Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back vs Bridgestone J15 Cavity Back
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | J40 Cavity Back loft | J15 Cavity Back loft | J40 Cavity Back lie | J15 Cavity Back lie | J40 Cavity Back length | J15 Cavity Back length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 21 | 20 | 60 | 60.5 | 38.75 | 39 |
| 4 | 24 | 22.5 | 61 | 61 | 38.25 | 38.5 |
| 5 | 27 | 25 | 62 | 61.5 | 37.75 | 38 |
| 6 | 31 | 28 | 62.5 | 62 | 37.25 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 35 | 32 | 63 | 62.5 | 36.75 | 37 |
| 8 | 39 | 36 | 63.5 | 63 | 36.25 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 43 | 41 | 64 | 63.5 | 35.75 | 36 |
| PW | 47 | 46 | 64.5 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.75 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- J40 Cavity Back
- J15 Cavity Back
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the J40 Cavity Back is 35° and the J15 Cavity Back is 32°, a 3° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the J15 Cavity Back should carry roughly 9 to 12 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the J40 Cavity Back. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the J15 Cavity Back averages 2.1° stronger, with the largest gap at the 6-iron (31° vs 28°). The pitching wedges are 47° and 46°; the stronger one leaves a 4° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the J15 Cavity Back 7-iron sits 0.5° flatter (63° vs 62.5°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander; the J15 Cavity Back 7-iron is 0.25 inches longer (36.75" vs 37").
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.
Both heads are listed 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.
There are 4 years between these sets (2011 and 2015), more than one design generation. Over that time irons moved toward stronger lofts, thinner and faster faces, hollow and multi-material heads and wider use of tungsten, so the newer set is not simply a better version of the older one: it may launch and spin quite differently. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 35° to 32°.
Which should you choose?
The J15 Cavity Back is the stronger-lofted set — up to 3° stronger than the J40 Cavity Back on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back specs and Bridgestone J15 Cavity Back specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back stronger lofted than the J15 Cavity Back?
No. The J15 Cavity Back is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 32° against 35° for the Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back, 3° stronger and worth roughly 9 to 12 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back and J15 Cavity Back?
At the 7-iron the difference is 3° (35° vs 32°). The largest gap on a shared club is 3° at the 6-iron, and all 8 shared clubs differ.
Are the Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back and J15 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 J40 Cavity Back and J15 Cavity Back have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Bridgestone J40 Cavity Back is 63° lie and 36.75 inches, the J15 Cavity Back 62.5° and 37 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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