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Ping AWT 2.0 Shaft Review; A Pro Golfer’s Review

Ping AWT 2.0 Shaft Review; A Pro Golfer’s Review

The game of golf is all about precision and fine-tuning your equipment to suit your unique swing characteristics. One essential component that significantly impacts your performance is the golf shaft. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the AWT 2.0 shaft and explore its features, performance benefits, player compatibility, pros and cons, and user reviews.

Table of Contents

What was my experience with ping awt 2.0 shaf.

Ping AWT 2.0 Shaft Review

Having used the Ping AWT 2.0 shafts myself, I must say they are truly impressive. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to play with the X flex version, I can confidently speak about the other flex options. One notable aspect of these shafts is their weight distribution. 

The shafts become slightly lighter as the club length increases, accompanied by a lower kick point. This unique characteristic results in a lighter feel and a higher launch for longer irons, such as the 3 iron, compared to the shafts used in shorter irons like the 9 iron.

The smoothness they offered throughout my swings stood out to me the most while using this shaft. The transition from backswing to downswing felt seamless, allowing for a fluid and controlled motion. Additionally, the mid-weight nature of these shafts contributed to a balanced and comfortable swing overall.

Overall, based on my personal experience, these shafts are excellent companions on the golf course. The combination of their smooth feel, weight distribution, and reliable performance make them a solid choice for golfers seeking consistency and control in their iron shots.

What is the AWT 2.0 Shaft? 

The AWT 2.0 shaft is a high-performance golf shaft designed by Ping to deliver exceptional results for golfers seeking optimal control, accuracy, and distance. It is a versatile shaft that caters to various player profiles and swing types.

The golf shaft is the vital link between the clubhead and your hands. It affects various aspects of your swing, including your shots’ feel, trajectory, and accuracy. Choosing the right shaft can make a difference in your game, enhancing your overall performance and enjoyment on the course.

AWT 2.0 wedge shaft specs

Here are the detailed specifications for the Ping AWT 2.0 Wedge Shaft:

Ping AWT 2.0 regular vs. stiff

Here’s a comparison table showcasing the differences between the Ping AWT 2.0 Regular and Stiff flex options:

The Ping AWT 2.0 Regular flex option is designed for golfers with slower swing speeds who may benefit from the additional flex and lighter weight of the shaft. It offers a softer feel, increased shot feedback, and higher launch, which can help players achieve improved distance and forgiveness. This flex option is particularly suitable for those seeking enhanced shot dispersion and a smoother overall experience.

On the other hand, the Ping AWT 2.0 Stiff flex option is tailored for golfers with faster swing speeds. It features less flex and slightly heavier weight, resulting in a more stable and controlled feel during the swing. This stiffness promotes accuracy, shot shaping, and a lower launch trajectory for players who prefer a penetrating ball flight. It is well-suited for those who generate higher clubhead speeds and desire precise control over their iron shots.

Ping i525 irons | Shaft AWT 2.0 Nippon

Ping Prodi G Fitting Chart; Plus Review Sportic media

What are the Key Features of the AWT 2.0 Shaft?

A. material and construction .

The AWT 2.0 shaft is crafted using high-quality materials, combining steel and graphite composites to optimize performance. This blend of materials provides an ideal balance between strength, flexibility, and responsiveness.

B. Flex Options 

Ping offers multiple flex options for the AWT 2.0 shaft, including regular, stiff, and extra stiff. Each flex provides different levels of stiffness, allowing golfers to select the one that suits their swing speed and tempo, ensuring maximum energy transfer and control.

C. Weight Distribution 

The AWT 2.0 shaft features an innovative weight distribution design that optimizes the balance and stability of the golf club. This balanced weight distribution promotes a consistent swing, reducing the chances of mishits and delivering more accurate shots.

PING Irons Golf Shaft Options | Which Shaft Is Right For You?

Performance Benefits of the AWT 2.0 Shaft 

1. enhanced feel and feedback .

The AWT 2.0 shaft offers golfers exceptional feel and feedback during the swing. Its construction and materials contribute to a heightened connection between the golfer and the clubhead, enabling better shot feedback and shot-shaping capabilities.

2. Increased Accuracy and Control 

The AWT 2.0 shaft’s advanced design and weight distribution help enhance accuracy and control. The shaft’s stability and consistent flex profile allow golfers to consistently square the clubface at impact, resulting in straighter shots and tighter dispersion patterns.

3. Improved Distance and Trajectory 

With the AWT 2.0 shaft, golfers can expect improved distance and trajectory control. The optimal weight distribution and flex characteristics generate efficient energy transfer, enabling golfers to generate more clubhead speed, resulting in longer drives and consistent ball flight.

Ping G410 Driver Adjustment Chart: Maximizing Performance on the Golf Course Sportic media

Player Profile and Compatibility 

A. swing speed and tempo .

The AWT 2.0 shaft is suitable for golfers with a range of swing speeds. However, it tends to perform exceptionally well for players with moderate to fast swing speeds. Its various flex options cater to different swing tempos, ensuring that golfers can find the perfect match for their individual swing characteristics.

B. Skill Level and Playing Style 

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the AWT 2.0 shaft can accommodate golfers of all skill levels. Its versatility allows it to provide the necessary feedback and performance benefits to help players improve their game, regardless of their playing style or skill level.

C. Clubhead Compatibility 

The AWT 2.0 shaft is designed to fit Ping’s clubhead models, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance with Ping golf clubs. It is always recommended to consult with a professional club fitter or Ping authorized retailer to ensure the best clubhead-shaft combination for your specific needs.

Ping G710 vs G425; Must Read Comparison Sportic media

Pros and Cons of the AWT 2.0 Shaft 

  • – Exceptional feel and feedback 
  • – Increased accuracy and control 
  • – Improved distance and trajectory 
  • – Versatility for different player profiles
  • – Limited compatibility with non-Ping clubheads 
  • – Availability in limited flex options for extreme swing speeds

User Reviews and Feedback 

Many golfers who have used the Ping AWT 2.0 shaft praise its consistent performance, enhanced feel, and improved shot control. Users have reported tighter dispersion, increased confidence, and improved distance after switching to the AWT 2.0 shaft.

Some golfers have expressed concerns about the limited flex options available, particularly for players with extremely fast or slow swing speeds. Additionally, the restricted compatibility with non-Ping clubheads has been a point of criticism for golfers who prefer a wider range of club options.

Ping AWT 2.0 vs. Dynamic Gold 105

Here’s a comparison table highlighting the differences between the Ping AWT 2.0 and Dynamic Gold 105 shafts:

The Ping AWT 2.0 and Dynamic Gold 105 shafts are both steel shaft options designed to offer reliable performance and control. Let’s delve into their specific characteristics:

The Ping AWT 2.0 shaft provides Regular and Stiff flex options, catering to a wide range of golfers. Similarly, the Dynamic Gold 105 shaft also offers Regular and Stiff flex options, ensuring suitability for various swing speeds and player profiles.

In terms of material, both shafts are constructed using steel, known for its durability and stability.

The weight of each shaft varies depending on the specific iron model and flex option chosen. It is recommended to consult the manufacturer’s specifications for precise weight details.

Regarding launch and spin characteristics, the Ping AWT 2.0 shaft tends to deliver a mid-high launch and moderate spin, providing a balanced trajectory and reasonable stopping power. In contrast, the Dynamic Gold 105 shaft produces a mid launch and moderate spin, promoting a more controlled ball flight.

The tip and butt stiffness of both shafts are classified as firm, resulting in a solid and responsive feel during the swing. The bend profile for both shafts is categorized as mid, offering versatility and shot-shaping capabilities.

In terms of feel, this shaft is known for its smooth and responsive feedback, enhancing the golfer’s connection with the clubhead. The Dynamic Gold 105 shaft, on the other hand, provides a solid and stable feel, giving golfers confidence and control.

Shot dispersion is another factor to consider. This shaft is recognized for its forgiving nature, helping golfers achieve better consistency and accuracy. The Dynamic Gold 105 shaft, known for its controlled dispersion, allows for precise shot placement.

Both shafts are suitable for a wide range of players with moderate swing speeds, offering stability and control throughout the swing. Additionally, this shaft is designed specifically for compatibility with Ping iron models, while the Dynamic Gold 105 shaft is compatible with a variety of iron models.

Ultimately, the choice between the Ping AWT 2.0 and Dynamic Gold 105 shafts depends on individual preferences, swing characteristics, and desired performance outcomes. It is recommended to consult with a professional club fitter to determine the best shaft option for your game and maximize your on-course performance.

The Ping AWT 2.0 shaft is a remarkable option for golfers seeking enhanced control, accuracy, and distance. Its unique construction, versatile flex options, and performance benefits make it a compelling choice for golfers of various skill levels and swing characteristics.

When selecting a golf shaft, it’s crucial to consider your swing speed, playing style, and clubhead compatibility. Consulting with a professional club fitter or Ping authorized retailer will help you make an informed decision and ensure the best possible match between your swing and the AWT 2.0 shaft or any other suitable alternative. Remember, the right shaft can unlock your true potential on the golf course, so choose wisely.

Discover the meticulous and expert-driven process behind our product reviews at Sportic Media. Our comprehensive guide, led by industry veterans, ensures you get the most reliable and detailed insights into golf equipment. Dive into our methodical approach by visiting How We Test Products at Sportic Media: A Comprehensive Guide .

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Lucy Robson is an author, writer, and golf course architecture enthusiast. She runs Sporticmedia, a website dedicated to golf course architecture and design. Lucy is passionate about the design and construction of golf courses, and she writes extensively on the subject. She has been certified by the American Society of Golf Course Architects in golf course design. Through her writing and social media presence, Lucy aims to educate people about golf course architecture and the fine art of golf course design. Her work has been featured in various golf industry publications.

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The Ultimate Golfing Resource

Ping AWT Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

The Ping AWT shafts use ascending weight technology to optimize performance for every iron in your bag.

The longer iron shafts are lighter while the set progressively gets heavier.

There is a lot to be said for consistency but if you don’t mind a bit of a different feel between iron shafts then the Ping AWTs should definitely be on your radar. In the following review I will be discussing the merits and drawbacks of the Ping AWT shaft.

Ping AWT Shaft Overview

In terms of looks, the Ping AWT shafts have a very clean, straightforward aesthetic.

There is a blue band in the middle that contains all of the lettering. Other than that, the shaft has a polished chrome finish and a stepped design. The ascending weight design can definitely be felt in these shafts. The long iron shafts feel pretty light overall (the whole set is considered a mid-weight steel set) while the shorter iron shafts get a bit heavier.

I really liked how the long shaft irons feel. They felt light and manageable on my backswing and fast on the downswing. But for how light and fast they felt, they never felt unstable. Everything was controlled and my transition felt natural. The Ping AWT shafts allowed me to take my natural swing which is a big plus for me. The long iron shafts have a low kick point which gets a bit higher as you work toward the mid and short irons.

The short iron shafts definitely feel a bit heavy with almost no flex. My transition was still smooth by the end of my testing; but it certainly took some time to get used to. When I did get used to the stouter feel, I was very pleased with the spin and trajectory control I was achieving. The Ping AWT short iron shafts definitely pair well with compact blades so just keep that in mind if you’re thinking of plugging them into game improvement irons.

Why is the Ping AWT So Popular?

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Any time you hear the terms “ascending weight” or “ascending mass” you know you are dealing with progressive shafts.

Personally, I love the progressive nature of irons – progressive offset, progressive CG etc. It just makes the set more dynamic and that’s what I feel makes the Ping AWT such a popular shaft. It will allow you to get the precise launch, spin and distance from every iron in your bag.

How Does the Ping AWT Perform?

Again, I really liked the feel of the Ping AWT long iron shafts.

They are a bit lighter than my gamer shafts which is a testament to how well I got on with these shafts. Even with the lighter weights I was able to take my natural swing and feel the stability that I usually get with my heavier shafts. And with the lighter weight, I was actually increasing my club head speed by just over 1 MPH.

I felt very confident with the Ping AWT long iron shafts. But to be honest, the Ping AWT short iron shafts felt a bit clunky at first. It could have been my fault – I switched from driving the 3-iron shaft off the tee directly into chipping with the 8-iron. So the transition was a bit jarring and hindered my performance a bit.

