Progress BB4 Driver

GOLFCLUB TEST DIARY.

Today, I had the opportunity to test this golf club.
The test club is the Progress BB4 Driver.

The shaft is the FUJIKURA Speeder 661 EVOLUTION V.
The loft is 10.5 degrees, length is 45.5 inches, shaft flex is S, shaft weight is 66 grams, torque is 3.7, kick point is mid-to-high, and the total club weight is 311 grams.

This is my first time handling the BB4 driver.
I wasn’t familiar with this manufacturer at all.
I wondered if it was a Japanese or international brand, but based on the overall texture and design, I guessed it might be Japanese. Later, I learned that Progress is a relatively new Japanese manufacturer.
Whenever I try a club from a new brand, I get especially excited.
From my experience testing many clubs, my instincts told me this one was special.
The head doesn’t feel cheap at all—it’s well-crafted and exudes a sense of luxury.
My anticipation kept growing.

What does BB4 mean?
Could there be BB1, BB2, or BB3 models before this?
I thought it might signify the “fourth generation of a BIG BANG.”
As a car enthusiast, “BB” made me think of Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer, but I quickly realized there’s no relation.
Below the BB4 logo, the words “UNCHARTED TERRITORY” are printed.
Does this translate to “exploring uncharted territory”? It’s rare to see this kind of phrasing, which shows the brand’s confidence in their product.

The standout feature of this club is the accordion-like grooves on the sole.
It reminded me of an accordion instrument.
While many drivers and fairway woods have grooves on the sole, it’s unusual to see this kind of intricate design.
It brought to mind a Mizuno driver I tried before, though this one has a slightly different vibe.
It’s common for clubs to look similar, but this one has a distinct personality and makes a strong impression.
Few clubs leave such a lasting impact at first glance.

The depth of these accordion-like grooves is average.
They’re neither particularly deep nor shallow, and I suspect the design was meticulously calculated.

The head’s sleek black finish commands attention and gives off a serious, no-nonsense vibe. Its weight inspires confidence, and the feel is solid and powerful. The shape is a nice balance of depth and shallowness, offering a classic, workhorse look.

The neck of the driver is incredibly short.
It’s rare to see such a short neck.
The last time I saw something like this was with Callaway’s “Through Bore” design.
The socket that typically inserts into the neck area is also shorter than usual.
There must be a significant reason behind this extreme short-neck design.

The back face features a single large weight.
Since there’s no engraving on it, the exact weight is unclear, but it looks like it can be easily removed using a specialized tool.
I wonder if they offer weights of different sizes for customization?

The neck comes equipped with an adjustment system.
These systems are no longer exclusive to major manufacturers; even boutique brands now incorporate them.

For my test, I used the “N” position.

R

NU

L
Aside from N, there are also R, NU, and L positions.
From my experience, these likely allow adjustments to the face angle.

The face design is simple and elegant.
There are no unusual features.
While milling patterns are no longer uncommon on driver faces, this driver doesn’t have them.
It seems designed for excellent ball speed.

The head has a fairly thick profile.
In the past, this might have been considered shallow, but since even shallower designs are now the norm, this can be described as semi-deep.

The face has a classic, clean appearance.
It’s not an extreme shallow face but has a slightly thicker feel.
Its well-balanced look makes it one of my favorites.
The appearance of a club can shape the entire impression of its brand, and this Progress model left a positive impression on me.
A poorly designed face can dampen enthusiasm, but today was different.
My excitement kept building to a near-overwhelming level.
I felt a profound joy even before hitting a single ball.

Taking a few practice swings, I found it felt great.
The attached shaft is a new model of the Speeder Evolution series, and it’s incredibly easy to swing.
The original Speeder sparked the “reshafting boom,” and shafts have evolved significantly since then.
The Speeder series offers an excellent balance of acceleration and forgiveness, and this model is no exception.
This shaft isn’t overly active at the tip, so it feels stable and controlled.
It allows for easy timing and precise face control.
With a total club weight of about 310 grams, this is around the average weight for athlete-grade drivers today.
Many modern drivers fall into this weight range.

