Shafts

Breakthrough Rolls Out Stability Tour Putter Shaft

Stability Tour shaft is the result of feedback from the best golfers and coaches in the world and offers the same state-of-the-art performance as the Original Stability Shaft.

Barney Adams, Breakthrough Golf CEO, states “Introducing a tour model is just a natural progression of the brand. Stability clearly has filled a void in the putter category and now golfers who want to play exactly what the pros play will have that option with Stability Tour.”

Stability Tour Features:

Look. Streamline, slim look which tapers to a 13 percent reduction in the shaft diameter. Stability Tour also offers a complete blackout appearance to reduce line of sight distraction.
Balance. Stability Tour will balance like a steel shaft which makes it easy to recreate a specific swing weight when re-shafting. Better golfers can replace their steel shaft without appreciably changing the balance of the putter. This allows the most discerning players to achieve precise specifications on their equipment.
Feel. Offers a softer feel. It will match the balance point and flex profile of steel with 30% more carbon fiber for crisp, responsive sound and control preferred by discerning golfers and tour professionals.

The Stability Tour shaft is designed with BGT’s patented Advanced Materials Technology, a scientifically proven platform which delivers the face square at impact. This results in a lower launch for predictable roll and better distance control. Blair Philip, VP R&D says “Testing confirms that both the Original Stability and Stability Tour deliver the groundbreaking performance that BGT has pioneered in our tour-proven putter shaft designs.”

$249.99 | www.breakthroughgolftech.com

Seven Dreamers Shaft Is Custom-Fitted Perfection

Seven Dreamers Laboratories calls its Seven Dreamers Shaft the world’s most advanced and expensive golf club shaft.

The process behind the shaft’s production, known as autoclaving, is traditionally used in manufacturing high-precision carbon products and helps the carbon fiber retain its quality without adding “unnecessary resin and paint or polishing and grinding.” Most modern graphite shafts are oven-baked.

This pioneering approach helps the carbon fiber retain 100 percent of its quality and eliminates common practices used by other manufacturers, including grinding or polishing to achieve weight and flex specifications, as well as adding three to five grams of useless paint weight to the structure.

The surface condition of the shaft is perfect – no broken fibers, no fiber tears and no fiber bullets. The resulting design provides golfers with incredibly smooth feel and near-perfect transfer of energy for more distance with tighter shot dispersion.

Gone are the fancy paint color schemes found in most all other shafts that help TV viewers identify brands. This has a pure carbon fiber look with only the serial number and “Seven Dreamers” monogram.

The company offers 28 different bend profiles, ranging from 40 grams to 80 grams, which they identified as the most common through thousands of club fittings. However customers are encouraged, to be custom fitted at a Seven Dreamers authorized dealer. Seven Dreamers sells its products through select retailers, club fitters and “high-profile” green-grass shops. The shafts debuted in Japan in 2014 and have been endorsed by Masashi “Jumbo” Ozaki, who won 94 times on the Japan Tour.

Our testing group, those who had slower speed swings specifically and average drives of 165 to 175 yards, used the J-50, 40 R High Launch in the new XXIO driver. Overall, every tester was enthralled with the shafts’ performance. On their missed hits, they averaged 15 yards further and center hits increased their distance from 25 -40 yards over their existing drives. They all agreed that the shaft gave them a better and smoother feeling than their current shafts, and they loved the ball flight as well.

Since its introduction in Japan in 2014, and the U.S. in 2017, Seven Dreamers has gained a large and loyal following among the most discerning and affluent golfers. The ultra-premium, custom-fit shafts, which start at $1,200 each (J Global Design series), have been adopted by members of Cypress Point Golf Club, Riviera Country Club, Oakmont Country Club, Seminole Golf Club, San Francisco Golf and Country Club, Southern Highlands, TPC of Boston and hundreds of other golf and country clubs.

Those who must have their very own custom shaft built for them personally can arrange a $2,500 visit to the company’s Tokyo studios.

“Much like fine-quality, bespoke suits, our shafts are designed to complement the user by perfectly reacting to his or her unique swing profile,” says Shin Sakane, President and CEO of Seven Dreamers. “No other manufacturer in the world has the resources or manufacturing knowledge to create the superior shafts our labs produce.”

Iron, hybrid and putter shafts are also available in the market.