But when I got used to the short shafts, I really liked the control they offered. The launch angles I was getting were very consistent and so  were my spin numbers. Especially with your mid and short irons, consistency will be way more important than distance so I really liked that the Ping AWT short shafts offered consistent performance.

Ping AWT Shaft Specs

What flexes are available what swing speeds do they suit.

Regular flex would be good for slower swing speed players. Stiff would likely work for players swinging their irons between 85 and 90 MPH. Extra stiff may be suitable for 90-100 MPH swingers.

What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?

The 98g version should be helpful for sub 75 MPH swingers. The 104g weight class might fit players in the 76-85 MPH swing speed range. The 119g weight class may be of interest to 86-95 MPH swing speed players.

Why is it So Good?

It’s not so much about distance – it’s about getting consistent distance from every iron in your bag.

To me it’s way more important to know exactly what distance I’m going to get out of my 7-iron than it is to be able to smash it for 170 yards. The Ping AWT shaft offers that kind of consistency and confidence.

Ping AWT First Impressions

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

I liked that the long irons were noticeably faster than my gamer shafts; but there was no loss in stability.

It allowed me to be more confident in each swing.

Key Features & Performance

The ascending weight of these shafts is what gives them their control and consistency. You get distance from the long irons and control in the short irons.

Ping AWT Irons Review

The Ping AWT shafts will give you a mid high launch in the long irons and a low launch in the short irons.

Ping AWT Wedges Review

The spin control I was getting from my wedges was excellent. Again, it took some getting used to; but when I did I was working the ball high and landing it dead on a firm green.

Ping AWT Pros & Cons

  • Lightweight long iron shafts
  • Higher CG in the short iron shafts
  • Good consistency
  • Smooth feel
  • The weight changes can be a bit jarring

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Overall Score: 96/100

Check out more reviews here:.

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Who Should Buy it?

The Ping AWT shaft is good for players who want to increase their swing speed but not lose any accuracy and control.

This is a very nimble wieldy set of steel iron shafts that can yield more distance and accuracy for mid handicappers.

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kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Why You Should Be Very Excited About The New Ping G430 Range

Back with its first 'G' series since 2021, the new Ping G430 promises tangible gains over its predecessor.

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Why You Should Be Very Excited About The New Ping G430 Range

  • New Technology

What Are The Models?

What ping say, specs, pricing & availability.

Dan Parker

Ping is back! While the brand tends to keep us waiting for products in the 'G' range with 18-month product cycles, it was stretched to two years this time around. More often than not, G replacements are worth the wait. Where G400 succeeded, G410 built on it. Where G410 worked, G425 offered accuracy enhancements and better fitting options. That leads us to the present day and the launch of the Ping G430 range of metalwoods and irons. 

With two years' worth of R&D under its belt, the brand seems proud and genuinely excited about bringing G430 to golfers, and the buzz coming from Ping should be getting a wide range of golfers very excited too. But what is all the hype about? We're going to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the extensive G430 range. 

What is the new technology?

Ping has a number of new technologies to shout about in the G430 range. The highlight in the drivers comes in the shape of the all-new CarbonFly Wrap that is available exclusively in the G430 LST (Low Spin Technology) driver. This is an eight-layer carbon crown that wraps into the heel and toe skirt, which has allowed Ping to save weight and reposition it to create a lower CG and more forgiveness. Fully fitted, Ping claims it can offer you seven yards more distance over the G425 LST . 

A deconstructed view of the CarbonFly Wrap in the Ping G430 LST driver

A deconstructed view of the CarbonFly Wrap in the Ping G430 LST driver. It is not actually lime green on the driver head! 

In all three of the G430 driver heads, Ping has worked hard at improving the acoustics from G425. By increasing the curvature of the crown, skirt and sole and by repositioning the ribs inside the club, Ping has been able to adjust the important frequencies when it comes to how the club sounds at the point of impact. It's hard to describe the sound through words, so this is definitely something to try out for yourself when the G430 becomes available for fittings in a few weeks. 

'Spinsistency' face has continued over from G425 into the G430 family of clubs. While the face has become .1" shallower and 6 percent thinner than G425, the theory behind this phrase remains the same - similar spin characteristics across the whole face. All new in the G430 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) driver is a moveable 22g back weight that can be set in a Draw or Draw+ position. This is a move from the fixed heel weight that we saw in the G425 SFT driver. 

The technology highlight from the G430 irons comes in the distinct new PurFlex cavity badge. This badge, located on the back of the iron head, consists of seven 'flex zones' that allow the face to bend more, reducing spin and improving the overall feel and sound versus the G425 iron. Ping has also lowered the CG in the iron allowing shots lower on the face to maintain good ball speed. 

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The final exciting development for 2023 is the release of the G430 High Launch (HL) build program. This is aimed at those who swing the driver at 85mph or slower to help these golfers hit the ball further even with a relatively low swing speed. When built with the Alta CB Black SR shaft, the club is around 15 percent lighter than standard and the driver features a lighter 11g backweight with the swing weights built specifically to match lower swing speeds. The HL build is available in the Max and SFT driver heads, all fairways, hybrids, and irons.

Ping G430 Max Driver The Max driver is aimed at those with a driver swing speed between 90-105mph. It features a newly developed Spinsistency face and a new look for 2023. With a head size at 460cc, it also features a moveable weight to give golfers a neutral, fade or draw-biased ball flight depending on the positioning. 

Ping G430 SFT Driver SFT stands for Straight Flight Technology and this driver is aimed at those who prefer to see a draw-biased ball flight. New to the SFT head is a two-setting, moveable tungsten back weight that positions the CG to deliver a more draw-biased ball flight. There is Draw or Draw+ setting with the latter promising up to 7 yards more draw than the standard draw setting. 

Ping G430 LST Driver LST stands for Low Spin Technology as is the driver aimed at fast swing speed players who tend to swing the driver at 105mph or more. It features a Carbonfly Wrap on the crown which is exclusive to the LST driver. Employing this feature has allowed Ping to save weight and reposition it to lower the CG and spin. The G430 LST has a smaller 440cc head compared to the 460cc head in the other two models. 

  • Read our Ping G430 Max driver review
  • Read our Ping G430 SFT driver review
  • Read our Ping G430 LST driver review

Ping G430 Max Fairway Carbonfly wrap - that features only in the LST driver - features in both fairway woods in the G430 range. The eight-layer carbon crown wraps into the skirt of the stainless steel head and saves 10 grams overall. The weight saving has allowed Ping to place the CG much lower in the head while also improving acoustics. It also features Spinsistency face and the 3-wood has a loft of 15°. 

Ping G430 SFT Fairway The Straight Flight Technology fairway wood features all of the same technology with a slight heel weighting to help promote a draw-biased shot shape. Ideal for slightly slower swingers who tend to slice the ball, the 3-wood loft is also slightly weaker here at 16°. 

There will also be a Ping G430 LST fairway wood, but this has been delayed. When we know more on this, we'll be sure to let you know.

  • Read our Ping G430 Max fairway review
  • Read our Ping G430 SFT fairway review 

Ping G430 Hybrid This hybrid is designed to be utilized by all skill levels and is optimized for the ideal mixture of forgiveness and distance. With six options from a 17° 2-hybrid all the way to a 34° 7-hybrid, there is scope to fill gaps in the long and mid-irons of the bag. Ping's Trajectory Tuning loft sleeve offers eight settings for loft and lie, allowing you to truly dial this hybrid in any part of the bag. 

  • Read our Ping G430 hybrid review

Ping G430 Iron New in the G430 is PurFlex cavity badge, seven flex zones in the back of the head that allow for more face bending, reduced spin, and an improved feel and sound. The CG has also been lowered from G425, and promised the G430 to offer increased ball speeds on shots struck toward the bottom of the face. 

Options include a standard loft (7-iron of 29°), a retro spec (7-iron loft of 31°) or a power spec (7-iron loft of 27.5°). Ping has also added a 45.5° wedge to close the gap between the 41° pitching wedge and 50° gap wedge. 

  • Read our Ping G430 iron review 

WATCH: Ryan Stokke, Director of Product Development at Ping, discusses the tech and resulting benefits in the new Ping G430 range

Who Is Using G430 on Tour?

The likes of Viktor Hovland , Tony Finau , Tyrrell Hatton and Seamus Power are expected to be in the new G430 woods as the PGA Tour gets going this season. Over on the LPGA Tour, the likes of Brittany Altomare , Leona Maguire and Jennifer Kupcho will be also using the new G430 range. 

All of the Ping G430 range will launch on January 27th in the UK and US with the following RRPs: 

Drivers £525/$600 (Max and SFT), £575/$630 (LST) Fairways £350/$385 (all models) Hybrid £295/$325

Irons (steel) £150/$170 per club Irons (graphite) £160/$180 per club

The Ping G430 Max driver is available in 9°, 10.5° and 12° heads. The G430 SFT is available in a 10.5° head and the G430 LST is available in a 9° or 10.5° head with all three available in left and right hand. The stock Ping shafts throughout the drivers, fairways and hybrid are the Alta CB Black, Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome, Ping Tour 2.0 Black, Alta Quick. Optional shafts at no upcharge are the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX and Mitsubishi Kai'li White. 

The stock steel shaft in the G430 irons is the AWT 2.0 with the Dynamic Gold, Dynamic Gold 105, Dynamic Gold 120, KBS Tour, NS Pro Modus 105 and True Temper Elevate MPH shafts also available at no upcharge. The stock graphite shaft is the Alta Quick. 

Dan has been with Golf Monthly team since 2021. He graduated with a Masters degree in International Journalism from the University of Sussex and looks after equipment reviews and buyer's guides, specializing in golf shoe, golf bag and golf cart reviews. Dan has now tested and reviewed over 30 pairs of golf shoes and is an expert in the field. A left-handed golfer, his handicap index is currently 6.5 and he plays at Fulford Heath Golf Club in the West Midlands. 

Dan is currently playing: 

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2  

Fairway: TaylorMade Stealth 2 15° , Ping G425 Max 21°

Hybrid: Ping G425 

Irons: Cobra King Tec Utility , Ping i230 (5-PW) 

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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Which KBS iron shaft is best for you?

Published: 22 September 2022 Last updated: 17 January 2024

Which KBS iron shaft suits you?

KBS iron shafts are for everyone from the world’s best golfers to slow-swinging amateurs, but which of their 14 models best suits you? Let us explain…

Golfers rarely give a second thought to which shafts are in a new set of irons . Yet, KBS believe 14 different models (all of which come in numerous weights and flexes) are needed to cover all types of players.

Technology has taught the brains behind KBS – Kim Braly, if he’s to fit hard-hitting tour pros alongside moderate speed, high handicap amateurs the brand needs a vast array of options. The thinking has led to the creation of 14 different steel and graphite KBS iron models.

EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment

We don’t want to fit you for your perfect iron shaft. That should only ever be done with the help of a decent club fitter in the real world. But, to highlight how shaft technology helps you hit better iron shots more often we’ve taken a look at the full KBS line-up.

When buying your next set remember KBS shafts can change how a shaft feels, launches and spins, so you have the opportunity to choose your perfect ball flight and set-up. Here’s what you need to know about KBS iron shafts.

Players’ models  

Kbs c-taper iron shaft.

There are three-pillar players’ shafts within the KBS line-up and each differs by balance point. The Tour is stiffest in the grip section (for good feel) and it gives mid-launch and mid-spin. The C-Taper is stiffest in the tip section (close to the head) to give a stout and strong feel and deliver low launch with low spin. The S-Taper fits neatly between the pair.

KBS C-Taper iron shaft

C stands for Constant Taper, so the shaft has no steps, which allows the C-Taper to have a strong and stout feel. Typically the model suits stronger golfers, and players can expect a 5% lower ball flight than True Temper’s Dynamic Gold . Major winners Gary Woodland and Justin Rose have played the C-Taper as has Rickie Fowler .

KBS $-Taper iron shaft

All three KBS pillar players’ iron shafts come in the same five weights, so golfers get to choose based on the launch, spin, and ball flight desired for their own game.