Addressing the ball felt incredibly natural.
It inspired a flood of positive imagery and confidence.
Golfers who prefer large-sized, hook-face drivers might find this setup a little unfamiliar, but I loved it.
This style of address position has become less common recently, but its classic feel offered reassurance.
While the head feels compact, it’s not overly small, and the rear section extends slightly.
Though this is my first encounter with this brand, the familiar address position made it feel approachable.
I began my test swing.

First and foremost, I was amazed by the high distance performance of this driver.
Since this was my first time testing a club from this brand, I started with lighter swings to get a feel for it. However, the driver’s potential was immediately apparent—it had me going, “Wow!”
After just one swing, I could tell this driver was something special.
The ball launched higher than I imagined and maintained an extended trajectory without dropping quickly.
While the ball flight was high, it demonstrated excellent low-spin performance. It didn’t balloon but instead followed a high, piercing trajectory.
I felt this driver would generate not only great carry distance but also plenty of roll.
It’s a driver clearly designed for maximizing distance.
I’d even say its distance performance stands out among the competition.
This year, I’ve tested many drivers, but some, like this one, clearly operate on a different level.
The initial ball speed was exceptionally high, and the energy transfer was impressive.
It made me wonder how such a young company could create such a powerful driver, while established brands have been in the game for years.
Of course, all brands are constantly innovating, but this driver proves there’s always room for groundbreaking models.
As I mentioned earlier, the ball flight was high, but it wasn’t a high-spin trajectory. It offered high launch and low spin, a combination that’s in demand for modern drivers.
Several years ago, low-spin drivers from international brands gained popularity, but many golfers in Japan found them challenging to use.
While those were undoubtedly innovative, what works globally doesn’t always suit Japanese golfers.
If we consider those international drivers to have a “Western low-spin design,” the BB4 could be described as having a “Japanese low-spin design.”
Its performance feels more approachable for Japanese golfers, offering refined low-spin characteristics.
In the past, golfers had to adjust their swings to reduce spin, but now, clubs handle that for us.
This shift represents the evolution of golf equipment, though it may reduce the skill gap between players.

The driver’s exceptional distance made me briefly wonder if it was a high-COR model, but I noticed the text “CONFORMING TO R&A/USGA SLE RULE” on the neck, confirming it complies with regulations.
Even as a conforming driver, it’s clear this club provides a competitive advantage in terms of distance.
Its performance rivals, if not surpasses, that of many high-COR models.

Many drivers feature grooves or groove-like designs on the sole, but their impact often feels negligible. However, that wasn’t the case today.
I’m convinced the secret behind this driver’s incredible performance lies in its accordion-like grooves.

The feel at impact was solid rather than soft, providing a firm and reassuring sensation.
While the feel wasn’t the most remarkable aspect, the driver’s outstanding distance performance overshadowed it.
The incredible ball flight had me captivated.
I might even become a fan of this driver’s trajectory—it’s that impressive.
Hitting balls with this club was pure joy.

The sound was slightly high-pitched but not distracting.
It allowed me to swing freely and confidently.
For me, no matter how great a driver’s distance performance is, poor sound can diminish its appeal. Thankfully, this driver didn’t disappoint.
Sound plays a critical role in the psychological aspect of a swing, and this driver struck a good balance.
While it didn’t have a sound I’d describe as “mesmerizing,” it was entirely satisfying.

The ball was easy to launch, with a higher trajectory than I expected.
Instead of gradually climbing, it launched high right from the start.
The 10.5-degree loft contributed to this high launch, and as mentioned earlier, the low-spin characteristics were remarkable.
I’ve tested many “low-spin” drivers that didn’t truly deliver on that promise, but this driver clearly excels in this area.
Its low-spin performance is refined—not overly aggressive but just right.
The club’s design also exudes a strong sense of style and confidence, with moderate thickness that gives it a sturdy feel.
Despite its robust appearance, the driver is quite forgiving, making it approachable for Japanese golfers.

