kbs tour v fst

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TAPER TIP TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Tour spec technical specifications.

KBS Tour V Shaft Review and Comparison to KBS Tour

Overall, our testers rated the Tour V 4.4 out of 5 based on the following:

Appearance:  Typical KBS silver finish same as their Tour shaft.

Flexes Available:    R, S and X in taper tip only, 3-9 iron (use 9 iron shaft for wedges).  From a design perspective, the thing we like is that the flexes will be consistent versus the Tour version, which does not always happen when you go to a lighter version of the same shaft.  So, if you are playing an S in the Tour, you will get very close to the same CPM in the Tour V.  Same with the R and X.

MSRP:  $75.00 USD

Availability:   KBS, qualified fitters, and select retail golf stores.

Weight Consistency:   4.8 out of 5.0

Butt Stiffness (CPM):  Consistent increase in CPM from R through X.   R will play lower end of R, S will play low-mid S, and X will play mid-X.  Consistency is 4.7 out of 5.

Tip Stiffness:   Medium

Mid Stiffness:  Medium

Balance Point:  Will yield an average swing weight.

Torque:   Good transition of higher torque in R flex to lowest torque in X flex.  Low torque rating overall.

SQI (Shaft Quality Index):  91.1 out of 100  ( Average).  The S and X flexes are the highest quality.  The test samples we received were not as consistent in the R flex.

Trajectory:  Launch angle is mid.  Tested against the Tour, the Tour V was .5 to 2.0 degrees higher launch.

Spin:  Mid spin.  The spin rate was 600 – 800 rpm lower with the Tour V than the Tour, or roughly 11% lower.

Feel:  Solid feel for all testers.  Felt smoother than the Tour for all testers.

General:   This will be a good addition to the KBS line.  Some stronger players overpower the KBS 90 but like the feel of a lighter weight shaft so the Tour V should fit that bill perfectly.

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KBS Tour V Vs KBS Tour Shaft Comparison Overview

You have to admire Kim Braley for taking on True Temper and actually making it a fight.

The KBS Tour line of shafts is his crowning achievement as a shaft designer. In fact some would argue that you simply can’t go wrong with any KBS shaft.

But you can optimize your performance by choosing a shaft that actually fits you.

So in the following overview, I will be comparing the KBS Tour to the KBS Tour V shaft.

KBS Tour V Shaft Overview

“The KBS Tour V shaft is available in regular, stiff and extra stiff flex. There are 100g, 110g and 120g weights available.”

The KBS Tour V was designed to be a lightweight option compared to the standard KBS Tour.

It lacks a 125g and 130g weight option and instead offers a 100g version which is ten grams lighter than the lightest KBS Tour shaft.

What surprised me about the KBS Tour V was that it was producing very similar spin rate figures as the heavier KBS Tour shaft.

But the KBS Tour V shaft produces slightly steeper launch angles.

KBS Tour Shaft Overview

“The KBS Tour shaft is available in regular, regular+, stiff, stiff+ and extra stiff flex. There are 110g, 115g, 120g, 125g and 130g weight options.”

The standard KBS shaft looks almost identical to the KBS Tour V.

The difference is in performance. I was getting better feedback from the KBS Tour shaft and the lower launch angles suited my fast tempo better.

The KBS Tour shaft delivers really tight dispersion as well; but you may struggle with it if you already have a low-launch swing.

“The KBS Tour V is a good lightweight alternative to the standard KBS Tour shaft.

But the standard KBS Tour is better if you can actually gain distance by keeping the ball low.”

KBS Tour V First Impressions

Our first impression was that the KBS Tour V looked like any other KBS shaft.

But when we swung it, we could feel that it actually had less feedback.

KBS Tour First Impressions

“The KBS Tour shaft gave me the confidence to fire at will.”

Even on my most aggressive swings, I got the feeling that this was essentially a point-and-shoot shaft.

KBS Tour V Pros & Cons

• Very accurate
• Good for moderate and fast tempos
• Feels stable on full swings
• Great distance
• Classic KBS looks
• Limited feedback

KBS Tour Pros & Cons

• Extremely stable
• Very tight dispersion
• Takes strong loads very well
• Stepped design

Other Shaft Options

If you aren’t sold on the KBS C Taper Lite or the KBS Tour, you should check out the KBS Max shafts.

The KBS Max 90 in particular is like the KBS C Taper Lite in that it offers similar stability, accuracy and dispersion as the heavier KBS Tour shaft.

But if you are in the market for a graphite KBS shaft, you should check out the KBS Max 65. As the name suggests, the KBS Max 65 is a 65g shaft and it feels incredibly fast. While the dispersion certainly widens up with this shaft, it would still be worth a try for slow swing speed players.

KBS Tour V Shaft Specs

Kbs tour specs.

Weight : 110g, 115g, 120g, 125g, 130g (taper), 120g, 130g, 133g (parallel)

Flex : Regular, R+, Stiff, Stiff+, extra stiff (taper), regular, stiff, extra stiff (parallel)

Length : 37.5”-41” (taper), 43.5” (parallel)

Tip : .355” (taper), .370” (parallel)

Butt : .600”

Who Should Buy it?

Muted spin? Check! Tight dispersion? Check! Classic KBS feel? Not so much.

The lack of clear feedback was our biggest gripe about this shaft. Some players may also have issues with excessive rollout. Nevertheless, the KBS Tour V is a great distance iron shaft and it is as accurate as promised.