KBS $-Taper iron shaft

Half flexes (R+ and S+) are brilliant for golfers that sit on the fence between two flexes. They alleviate decisions around whether to go regular flex for more distance or stiff for increased accuracy. The S-Taper (Subtle Taper) is midway between the C-Taper (lowest spin and launch) and Tour shaft (mid-spin and launch).

KBS Tour iron shaft

The Tour is Kim Braly’s signature shaft, it was the first KBS model and it’s the mothership of KBS. Thanks to not being overly strong the Tour can suit a wide audience of golfers. Its consistent step pattern is a good fit for smoother, less aggressive transition players.

KBS Tour iron shaft

Thanks to being a high balance point model (so weight is positioned closer to the grip), golfers get a slightly softer feel and good feedback at the top of the swing. A further Tour FLT (Flighted) shaft model launches long irons higher and short irons lower for a more optimised set.

RELATED: Which Taylo rMade iron suits me ?

How KBS players’ steel shafts differ in launch and spin

KBS iron shaft graphic

KBS Tour V iron shaft

KBS see the Tour V as an outlier shaft because the model is 10g lighter than the C-Taper, $-Taper, and Tour.

KBS Tour V iron shaft

KBS Tour Rep Paul Steels says “the Tour V shaft is often a good fit for players who like the shot shape and flight of the C-Taper but want extra feel, as the C-Taper is just so boardy”.

KBS C-Taper Lite, $-Taper Lite, and Tour Lite iron shafts

There’s lots of misunderstanding around lighter iron shafts. But KBS say golfers should see their Lite models (which are 15g lighter than the standard models) as giving a little more launch and being easier to get airborne (than the 3 pillar models).

KBS Lite iron shafts

For players who don’t go at iron shots full tilt Lite models can be a really good option as club speeds increase and shots launch higher. Lite models and aging typically go hand-in-hand. If you happen to overload the shaft you’ll know because shots will start turning over left of the target (for a right-handed golfer).

Also, think about launch windows. A strong but very low launch player could see benefits by going Lite but in a strong flex to up launch and ball flight.  

RELATED: Should you play the KBS TD driver shaft?

KBS iron shaft swing speed recommendations

KBS iron shaft swing speed recommendations

Average speed KBS iron shaft models

Kbs max and max ct80 iron shafts.

To ensure KBS have shafts to suit every golfer’s speed they produce ultralight Max and Max CT80 shafts as well. Both Max shafts are high-launch, high-spin models which help optimise ball flight for maximum carry distance at moderate speeds.

KBS Max steel iron shaft

Remember it’s possible to be a fast but inconsistent high handicapper (in which case you’d be better suited to one of the KBS players’ shaft models), so think about shafts suiting speeds rather than ability. Thanks to their low kick point and high launch properties the Max shafts regularly make an appearance in stronger lofted irons (think TaylorMade Stealth and Callaway Big Bertha B21 ).

Typically high-speed players, irrespective of ability will not touch this product.

RELATED: Which Lamkin grip best suits your game?

There are junior options too   

To ensure golfers can go through their whole golfing career with a familiar KBS feel, the brand also produce two junior steel shafts (the 560 and 580). Both are designed to suit the speed of 8 – 11-year-old players.

KBS Junior iron shafts

Both shafts are lightened steel, so the weights are similar to lightweight graphite iron ranges. But, crucially golfers don’t get a heavy head feel which can cause issues when switching from graphite to steel once a child is a stronger teenager.   

When should you go graphite?

Graphite irons shafts are massively misunderstood in the modern game. Many people think they’re for older golfers and slower speed players, which just isn’t the case. Graphite irons shafts are easier on the body. They remove vibration, and can suit everyone from tour players to very moderate speed club golfers.

In typical KBS fashion, the brand make three graphite models (all are available in numerous weights and flexes), here’s what you need to know about them.

How KBS graphite iron shafts differ in launch and spin

KBS graphite iron shaft chart

KBS TGI – Tour Graphite Iron shaft

KBS specifically target a steel-like feel from their graphite shafts. They’ve done such a good job fulfilling their brief several tour players swear it’s not actually graphite. Thinking instead it’s a steel shaft painted black.

KBS TGI Tour Graphite iron shaft

The TGI can be matched to golfers’ speeds (there are eight weights, so the model can suit from 57mph to 100mph speed players) in exactly the same way as the brand’s steel shafts. The TGI is the company’s lowest launching and spinning graphite iron shaft, it’s pretty strong and stout, so decent players often like it.

KBS PGI – Players Graphite Iron shaft

In developing their shafts KBS have undertaken masses of research, and they say when the flex isn’t disclosed golfers often prefer the feel of graphite over steel. Their advice is to play the flex you need. Don’t be tempted to go stiffer than necessary. And if you swing a 6-iron at 70mph play a shaft that performs at that speed.

KBS PGI Players Graphite iron shaft

The PGI was developed to bring a steel-like feel to graphite and it’s a step up from the lower launching and spinning TGI. The PGI is widely played on the LPGA Tour, it’s the brand’s mid-launch/mid-spin graphite iron shaft. Six weights mean the model can suit from 57mph to 94mph players.

KBS Max graphite iron shaft   

The Max graphite is the highest launching and spinning graphite iron shaft in the KBS line-up. It’s a model for golfers who really need help launching shots high into the air to maximise carry distance. Five weights mean the model can suit swing speeds from 51 to 82mph.

KBS Max Graphite iron shaft

KBS graphite iron shaft swing speed recommendations

KBS graphite iron shaft chart

Get it right the first time

KBS reckon so long as golfers get fitted correctly the first time they can progress through KBS models throughout their playing career. It means, if like Gary Woodland you’re a C-Taper player or Cameron Smith a Tour shaft player you stay within that family but progress to lighter models as you age.

And to demonstrate how important finding the right family is KBS say to look at Adam Scott and Gary Woodland . Scott has been a Tour shaft player for years (think of his smooth, under-control swing) whereas Woodland is a big strong hitter of the ball, so he’s a C-Taper guy all day long. But, switch their clubs over and both would struggle to play, as they wouldn’t get the ball flight or shot window they’d be expecting.    

Don’t forget your wedges

Today KBS are a through-the-bag shaft company. They make shafts for drivers, fairways, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters, so if you’re taking the time to get fitted don’t neglect how the company produce five different wedges shafts too.

KBS wedge shafts

KBS say the Hi-Rev wedge shaft has been designed from the Tour shaft profile. There’s a lengthened tip section to give a softer feel and generate extra spin. If you play the Tour shaft you’ll likely enjoy this wedge model too. The brand’s 610 wedge shaft was designed to complement the Tour V shaft.

Where C-Taper and S-Taper fans often run shafts from their irons through into the wedges, albeit at a slightly lighter weight as wedge shots are rarely hit full out.

Want more information about KBS iron shafts? Visit their website here   

How do KBS iron shafts compare in data?

KBS Iron shaft data

Verdict: KBS iron shafts

Lots of people will look at our test pro’s data and think the shafts are performing very much alike. But the data says nothing about how different the shafts felt.

Comparing the C-Taper and S-Taper the data shows the pair as being pretty evenly matched but the difference in feel was phenomenal. So different in fact our test pro felt he just wouldn’t be able to use the C-Taper effectively on the golf course (as it’s so strong). Where the $-Taper felt brilliant and could well be his perfect match within the KBS family.

The Lite shafts produced a faster ball speed, just as KBS promised and the C-Taper Lite in particular launched and flighted shots higher with a steeper descent angle, so there’s a huge amount of tuning in ball flight and feel available from shafts.

Just as KBS promised the TGI graphite shaft produced some very good optimal numbers too, they’d be a very sensible choice for golfers looking to avoid the shock and vibration of using steel shafts. Equally the Max graphite climbed to its peak height very early in its flight, which at lower speeds will be a real benefit in maximising carry distance.   

At the end of the day, KBS are all about the consumer. You get what you want, whether that be higher or lower launching, more or less spin, or a different feel, everything is on offer within the KBS iron family. Our test pro liked the $-Taper for his own game as it didn’t feel too strong, yet it felt stable and produced a good feel through the hands, and he had control over his ball flight.

KBS Founder Kim Braly on a life spend designing golf shafts

Many golfers won’t know the name Kim Braly, but the guy is a shaft legend. He has dedicated his life to creating the highest performance shafts you can buy, and we sat down with him. 

How have shafts evolved over the last 150 years?

A hundred of those years were dominated by hickory shafts. Steel shafts didn’t come about until the 1930s. My father patented “Frequency Matching” (in the 1980s) which has been the biggest breakthrough during my lifetime. Until then there were no standards; the method gave a baseline to compare and match shafts. Everything I’ve achieved since is down to the Frequency Matching method he invented.

How did the Frequency Matching idea come about?

We made titanium irons with tungsten weights and wanted to see how different set-ups affected performance. We organised a golf robot, and tried two identical set ups, yet the results were entirely different. We started questioning if shafts might not be matched. My dad developed Frequency Matching as a way to compare and match (for flex, weight, profile through CPM, cycles per minute) shafts to one another. The process hasn’t changed for 30 years.

You developed the Rifle and Project X shafts which are still popular; what was different about them?

No set of shafts had been designed individually for each club until then. They were a breakthrough. We’d follow the PGA Tour (at a time when there were no tour vans) and explain to players about matching their irons. We could match a whole set to the club they felt most comfortable and confident with. We were custom fitting without really knowing it.

I’m also proud of what we’ve achieved at KBS over the last 10-12 years. If we aren’t the leaders in shaft technology I really don’t know who is.

Kim Braly

What was the players’ reaction?

They were super interested. We had lines of people wanting to understand how shafts affected performance. We learned all sorts. In relation to frequency the lightest shaft in the bag (the driver) will be the stiffest. The weakest shaft should be in the lob wedge, as there’s lots of shots hit less than full out, and a fraction weaker shaft allows you to know where the head is.

Today, the correct fit for players is often a flex and a half stiffer than we recommended 15 years ago. At the start we were a couple of guys just trying to understand. It wasn’t about marketing; we had our mathematical theory and we wanted to understand if it worked in practice.

How have launch monitors affected modern shaft fittings?

They’re one of the best things to have happened to golf. Launch monitors have helped people understand ball flight, spin, height and launch. Every shaft I’ve ever designed has been designed with a type of player in mind.

Each KBS shaft fits into a matrix, we’ve worked on them one at a time, and the line-up is nearly 100% complete.

Where do you start designing new shafts? Is it an idea from you, or a request from a player?

We have ideas, but they have to work in practice. In golf “feel” is a huge thing. If the feel is wrong products go nowhere. I’ve enjoyed dialling in the KBS Tour Lite (steel) and KBS PGI (Players’ Graphite Iron shaft) to be “everyman” golf shafts over the last two years.

They work at specific swing speed ranges, and thanks to our options we can optimise launch and spin for golfers swinging 6-iron in the region of 80mph.

Kim Braly

You’ve worked on a bunch of top performing shafts, but which are you most proud of?

The Precision Rifle put me on the map, set up my career and I learned loads from it. The first KBS Tour shaft was a really big deal, too. It’s the foundation stone of every other KBS shaft, where all our other current shafts start. I’m awfully proud of it. 

Have you hit hickory shafts? How different are they to today’s models?

The last two tournaments I’ve played have been hickory challenges. Hickory weighs a ton (they’re 180g in a 6-iron), they’re really stiff but the torque is unreal. You can literally twist the head in your hand. Wood is strong in one direction – the one it’s grown in – which is up and down the shaft.

Kim Braly

Will graphite shafts ever be the norm through the bag?

I’ve heard so many times how graphite represents the future. In terms of iron shafts steel is still a great material. The reason graphite became popular is its strength to weight ratio. It’s possible to make a 45in driver shaft at a “normal” swingweight.

You just can’t do that with steel, but you don’t need that as much in irons. Steel isn’t going away.    

KBS make 16 different iron shafts; why so many?   

Each of our profiles do different things. You may have the tendency to hit the ball low, so we have shafts designed to spin more and have a higher trajectory, and vice-versa.

For every 2.5mph of club speed change golfers need a different shaft flex, and that’s why we make half flexes. There’s also feel to consider. In our KBS Tour franchise we go from 130g to 90g in 5g increments (nine different weights), so golfers get what they need.