Visit Seven Dreamers’ list of authorized dealers

Find The Future of Your Game With TPT Shafts

new driver tpt shaft TPT Golf has teamed up with Club Champion and the world-renowned Leadbetter Golf Academy to launch a new promotion that allows golfers to win “The Future of Your Game.”

Golfers who purchase a TPT Golf shaft from Club Champion through December 15 will be eligible to win a grand prize that includes 3 months of Online Coaching from a Leadbetter Certified Golf Instructor, a mental game assessment, and much more, to help them take their game to the next level.

Golfers can locate their nearest Club Champion location to schedule a fitting here.

“As a company, we believe in the unique ability of materials technology, professional club fitting, and individualized coaching to help golfers make dramatic improvements in their game,” says TPT Golf Director Sebastian Sebayang. “We wanted to bring those elements together for this promotion through our partnerships with Club Champion and the Leadbetter Golf Academy.”

Known as “The Hottest New Shaft on Tour,” TPT Golf is an upstart, Switzerland-based golf shaft manufacturer that has earned 10 professional victories on seven professional tours around the world over the last year, including four PGA Tour victories.

All TPT Golf shafts are created with “Thin-Ply Technology,” the process the company uses to manufacture thin and precise carbon fiber prepreg material that’s as light as 15 grams per square meter — four-times thinner than a human hair and one-quarter the weight of a page of paper.

Just as importantly, TPT Golf shafts are created with a patent-pending, automated manufacturing process the company developed called the “Thin-Ply Winding Method.” It’s this innovation that allows TPT Golf to position its prepreg in the exact locations and orientations necessary to create a new level of performance in a golf shaft.

With a properly fit TPT Golf shaft, golfers are able to contact the sweet spot more often due to its more axially consistent design. They will also likely swing TPT Golf shafts faster because of their optimized bend profiles. It’s this combination of more consistent impacts and TPT Golf’s optimized bending profiles that result in significant distance gains and a tighter dispersion.

TPT Golf shafts are currently available at more than 175 Authorized Fitters across the world, including all Club Champion locations. Golfers can locate a TPT Golf Authorized Fitter near them.

Stability Shaft Puts Putting First

Barey Adams is at it again. Now almost 80, Adams — who back in the 1980s took a little company with a big idea, Adams Tight Lies, and turned the woods market upside down — is going for another grand slam home run with Breakthrough Golf Technology (BGT), a startup company he founded about three years ago. Currently, BGT’s sole product is a multi-material, standard-length, stabilized putter shaft, simply named “The Stability Shaft.”

Question: when was the last time you changed your putter shaft, or for that matter, even thought about it?

“When I first learned about the product I knew that it could be significant,” Adams said. “It’s a step forward in golf equipment technology. What has been rewarding for me is that the Stability Shaft works better for amateurs. Pros are great putters and while the shaft does help them, it’s the inconsistency of the amateur that it corrects most.”

The performance of the shaft was exhaustively tested with hundreds of putters using state-of-the-art high-speed cameras, robots, SAM Putt Lab, Quintic Ball Roll software and Trackman4. The result was to re-invent the putter shaft from the ground up.

There are four parts of the Stability shaft that work in concert to greatly improve putting performance. BGT calls this Advanced Materials Integration:

Eight layers of high modulus carbon fiber specifically layered, wrapped and widened, with a no-taper design to greatly reduce torque.
Through Finite Element Analysis, a lightweight 22g aluminum insert was developed and precisely located to reinforce flexural rigidity.
A 7075-aluminum connector that helps to stiffen and reinforce. This versatility allows attachment to virtually any tip diameter of any putter, regardless of the bend profile.
The stainless-steel tips have extremely consistent wall thicknesses for superior strength and are coated with a smoke PVD finish to add protection from corrosion and rusting.

Designed to improve any golfer’s game, the Stability Shaft delivers the face more squarely at impact for improved accuracy, solid feel and lower launch for a predictable roll, resulting in better distance control.

It’s a perfect synergy of technology and materials to improve putting performance.

Adams teamed with of one of the nicest, smartest and most experienced putter experts, Blair Phillip, to be his Vice President of R&D. Blair was formerly with YES! Golf which manufactured great putters with Blair’s designs.

According to Blair, “The Stability shaft is really an invention we came up with to address a problem with existing steel shafts in putters.” Additionally, as per Blair, “Putter [head] weights have gone up quite a bit in the past 20 to 30 years.”