Overall Score: 95/100

Check out more reviews here:.

Who Should Buy the KBS Tour?

“Players who demand ultimate stability on powerful loads.”

This is the shaft that can keep up with your most powerful swings and should fit heavy hitters like a glove.

Overall Score: 98/100

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Which KBS iron shaft is best for you?

Published: 22 September 2022 Last updated: 17 January 2024

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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).

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 graphite iron shaft swing speed recommendations

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 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?

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.

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.

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.

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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• WRX Club Techs

KBS Tour by FST the same as KBS Classic?

By twixster888 May 23, 2021 in WRX Club Techs

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Twixster888.

I hit a iron club that had the KBS Tour by FST stiff flex. it fit my swing perfect and i want to replicate a used set with those shaft in it. i tried looking on KBS website for more info but it doesn't have any mention of FST part. i tried looking for some shaft pulls on ebay with the FST on the logo but not having any luck there. Could someone direct me or have any information about the KBS Tour by FST? Would i be able to find those shaft on FST website that would have the same spec and play?

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KBS Tour shaft   FST is the parent company   FST  shafts are cheaper and  softer in flex   The FST  stepped in stiff plus or X  maybe close  but the KBS Tour is the one y

KBS Tour shaft

FST is the parent company

FST  shafts are cheaper and  softer in flex

The FST  stepped in stiff plus or X  maybe close  but the KBS Tour is the one you are after

Cool...thanks for reply

Kbs is made by FST but 125 in FST isn’t close to 130x in kbs. The price is also the different FST is about half the price of KBS

2 hours ago, Got941 said: Kbs is made by FST but 125 in FST isn’t close to 130x in kbs. The price is also the different FST is about half the price of KBS

I said the fst s plus or even x maybe close to the Kbs tour  stiff but he would better with the kbs as fst play weaker 

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KBS Tour-V Wedge Shaft Review

More in shafts:.

50 Words or Less

The KBS Tour-V wedge shaft is a great extension beyond your pitching wedge, but isn’t necessarily a spin maximizer.

Introduction

The wedge portion of the bag tends to be a make or break portion for a lot of golfers from the high-handicap amateur through the scratch player.  The fact of the matter is that understanding your needs and your own game is no easy task.  Some players need a shaft in their wedge to generate as much spin as possible whereas other players are looking for their sand wedge to play as an extension of their iron set.   The KBS Tour-V wedge shaft does the latter and is very strong in doing so.

If you have any familiarity with KBS shafts, the KBS Tour-V wedge shaft will come as no surprise.  The look is a plain chrome shaft with steps and a simple KBS shaft band that’s prevalent enough to let you know what your shaft is, but far from distracting.  Simplicity goes a long way with steel shafts and this fact is not lost on KBS.

Feel is a bit interesting for the KBS Tour-V wedge shaft .  You can definitely feel the ball, but you don’t necessarily have a super dialed in and in-tune feel.  For comparative purposes, most wedge shafts that are designed to have a little extra response in the hands are going to have more feel than the KBS Tour-V wedge shaft.  Generally, the Tour-V wedge shaft excels on full shots like it’s an extension of your iron set and gets a little stout for the touch shots closer to the green.  If you’re looking for a little more life in your wedge shaft, I would strongly recommend going with a different option.  If you’re looking to hit your sand and lob wedges better with full swings, the Tour-V wedge shaft is exactly the feel you’re looking for.

Performance

As you have likely noticed by now, I keep mentioning that the KBS Tour-V wedge shaft is a great extension of your iron set and not so much a pitch and chip high-spin monster.  Installed in my 54º sand wedge, I was hitting the Tour-V wedge shaft 100 to 115 yard shots just as easy as a pitching wedge , but when I had to be cute around the green, I struggled.  To “check my math” I dumped the same club in the hands of a scratch player and club fitter at Club Champion, and he found the same thing.  His feedback was that he could really step on it for fuller shots, but he felt the stout feeling and response around the green made it one-trick pony for him near the green.  There’s nothing wrong with that if it fits your game, but it’s an important factor to keep in mind as you set up your bag and decide what’s important to you in your club rig.

At the time of this review, I’m still in the midst of figuring out what my wedge game looks like at “this stage of my career.”  When I feel good around the greens, I’m terrible using them as full swing clubs.  When I’m good using a sand wedge for that 100 yard shot, it seems I struggle around the green.  What I’ve found with the KBS Tour-V wedge shaft , along with the feedback from some other golfers, is that it’s a great option for full swing shots .  Around the greens, the Tour-V was great for pitches that were kept relatively low and ran out, but not for biting and stopping on a dime.  The Tour-V is a good shaft, you just need to make sure you know how it responds for you.

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Hey Bill- Thanks for all of your great reviews and insight. How would you compare the Tour V Wedge shaft and the 610 Wedge shaft as far as launch and spin. Also, which, in your opinion, is “easier” to work with as far as different trajectory and spin? Thanks for your assistance and input

Bill no longer writes for Plugged In Golf, so he cannot answer this question.