Whereas in a traditional three flex line-up (R, S, X) golfers get pushed into the best option available. KBS have a reputation for making good feeling shafts because golfers get shafts with the correct load at impact, which naturally feels good. Everything really does come back to fitting.

READ NEXT: Best 2022 Iron Test

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kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Best Iron Shafts in 2021 Review

Iron Shafts 2021

Iron Shafts 2021

Selecting the best iron shaft or iron–shaft combination for your game starts with knowing your game. The newest irons and shafts in 2021 are producing greater distance, forgiveness and accuracy for our customers because we properly tune the iron and shaft combination to your handicap and swing dynamics. We’ve put the newest iron shafts from Project X, True Temper, KBS, OBAN, Mitsubishi, Nippon and others through rigorous testing. Choose your handicap range or swing speed to see how each iron shaft stacks up: (Our More Popular Shafts are Highlighted in Red)

• Professionals/ low handicaps (6 iron distance is 200+ yards with swing speeds 90+ mph)

• low to mid-handicaps (6 iron distance 175 – 200 yards with swing speeds between 80-90 mph), • higher handicaps (6 iron distance 150 – 175 yards with swing speed less than 80 mph, • seniors, juniors, ladies (6 iron distance under 140 yards), if you want to find the best iron shafts for your swing, schedule your fitting here, our fitting difference.

We fit a LOT of different golfers every year for iron shafts. Our master insights come from shaft performance testing and player testing during thousands of fittings. Our fitting system recommendations include length of iron, shaft weight, shaft trajectory and spin profile, shaft flex, and swing weight. Our recommendations are also determined by a golfers physical characteristics (height, weight, wrist crease-to-floor), strength (distance), launch characteristics (actual and desired trajectory, spin, dispersion), and swing dynamics (tempo, transition and release point). Unfortunately, many fitters including your local pro shop do not take all these factors into account, nor do they have the selection of shafts, nor do they have the underlying performance data needed to correctly fit you. Learn more in our blog what happens when golf shafts are not properly fit to your swing.

Our 2021 Guide to the Best Iron Shafts

Professional or low handicaps (200+ yards with a 6 iron).

If your swing speed with a 6 iron is 90+ mph, you should be getting close to 200 yards of distance or more from your 6 iron. If you’re not seeing these distances or happy with the trajectory, schedule your Fitting Here  and we’ll get you dialed in with the best iron shaft or iron-shaft combination for your swing.

                                                    Shaft Weight   Trajectory      Spin

True Temper X7                  132gr                    Low             Low

Project X 6.0, 6.5, 7.0     120-130gr          Mid             Mid

Project X LS                           120-130gr        Low             Low

Project X LZ Steel 6.5      125gr                   Low-Mid      Low-Mid

Rifle 6.0 and 7.0             125-130gr               Mid              Mid

OBAN CT-125                     125gr                      Mid              Mid

OBAN CT-115                     115gr                      Mid              Mid

KBS C-Taper X                  120gr                Low-Mid       Low-Mid

KBS Tour V                       115-130gr         Low-Mid       Low-Mid

KBS $ Taper X                  130gr                      Mid               Mid

Nippon Modus 130      121 – 129gr        Low-Mid      Low-Mid

Nippon Modus 125       127 – 129gr        Low-Mid       Low-Mid

ACCRA TiMesh                  125gr                     Mid               Mid

Aerotech i110                     110gr                 Low-Mid       Low-Mid

Aerotech i125                    125gr                Low-Mid      Low-Mid

KBS TGI 100, 110          100-110                   Mid                 Mid

Mitsubishi MMT Taper  125gr                     Mid                 Mid

UST Recoil 110                   110                         Low-Mid   Low-Mid

Low to Mid Handicap Players (175 – 200 yards with a 6 iron)

If your swing speed with a 6 iron is between 83 – 90 mph, you should typically see between 175 – 200 yards of distance or more from your 6 iron.  For mid-handicappers, we often see a lot of variance in distances, especially when standard flex and even standard stiff flex shafts are used. Your shot dispersion can be less than 10 yards right to left and 7-10 yards front to back, ensuring you’re getting more greens in regulation.

                                                            Shaft Weight Trajectory         Spin

True Temper TI X100                128gr      Low-Mid        Low-Mid

True Temper DG 120                 120gr     Low-Mid         Low-Mid

True Temper AMT White  102-130gr Low-Mid          Low-Mid

OBAN CT 115                                 115gr           Mid                  Mid

Project X I/O                            105-115gr    Variable         Variable

Project X LZ Steel 6.0               120gr             Mid                  Mid

True Temper ELEVATE Tour   115-120gr Mid-High    Mid-High

True Temper ELEVATE ETS 115 115gr        Mid                 Mid

Project X Catalyst 100CW       100gr      Low-Mid          Low-Mid

Rifle 5.0 and 6.0                         115-125gr      Mid                  Mid

KBS $ Taper                               115-120gr        Mid                  Mid

KBS $ Taper Lite                      95-105gr     Mid-High       Mid-High

Nippon Modus 120                  111 -126gr       Mid                  Mid

ACCRA iSteel                                 115gr             Mid                  Mid

ACCRA I Series                         95-105gr    Low-Mid      Low-Mid

KBS TGI 90, 95                            90-95            Mid                    Mid

Xcaliber RT 95                                 96                    Mid                    Mid

Mid to High-Handicap Players (150-175 yards with a 6 iron)

If your swing speed with a 6 iron is less than 83 mph, you should expect between 150 – 175 yards of distance from your 6 iron. Shot trajectory can be extremely important here so that you can still get enough loft to stop the ball on the green without sacrificing distances or artificially creating excessive spin that costs you distance.

                                                              Shaft Weight    Trajectory        Spin

True Temper DG                       105-115gr        Low-Mid           Low-Mid

True Temper XP95                   93-95gr          Mid-High           Mid-High

True Temper ELEVATE 95    95-97gr             High                  High

OBAN CT 100                               100                   Mid-High           Mid-High

Project X I/O                             105-115gr          Variable         Variable

Project X LZ Steel 5.5               115gr              Mid                  Mid

Project X LZ Steel 5.0               110gr              Mid                  Mid

KBS C-Taper Lite                      100-110     Mid-High          Mid-High

KBS $-Taper Lite                        95-110      Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 85                                        86                   Mid                    Mid

Nippon Modus 105                      105                  Mid                      Mid

Project X Catalyst 80CW          85             Low-Mid          Low-Mid

Aerotech SteeFiber i90 FC    90gr         Variable         Variable

OBAN i83 and i93                    83-93gr     Mid-High          Mid-High

KBS TGI 80, 90                          80-90                  Mid                      Mid

ACCRA i80 and i90                 85-95gr              Mid                      Mid

Mitsubishi C6 80                      80-89gr              Mid-High             Mid-High

Nova Tech i800                        80-90 gr              Mid                      Mid

UST Recoil 780ES                 80-85gr             Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 75                                        76                    Mid                    Mid

Slower Swing Speeds (UNDER 115 yards with a 6 iron)

If your swing speed with a 6 iron is a bit slower, we’ve still got a perfect solution for you. From your swing and personal dynamics, the shaft we recommend and all the other parameters we ask in our fittings helps us optimize the shaft for your swing – no change to the swing and you get the perfect balance of distance, trajectory and spin.

                                                           Shaft Weight    Trajectory        Spin

Fujikura Vista Pro                   50-80gr          Mid-High          Mid-High

Xcaliber 75                                     76                    Mid                    Mid

UST Recoil DART                65-75gr         Mid-High          Mid-High

Aerotech SteelFiber i70FC  70-75gr       Mid-High          Mid-High

KBS TGI 50, 60. 70              50-70gr          Mid-High         Mid-High

KBS MAX Graphite              45-85gr          Mid-High        Mid-High

Mitsubishi  C6                        45-75gr          Mid-High             Mid-High

OBAN i43i-i73i                       43-74gr         Mid-High         Mid-High

Project X Catalyst 40-60  57-68gr         Mid-High        Mid-High

Project X CYPHER 40-60  52-74gr        Mid-High        Mid-High

Nova Tech  i700              70-75gr              Mid-High          Mid-High

Veylix 473, 673                50-65gr             Mid-High           Mid-High

To see our testing and review of the 2021 iron shafts, read more within each of our manufacturer’s blogs: Project X, True Temper, KBS, OBAN, Mitsubishi, Nippon.

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  • Golf Balls/Shafts/Grips

Shaft Comparison Tool/Chart

fixyurdivot

By fixyurdivot June 19, 2020 in Golf Balls/Shafts/Grips

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Fixyurdivot.

I poked around and searched this sub forum for a thread about comparing various shafts.  No doubt there has been one and I'm missing it.  I see many graph charts that compare shafts and want to know if there is a source that most find reliable.  I understand the issue with shafts not being all that standardized within the industry - making direct comparisons challenging - but suspect (or hope) there is a source that is reliable.

I'm currently playing AWT 2.0 and was also fitted for Project X 5.5.  I'm considering buying a used set of I500's and it would be helpful to have a shaft comparison tool or chart to see if other make/model shafts are equivalent (or real close). 

  • aerospace_ray

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cnosil

I haven't seen a chart on here.  The best free source I have found is if you look at the manufacturer catalogs;  sometimes they compare shafts and put them in a launch/spin graph.   There is a pay site that will give you the EI profile charts for various shafts.   the later is probably the best source.   

:ping-small:

If you could tell us what shafts are in the potential i500's, then we could give you an indication on how they compare to your current set....

  • fixyurdivot and aerospace_ray

aerospace_ray

2 hours ago, fixyurdivot said: I poked around and searched this sub forum for a thread about comparing various shafts.  No doubt there has been one and I'm missing it.  I see many graph charts that compare shafts and want to know if there is a source that most find reliable.  I understand the issue with shafts not being all that standardized within the industry - making direct comparisons challenging - but suspect (or hope) there is a source that is reliable. I'm currently playing AWT 2.0 and was also fitted for Project X 5.5.  I'm considering buying a used set of I500's and it would be helpful to have a shaft comparison tool or chart to see if other make/model shafts are equivalent (or real close). 

So I am currently playing I500 irons 6,7,8 and 9 in one of my sets. The shaft I play is a Aerotech Steel Fiber I80 in reg flex. That gives me the best combo I am looking for regarding flex feel and spin. What feels to me as medium firm for a regular flex. I tested several shafts at demo days and bought my own and built test clubs before deciding on the I80. A

Agree with recommendation to post what you are interested in and others on this forum may can provide quality feedback/recommendations.

Link on Ping website that details stock shaft offerings for I500 :  https://ping.com/en-us/clubs/irons/i500     / click on shafts tab - contains basic information list regarding the different shafts. Obviously many more possibilities but hopefully you could try/test somewhere. Good luck. 

RickyBobby_PR

RickyBobby_PR

3 hours ago, fixyurdivot said: I poked around and searched this sub forum for a thread about comparing various shafts.  No doubt there has been one and I'm missing it.  I see many graph charts that compare shafts and want to know if there is a source that most find reliable.  I understand the issue with shafts not being all that standardized within the industry - making direct comparisons challenging - but suspect (or hope) there is a source that is reliable. I'm currently playing AWT 2.0 and was also fitted for Project X 5.5.  I'm considering buying a used set of I500's and it would be helpful to have a shaft comparison tool or chart to see if other make/model shafts are equivalent (or real close). 

There really are no shafts that compare to the px shafts. They are kind of unique in their design and feel. I’ve been fit into the 6.0 by titleist and Pxg.  Other shafts that were good fits in titleist were the amt s300 and after the change to add in different amt options the amt white s300 which are the same as the original amt.

image.png.1d4a007baecf78609d4a0f92d3e1a2e5.png

Driver: PXG 0811 X+ Proto w/UST Helium 5F4

Wood: TaylorMade M5 5W w/Accra TZ5 +1/2”, TaylorMade Sim 3W w/Aldila rogue white

Hybrid: PXG Gen2 22* w/AD hybrid

Irons: PXG Gen3 0311T w/Nippon modus 120

Wedges: TaylorMade MG2 50*, Tiger grind 56/60

Putter: Scotty Caemeron Super Rat1

Ball: Titleist Prov1

3 hours ago, jaskanski said: If you could tell us what shafts are in the potential i500's, then we could give you an indication on how they compare to your current set....