The shaft weighs 125-grams. The graphite section (103 grams) represents the power, while the steel/aluminum section (22 grams) represents the stability. The shaft is best described as one that consists of a non-tapered graphite body with a steel tip section. A 22-gram aluminum insert sits inside the carbon-fiber tubing, and there is an aluminum connector to reinforce the shaft. The graphite body, steel-tip construction reminds one of the Aerotech SteelFiber shafts.

A testing group rolled putts with the Stability Shaft and the consensus was that it felt very similar to their current putters. As for a change in the weight/balance/feel of your putter, your putter will feel the same, and the overall weight is within a few grams of steel putter shafts.

Your swing weight may be slightly higher after installation; but this will enhance the stability of the putter head. Most of our testers felt that their putting improved and they experienced better distance control and consistency. My personal feeling was that it felt very stable and gave me the impression of being heavier, which in turn gave me more confidence, something which I enjoy from heavier putters. Moreover, with the advent of heavier putter head designs, the Stability Shaft stabilizes the twisting and turning of the head.

“That was part of our design intent, the goal was to improve performance without negatively impacting feel,” Adams said. “Other manufacturers have made shafts that limit flex and twist. Often, though, these products cause the putter to feel different than a player’s current model. One of the most important design criteria, and why it took three years to develop, is there must be no adjustment by the golfer. You can fix the oscillation problem with shafts that are extra wide or ones that are very heavy. But the problems in adjusting [to those types of shafts] are greater than the ones caused by the oscillating shaft.”

The company offers a one-year product warranty, which covers any defects that could happen during the normal course of play.

$199.99 | www.breakthroughgolftech.com

Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D. is the director of the Professional Golf Teachers Association of America. He currently works with 14 Tour Players on mental coaching, putting and scoring techniques.

Stability Shaft Improves Putting Performance

Putter shafts are the most overlooked piece of equipment in most players’ bags, but the new Stability shaft from Breakthrough Golf Technology will change that.

Breakthrough Golf uses scientifically advanced multi-material design with geometries never before used in a putter shafts. The Stability shaft has a unique look and a more solid feel than a traditional steel putter shaft.

For 50-plus years, the putter shaft has not changed; historically it has been a simple steel pipe. Yet head designs for putters have evolved and gotten dramatically heavier. This has resulted in shafts that are not stable or strong enough to keep these heavier, advanced putter heads from oscillating, twisting and turning. In fact, the strongest part of the putter shaft is under the hands, where it does the least good; the weakest part is near the club head. Why would any golfer trust their putter to an inadequate steel shaft if they had a better option? After all, golfers use their putter almost twice as much as any other club.

CEO Barney Adams states, “When I first learned about the [Stability shaft] I knew that it could be significant. It’s a step forward in golf equipment technology. What has been rewarding for me is that the Stability Shaft works better for amateurs. Pros are great putters and while the shaft does help them, it’s the inconsistency of the amateur that it corrects most.”

The performance of the shaft was exhaustively tested with hundreds of putters using state-of-the-art high-speed cameras, robots, SAM Putt Lab, Quintic Ball Roll software and Trackman4. The result was to re-invent the putter shaft from the ground up.

There are four parts of the Stability shaft that work in concert to greatly improve putting performance. BGT calls this “Advanced Materials Integration.”

Eight layers of high modulus carbon fiber specifically layered, wrapped and widened, with a no-taper design to greatly reduce torque. Through finite element analysis a lightweight 22g aluminum insert was developed and precisely located to reinforce flexural rigidity.

A 7075-aluminum connector that helps to stiffen and reinforce. This versatility allows attachment to virtually any tip diameter of any putter, regardless of the bend profile.

The stainless-steel tips have extremely consistent wall thicknesses for superior strength and are coated with a smoke PVD finish to add protection from corrosion and rusting.

Designed to improve any golfer’s game. The Stability Shaft delivers the face more squarely at impact for improved accuracy, solid feel and has a lower launch for a predictable roll, resulting in better distance control.

You’ll get a higher smash factor, hit the clubface more consistently and ultimately make more putts. It’s a perfect synergy of technology and materials to improve putting performance.

The Stability Shaft is priced at $199.99 and is available from golf retailers in the US and Canada.

More information: www.breakthroughgolftech.com

SST Pure Makes Mark On U.S. Open

SST Pure, golf’s global leader in computerized analysis and alignment of golf shafts, reports that it has “Pured” shafts for nearly 20 percent of the PGA Tour professionals playing in the 2017 U.S. Open. Six of these players are ranked in the top 10 in the FedExCup standings.