@Merlin Both wedge shafts are low spin shafts. 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. I have been testing the Tour V 125 S+ in my 50*-degree gap wedge, and have found it becoming more and more comfortable to hit as time goes on, as it is basically like a point-and-shoot sniper rifle, designed to reduce dispersion as much as possible when attacking pins. The step pattern of the Tour V wedge shaft is also quite condensed to allow for thicker shaft walls to reach further down the length of the shaft, as this is what helps it eliminate dispersion, but may also make it feel too “stout” in the hands of some players. The Tour V is quite a stiff feeling shaft I would say, but for players who are physically strong enough to swing it or generally prefer gaming stiffer shafts, it’s a wedge shaft that should work quite well. I would also recommend the Tour V as a good shaft to try for players who have a quicker, more violent swing transition from backswing to fore-swing. However, the Tour V is also available in lighter iron shaft weights (100g/110g/120g), so the 9i-PW shaft from either one of that trio of weights could potentially be used as a lighter, less stiff substitute for the tour spec S+ 125g mentioned above in this article. Most notably, Phil Mickelson uses the KBS Tour V 125g S+ in all of his irons and all of his wedges, as this shaft was originally designed for him by KBS with his input before it was released to the general market.

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KBS Tour 90 Shaft Review

Kbs tour 90 shaft.

The KBS Tour 90 shaft is the lightest steel shaft in the KBS lineup and designed to give players more spin, a higher trajectory, and greater swing speeds.  Though still a firm shaft design, the Tour 90 has softer tip and higher center of gravity to help players get the ball in air with more distance.  Players with lower swing speeds and smoother tempos looking for more distance are a good fit for this iron shaft.  If that’s you, read on.

How Does it Feel?

Let’s not beat around the bush here – the KBS Tour 90 shaft feels extremely light for a steel shaft.  This is, of course, by design to fit a certain type of player or swing.  In fact, the Tour 90 is actually 20% lighter than a standard steel shaft .  While the Tour 90 has a “firm shaft design,” the lighter weight and “2-Flex system” make the shaft feel a little more flexible than normal.  The shaft is very smooth in its kick, but anything other than a smooth tempo’d swing will be a struggle.  Feedback and response is good in your hands, but again, you need a smooth tempo in your swing.  I found anything the least bit aggressive felt sloppy and out of control.  Smooth and easy is the ticket here.

I want to point out that “smooth and easy” doesn’t mean you need to be slow.  You can have plenty of swing speed with the Tour 90 as long as you have the right tempo.  If you don’t fit that profile, this shaft could feel a bit noodley to you.  Keep that in mind!

On-Course Performance

Ultimately, the KBS Tour 90 and Tour 105 performed very similarly for me.  My spin was virtually identical with an average differential of only two rpms between the two shafts.  On average, however, I launched the Tour 90 about a degree higher.  Where I saw the biggest difference with the Tour 90 shaft compared to the rest of the KBS family was in the short irons.  I launched my pitching wedge and 9 iron notably higher and with more spin than any other shaft in the KBS lineup.

Final Thoughts – KBS Tour 90 Shaft

In my opinion, the KBS Tour 90 is best suited for players with lower swing speeds and smooth pure tempos .  If that’s you, you’re absolutely perfect for this shaft.  Let’s be honest, these other 120-gram stiff steel shafts can be really difficult for a lot of players to snap into the air with good carry that ends with that high apex followed by a soft fall to the ground.  Instead you see a more looping shot that creates more of a parabola and less of a triangle through the air barely getting above a low tree line. (#geometry)

If you’re looking for some help getting the ball in the air with good carry, and want to stay in a steel shaft, the KBS Tour 90 is definitely worth a swing.  Seniors, I’m looking at you – albeit not exclusively.

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40 Comments

Hi Bill, how would you compare this to say the XP95 R300 and Nippon Modus 105 R? I had the Mizuno swing analyser suggest these 3 for me – avg 7i swing speed is about 73mph when swinging smoothly

I honestly couldn’t tell you. I don’t have any real extensive experience with the other two shafts.

I am a beginner golfer and struggling using this kbs tour 90 Shaft. Any word of advice?

In what way are you struggling?

I got fit into Tour 90’ Stiff last summer despite having decent swing speed. I hit my 7 iron 165 yards, but with a smooth tempo and not aggressive transition. Mid to early release. I was skeptical since many describe these as shafts for slower swing speeds and seniors. Definitely higher ball flight, but not losing distance compared to the DG S300’s I played previously. Is this in line with your impressions Of how these might fit a player with more swing speed?

You have to remember that it’s not an exact science. There’s the “snowflake” element in that everyone has their own unique swing and will respond to different equipment differently. That’s why you really have to take any description from a product page or review at sort of a surface level. For instance, there are many low spin/launch shafts that I hit high and spin the living daylights out of while someone else might hit low knuckle balls. Know what I mean?

The reality is, it’s dialing in the combination of your speed, tempo/transition style, and natural shot to figure it out.

I think my question to you is that you’re looking back at something you were fit for a year ago. Have you been playing this shaft? If so, how has been for you? If you haven’t been, you got fit a year ago, it might be worth seeing if that’s still the right fit for you.

Ha, I guess its just my ego looking for some validation. I have been playing these shafts over the past year, and now that I have settled in and learned to stay smooth, I have been hitting my irons so much better. My ball flight is surprisingly higher, but I’m hitting my irons just as far, if not further than the old shafts. To your point, everyone is unique in their swing, and it’s not always about how fast you swing it, but how you swing it fast. The proof is in the pudding, so I should probably not second guess it so much. I should be happy to hit Ladies flex if it meant better golf shots!

It sounds like you’ve been playing them pretty well for a year. I don’t think you need any validation unless you’re looking to improve something. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take the clicks on the posts all day! But don’t go back second guessing a good shaft for you unless you’re actively looking to improve, fix, or change something.