I don't have a specific set I'm gawking at presently but the last ones I looked at had KBS C-Taper and the other Recoil.  I was just hoping there was a good, fairly comprehensive source that compares shafts.  Something on the order of what Maltby's Playability Factor chart does for irons.  Since there is effectively no industry standard for measuring shaft attributes, I suppose that makes such an endeavour challenging.

3 hours ago, aerospace_ray said: Link on Ping website that details stock shaft offerings for I500 :  https://ping.com/en-us/clubs/irons/i500     / click on shafts tab - contains basic information list regarding the different shafts. Obviously many more possibilities but hopefully you could try/test somewhere. Good luck. 

The i500's I tested this past winter were with the same AWT 2.0, Reg Flex, +1" on my G410's. Many I see available do not have the AWT shafts.  Since I've been fitted for both the AWT's and the PX LZ 5.5, which True Temper/Dynamic Gold, KBS, Recoil, etc. would be a good match?

The shaft that would be a good match is probably subjective, but there are two areas to look at in terms of what you have currently been fitted for.

1. Weight - AWT and PX LZ could be placed in around the 100-110g category.

2. Launch profile is mid to mid high for AWT to PX LZ.

That rules out the Recoil on both weight and launch which would probably be too light and too high launching. A KBS Tour in Reg would be an option as would Dynamic Gold 105. 

Be wary of fitting yourself into a used set based on that logic though - it doesn't always work out as planned, but weight and launch is a good yardstick to look at for matching swings. Ideally, you should  try out the options before buying - not easy if you're buying from online (eg. Ebay) but certainly easier if you buy in-store from a reputable dealer. Patience and logic will always be better than being swayed by impulse and whims. And  ironically, listening to anecdotal advice on internet forums is the last thing you should have any faith in - you have been warned!

6 minutes ago, jaskanski said: The shaft that would be a good match is probably subjective, but there are two areas to look at in terms of what you have currently been fitted for. 1. Weight - AWT and PX LZ could be placed in around the 100-110g category. 2. Launch profile is mid to mid high for AWT to PX LZ. That rules out the Recoil on both weight and launch which would probably be too light and too high launching. A KBS Tour in Reg would be an option as would Dynamic Gold 105.  Be wary of fitting yourself into a used set based on that logic though - it doesn't always work out as planned, but weight and launch is a good yardstick to look at for matching swings. Ideally, you should  try out the options before buying - not easy if you're buying from online (eg. Ebay) but certainly easier if you buy in-store from a reputable dealer. Patience and logic will always be better than being swayed by impulse and whims. And  ironically, listening to anecdotal advice on internet forums is the last thing you should have any faith in - you have been warned!

I was a little disappointed that the fitter I used did not have the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer.  He had and we tested Mizuno's but he had just recently opened his shop and had not either purchased or provided the optimizer.  I've read a number of threads saying this is an excellent system and a must do if possible. I would love to see what it recommends for me. I spoke with him about 5 months ago and he still did not have it in the store. 

The Mizuno tool gets you 3 shafts in your ballpark, but you still have to choose which is right for you - particularly if you're playing at +1". Again, due diligence in your methodical selection process pays off in the long run. 

39 minutes ago, jaskanski said: The shaft that would be a good match is probably subjective, but there are two areas to look at in terms of what you have currently been fitted for. 1. Weight - AWT and PX LZ could be placed in around the 100-110g category. 2. Launch profile is mid to mid high for AWT to PX LZ. That rules out the Recoil on both weight and launch which would probably be too light and too high launching. A KBS Tour in Reg would be an option as would Dynamic Gold 105.  Be wary of fitting yourself into a used set based on that logic though - it doesn't always work out as planned, but weight and launch is a good yardstick to look at for matching swings. Ideally, you should  try out the options before buying - not easy if you're buying from online (eg. Ebay) but certainly easier if you buy in-store from a reputable dealer. Patience and logic will always be better than being swayed by impulse and whims. And  ironically, listening to anecdotal advice on internet forums is the last thing you should have any faith in - you have been warned!

It depends on which recoils. There are 110 In regular and protype versions nd 125 prototype recoils. Both prototype offering mid-low launch while the 110 non proto are mid launch 

6 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said: It depends on which recoils. There are 110 In regular and protype versions nd 125 prototype recoils. Both prototype offering mid-low launch while the 110 non proto are mid launch 

That's true, but I was basing my opinion on the stock offering from Ping which would likely be with a used set. I don't think the OP was planning on reshafting or getting fitted - which of course would be the smart thing to do anyway.

16 minutes ago, jaskanski said: That's true, but I was basing my opinion on the stock offering from Ping which would likely be with a used set. I don't think the OP was planning on reshafting or getting fitted - which of course would be the smart thing to do anyway.

But ping offers the 110s as an option.

9 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said: But ping offers the 110s as an option.

As an uncharge. Look - I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest, but I think we have established that the chances of finding a used set of i500's with an equivalent shaft that the OP had been previously fitted for  in + 1"  are pretty slim. I would suggest revisiting the whole fitting process to ensure they get connected with the right shaft  at the right length with the intended set. Now if you don't mind, I have more important things to do - like play golf. Jeez.....

  • 3 weeks later...

AmishJason

On 6/19/2020 at 12:03 PM, RickyBobby_PR said: There really are no shafts that compare to the px shafts. They are kind of unique in their design and feel. I’ve been fit into the 6.0 by titleist and Pxg.  Other shafts that were good fits in titleist were the amt s300 and after the change to add in different amt options the amt white s300 which are the same as the original amt.

I like this chart.  It has made me rethink the iron shafts I have been looking at.  Seeing them all laid out has made me realize how different they all are.  I now realize that one option I was looking at is way too low spin for my needs and it has reinforced one option as a good one to try as well as making me more comfortable with other options.  Going to a fitting isn't all that easy where I live, so this has shed some light on shafts.  Looking at manufacturer's websites has only told me the bare minimum.

Driver: Cobra Speedzone 10.5 Mitsubishi AV Blue S flex

Wood: Cobra Bio Cell 3-4 Grafalloy Pro Launch Blue (low launch original version) S flex

Hybrids: Taylormade GAPR 3 KBS graphite shaft

              Strata 4 and 5 hybrids R flex

Irons: Strata 6-PW R flex

Wedges: Texan Classics 52, 56, 60 R flex

Putter: Odyssey Red Ball mallet

Ball: Srixon Q Star Tour

45 minutes ago, AmishJason said: I like this chart.  It has made me rethink the iron shafts I have been looking at.  Seeing them all laid out has made me realize how different they all are.  I now realize that one option I was looking at is way too low spin for my needs and it has reinforced one option as a good one to try as well as making me more comfortable with other options.  Going to a fitting isn't all that easy where I live, so this has shed some light on shafts.  Looking at manufacturer's websites has only told me the bare minimum.

I like this chart. Iirc Srixon and titleist consistently have this updated on their sites as well as woods and hybrids. Of all the fittings I’ve had the shafts fall into or close to one box on that chart so I know why my options can be if I “blind” buy some irons

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GolfWRX

Shaft & Grip Reviews

Review: kbs 610 and hi-rev 2 wedge shafts.

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Pros:  The Hi-Rev 2 adds approximately 250 rpm more spin than the original. The 610 is impressively stable and low-launching for high-spinning wedge shaft.

Cons:  They’re $43.95 each. Shaft weight is based on flex.

Who’s it for: The 610 is for high-spin players who prefer a penetrating trajectory. The Hi-Rev 2.0 targets players looking for increased launch and spin from their wedges.

To understand the purpose of KBS’ new 610 and Hi-Rev 2.0 wedge shafts, it’s helpful to consider the unique role wedges play. Often referred to as “scoring clubs,” serious golfers know how important it is to be able to hit a variety of shots on multiple trajectories from 125 yards and in. To this end, KBS Shaft Designer Kim Braly developed two wedge-specific shafts, each of which offer particular launch and spin characteristics.

610-125-red1

The 610 is a butt-stiff shaft that is engineered to produce a lower flight with slightly less spin (200 rpm more than KBS’ stock wedge shaft). It is available in three flexes/weights:

  • 110 grams (Regular Flex)
  • 120 grams (Stiff Flex)
  • 125 grams (Stiff + Flex)

hi-rev-135

The Hi-Rev 2.0 is the second take on the popular Hi-Rev shaft. The original Hi-Rev produced a launch similar to the KBS’ Tour wedge shaft, but had a more active tip section for increased spin. In comparison, the Hi-Rev 2.0 is higher launching and higher spinning than the Hi-Rev. In testing, the Hi-Rev 2.0 exhibited approximately 700 more rpm of spin than the standard KBS Tour wedge shaft and 250 more rpm of spin than the Hi-Rev.

It is also available in three weights/flexes:

  • 115 grams (Regular)
  • 125 grams (Stiff)
  • 135 grams (X-Stiff)

In both on-course and range testing, the Hi-Rev 2.0 and 610 held true to their stated performance characteristics.

On full shots with my 56-degree Callaway Mack Daddy 2 and 52-degree TaylorMade Tour Preferred wedges, the 610 felt suspiciously like the KBS Tour-V iron shaft. This isn’t surprising given the similarity in bend profile, step pattern and weight between the Tour-V and 610. The flight was a touch lower than my current wedges, but still plenty high enough to hold firm greens.

Where the 610 really earned its stripes was on partial and three-quarter shots. It was like tossing bean bags filled with lead. Shots from 40-to-60 yards often took a single hop and then stopped within 3-to-4 feet of the pitch mark. Several shots simply stuck like Nastia Liukin in the 2008 Olympics.

If you find yourself ripping wedge shots off greens or struggling to hit your wedges low enough, the 610 might be the cure to your ills.

I also tested a 56-degree Callaway Mack Daddy 2 wedge with the Hi-Rev 2.0 in stiff (125 grams). On full shots, it created a bit too much spin for my game, but shots from the rough and varied lies did have a bit more grip on them than I’m used to. On less-than-full shots inside 100 yards, the Hi-Rev was lively, and for a shaft with a more flexible tip section, it never felt loose or out of control. In fact, the increased launch and spin could become quite useful in firm courses and touch shots around the green.

As such, Braly expects nearly 20 percent of KBS tour players to fit into the Hi-Rev 2.0, with the other 80 percent or so opting for the 610.

The possibility of seeing both the 610 and Hi-Rev 2.0 as inline options from OEMs moving forward is certainly there, however, for the time being, they be available through certified KBS retailers and carry an MSRP of $43.95.

If there’s a subtext to this conversation it’s that wedges — because of the loft and USGA groove regulations — can only be tweaked so much by modifications to the head itself. By opening the conversation to include wedge specific shaft designs, Braly is trying to shift a paradigm and get players to place the same intensity on wedge fitting many do their longer clubs.

If you find yourself wishing you could stop wedge shots closer to the hole, wedge-specific shafts are a great place to start. Both the 610 and Hi-Rev 2.0 should be on your list of shafts to test.

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Review: Graphite Design Tour AD MJ shafts

Review: Graphite Design YS NanoReloaded

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

I didn't grow up playing golf. I wasn't that lucky. But somehow the game found me and I've been smitten ever since. Like many of you, I'm a bit enthusiastic for all things golf and have a spouse which finds this "enthusiasm" borderline ridiculous. I've been told golf requires someone who strives for perfection, but realizes the futility of this approach. You have to love the journey more than the result and relish in frustration and imperfection. As a teacher and coach, I spend my days working with amazing middle school and high school student athletes teaching them to think, dream and hope. And just when they start to feel really good about themselves, I hand them a golf club!

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Mar 1, 2015 at 3:32 pm

Tour v stiff w/ cushion inserts come out to around 120 grams and are great for me! Went from DG S-300. KBS are a very good feel, very smooth feedback and excellent ball flight in Ping G30 irons. I’m a low handicapper and never would have believed a game improvement iron would feel this good but probably this combo made a big difference.