“It’s exciting to see so many PGA Tour professionals competing in the U.S. Open who have had their shafts Pured at some point this year,” SST Pure President Brian Adair said. “At their level, they understand the importance of finding the most stable orientation of the shaft to eliminate inconsistencies when striking the ball. Our Puring process provides tangible benefits which is one of the main reasons we have Pured shafts for more than 100 PGA Tour professionals in 2017.”

Twelve tournaments have been won during the 2016-2017 season by PGA Tour players who have had their shafts Pured, including: The Players Championship, Insperity Invitational, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, WGC-Mexico Championship, The Honda Classic, Genesis Open, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Career Builder Challenge, Franklin Templeton Shootout, Hero World Challenge, World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions, and Safeway Open.

SST Pure is a patented process of shaft alignment that analyzes a golf shaft to find its most stable orientation. Using proprietary computer software and sensitive data-acquisition sensors, the SST Pure Shaft Alignment System quickly locates the “neutral” plane in each shaft. By assembling the club with the shaft in this SST Pured position, off-line twisting and bending during the golf swing and at impact are greatly minimized. The SST Pure system also generates a printout for each shaft, showing its structural and performance analysis.

The SST Pure process works on any shaft, regardless of its material; steel, graphite, even boron or thermoplastic shafts benefit from the SST Pure process. Every shaft contains irregularities in straightness, roundness and stiffness that are inherent to the manufacturing process. These structural inconsistencies can negatively or positively affect a shaft’s performance depending on how the shaft is aligned in the clubhead. SST Pure locates the most stable orientation in any shaft.

Players who have had their shafts SST Pured hit the ball longer, straighter and more uniformly consistent than ever before. Independent testing on players of all skill levels has established that SST Pure improves impact repeatability on the center of the clubface by up to 51 percent. Clubs that have been Pured have a softer feel than randomly installed shafts, which is the current standard for club assembly.

Visit www.sstpure.com for more information about the Puring process and to locate an SST Pure licensed club fitter.

Shaft Exchange

Whether you opt for steel or graphite shafts, make sure you get properly fitted by a reputable clubfitter. It’s the only way to ensure you get the best possible performance from your iron set.

In case you haven’t noticed, there has been a mini-renaissance occurring among the professional players on Tour. And no, it’s not the hybrid, as many players have finally succumbed to the versatility and advantage hybrids have over long irons. And no, it’s not lightweight metalwoods, or even clubs with flashy aesthetics. What I’m talking about is a slow shift toward more players adopting composite shafts in their irons.

I was recently asked by a colleague about whether or not we’ll see more top players opting for composite shafts over traditional steel shafts, much like Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker have done (both employ Aerotech SteelFiber shafts). I didn’t have an answer for that question right away, but it piqued my curiosity about the subject. As an editor, I had heard about the benefits of today’s latest iterations of composite iron shafts, and how they’re far more consistent and durable than they used to be. In fact, I’ve even heard claims that today’s composite shafts for irons can be fitted to act more rigid than steel–something I had never even thought possible until I did a little research on the subject. Turns out, you really can get a set of composite shafts that feel and perform like steel.

But the question is, why? Is it worth the time and effort to switch to composite shafts in your irons, when steel seems to perform so well? Where are the performance advantages or disadvantages in using graphite shafts in your irons? The benefits that come with composite shafts in your woods, even your hybrids, are obvious. They’re lighter, more flexible (maybe) and can be custom-fit to exact launch angles and spin rates. Simply put, composite shafts can really help you hit the ball a lot farther. And they feel better than steel. But in your irons, is that so important? Do we need more distance with our irons? And if so, how consistent are these shaft flex characteristics from one iron to the next?

As you can see, my list of questions continued to grow the more I thought about it. Like any self-respecting editor or writer would do next, the logical next step was to hit the phone and email contacts, and ask some experts about what they think of switching iron shafts from steel to composite. So I did that–and I got some feedback from both sides. Of the clubfitters, steel-shaft companies, graphite-shaft companies, teaching professionals and industry people I talked to, many extolled the virtues on either side of the argument–some praised using composite shafts; others argued against composite shafts. Generally, the arguments in favor of composite shafts pertained to the lighter weight of composite over steel; greater vibration dampening; and a more custom fit in terms of flex characteristics, launch and spin.

Arguments against composite shafts pertained to composite being more expensive, less durable, too flexy and less consistent than steel (in other words, it’s harder to have the same flex profile in a variety of graphite shafts than it is in steel shafts–a claim that even I know isn’t necessarily true).