I have the kbs tour 90 r regular shaft on my mizuno hot metal 919 irons ..I feel like every club is going too high and losing distance ..my p 9 8 seems to all be going same distance about 100-125 which is short for me and 5 6 7 distances are all inconsistent ..could this be result of too light or shaft not stiff enough ???

Could really be a wide range of things. It sounds to me like it’s too light for however you swing the club. Were you professionally fit for this setup?

Also might be worth verifying your lofts and lies.

Would these be a good fit for me. Im looking at the mizuno 921 irons. My swing speed is only 80/90mph and just started playing & im off 24. If could help be great. Can get a set from my pro shop but they have kbs tour.

Hard to say without seeing how you actually hit the ball with it. In theory, they should be easier to launch higher with a smooth and easy swing.

I wouldn’t consider your handicap as a determining factor here, fyi. Handicaps can be based off of many elements within your game let alone how an iron shaft is affecting your ball flight.

Hopefully that helps.

Could you tcompare with Project x flijghted 5.5 and KBS 90 S?

I haven’t hit the flighted PX in so long in general, and never in a regular flex. I couldn’t even begin to make that comparison for you.

This is a really good review and fits what my club fitting found. A question, do you think the shafts should go through the SST Pure Process? Is this really worth the extra $30 per club?

That’s sort of a tough one that I can see from every direction. I personally think PUREing a shaft is a great option if this set is a long-term investment. If you’re going to play these clubs for up to 10 years, may as well go all out and do it right. If you’re a regular switcher, that’s a lot of money.

Modern shafts are arguably better constructed and the seams on the shaft aren’t as impacting. Different people have different opinions here, thus my use of “arguably”. At the end of the day, it is a lot of extra money so it sort of comes down to the point above for me.

I will say, I have had some shafts PUREd where I’ve absolutely noticed the difference, and others where I haven’t. I 100% believe in PUREing, but I think experience will vary from player to player and shaft to shaft.

I am reshafting irons for my kid, he is 13 y/o, He´s been using accra 50i for a year and a half but 1 month ago he´s been struggling with the accras. Bought this shafts kbs 90 in stiff flex but I will put them soft stepped, what´s your opinion? swing speed in irons 84 mph average.

Tough to say without any real sense of how he physically responds to them. Yeah, it’s a lightweight shaft, but pretty apples to oranges with the ACCRA he’s currently using. There are a variety of reasons the ACCRA could be causing problems with him. Shaft profile, flex, weight, etc. Sort of have to narrow that down through testing to really advise on next steps. I think I would ask, how do you know a soft stepped stiff is the answer? Why not a regular flex? Or not a “regular stepped” stiff? Regardless, the shift you’re looking to make likely isn’t out of the realm of possibilities, but would need much more data to really have any opinions. It’s basically the concept of getting fit for the gear.

thanks for your comments, Basicallly he grew up almost 8″ the past six months, he is going to be growing up and increasing speed (slowly I know), That´s why I am not buying new irons, just reshafting their callaway apex cf19 that came short in lenght and speed. Sort of anticipating he will need gradually stiff in the short time, the soft stepping will be an approach to stiff without being stiff.

Don’t get me wrong, I can fully understand a growing boy will need to make some gear changes. For sure. I’m just saying, I think there are a lot of variables to consider if you don’t want to just take a shot in the dark. He may just literally get along with the shaft because it just isn’t a match for how it feels in his hands, know what I mean?

I know what you mean, that´s why I thanked your comment. We are going with that shaft and in certain point it is a shot in the dark or definitively it is, but we are in Mexico, traveling to USA is almost impossible due to pandemia and it is the real and one solution that I have in this moment. Sincerely I really appreciate your opinion.

Certainly understandable.

Out of curiosity, what is the fitting industry like in Mexico? Would be interested to know!

really bad and expensive. Most fitters work like staff pros, mainly taylormade, the others work without trackman and there are some of them working professional but in these pandemia conditions orders of new clubs are taking 8 weeks or more. We have some tournaments ahead and have no time to wait that amount of time.

Very interesting. So referring back to your previous comment, in non-COVID times, do you guys usually travel to the US for this kind of stuff?

yes we do very often, in fact last time we fitted at club champions and irons were assembled in LA

Crazy! Thanks for the insight, I love learning about how this game operates outside of the US! Thanks for stopping by and the comments!

thanks Bill for your comments and your expertise about shafts, made me hesitate haha

what´s your opinion between the kbs tour 90 and the kbs tour flt series 110 gr?

Hmmm. I’m not particularly sure. Been awhile since I’ve hit either and couldn’t really fairly compare them now.

For me, 20 grams is a fairly significant weight difference. Nevermind anything else with the shaft design.

Hi, I was fitted a year ago with Mizuno JPX 919 forged irons and the KBS tour 90 regular shafts. WOW, what a difference, even from other KBX shafts. Bottom line is I 100% agree with you that a professional fitting is the ONLY way to go. As soon as the lockdown is over in my part of Canada, I am going to get fitted for driver thru rescue. Thanks so much for the excellent reviews!

I tried these today on a Forged Tec 7iron. I like a lighter shaft and have 100-110 swing speed. Carry was on average 165-170 and it landed soft with minimal roll and sometimes backspin. Had 4.5k-5k spin and was just really liking the feel.

Judging by the description though, I feel like I should be looking at something else?

Would you have any pointers to something else I should try or I should just gun for it?