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Feb 27, 2015 at 4:50 pm

Really looking forward to trying the 610. Recently had my irons re-shafted with X Stiff Tour V’s and the wedges I have with DG TI S400 just don’t feel that good now.

Feb 27, 2015 at 5:55 pm

I’d be shocked if the 610s didn’t work very well for you if the Tour V’s feel good and perform well in your irons…

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kbs tour vs awt 2.0

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FujikuraVentusTR

The 3 most popular driver shafts used by the top-50 golfers in 2023

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Here’s why Jordan Spieth switched into a new Fujikura Ventus TR Blue shaft at Pebble Beach

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

When Fujikura’s new Ventus TR Blue shaft launched in January 2022, we learned all about the updated construction and potential performance benefits compared to the original Ventus Blue. It was unclear at the time, however, exactly who would make the switch into the new TR design on the PGA Tour.

Well, we’re starting to get some answers.

Jordan Spieth , who’s been relatively slow to change into new products throughout his career, is among a handful of names making the change. Spieth conducted recent testing with a Ventus Blue TR 7 X shaft in his Titleist TS2 15-degree fairway wood, and he put it in play this week at the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Titleist Tour representative J.J. Van Wezenbeeck, who works closely with Spieth on his equipment, said that Spieth came to the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) on Friday before the 2022 Pebble Beach Pro-Am for a check-up on his equipment. Since Spieth was previously playing Ventus Blue shafts in his Titleist metalwoods, he was intrigued by the new TR version.

As it turned out, Spieth found the new shaft to help with his transition and directional control.

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

“Coming from Ventus Blue, anytime they update a shaft you’re just intrigued on that, and he liked how [the Ventus TR Blue] loaded compared to the original Ventus Blue for him,” Van Wezenbeeck told GolfWRX on Tuesday. “He felt like when he mishit it, there was a little more control. So that was a good option for him…we did a little bit of internal work on the head to make sure there’s enough spin, because want to make sure his 3 wood doesn’t have too low of spin. He liked how the TR reacted on mishits where the spin didn’t drop, and it had more consistent spin from swing to swing.”

Due to a new Spread Tow fabric in the butt-end section, which is essentially a checkerboard pattern of woven material, the torque on the TR version is 10 percent stiffer in the mid-to-grip end of the shaft. As a result, Fujikura says the TR shaft is designed to improve stability and consistency compared to the original Ventus Blue.

Based on Spieth’s results with the TR shaft during testing, it seems Fujikura’s case holds water.

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Spieth is using a Ventus Blue TR 7 X version in his fairway wood.

Pat McCoy, Director of Tour Operations at Fujikura, spoke with GolfWRX about the new shaft, and what players are seeing in their testing out on Tour.

“Compared to the original Ventus Blue, the TR has a stiffer mid-section and lower torque,” McCoy said. “Basically what the shaft does is it eliminates some of the dynamic loft. It eliminates some of the rotation. Obviously, the Ventus Blue was a very stable shaft and one of the best launching shafts we’ve ever had. And we just made it better.

“As far as ball speed and launch and spin, I’m not going to say it’s faster, but we have seen players who have achieved faster speeds with it. It provides more consistency and the ability to turn swing speed into ball speed better. And that’s it. It’s a little stiffer than the original Blue, and it’s a little bit weaker than the [Ventus Black]. It’s a ‘tweener. It gives you something in the middle, and depending upon loft and impact location, you get a better fit.”

The fairway wood shaft wasn’t the only potential change that Spieth will make in 2022, though.

In addition to putting the new Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges in the bag, Spieth is also considering adding another option to the top end of his bag.

Typically, Spieth changes between a hybrid and long irons, depending on course conditions. During the recent session at TPI, though, Spieth took a liking to Titleist’s U-505 wide-bodied driving iron. Ahead of the 2022 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Spieth took a U-505 2-iron (Graphite Design AD-DI 105X shaft) out onto the course for testing.

“He’s experimenting with a U-505 this week (ahead of the event at Pebble Beach),” Van Wezenbeeck told GolfWRX. “He’s always gone between a hybrid and either a 2 iron, or a hybrid and 3 iron, and we brought out a 505 as kind of a third option on a week where he isn’t sure whether he should play an iron or a hybrid. The 505 being a wide body iron is kind of a blend between the two. And he was really intrigued with how high it launched on a standard shot, and he could flight it more off the tee, where as with a hybrid he can’t do.

“So on weeks he feels like there’s a lot of irons off the tee, he likes to play the iron. On weeks where there are a lot of shots into par 5s, he likes the hybrid. On weeks where there’s a little of both…he felt the 505 might be an option, so he was taking it on the golf course [on Tuesday] to see how it would react.”

While it’s unclear exactly when Spieth will break out the new U-505, it seems like it’ll certainly be in the rotation going forward. The Ventus TR Blue shaft, on the other hand, has already earned a starting spot in the bag this week.

These changes may seem minor to some, but it shows Spieth’s willingness to find small equipment tweaks to improve his game. For amateur golfers, use this as a lesson when gearing up for the new season. Go through your bag, test some of the new shaft and head options, and see where you can make improvements. Now is the perfect time to take inventory and get prepared.

MRC Shaft Shootout: Tensei CK Pro White, Kuro Kage XT and Diamana BF-Series

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

The Tensei CK Pro White is the latest release from Mitsubishi Rayon Composites (MRC), a low-launch, low-spin shaft with a multi-material design that the company says improves the performance and feel of the shaft. Whereas most golf shafts use between 3-6 different materials in their construction, the Tensei CK Pro White is made from 11 different materials, giving MRC engineers greater precision in the shaft’s design.

Like MRC’s Tensei CK Pro Blue shafts, which produce a slightly higher-launching, higher-spinning ball flight, the CK Pro White uses MRC’s Carbon Fiber DuPont Kevlar Weave in the handle section of the shaft. The company says it increases the strength and stability of that part of the shaft, leading to better feedback.

carbon-fiber-dupont-kevlar-weave

On the other end of the shaft, the tip section, MRC uses a boron-reinforced fiber. All low-launch, low-spin shafts have stiff-tip designs, but the addition of boron puts the Tensei CK Pro White in a class of its own when it comes to lowering launch angle and spin rate. The boron fiber also reduces torque, which can offer better energy transfer, more accuracy and better feedback — especially for skilled, high-swing-speed golfers.

Connecting and reinforcing those areas of the shafts is MRC’s low-resin content (LRC) prepreg. Prepreg is carbon fiber that’s been reinforced or “pre-impregnated” with resin, a glue that holds the material together when it’s formed into sheets and rolled into the form of a shaft. MRC says that its LRC has 15 percent more carbon fiber and 13 percent less resin than traditional prepregs, which allows MRC to make the Tensei CK Pro White stronger without adding extra weight to the shaft. MRC also uses high-modulus, 40-ton prepreg in the Tensei CK Pro White’s design, which like LRC is thinner, stronger and lighter than traditional prepregs.

The addition of boron helps MRC make the tip of Tensei CK Pro White shaft stiffer and lower in torque.

The addition of boron helps MRC make the tip of Tensei CK Pro White shaft stiffer and lower in torque.

In the EI chart below, you can see how the Tensei CK Pro White’s bend profile compares to the CK Pro Blue. The main differences are its slightly stiffer tip and mid sections, as well as its slightly softer butt section. That gives the CK Pro White a higher “kick point” than the CK Pro Blue. Generally, the higher the kick point of a shaft, the lower its launch conditions. That’s why the Tensei CK Pro White is a lower-launching, lower-spinning shaft than the Tensei CK Pro Blue.

The Shootout 

Just how much lower launching and lower spinning is the Tensei CK Pro White than MRC’s latest premium driver shafts? I put it to the test against the company’s Kuro Kage XT and Diamana BF-Series, which like the CK Pro White are PGA Tour-quality shafts that sell for about $400 each. All three shafts tested were built to my spec: 70TX, tipped 1 inch at a finished length of 45.5 inches.

I tested the three shafts on Trackman 4 at the Launch Pad at Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. After warming up, I hit 10 drives with each shaft, and whittled my shots down to the most similar five to help illustrate the differences. Premium balls were used for the test, and results were normalized.

MRCShafts2016_Arrow

MRC’s Kuro Kage XT uses a stouter iteration of the company’s famed “Blue Board” bend profile, and in that regard it’s quite similar to the Diamana BF-Series. That’s what makes the shafts a little higher launching and higher spinning than the Tensei CK Pro White. The Kuro Kage XT has a much different feel than both, however, due to its use of an elastic wire made of Titanium and Nickel that MRC calls “TiNi” wire.

TiNi_Boron_Tip

Related: Learn more about the Kuro Kage XT

In the Kuro Kage XT, the TiNi wire is added to the bottom 13 inches of the shaft, where it adds stability, but it also serves another purpose. Its elasticity allows the bottom end of the shaft to better load and unload during the downswing to help improve energy transfer. That’s what gives the Kuro Kage XT its more active feel, at least compared to the boron-infused tip section of the Tensei CK Pro White, which by design offer no elasticity.

The Diamana BF-Series also uses boron in its tip section, and its combined with a new, aerospace-grade fiber called MR-70 to create what MRC says is a first-of-its-kind hybrid prepreg. MR-70, which is manufactured by parent company Mitsubishi Chemical, is 20 percent stronger and has 10 percent more modulus than similar fibers, MRC says .  The handle section of the BF-Series is reinforced with MRC’s Pitch Fiber, which functions to boost energy transfer like the CK Pro White’s Carbon Fiber DuPont Kevlar Weave.

Diamana_BF_logo

Related: Learn more about the Diamana BF-Series shafts

In terms of launch conditions, the best fit for me was the Diamana BF-Series. It launched the ball a little higher than the Tensei CK Pro White, and added a little spin to help keep my drives in the air. It was also easier to swing than the Tensei CK Pro White, helping me more easily hit a draw while offering an even smoother feel due to its less rigid tip and mid sections.

To recap, if you need to lower your launch conditions, the Tensei CK Pro White is one of the most intriguing new MRC options to help you do so. Need a higher ball flight? Try the Diamana BF-Series. And if you want a radically different feel, give the Kuro Kage XT a try.

Have a question? Let me know in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can. 

Weights and Flexes

  • Tensei CK Pro White: 60 (R, S, TX), 70 (S, TX), 80 (TX)
  • Kuro Kage XT: 50 (R, S, X, TX), 60 (R, S, X, TX), 70 (S, X, TX), 80 (S, X, TX)
  • Diamana BF-Series: 50 (R, S, X), 60 (R, S, X, TX), 70 (S, X, TX), 80 (S, X, TX)

Related: GolfWRX Members review the Tensei CK Pro White

Review: KBS Tour FLT Shafts

kbs tour vs awt 2.0

Pros:  FLT shafts use a flighted design, which helps golfers launch their long irons higher and with more spin. The FLT short-iron shafts provide a more penetrating trajectory for more control.

Cons: FLT shaft flexes correspond with weight, so golfers may not be able to match their desired shaft weight with their desired flex.

Who They’re For: Golfers who need more spin or more launch from their long irons to optimize their trajectory. Everyone from beginners to PGA Tour players can use the shafts effectively, but they’ll be most popular with golfers with moderate-to-slow swing speeds, or any golfer who generates low-spin launch conditions.

Selecting the proper iron shafts is one of the most important equipment decisions golfers make. It’s an issue of quantity. Most golfers carry about 7-8 irons in their bag, so if they choose the wrong iron shaft, they’ve made the game harder than it needs to be with half or more of their clubs.

The good news is that there’s a wider selection of quality iron shafts than there has ever been, with recent growth in models that are designed to help golfers hit their iron shots higher and farther, while still maintaining PGA Tour-quality consistency and feel.

KBS is one of the leading steel shaft manufacturers, and already offered a wide variety of models prior to its newest shaft launch. Company representatives felt KBS was lacking a product for a particular segment of golfers, however, so it developed its new FLT shafts.

KBS_FLT

FLT shafts ($31.95 each) have a flighted design, which helps certain golfers optimize the performance of each iron their bag. The long irons shafts have progressively softer tip sections, which helps golfers increase their launch angle and spin rates with those clubs. For the right golfer, the design will help them hit their iron shots farther, and stop shots on the green more quickly. In the short irons, where height and spin are easier for golfers to generate, the FLT shafts are stiffer, which creates the flatter trajectory most golfers prefer with their scoring clubs. The crossover point between the higher-launching long irons and lower-launching short irons is the 7 iron.