My point is, I wasn’t getting a definitive answer on the subject. Most people do use steel shafts in their irons, and my initial gut guess is that it’s because they’re less expensive. But what if money was no object when it comes to golf equipment? (I confess, it sometimes isn’t when you’re a Golf Tips editor.) What’d be an interesting heads-up comparison of steel versus graphite?

That’s what I set out to discover. And like a few other reviews we’ve done here, I didn’t want to employ TrackMan or other launch-monitor data to do my test. Instead, I wanted a real-world, practical summary of steel versus graphite, so you the GT reader could both understand and interpret what it all means. So here’s what I did.

My current set of irons have Project X 6.0 steel shafts in them. I happen to like these shafts. They produce the ballflight I prefer, they feel great and they have a flex I’m comfortable with. I’ve tried several other steel shafts too, all of which I also liked. But it so happened that my set has Project X steel, so I stuck with that brand for the test. I figured the best comparison I could find would be to try the Project X graphite shafts in a set of irons that were virtually identical spec-wise to my steel-shafted set. I requested that my clubfitter use the same lengths and grips I have on my steel-shafted irons, and do the same on a new set of irons with the composite shafts (at the same 6.0 flex, at least based on what the model says).

Now, here’s where you’re hopefully going to learn something from my experience. I broke down my comparison into four categories, and did all I could to produce a fair assessment after playing four to five rounds of golf and hitting several hundred golf balls with both steel and composite-shafted irons.

FEEL
When it comes to composite shafts, there’s no question they feel better than steel. The vibration dampening was a huge improvement over the steel shafts. It’s not as though the graphite felt overly mushy–I could still feel mis-hits, but flushed shots felt sublime. As for how the lightness of the shaft (the composite equivalent was about 30 grams lighter than the steel versions) felt in the iron head, there was a detectable difference in swing weight, but not enough for me to say I noticed a whole lot. I expected the clubhead to feel heavier and the shaft way lighter, but it didn’t. It still had a nice balance to it.

Summary: When it comes to feel, you can’t beat graphite. The Project X composite shafts felt just awesome.

Arguments against composite shafts pertained to composite being more expensive, less durable, too flexy and less consistent than steel (in other words, it’s harder to have the same flex profile in a variety of graphite shafts than it is in steel shafts–a claim that even I know isn’t necessarily true).

FLEX
How any club flexes is, in my opinion, the most important performance variable. With composite shafts in my irons, I noticed that how my steel 6.0 shafts flexed vs. my composite 6.0 shafts wasn’t quite the same. The graphite models felt more "flexy," and whether they actually were or not isn’t my point. The reduction in weight sure made it feel that way, and it changed how I swung. I noticed this more in my longer irons, as it seemed I hit better shots when I slowed down and let the clubhead catch up. In the rough, or with shots that required some extra oomph, I ended up pulling a lot of shots left–a big no-no in my golf-shot repertoire. I’m not saying that graphite necessarily has to flex more than steel. The quick fix is to consider a stiffer version of graphite than you have in your steel shafts (that is, if you want composite shafts to flex like your steel ones). Maybe you’ll benefit from more flex, maybe not. Just don’t do what I did and expect an S-flex in steel to match an S-flex in graphite. It’s just not an apples-to-apples comparison, in my opinion.

Summary: I prefer the way steel flexes. I also feel more confident hitting shots harder and/or from the rough with a steel shaft than doing so with a composite one. It seemed that the graphite shafts needed more time in my swing to load and unload–something that’s easier to accomplish when you have a big, wide swing arc (like that of a wood or driver). However, and this is a big one, had I had a stiffer set of graphite shafts, none of the above might have applied.

CONTROL/DISTANCE
While I had some control issues swinging harder (faster) with the composite shafts I tried, I didn’t feel as though I gained a huge boost in distance. Maybe this is because I scaled back on my swing speed due to the more flexible shaft, but even with short irons, it’s not as though I tacked on noticeable distance gains over my steel set. Another reason for this is, I hit the ball higher with composite shafts. I spun it more too, both of which negated an increase in distance. Had I been fitted properly for these shafts, I bet I could have increased my total distance by several yards. And even though the claim may true that the Project X graphite shafts have a more penetrating ballflight, that would be only when compared to other graphite shafts. But for me, the steel Project X clearly produced shots that bore through the air more efficiently.