I mean, if everything you’re experiencing with it says “good to go”, who cares what it says on a piece of paper about what’s supposed to happen? Everyone has a unique swing and response to equipment. What you just experienced is the exact reason why it’s important to test/fit and not just buy based on what a description says.

I have been playing the KBS Tour 90 Stiff (102g) in 2016 Titleist AP1, for five years.

The positives: These shafts feel absolutely wonderful to me. I have an average swing speed and a moderate to smooth tempo, as described in the review. I’m 55 years old, average build, and I hit a well struck 7i about 155-160 yards. They feel really smooth to me, and easy to swing (as opposed to TT DG’s and PX’s, which I hit straight as an arrow, but have to work my butt off with to make good, consistent contact). I have tried them in multiple other iron heads (Mizuno JPX Forged and HMP, Callaway Apex, Taylormade P790), and I hit all of those irons basically the same with that shaft. They don’t all “feel” the same because the heads are different, but I get similar ball flight with all of them with this shaft. It’s obvious, this shaft fits me.

The negatives: There are times on the range (but rarely on the golf course), when I feel like the short irons are ballooning a little. They still travel appropriate distances, but they go very high. This is especially problematic when I play or practice in the wind. Mostly, the PW and 9i. I can bring rain with my PW on some days. But, I think that may be my swing, since some days I hit my blade Cleveland gap wedge a mile in the air on the range, as well. I am in the market for new irons this spring, and I have a Club Champion fitting in April. I plan to start with the Tour 90 in the new irons, and then try the lightest flex Tour 105 (I think it’s about 110g) to see if I can bring that short iron ball flight down a little without killing my middle and long iron flight, which is quite good now.

What is the weight for KBS 90 Regular shaft and Siff shaft ?

Take a look on KBS’s site. They should have those specs. If not, they will be able to provide them if you reach out to them.

Have a 16 son who can hit it 240-250 (good drive) so I would say above average swing speed but not crazy. He has a very old “set” of DCIs…thinking about Takomo which use these shafts.

Generally speaking, these KBS in a stiff probably would be a reasonable fit?

Hard to say based on just the information you provided, but in theory, he should have the swing speed to get a KBS 90 through. Stiff flex could give room for growth, but also possible he will also get bigger and stronger in the next few seasons and need a heavier shaft. Also possible he won’t. If you can do any testing/fitting, you absolutely should for his benefit.

Hi Bill I bought a set of Honma’s TW737P irons, they have the extra stiff Vizard shaft which is way to stiff for me, I was told the KBS tour 90 shaft would be a good fit, I’m 62 still in good shape, swing speed. 95 to 100, I hit the ball high already should I look at a heavier shaft in the KBS tour shaft line up or just try the KBS Tour 90, I would greatly appreciate your input.

Tough to say with just that information, but I would guess if you’re swinging driver around 95-100, already hit the ball high, KBS 90 might not be ideal. That’s based off of limited information and a blind guess, but it’s going to be a higher-flight shaft on paper. The ultimate best thing to do is to get fit and see how your particular swing responds to specific equipment combinations. That interaction is generally unpredictable and why testing/fitting is so important.

Great review. I had A flex graphite shafts with my old set. I hit the ball much more consistent with the KBS 90 steel shafts. Great for my slow swing speed. Smooth tempo does help alot, Sometimes I tend to rush. Thanks

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KBS Tour 90 Review – Setting A New Standard In Steel Shafts

The story of KBS Tour shafts is the joining of two paths into a committed partnership aiming to establish a new vision of golf shaft performance and design.

FEMCO Steel Technology (FST), the golf branch of the Far East Machinery Co. Ltd, aims to provide high-quality and cost-effective steel products including golf shafts through constant innovation and technological advancements. FST continues to provide high-quality shafts at affordable prices.

Kim Braly designed innovative golf shafts throughout his career. He has validated his designs with golfers playing on the various professional golf tours. Furthermore, Kim used feedback from these golfers in the development of new products.

In 2008 FST America Corporation decided to partner with the most sought-after golf shaft designers to incorporate pioneering designs with its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. This led to the partnership between FST and Kim Braly.

Since its launch, KBS has set a new standard in steel shafts with its unparalleled growth and acclaim.

KBS shafts have grown a significant share of the market and are now used in the irons of most major golfing brands as standard or for custom fitment. It is swiftly turning into the fastest growing steel shaft brand in the industry.

Adopted by over 150 professionals, the KBS Tour shafts have recorded multiple wins including several majors.

KBS Tour 90 Review

1. project x lz, 2. n.s. modus 3 shaft, final thoughts, related articles.

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• Stable tip section
• Higher CG location
• Firm shaft design
• Light-weight construction
• Good trajectory
• 2-flex system
• Not suitable for fast tempo golf swings

Design and Technology

As the lightest shaft in the KBS Tour range, the KBS Tour 90 shaft is designed to offer golfers with a slow tempo more spin, a higher trajectory, and distance.  It is 20% lighter than a standard steel shaft thus aiding increasing swing, ball speeds, and distance.

The firm shaft design on the Tour 90 offers a softer tip with a higher center of gravity to create a higher ball trajectory.

Combined with the 2-Flex system on the KBS Tour 90 offer a more flexible than the normal shaft.

Specifications

Tapered tip technical specifications.

