Cavity Back as forged. 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.
The J40 Cavity Back arrived 1 year after the J38 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 J38 Cavity Back and J40 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 J38 Cavity Back specs and Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back stronger lofted than the J40 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 J38 Cavity Back and J40 Cavity Back?
There is none. Every club both sets include has the same loft, including the 35° 7-iron.
Are the Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back and J40 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 J38 Cavity Back and J40 Cavity Back have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 63° lie and 36.75 inches long.
Shop Bridgestone J38 Cavity Back
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