Summary: If you get fitted properly, there’s no doubt in my mind that graphite shafts can help you increase your iron-shot distances. Or if distance isn’t what you want, composite shafts can help you hit the ball higher and with more spin–something to be desired for certain types of players.

TOTAL PERFORMANCE
Question is, did I like the composite shafts, even though they clearly weren’t fit for me and I had a few troubles? I’ll go out on a limb here and say, as a matter of fact, I did like the graphite shafts. And if time and money weren’t an issue, I might even consider them in my next set. The myth about graphite not being consistent and durable isn’t true. The shafts I tried all felt and performed according to how they should. Also, with some of the best players in the world using composite shafts (it’s even more common on the Champions and LPGA Tours), I don’t see the trend of more players using graphite shafts in their irons going away.

THE TOSS UP

Project X Steel Shafts
(Tested in 4-PW irons)
Flex: 6.0
Weight: 120g
Properties: Designed to produce a penetrating ballflight with the optimal trajectory for more distance and control.

Project X Graphite Shafts
(Tested in 4-PW irons)
Flex: 6.0
Weight: 91-93g
Properties: Designed to produce a boring trajectory, the reinforced tip section helps maintain a standard swing weight.

Here are my only gripes. Composite shafts are, in fact, a lot more expensive than steel. This means that adding graphite shafts to your next order of irons can add several hundred dollars to the price of a set of irons. So, if you do decide to hunker down the extra cash for composite, don’t even think of picking up a set off the rack at your local golf shop. Get fitted properly, and make sure the composite shafts you choose are suited for your game and your golf swing. And while the amount of flex is important, how it flexes and when it flexes is equally important. Don’t ignore flex points, torque and the shaft’s ability to load at the top of your swing and unload at impact. I know the same arguments can be made for steel shafts–but it’s especially critical with composites. Don’t do an apples-to-oranges comparison either. An S-flex steel shaft and an S-flex graphite shaft are likely nowhere near the same.

So, will I make the switch and play the all-composite set? No. They weren’t the right shafts for me. But I have to say, I liked how the longer irons felt, and it made the transition to my hybrids, woods and driver that much easier. So, I’m considering dropping the steel in my 4-5 irons and opting for composite shafts that resemble my hybrids. (I’ll get stiffer shafts in them, by the way.) The key is to have an open mind. There’s no need to have either steel or composite–you can have both. There are some better players out there who prefer the flex and spin that come with composite in their wedges–it’s really a matter of personal preference and deciding what type of shafts suit you best.

The moral of the story? There’s no wrong or right answer–yet, at least. Steel is a great option, and so is graphite if that’s what you’re looking for. As for some of the myths about composite shafts being inferior to steel–I don’t believe those misconceptions hold up anymore. Composite shafts in irons can, in fact, be advantageous, as long as they fit you and your style of play.

Steel vs. composite? It’s up to you to decide. Just know that composite shafts are the real deal now, and steel shafts have never been better. Sure, it makes the buying process a little more complicated, but hey, have fun trying and testing new shafts. You might learn something. I sure did.

Five Questions With Kim Braly, Director Of R&D & Tour Operations, KBS Shafts

1. Golfers don’t reshaft their irons nearly as often as their woods and drivers. What are you doing to make it easier to upgrade your iron shafts?

Reshafting irons is way less sexy than a driver, or this year, a 3-wood, as every golfer from Tour-caliber to your average player is searching for extra yardage off the tee. That said, fairway metals generally account for about 20% of the strokes the average player takes during a round of golf. Meanwhile, irons and wedges account for roughly 50% of the average player’s shots and generally nine or 10 of the 14 clubs in their bag.

At KBS, we’ve focused our product line on three performance options (Tour 90, Tour and C-Taper) where each shaft design contains multiple flexes for dialing in a precise fitting. We’ve termed it "fit for performance then dial in the flex," and we believe the system leads to faster and more efficient fitting.

Beyond that, KBS has sought out major OEM partners for our product line so golfers have access to a KBS custom fitting. With the progression into interchangeable iron heads during fitting, players have the opportunity to "try" KBS before they buy it, and that’s most important.

2. What are most golfers looking for when they opt to get their current set reshafted?

Typically, if a player is seeking out KBS, they’ve heard from a peer that KBS generates a smooth feel, and it sticks in their memory. The good thing is that feel generally translates to better control and, in the case of KBS shafts, more distance, so players win all around.