Regular shaft flex:

• Tip diameter .355 inches
• Butt diameter .600 inches
• Length 36.5 inches to 40.5inches
• Available for 2-iron through 9-iron, and PW

Stiff shaft flex:

• Weight 102g
• Available for 2-iron through 9-iron

Parallel tip technical specifications

• Weight 101g
• Tip diameter .370 inches
• Length 41.25 inches

.370 Parallel shaft is a single length shaft that will be tip and butt trimmed to your required length which can change how the shaft will play.

For the best feel, you must have a smooth tempo. You can still achieve a high swing speed even if you have a smooth tempo.

With the right tempo, you will receive precise feedback on the impact point of the ball on the clubface. No tingle to your fingers even on the coldest days.

Its kick is remarkably smooth with the right tempo swing but if your tempo is too fast, you are sure to encounter difficulties.

Performance

KBS TOUR 90 is the lightest shaft in the KBS Tour range designed for golfers requiring a higher trajectory, additional spin, and maximum distance.

Performance on the short irons is most noticeable with the wedges and 9-iron generating a high trajectory and more spin. This gives you great green-side control.

Golfers with a moderate-to-slow swing speed and slow tempo will achieve the best performance from the KBS Tour 90.

Independent testing reveals that the KBS Tour 90 to be in the region of 9% longer and generate 5% more spin than its foremost rivals.

Alternatives

Project X shafts are used on all professional tours and a follow up on the Project X Standard version making it accessible to golfers that have swing speed that is lower than that of professional golfers.

Variable wall thickness creates an extra kick at compact for a mid-launch trajectory without sacrificing stability.

Although this is the closest you will come to a universal shaft, it is highly recommended that you conduct proper testing to ensure that the shaft is suited to your swing.

All shafts measure between 36.5 and 40 inches in length, with a tip diameter of 0.355 inches and a butt diameter of 0.600 inches, and produce a mid-flight launch trajectory.

Weight varies between 110g and 125g with 5g intervals.

Flex is available in R, S, and XS.

Nippon’s comprehensive golf shaft use weight and bend to suit every golf swing and tempo offering improved control over trajectory, distance, and direction.

Nippon excels in three key areas

• Desired trajectory
• Accurate distance
• Tight dispersion

The high tip rigidity design steadies the tip through impact thereby reducing unwanted spin, low mid-section rigidity control shaft flex for enhanced control, and the low butt rigidity improve tempo for a smoother feeling on impact.

Shafts are available in 105g, 120g, 125g, and 130g and R, S, X, TX flex options

The shaft lengths vary between 37 and 41 inches, with a tip diameter of 0.355 inches and a butt diameter of 0.600 inches.

Amalgamating the paths of Kim Braly and FST America Corporation In 2008 was a turning point in the golf shaft industry.

The KBS Tour 90 is 20% lighter than comparable steel shafts and ideally suited for golfers with a moderate swing tempo that requires a higher ball trajectory.

Happy golfing with your higher trajectory.

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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.

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Review: KBS Tour FLT Shafts

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Review: Single-length Sterling Irons

Review: TaylorMade M2 Fairway Woods

300 Yard Pro

Jun 27, 2016 at 4:36 pm

KBS are yesterdays news.

Canadian Smizzle

Jun 26, 2016 at 10:11 am

I use a set of flighted shafts (project x). And i love them. Definetely helps my 4i get up more. I always hit a low ball so i like the extra launch and spin.

Jun 26, 2016 at 7:52 am

So basically the same what a joke.

Scotty Johnson

Jun 26, 2016 at 9:02 am

How is it a joke? Seems logical….updated version of the old rifle flighted…..instead of decending weight it’s constant weight. With KBS signature feel a stability and step pattern…And I’m sure the bent tip jokes will be coming at some point. But I’ve enjoyed the set I have especially with my PXG irons.

Jun 27, 2016 at 7:12 am

Look at the real life numbers for the 6 iron and pw.6 iron was meant to go higher and pw lower but both didnt. Thats why its a joke.

Jun 27, 2016 at 11:31 am

From the description it’s designed for people who have issues launching the ball with longer irons and lower with the shorter irons. Obviously the writer isn’t the target audience and stated that. So your ignorance is the joke and why it’s important to get fit. Instead of being a know it all like yourself.

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Insider photos from tiger woods’ launch event for his new “sun day red” apparel line.

On Monday evening, inside the swanky, second-story “Coach House” event center in the Palisades Village, just minutes down the road from the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods and TaylorMade officially announced their new apparel/footwear/accessory line, called “Sun Day Red.”

The Sun Day Red website officially launched on Monday night during the event, and the products are set to go on sale starting May 1.

The “Sun Day Red,” or “SDR” name will be self-explanatory for most golf fans, since he’s been wearing a victory-red shirt on Sunday’s for his entire professional career, but Woods explained the meaning of Sun Day Red at the launch event:

“It started with mom. Mom thought – being a Capricorn – that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red; Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

The Sunday Red outfit has worked to perfection for his 82 PGA Tour victories, including 15 majors, so why not make an entire apparel line based on the career-long superstition?

As I learned at Monday’s launch event, the new Sun Day Red line includes much more than just clothing. To go along with a slew of different golf shirt designs and colorways, there were also windbreakers, hoodies, shoes, hats, headcovers, ball markers and gloves on display.

The upscale event was hosted by sports media personality Erin Andrews, with special guests David Abeles (CEO of TaylorMade) and Tiger Woods himself.

As explained by Abeles, the Sun Day Red brand is an independently-run business under the TaylorMade umbrella, and is based in San Clemente, California (rather than Carlsbad, where TaylorMade headquarters is located), and it’s run by a newly-formed, independent group. Brad Blackinship, formerly of Quiksilver and RVCA, is the appointed president of the new brand.

