In-Depth Review of the Bridgestone B1 and B2 Series

Bridgestone B Series

Recently, the all new Bridgestone B1 ST and B2 HT have been released, so today, we wanted to have Mark Kanai test out the previous Bridgestone B series! In this blog, he will do a thorough review of the clubs and get a good idea who he thinks these clubs will be best suited for! Read along to discover the potential you can bring to your golf game with the Bridgestone B series!

For today's test, Mark will be testing the B1 Tour BX and the B2 JGR. As always, the signature suspension core (which is a screw attached to improve the overall rebound of the face) is apparent. Upon first inspection, you can easily tell that there is a big difference in appearance between the B1 and B2; the B1 model has an adjustable weight that allows movement of the weight to change the position of the venter of gravity to change how it catches the ball. The B2 on the other hand, has a much simpler design. A similarity they share though, is the carbon crown.

Mark will be testing both of these clubs thoroughly and although those of you reading this blog may not be able to physically feel and try the club, you can tell by the appearance and quality that the club will perform well. When you setup, with the B1 it's quite large, but it prioritizes maneuverability and the balance of distance and direction. For those who are looking for creating their own shot or to make adjustments to their shot, this club is beneficial. As for the B2, the width of the head from the face to the heel is larger and stabilizes the club head on the swing, preventing abnormal shake. Rather than adjust your shot, it will hit a draw or high ball. Both the B1 and B2 have visible characteristics and designs that give you an idea as to how they will perform.

Shaft Details:
shaft - B2 Diamana (Bridgestone original shaft)
shaft - B1 TOUR AD (Bridgestone original shaft)

Bridgestone B2 Driver

They both have a simple and assuring design, but Mark will start with the lighter of the two, the B2.

When you waggle the B2, you want to really understand your setup as the upper portion of the shaft (white section) is stiff while the bottom 3/4 of the shaft is flexible. At address, the head is not straight but slightly leaning to the left. It's not really a hook face but more of a face built to catch the ball and give it some air.

Starting with a head speed of 41 M/S

Mark caught the ball well and it felt great!
It got around 240 yards at a head speed of 41.

He will increase the head speed.

The launch angle is high and carries further, at a head speed of around 42 m/s.
Even hitting off center, towards the toe, the ball still travels, but what's really apparent is the carry. When you swing, the sensation you get is that the ball stays on the face a bit longer and the shaft helps guide you with a powerful swing that doesn't require you to swing as hard as you can. It has quite a large sweet spot.

Bridgestone B1

Now onto the B1!

This is the BS-6 model which is 60 grams. Holding the club, you can tell the shaft is much stiffer and the bottom portion of the shaft is much stiffer than the Diamana. The face of the club is almost square like and you can change the direction of the ball path by changing the angle of the face. Now for a test hit.

It sounds much different! The spin is even less apparent and depending on how you adjust the weight, this may change. Also, the head speed has increased due to the stiffness of the shaft. Even if the swing timing is the same as the B2, the head speed is quicker. You can hit with a general spin rate of around 2,000 rpm. As stated, although the materials are the same, the sound the face makes upon impact is a lot different. Normally when hitting the upper part of the face, the ball tends to drop early but with the B1, it maintains distance. The screw that allows the adjusting of the weight is definitely the key point of the B1.
You can keep in mind what Mark Kanai has mentioned and compare the two at a shop near you. If you're not in the mood or trying to go to the store, B2 is best for those who like a more forgiving club, while the B1 is best for those who like adjustable weights with less spin.

Fairway Woods

Now onto the fairway clubs!

Similar to the driver, the fairway also shows the same differences easily noticeable at first glance. The B1 shares the same adjustable weights, while the B2 has the same simple design.

At address, you can tell that the more forgiving of the two is the B2, which we will try out.

That was very nice! A total of 213 yards for the first swing. It is very consistent and hits around 210-213 at a head speed of 37 m/s. It doesn't deviate on the downswing. It's a very narrow face when compared to a driver but the suspension core allows for a confident hit, which the trackman results are proving.

Bridgestone Fairway B1

The B1 is sharper than the B2 in appearance.

Wow! It was just the first hit and it flew! Mark mentions that it feels thick at impact. Even hitting the bottom of the face, it tends to gain some distance. The comparison between the drivers carry over to the differences of the utility clubs! If you are picking the B2 driver, it is recommended to pick the B2 utility club. For those who select B1 driver, it is recommended to get the B2, unless you're looking for a strong ball that carries after the bounce. Depending on what your trying to achieve, the different combinations allow for different results.

Utility Clubs

Now onto the utility clubs! Just like the Drivers and fairway woods, the differences are the same in terms of performance goals.

Mark will take a few swings with the B2 model.

Although it hit the lower part of the face, it performed as imagined and Mark states it's an assuring feeling. The shaft has a strong connection which allows for a consistent swing.

Bridgestone Utility Club B1

At address, you can see that the face is square. Now to test:

Wow! Very low spin and hitting very good.

For low spin, similar performance and characteristics between the relations of your clubs, the B1 series definitely grasps the concept it was made for. This concept is beautifully executed in this model and lineup. If you are looking for distance control, vertical distance, and consistency in distance, the B2 model is what you want.

After thorough testing, it has been confirmed by Mark Kanai, that the performance from the B model series aligns well with the concepts they were made for. For amateurs, the margin of error is crucial. Left and right variations are challenging and manufacturers are creating and emphasizing new features to cater and allow for better consistency. Consistency without variation significantly impacts your score and with the Bridgestone B model series, there is minimal variation in performance, allowing for a consistent game.