On Tour, players generally seek out a shaft change because they have issues controlling the ball. They want to see a specific flight and the right amount of spin throughout their irons. If they get a feel they’re more comfortable with or enjoy more, it’s a "win-win."

3. Longer and lighter shafts are more common in woods and drivers today. Do you think we’ll see that trend continue with steel iron shafts?

Longer and lighter is certainly an overall trend in the golf industry, and the driving force is no doubt coming from metal woods where graphite shafts are going incredibly lightweight. In irons, this trend is carrying over a bit, but the driving force, from our perspective, is the growing number of average golfers seeking custom fitting. For those players, lightweight construction mixed with an advanced shaft design can lead to significant distance increases and an all-around better golf game.

On Tour, Loomis iron shafts made a big push several years ago for players using graphite, and it carried with it a perceived value of "High-tech and lightweight equals more distance." Over a short period of time however, players quickly realized their shot consistency and shot dispersion was suffering, and nearly 100% moved back to steel. Today, there are a couple of guys trying new materials in irons, but probably 98% of players prefer to go with steel. That tells me all I need.

4. Explain why you recommend certain shafts in wedges and short irons. What’s the difference between a wedge shaft and an iron shaft?

This is a great question and one that we hope will see more discussion in the years to come. In your wedges, feel is critical right alongside performance. You’re making more partial shots, and your shotmaking is put to the test. And, with KBS, our product line works in a way where the shafts stiffen incrementally from 3i to 9i so players get a little more forgiveness in their long irons and tighter control in their scoring irons and wedges. What we typically recommend is for players seeking more feel to use the KBS Tour 9i shaft through their wedges, and players seeking tighter control go with the KBS Wedge. For either set, players should consider a Hi-Rev shaft in their highest degree, which will achieve up to 500 rpm more spin (stopping power) for tough shots around the green.

5. We’re big fans of your three custom finishes (chrome, brushed satin, black nickel). Any plans for more finishes? Maybe painted shafts?

KBS is already moving in this direction with an all-new Custom Series lineup that allows golfers to choose one of three finishes on their set of irons or wedges. The series includes white pearl, silver pearl and black pearl paints, and the process incorporates two patent-pending technologies, which are proven to maintain durabil-ity under stress. A snapshot of the industry today versus a year ago shows a number of manufacturers moving in this direction, and it’s exciting to see. It may just bring younger people back to the game, and the possibilities are vast.

A Blueprint For Shaft Buying

There’s no doubt that getting the right shaft for each of your clubs can make a world of difference in your ballflight. But the process of finding the best sticks can be utterly confusing–even if you moderately understand shafts. You need to take into consideration make, material, flex, torque, kickpoint, frequency, length and tip stiffness. And your skill level affects all of these factors. So what’s a golfer to do? You can always try shafts by trial and error, but experts say the answer is to leave the details to someone knowledgeable and simply get fitted by a professional clubfitter.

Just so you’re armed with savvy when you head into a clubfitting session, shaft manufacturers offer some basic suggestions to bring you up to speed. There’s actually a golden rule that they propose you live by, when buying shafts: Play the lightest shaft and softest flex that you can control. With driver shafts, for example, some golfers may find this to be a stiff 50-gram model, while others might discover that a more flexible 75-gram shaft does the trick for them. "Ultimately, it’s all about maximizing ball speed–not clubhead speed," says Chad Hall, True Temper’s director of product marketing and global Tour operations, referring to the fact that ball speed directly enhances your shot distance. "If you just increase clubhead speed by using a lighter shaft but reduce consistent center-of-the-face impacts, the net result is less ball speed. The ultimate solution is finding the intersection of clubhead speed and consistent clubhead delivery–maximizing both." In other words, you want to find the shaft that helps you generate the fastest clubhead speed while letting you hit the sweet spot most often.

NEW AND AVERAGE GOLFERS
If you’re a relatively new golfer, that means getting fitted for shafts that help you learn correctly, have fun and get the ball airborne.

"Generally speaking, most beginners and average players will typically benefit from shafts that assist them in launching the ball a little higher," says Hall. "This would mean a lower kickpoint shaft with a more flexible/active tip section."

As far as shaft lengths go, beginners and newer golfers probably should stay away from longer driver shafts. "It might be important to start shorter for control and then go to a longer shaft as your swing develops and becomes more consistent," advises Tim Gillis, director of sales for Miyazaki Golf. "In many cases, mere confidence can help clubhead speed for beginners." Iron shafts are more standard in length for most golfers, so you needn’t worry about those.