As for the logo itself, obviously, it’s made to look like a Tiger (the animal), and is comprised of 15 tiger stripes, which correspond with Woods’ 15 major championships. While the logo may need a 16th stripe if Woods adds a major trophy to his collection, it makes perfect sense for the time being.

The golf/lifestyle line is meant to combine premium precision and athletic comfort, while still having plenty of wearability and style off the course. Like Woods said on stage at the event, he wants to be able to go right from the course to dinner wearing Sun Day Red, and that was exactly the aesthetic on display at the event on Monday.

Following the official announcement from Woods and Abeles, they revealed multiple pieces of clothing, accessories and footwear for the event-goers to ogle (and photograph). Check out a selection of product/event photos below, or head over to our @GolfWRX Instagram page for video coverage…OR, head into our GolfWRX Forums for even more photos and member discussion.

Enjoy this exclusive look at Tiger Woods’ new Sun Day Red apparel lineup below.

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

Titleist launches new Vokey WedgeWorks 60 “A” grind wedge

The menu of grind options just got more expansive for Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks consumers, with the addition of a “60A” wedge to the lineup.

Previously, Vokey offered seven main grind options for players with various needs :

• T Grind: The narrowest sole option, which is widely used by PGA Tour players, and has low bounce
• L Grind: The lowest bounce option, with heel, toe and trailing edge relief for maximum versatility
• F Grind: An all-purpose grind that’s best for full wedge shots played with a square face
• S Grind: A neutral grind, best for full shots played with a square face
• M Grind: A versatile grind that’s for players who want to open and close the face for various shots
• D Grind: A higher-bounce wedge that’s for players with a steep swing angle, but want to play shots from various club orientations
• K Grind: The highest-bounce wedge option, with heel, toe and trailing edge relief for versatility

Titleist has now added the “A” grind, which has actually already been played on the PGA Tour by golfers such as Tom Kim, who used an A-grind to win three times on the PGA Tour, Wyndham Clark, who won the U.S. Open using an A-grind, and Max Homa, who used an A-grind at the 2023 Open Championship.

According to Titleist, the Vokey WedgeWorks 60A wedge is a low-bounce option that’s for golfers with a shallow angle of attack, and who play in firmer conditions. It has a “smoothed-out” sole for a faster feel through the turf, helping some golfers slide under the ball easier at impact.

“The most important club for me, probably in my bag, is this A grind,” Clark said, according to a Titleist press release. “I use the SM9 60-degree A grind, which is a low bounce 60 that is very versatile. I’m able to – on tight lies, rough, wet lies, firm lies, whatever it is – hit the shot I want, and with the amount of spin I want, trajectory and everything.”  

Apparently, Geoff Ogilvy played a large part in the A-grind coming to life.

“I spoke with Geoff (Ogilvy), and we got on the topic of Australian golf courses and how they compared to courses in America, and around the world,” said Vokey Tour Rep Aaron Dill, in a press release. “I asked him some specific questions, which resulted in an idea to design another lob wedge grind option that complemented the firm links-style conditions that players face – not just in Australia and Europe – but globally. Geoff has always been a low bounce player in his 60-degree, so I took his 60.04L wedge and removed the ribbon, resulting in a grind that moves through the turf quickly with very little resistance.” 

The new Vokey A-grind will be available on Nov. 7, selling for $225 each. Custom options include up to six toe engravings, 10-15 character stamping options, the Flight Line alignment feature option, and custom shafts/grips/ferrules are available.

Click here to read more about why the bounce/grind of your wedge actually matters

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GolfWRXers put the Full Swing KIT’s accuracy to the test

Last month, four GolfWRX forum members traveled to The Grand Golf Club at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, California, to test the Full Swing KIT launch monitor and to see how it stacks up against other launch monitors. If you’re not familiar with the Full Swing KIT , development began when Tiger Woods requested a launch monitor he could trust on the range as much as he trusted his Full Swing simulator in his own home. Later, the KIT earned Tiger’s seal of approval and has been seen with him at every tournament he’s played in since its release.

GolfWRX members on the KIT’s accuracy

zap311: “The Full Swing team seems obsessed with accuracy when it comes to the KIT – The team talked about how this product officially shipped about 18 months ago and they are already on firmware release #20. They said they are regularly releasing updates (overnight via WiFi) to continuously improve accuracy and performance. That is pretty awesome and it’s nice to hear that they are not a company that “ships it” and moves to the next thing. I think they are on the right track since I saw virtually no differences in the data when testing vs. GCQuad and Trackman today.”

double or triple?: “In some cases the difference was less than half a degree on launch and less than 50 rpms on spin.”

hatrick11: “The differences were statistically nonexistent. I think it’s hard to believe for a lot of people when you think about the huge price disparity, but I can’t state enough how close the Full Swing was to trackman every single time, for each of us.”

“Outside, the data is just really really accurate. I know my numbers and know this particular range very well and the KIT was spot on all day. I also had some very variable quality golf balls in the bucket I hit and there was really only one spin rate in the whole session that had me raising my eyebrows at all.”

SwingBlues: “The GolfWRX Full Swing/WRX Experience showed Full Swing KIT produce numbers the same as the GC Quad (GC4) and the Trackman4. Dollar wise, both LMs are easily north of KIT, so this is HUGE to stand up there with the bigger boys on the Podium. For me, it seems more “apples to apples” to compare KIT to GC3. My own testing validates what we saw at the Experience. It shows critical data points like spin, carry, ball speeds are dead on or almost dead on for 40 yards and up on both GC3 and KIT.”