The driver also offers excellent stability.
Some might assume that a driver with such a sleek, stylish head would be difficult to handle, but that wasn’t the case.
It was forgiving enough without feeling overly lenient.
The sweet spot is large enough to inspire confidence.
The compatibility between this driver and the attached Speeder shaft felt perfect.
From the very first shot, the ball flew straight, with a slight draw just before reaching its peak.
It was a tight, nearly straight draw—a ball flight so good that I felt I should save it for an actual competition instead of a practice session.
As I continued hitting more balls, I was thrilled to see the same consistent trajectory.
While forgiveness and ease of use are important, the real standout here is the high level of shot repeatability, which this driver delivers impressively.
This isn’t a driver that’s overly forgiving to the point of feeling “too easy,” but it’s forgiving enough.
The ball gets captured well by the clubface but not excessively so, making it suitable for both hook players like me and fade hitters alike.

The workability of this driver is quite good.
It’s not difficult to shape shots to the left or right, but it doesn’t react too sharply to subtle inputs.
It feels more like a semi-automatic driver rather than a fully manual one, which makes it easier to manage.
Large curve shots might be harder to achieve, but it excels at small, controlled shapes.

When testing different clubs, there are days when you feel genuinely excited, and others that feel monotonous or uninspired.
Occasionally, there are clubs that leave me with a strong sense of unease, making the testing experience less enjoyable.
Today, however, was an exciting and fulfilling day.
This driver has a commanding presence, something that not many clubs achieve.

Having tested numerous drivers over the years, I often feel that many models don’t offer much differentiation.
Some feel like little more than slight updates from previous versions or lack any clear edge over competing brands.
But the BB4 driver stands out.
Its defining feature is undoubtedly its distance performance, complemented by a sleek design and approachable nature.

As I mentioned earlier, Progress is a relatively new boutique brand.
The fact that they’ve released such an “excellent driver” speaks volumes about the depth of Japanese golf club manufacturing.
A brand’s history no longer dictates the quality of their clubs.
Of course, established brands continue to produce amazing products, but there are plenty of young brands like Progress that are creating high-level equipment.
The overall quality of both major and boutique Japanese brands could easily be considered “world-class.”
While I may not be fully up to date on the latest golf club trends worldwide or even within Japan, I strongly feel this.

Throughout history, golfers have always pursued greater distance.
For many, hitting long drives is one of the most exciting aspects of the game.
Some players might not mind losing on the scorecard as long as they outdrive their competitors.
For those players, I highly recommend trying this driver.
It’s high-performing, easy to address, and has a great overall vibe.
While it’s somewhat geared towards hitters, as mentioned before, it’s still easy to launch, making it approachable rather than overly demanding.
During the trend of “shallow center of gravity” drivers, even a 10-degree driver could feel too demanding.
This driver, however, doesn’t have that kind of harshness.
It’s clear that it has been carefully engineered to be both high-performing and user-friendly.
Additionally, while I don’t prioritize adjustability, this driver does feature an adjustment system that allows for fine-tuning to better suit your preferences.
I’d like to experiment with different settings if I get another chance.

This driver strongly stimulated my desire to purchase it.
After just one swing, I found myself thinking, “I need this.”
Of course, I’d love to test it on the course, but I also feel an overwhelming urge to own it right away.
It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a driver.
I had already narrowed down my candidates for this year’s “Driver of the Year,” but this late entry has left a huge impression.
With its excellent distance performance and approachable nature, this driver is both exciting and forgiving—a “well-rounded performer.”
Tonight, I’m sure my mind will be filled with thoughts of this driver, and I doubt I’ll be able to fall asleep easily.
It felt like the fatigue from the summer heat was swept away by this driver.