Like all KBS shafts, FLT models have a constant weight, which means that long iron shafts and short iron shafts will be roughly the same weight through the set. Shaft weight is dependent on flex, however, as softer-flex models are lighter than stiffer-flex models. So if you’re looking for a really heavy, regular-flex shaft or a really light, extra-stiff-flex shaft, these aren’t for you.

KBS_FLT_Shaft_Specs

Keep in mind that KBS shafts do not have reinforced tip sections like many other iron shafts, which gives them a slightly higher balance point and can decrease swing weight by 1-2 points. I personally like the feel of KBS shafts and their slightly higher balance point, but some golfers won’t.

For this review, I tested the new FLT shafts head to head against KBS Tour shafts of the same flex and weight (130X) in 4 irons, 6 irons and pitching wedges. Each of the shafts were installed in Callaway’s Apex Pro ’16 irons , and were built to my specifications (standard grips, standard length, 1-degree strong lofts, 1-degree flat lie angles).

KBSTour130Shafts

I performed my testing at the Launch Pad at Carl’s Golfland in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., where I hit the 4 irons, 6 irons and pitching wedges on Trackman IV with premium golf balls. I hit 3-6 solid shots with each iron, and then removed the outliers from the final data in an attempt to compare only the most similar strikes. Results were normalized.

As you can see from the data, there was a significant difference in the flight of the 4 irons with the two different shafts, but less of a difference with the 6 irons and pitching wedges.

Apex_Pro_Test_heads

As expected, the FLT shafts caused 4 iron shots to launch higher (0.8 degrees) and with more spin (729 rpm) than the KBS Tour shafts. I’m not a low-spin player, which is one of the target audiences for this shaft, so the added launch and spin of the FLT shafts caused my 4 iron shots to fly shorter. Golfers who launch their irons too low or with too little spin, however, will likely see a distance increase when using the FLT shafts.

As I moved closer to the short end of the set, the two shafts started to perform more similarly. Theoretically, the 6 iron shots with the FLT shafts should have launched slightly higher and spun more than 6 iron shots with the KBS Tour shafts, but I actually saw a slightly lower launch angle (0.5 degrees) with the FLT. The spin was higher, though, by 211 rpm. With the pitching wedges, the results were again quite similar. The FLT launched 0.9 degrees higher, but actually spun 271 rpm less than the KBS Tour shafts.

KBS_Tour_KBS_FLT

Stepping back from the numbers, I was impressed with how similar the feel was between the KBS Tour and FLT shafts. Yes, I could feel that the FLT shafts were more active in the tip with the 4 irons, but they felt nearly the same in the 6 irons. By the time I got to the pitching wedges, the two shafts were indistinguishable. The KBS Tour is considered one of the better-feeling iron shafts currently available, so KBS’ ability to replicate that feel in the FLT will be a plus for the majority of interested golfers.

Looking more broadly, trends in shaft design tends to go hand-in-hand with trends in club head design, and the FLT shafts are no exception. Equipment manufacturers continue to strengthen the lofts of their distance irons; they have to in order balance the launch equation, as their faster ball speeds create a higher launch angle and more spin.

While the improvements to iron design have allowed golfers to hit their mid and short irons farther, many golfers continue to struggle to hit their long irons high enough or consistently enough for them to be effective. And based on my testing results, it’s clear that the FLT shafts can make long irons more playable for certain golfers, and maybe even keep long irons in a golfer’s bag that might otherwise be kicked out for higher-flying hybrids or fairway woods.

As always, I recommend that golfers get properly fit for iron shafts, which means visiting a reputable club fitter in your area. So if you’re in the market for new irons or iron shafts, you can get started by going through KBS’ Online Fit System , which upon completion lists KBS-certified dealers in your area.

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Ping AWT 2.0 vs NS Pro Modus3 105

By CSwinton May 4, 2016 in WRX Club Techs

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I'm trying to understand the main differences between these two shafts (Ping AWT 2.0 vs NS Pro Modus3 105) I'm considering for some Ping G irons. I liked them both and will be hitting them again but I'm want some understanding of the qualities / differences. I'm not asking which is better or which I should use. Ping's website lists the Modus3 as a high launch shaft (in stiff) and the AWT 2.0 as medium. I also understand that the AWT has ascending weights based on club. As my current swing is not very consistent I'd like some objective information beyond what my own shots will provide.. ;)

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Dispersion is not a shaft feature. It comes from the swing.

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February 28, 2017

May 27, 2019

> @lbhitter said: >   Trying to get an idea of what I’ve got vs. what’s out there, where would the Steelfiber i95 stand? What would it’s bubble look like?

100 views? Nobody?

thecraw

This is where Ping and Nippon differ and I side with Nippon who list the 105T as a mid launch mid spin.

I love the feel of the Nippon and really enjoy the ball flight and playing characteristics of the shaft. I haven't used or even hit the new AWT 2.0 so can't comment on that.

Can you get a demo of both somewhere??

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Sorry see you have demo'd them both. Launch monitor to see what performs best?

Kenny Lee Puckett

Kenny Lee Puckett

C, the AWT 2.0 shaft is new shaft, made for Ping by Nippon, and engineered specifically for the G head... unless you're try to raise ball flight I'm not sure what Modus 120 or even XP 95 would do better... fwiw in the opposite direction I've seen the Project X 5.0 work nicely in the G iron for a little lower spin.

sumo101

C - here's a copy of part of my post in the G irons thread:

For me all 3 shafts felt very good:

AWT - all-round great performance, gave me a lovely flight and significant distance gains over my existing set up. Felt (subjectively) very smooth and stable.

Project X 5.5 - slightly better performance than the AWT (for me). Felt (subjectively) really stable and strong, perhaps a little boardy (?) but nevertheless nothing I wouldn't be happy playing. Good peak height.

Pro Modus 105 S - I could only describe this as being (feeling) like all the good bits of the other 2 if that makes sense. Felt as though there was sufficient stability and help all rolled into the shaft. Smoothest feeling for me. Marginally, better dispersion/distance than the Project X and only a few yards better than the AWT (nothing to lose any sleep over :lazy2: )

In all honesty I could quite happily have played any of those 3 over my current set up (which was an "off the shelf" CFS R)

Hope this helps a little and doesn't cloudy the waters anymore...

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Interesting information! Yes I will have a chance to try them next week some time.

So is the stiffness of the Modus 105 (stiff) likely comparable to the AWT 2.0 (stiff)? I know stiffness designations vary a lot between brands but since they're both made by Nippon are they likely more comparable?

I don't put much stock in the Ping online fitting tool but it recommended the Pro Modus 3 based on the LM data I entered.

On trackman I found little difference between the 3 shafts (ymmv)

Try them - to be honest I don't think you'll make a bad choice - Nippon make fantastic shafts.

AWT's have a very discernable weight difference from long irons to short. The Nippon 105's are constant weight. I'd caution against judging AWT's by demoing just the 7 iron fitting cart club. You should at least swing the other clubs to see how you like the feel.

Regarding trajectory differences between the two shafts, only guys that heavily load the shaft in their clubs is likely to notice. I expect the AWT short irons to flight lower than the 105's, but the long irons should be similar and the AWT's may even flight slightly higher. The difference will be slight though.

Ping G400 Max driver w/Aldila Rogue 125 Silver Ping G425 5 wood & hybrid Ping G30 irons w/Recoil 95

Ping G425 irons w/Accra ICWT 2.0 95 Ping Glide wedges w/Recoil 110 Ping Redwood Anser - the "real deal!"

  • 2 weeks later...

dbleag

This shows my recent testing of a Ping G #7 iron with three different shafts.

The first shaft was an AWT 2.0 in stiff flex (white color).

The second shaft was a DG XP S300 (red color).

The third shaft was a Nippon Modus 105 in stiff flex (green color).

I only had access to a #7 iron head, so my comparison was limited. I performed a five-ball test several times with similar results, as well as a ten-ball test. This test was a four-ball test so I could fit most of the numbers on the screen.

Feel-wise, I liked all three shafts, so I decided to let the "test" numbers of each shaft be my guide.

I'm planning to get the Nippon Modus shafts in a 5-S set, and will report further on-course results.

  • 8 months later...

Was just about to create my own thread on this and found this one. Bringing it back from the grave. These weight flighted shafts don't make a lot of sense when the fitting/demo carts only provide one iron length and one iron head. Are the AWT's generally "stiffer" than the Pro Modus? Of course they don't have the Pro Modus X for me to hit so I have no idea if that would work either. The torque number on the AWT 2.0 S is lower than the Pro Modus 105 S...but I don't know what that necessarily means in terms of performance or feel. I felt like the Pro Modus 105 S was a bit too whippy and that the AWT 2.0 S was more controllable...not sure what the difference is. Any help would be appreciated.

nova6868

That's the problem with these weight-ascending shafts. I can't test the long irons to see what it would be like.

I like the idea of PING having Nippon make a stock shaft though. Good idea.

benno_r

I have clubs with both shafts - Modus 105s and AWT 2.0s. The modus are a stouter shaft. They also launch a bit lower. For me, I take the 105 when it's windy, and the AWT2.0 when it's not. I love the AWT on a calm day - so much fun just launching high bombs with great spin. Get hurt a little in the wind though.

That's interesting...especially since Ping lists the AWT 2.0 S as "Mid" launch but both versions of the Pro Modus 105 (S and X) at "Mid-High". I'll likely hit both shafts tomorrow and can report back with my own data afterward. I hit them both outdoors today and I felt like the AWT felt "stiffer" and had a lower launch compared to the Modus. Considering they are both made by Nippon it would be nice to know the exact shaft profile.

That's the problem with these weight-ascending shafts. I can't test the long irons to see what it would be like.   I like the idea of PING having Nippon make a stock shaft though. Good idea.

Totally agree on both comments. I liked the Pro Modus and when I found out the AWT was a Nippon shaft I was a lot more receptive to the idea of choosing it. However, not being able to hit an AMT 4 iron shaft and an AMT PW shaft makes it rather difficult to commit to. I'm not sure I would even feel the difference between each individual club...but swinging the 4i and then the PW would be nice before making a purchase decision.

I did contact Ping today to see if they can offer any insight on the AWT shaft profile. All they offer on their website is torque and weight. To be honest I'm not sure how either one of them necessarily affects feel or performance...but I'm hoping if I can get more information I can figure out the difference between the Pro Modus and AWT.

I know it's not a head to head comparison, I hit the modus 105 stiff in the ie and thought they felt really good but I didn't like the look of them.

Hit the ping g with the awt 2.0 in regular during a lesson and it felt like I was hitting rocks. Course I was hitting Maxfli practice balls. But no way I could game them. I don't know if it was the ball or the recoil 110 f4 just feel that much smoother.

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  • 1 month later...

Did you ever hear back from Ping?

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Titleist TSr2 16.5* Diamana D+ Limited 80X Titleist TSi2 21* Speeder HB 8.8 TS Ping G430 5-UW Steelfiber i80S Ping Glide 2.0 SS 54* Steelfiber i80S

Cleveland CBX 2 60* DG 115 Scottie Super Select Squareback 2

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:telephone: Forgive me, but add in the KBS tour to this discussion. How does it compare to the other 2? :black eye: :wave:

I did although it wasn't all that insightful. I'll paste their response below...

" Thank you for your email. You are correct the Nippon shaft is a higher launching shaft compare to the AWT shaft is a mid/low launch shaft. Also the AWT shaft is a heavier shaft at a gram weight of in the X of 119 and the Nippon shaft in an X is 105. I would go with the shaft that feels the best to you and also call around to different retailers to see if they by chance have the Nippon in an X flex shaft to try."

Here's what I would recommend and what I basically ended up doing...

1) Figure out what weight you prefer. At least decide if you want something around 100g or closer to the 120g range (or a variable weight shaft set)

2) Decide what you want/need as far as launch/spin

3) Hit some different shafts and see which feels the best

4) If you find a stiffness/weight that you like but prefer the feel of a different manufacturer, check out the chart below...