More on the Full Swing KIT

zap311: “The versatility of viewing data is impressive – Depending on usage, everyone has different preferences for viewing data. You have on-device, phone, tablet, monitor, smartwatch, or audio/headphones. I’m pleased to say that Full Swing covers all of these. You can use the app on iOS devices (they said Android is planned for the future). This includes viewing your last shot on the Apple Watch with a few options and turning on audio playback of your preferred metrics following each shot. I’ll post screenshots of this later. You can also choose between 4 data points or 1 data point on the device itself. It was easy to use the app to customize the top 4. For example, I was able to quickly change from launch angle on irons to swing path on driver.

“The KIT was very easy to use – Once you spend a few minutes learning the app and settings, it is very simple to select a club, line up the target line, and fire away. You don’t have to use a level or a laser to line up. KIT uses the built-in camera to tell you where to line up within the app or on-device screen. I was also able to boot up the KIT in less than a minute and drop it down on the tee box for our on-course trial today. Because of this simplicity, I can see it being more practical to bring to the course…

“The Full Swing team really thought through usability for the KIT. You can see up to four data points on the device’s OLED screen. You can see all 16 data points on your iPhone/iPad along with a video replay of the shot, you can view one primary metric from your Apple Watch, and you can enable audio playback for any of the 16 data points. For me, this was a dream as a full iOS user. One other feature I like is that you can star a particular shot to save it. You can also send shot data + the video recording to your coach if you want.”

double or triple?: “I was able to meet the teaching pro at the range I’m using for testing – PGA teacher/member Ryan Kolk. He and his team have 4 units amongst themselves and use them both personally and with their students during lessons. Ryan spent time dialing in his knowledge of the range balls vs proV1x (gamer) to better understand the FSK and he believes the consistency is there with the FSK and within trackman and GC/Foresight models. His preference is to use FSK while testing shafts and new product before using them in his personal playing bag which as a GolfWRX member is 100% appreciated. For his better students, he believes the information like Face to Path and Club Path that FullSwing Kit offers is great to help them understand what their swing is doing and use that information to better themselves.”

hatrick11: “It’s nice to know I can get super useful practice sessions in at my house, and can do in in ~20 min stints; with two little kids at home I can’t just go out for frequent or lengthy range sessions, so this is super valuable and I think will help me keep my game from degrading and allow me to spend my limited free time enjoying the occasional round with friends. In particular with the KIT, as opposed to the cheaper monitors or the other “mid tiers” like GC3, seeing path and face-to-path data is the key item that makes my practice sessions useful…when I am grooving it my path is almost always between 0-2* out to in, with face control being the main thing I need to work on. When my game goes sideways I start coming more in to out, and combined with face consistency being an ongoing issue, that brings the bad left miss into play. Previously I have struggled getting real use out of net practice, because the feels don’t always match reality. This data and video evidence really helps keep me honest, so it was great to see that I was eventually able to get that piece dialed in with KIT.”

SwingBlues: “One feature I am really starting to like is how easy to see the video of each shot. My buddy was not hitting it well, we went to the video and we could see the takeway was too far to the outside.”

“Using the app, it will display all 16 data points. Below is an example of one of my iron shots. Pretty impressive data captured by KIT. On KIT itself, the launch monitor display can be configured to show a single data point, or it can show a grid of 4 data points where the golfer choose which ones to display!”

Head over to the thread for more comments, reviews, and future updates as our members continue to test the Full Swing KIT. Don’t forget to become a member today for future opportunities like this, plus product member testing and giveaways!

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KBS Tour Custom Black .355 Steel Iron Shafts

Shaft services optional, description.

The KBS TOUR shaft is Kim Braly’s signature model for players desiring shot versatility with a mid trajectory, piercing flight, and smooth all-around feel. Incorporating signature KBS technology, the KBS TOUR shaft maximizes energy transfer within an intelligent shaft design for better trajectory and shot control.

• Durable Black Pearl finish
• .355" taper tip diameter 

Club #/Length - #3/40.5", #4/40", #5/39.5", #6/39", #7/38.5", #8/38", #9 & Wedge/37.5"

Trimming Instructions

KBS Custom Shafts

Independently proven for long-lasting durability, the KBS CUST...

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This product can expose you to chemicals including black (airborne, unbound particles of respirable size), which is know to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov .

Shaft Services

Important Note: Please provide Current contact information. Customer service may require further information before proceeding with your order.

PUREing - $25.00

SST PURE identifies asymmetries that exist in every golf shaft and locates each shaft's most stable orientation. This results in more consistent performance and uniform feel from club to club.

Tip Prepping - $2.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. When you receive your shaft, all you need to do is mix epoxy, install and align. After the epoxy is cured, cut to your final playing length from the butt end and install the grip.

Tip & Butt Trimming - $4.95

Shafts are tip trimmed (if required) to manufacturer’s recommendations. For steel shafts, we abrade the tips. For graphite shafts, we remove the polyurethane coating. After tip trimming and prepping, the shafts are butt trimmed to the desired final playing length*.

Club Playing Length

Our playing length chart is available here .

* The exact model, club head number, and desired final playing length is required for butt trimming to be possible.

* The club number and or loft is require for tip prepping on most parallel (.335" and .370") golf shafts.