67ecdf3a_FCM_chart_TTPxKbs.jpeg

AWT is ascending weight. From the 4 iron to the W there is about 10 grams weight difference.

Modus 105 is constant weight.

Because of the weight progression AWT goes from about the same weight as Modus 105 in the long irons to heavier in the short irons by a fair bit.

There is no "better" shaft between them, they are just different.

97b8bcbf651d4a79ae9e249819dd0813.jpg

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MattMo

Stumbled upon this thread while researching the Modus3 vs CFS. Wow, does the Modus3 really launch that much higher than everything else? As a high ball hitter who plays in windy conditions, I guess these won't work too well.....

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  • 4 weeks later...

Warrenpeace

Warrenpeace

I took in my i200 7 iron with the awt 2.0 shaft stiff to compare with several shafts today. I hit all of them in the launch monitor and I really wanted to put some steelfiber i95 shafts into my pings...guess what- I simply could not get better results than the awt shaft no matter how I tried Then I tried a NS Pro shaft and it was much worse, so I tried the Pro Modus 105S shaft and it came closest to the awt shaft in spin, launch and carry distance. If I changed, it would be to the modus 105 for me but why would I change based on what I saw on the monitor? The awt 2.0 is a pretty good shaft that gets no respect.

phatchrisrules

In theory, no. But in Ping, it is definitely the highest launching of the bunch. I learned this weekend, when asking why they listed the Modus as higher than the XP, was due to them hardstepping the XP once to get the weight and flight pattern consistently in line with the rest of their offerings. So yes, Modus is the highest launching in the Ping lineup as a "stock" shaft.

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I'm getting back into a set of G's after a brief stint with the i e1's and I'mgoing with CFS. I wasn't too keen on the AWT's the first go-around with the G's; the long irons were just too light. I've played CFS in my previous sets of G15's and 25's, so there's definitely a certain level of comfort with those. Just recent found out that CFS are a descending weight shaft.

gatoreric

I had the same experience in a demo day and a fitting. Launched the XP 95 way too high, but the AWT was super consistent and had a great flight for my swing. I think is a very underrated shaft, probably some because it is "stock", but a top notch shaft that deserves consideration especially in the I200 head. I ordered my I200's and they are due any day now. I will report back when I am able to try all the clubs and not just the 7 iron. The ascending weight makes a lot of sense to me.

moonshine

I know for one thing that Ping chart can be a tad bit misleading. I hit modus 105S in iblade just about the same traj as my "stock" s300 in 7 iron. Eye guess may be a few feet..but certainly does not correspond to where they put dynamic gold. Yes, I need x flex in irons...looking to go modus 105 or TI Amt.

edit: sp, I would also say my testing weekend was a bust since many vendors skipped and none there had LM

"We have learned that we must live as men, not as ostriches, nor as dogs in the manger." FDR

I know for one thing that Ping chart can be a tad bit misleading. I hit modus 105S in iblade just about the same traj as my "stock" s300 in 7 iron. Eye guess may be a few feet..but certainly does not correspond to where they put dynamic gold. Yes, I need x flex in irons...looking to go modus 105 or TI Amt.   edit: sp, I would also say my testing weekend was a bust since many vendors skipped and none there had LM

I noticed the exact same thing. Hit the iBlade today with Modus 105 Stiff and really had no change to my standard ball flight, trajectory or spin. I've been playing S300 for well over 10 years and am now playing S300 AMT. Even as light as these Modus shafts are, the 7 iron iBlade didn't feel that much lighter vs my standard 7 iron (716 AP2, S300 AMT), not enough to be noticeable at least. I thought they felt really good in that head/shaft combination.

Only guys that heavily load their shafts with a late release and/or a quick tempo will notice a lot of trajectory variation with different shafts. I know I don't. You guys seeing the same trajectory between Dynamic Gold and Modus 105 are likely in the same boat, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I now understand the concept of the awt shafts. I demo the nippon 105, the awt 2.0 and the kbs tour in my i200s. 7 iron only and quickly fell in love with the nippon 105. Didn't feel all that light to me and the numbers were great. Ordered my set with the 105s and hit my longer irons better than I've ever hit them but hitting my shorter irons terrible. The 105s felt very light to me in the 8,9,w, but great in the 4,5,6,7. I found a u wedge with the awt 2.0 just to try and problem solved with the short irons. The awt 2.0 is 10 grams heavier in the short irons and same weight in the long. I wished I had gone with the awt 2.0 because of this. Best of both worlds.

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    kbs tour vs awt 2.0

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COMMENTS

  1. KBS TOUR vs AWT

    Bottom line is that the AWT is a VERY good lightweight shaft, but the flighted profile can tend to get finicky and the long irons will tend to play light to flex as a result. For most, the AWT shafts will be a fantastic choice. IMO, the AWT will play like a very slightly stouter version of a Flighted Rifle 5.0.

  2. Ping AWT 2.0 Shaft Review; A Pro Golfer's Review

    The AWT 2.0 shaft is a high-performance golf shaft designed by Ping to deliver exceptional results for golfers seeking optimal control, accuracy, and distance. It is a versatile shaft that caters to various player profiles and swing types. The golf shaft is the vital link between the clubhead and your hands. It affects various aspects of your ...

  3. Awt 2.0 stiff to similar kbs shaft

    The weight might be the issue. KBS Tour being significantly heavier than AWT 2.0 plus being a higher balance point shaft will most likely screw with your timing. If you like AWTs and want to try a KBS product, KBS Tour 90 might do the trick, but honestly....I would just stick to what works. Cheers, Michael. fixyurdivot.

  4. Ping AWT Shaft Review

    In terms of looks, the Ping AWT shafts have a very clean, straightforward aesthetic. There is a blue band in the middle that contains all of the lettering. Other than that, the shaft has a polished chrome finish and a stepped design. The ascending weight design can definitely be felt in these shafts. The long iron shafts feel pretty light ...

  5. 29 new iron models that can change your game: ClubTest 2019

    Stock shafts: AWT 2.0 steel, CFS graphite, other premium upgrades. Ping i210 iron. Courtesy of Ping. ... Stock shafts: KBS Tour 80 steel, UST Mamiya Recoil 460 graphite. Wilson Staff D7 iron.

  6. PING G400 Irons Review

    The AWT 2.0 is PING's stock steel, and it's excellent. Stock graphite is the Alta CB. You can also get, without an upcharge, Dynamic Gold, Project X, True Temper XP95, Nippon Modus 105, and KBS Tour. That covers virtually the entire range of weight and trajectory, giving everyone a great option without additional cost. Conclusion

  7. PING i200 Irons Review

    Options range from heavy steel (Dynamic Gold, Project X) to light graphite (CFS) with AWT 2.0, KBS Tour, Nippon Modus, and True Temper XP in between. Take advantage of this and get fit! Conclusion. As much as I love my iBlades (and I really love my iBlades), PING has made me think long and hard about puting the i200 irons into the bag. There ...

  8. Why You Should Be Very Excited About The New Ping G430 Range

    The stock steel shaft in the G430 irons is the AWT 2.0 with the Dynamic Gold, Dynamic Gold 105, Dynamic Gold 120, KBS Tour, NS Pro Modus 105 and True Temper Elevate MPH shafts also available at no upcharge. The stock graphite shaft is the Alta Quick. Dan Parker. Staff Writer. Dan has been with Golf Monthly team since 2021. ...

  9. Which KBS iron shaft is best for you?

    In our KBS Tour franchise we go from 130g to 90g in 5g increments (nine different weights), so golfers get what they need. Whereas in a traditional three flex line-up (R, S, X) golfers get pushed into the best option available. KBS have a reputation for making good feeling shafts because golfers get shafts with the correct load at impact, which ...

  10. Best Iron Shafts in 2021 Review

    Project X CYPHER 40-60 52-74gr Mid-High Mid-High. Nova Tech i700 70-75gr Mid-High Mid-High. Veylix 473, 673 50-65gr Mid-High Mid-High. To see our testing and review of the 2021 iron shafts, read more within each of our manufacturer's blogs: Project X, True Temper, KBS, OBAN, Mitsubishi, Nippon.

  11. What's the difference between True Temper Dynamic Gold shaft types?

    To keep shaft weights as close to identical as possible, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue is measured to plus-or-minus half a gram, which is as tight as you can get with a steel shaft in the ...

  12. PING G430 Irons

    The standard G430 offering will feature PING's proprietary AWT 2.0 in steel and the Alta CB Black in graphite. Aftermarket offerings include Dynamic Gold, Dynamic Gold 120, Dynamic Gold 105, True Temper Elevate MPH 95, Nippon Modus3 105, KBS Tour and the Project X LS and IO. ... Nippon Modus3 105, KBS Tour and the Project X LS and IO. They ...

  13. True Temper Elevate Shaft Review

    The Elevate Tour, which I tested, is heavier and comes in three flexes. The X-Flex weighs 122 grams, stiff weighs 117 grams, and regular flex is 112 grams. The Elevate 95 is lighter and available in two flexes - stiff is 98 grams, regular is 96 grams. Per True Temper, the Elevate 95 provides higher launch and higher spin and is best for ...

  14. Shaft Comparison Tool/Chart

    1. Weight - AWT and PX LZ could be placed in around the 100-110g category. 2. Launch profile is mid to mid high for AWT to PX LZ. That rules out the Recoil on both weight and launch which would probably be too light and too high launching. A KBS Tour in Reg would be an option as would Dynamic Gold 105.

  15. Ping i200 irons with dynamic gold 105 or awt 2.0 regular flex ...

    I also like KBS shafts and will test a few of my favorites with this head. I play the Tour S in a set of MP53's and it fits that head so well. For the i200, the ball gets up anyway. You can put a low launching shaft with it and still get plenty of height. Good luck. Keep us updated. I love reading about fittings. Learn so much.

  16. Review: KBS 610 and Hi-Rev 2 wedge shafts

    The original Hi-Rev produced a launch similar to the KBS' Tour wedge shaft, but had a more active tip section for increased spin. In comparison, the Hi-Rev 2.0 is higher launching and higher spinning than the Hi-Rev. In testing, the Hi-Rev 2.0 exhibited approximately 700 more rpm of spin than the standard KBS Tour wedge shaft and 250 more rpm ...

  17. KBS Tour Vs Tour Lite

    Ball Flight Preference: KBS Tour: If you prefer a mid-launch trajectory, the KBS Tour is the better choice. KBS Tour Lite: For a higher ball flight, especially if you struggle to get the ball in the air, the Tour Lite is a suitable option. Feel and Comfort: KBS Tour: Offers a more solid and consistent feel. KBS Tour Lite: Provides a softer feel ...

  18. Ping AWT 2.0 vs NS Pro Modus3 105

    Total Rating 100%. Posted May 16, 2016. This shows my recent testing of a Ping G #7 iron with three different shafts. The first shaft was an AWT 2.0 in stiff flex (white color). The second shaft was a DG XP S300 (red color). The third shaft was a Nippon Modus 105 in stiff flex (green color).

  19. KBS Tour-V Wedge Shaft Review

    The KBS 610 wedge shaft is essentially the 'big brother' of the KBS Tour V wedge shaft, and also features a slightly larger butt diameter than the Tour V. The slightly larger butt diameter might feel ok in the hands of some players, but for others it may not. The Tour V wedge shaft is also designed to launch slightly higher than the 610.

  20. Tour

    Incorporating unique KBS technology, the KBS TOUR maximizes energy transfer for increased shot control. The KBS TOUR offers a smooth, responsive feel and is the preferred model by several of the best golfers in the world. NOTE: (.370) Parallel Shaft is a single length shaft that will be Tip & Butt Trimmed to length. Trimming CAN change how the ...

  21. Nippon 950GH Iron Shaft Review

    The NS Pro 950 is significantly lighter than the KBS Tour. Best, Matt. Francis Chong. June 8, 2018 at 9:57 pm · Reply. Hi Bill, I am 6′ 2″ tall and a 24 HC and using a Taylormade graphite SpeedBlade 2016 iron set. I happened to use a Ping i3 white dot more than 12 years ago. I still find the Ping performing good and steadier.