BETTER PLAYERS
As you become a better player, your ballflight will become more consistent, and your swing will likely generate more power. And that’s when you can upgrade your shaft. Stronger swingers and more advanced players tend to need shafts with a stronger tip section and higher bend point, bringing the ballflight down.

You may have noticed that many PGA Tour pros play shorter, heavier shafts because, for their high-speed swings, Tour-caliber shafts offer a lethal combination of consistent distance, control, feel and ideal ballflight. That said, things are changing out on Tour, where players are beginning to apply that previously mentioned golden rule. "Most advanced golfers play heavier shafts because they’re used to them," says Gillis. "We’re seeing more of them gravitate to lighter shafts because of improvements in composite materials. They won’t necessarily go to ultralight, sub-50-gram models, but many have gone from 80-gram driver shafts to those below 60 grams. The importance here is keeping the stiffness in lighter shafts and having the shaft balance correctly to give it the playability that better players want."

Hall agrees, saying, "For many advanced players, maximizing ball speed and consistency is found in Tour-weighted shafts. However, there have been several players on the PGA Tour who have used superlight driver and iron shafts over the past several years. Tempo plays a role, as well. Many quick-tempo players use heavier shafts to enhance the transition at the top of the swing. In the end, due to the individuality of every golfer, we make shafts that cover all weights and trajectory profiles. While there is no one shaft that fits everyone, there is certainly one shaft that is best for you."

Hot Shafts And Grips

Looking to recharge your golf clubs this off-season? Two of the quickest ways to add more horsepower to your clubs is to start fresh with some new grips and shafts.

Regripping your clubs is not only one of the easiest means to breathe new life into your existing set, but also one of the most affordable. For around $50, you can have new grips installed on all your clubs, or for a little less, you can do it yourself using double-sided tape and grip solution. In a matter of a few hours, your clubs will feel brand new in your hands.

Just remember, when deciding on new grips, don’t forget that there are characteristics pertaining to grips that can do more than affect how well your hands stick to the club. First, assess the firmness level you want from your grips.
Typically, faster swingers or golfers who have a slightly firmer grip than normal will prefer firmer grips, whereas slower swingers and golfers with weaker grip pressure may prefer a softer, cushioned grip. Second, determine the texture that you like best. This might be your toughest challenge, since there are so many to choose from, ranging from velvet styles to corded, wrap or even multimaterial. And while there’s no right or wrong answer here, choose the grip that you like best, not because it’s popular with Tour players or other players in your foursome. Lastly, and probably most importantly, pay careful attention to the grip diameter and weight. Thicker grips tend to benefit golfers who have overactive hands and who want some added control. As for weight, a lighter grip can change the way a club feels, meaning if it’s a lightweight grip, the clubhead may feel heavier. On the other hand, a heavier grip might make the clubhead feel lighter. In either case, again, there’s no wrong answer for whether you want a thicker, heavier or lighter grip. The key is to remember all the variables pertaining to grips and find the right grip for your shot tendencies and personal likes.

If you have a little extra dough and want to take your club upgrade a step further, consider a new shaft upgrade.

Changing your shafts, whether it be in your woods and irons or both can make a huge impact in your ballflight characteristics and shot patterns. This is especially true if you get fitted for a new shaft, and learn that the correct type of shaft for your swing is nothing like the shaft you have had up to this point. As always, the key to getting new shafts is to get fitted first by a reputable, nonbiased clubfitter who can analyze both your swing and shot tendencies to determine the proper shaft flex, weight and length for your game.

Here’s a look at a hot handful of new shafts and grips that will surely make a difference in how your favorite clubs perform.

ALDILA RIP PHENOM AND NV MAGNUN
The two hot new shafts from Aldila promise big power and control. First the RIP Phenom’s Hyperbolic Flex Zone provides a stiff tip section for optimal launch and spin control, with a very firm butt section for an incredibly stable feel, while the center section of the shaft is softer to provide outstanding kick through impact to maximize ball speed. The ultralight, 44-gram NV Magnum offers optimum flex and torque characteristics for the better player while still maintaining the incredible feel that made the original NV the best-selling shaft in history.

FUJIKURA MOTORE SPEEDER AND BLUR
The new Motore Speeder VC.2 Tour Spec still features Fujikura’s proprietary and proven Triax Woven material along with Quadra Axis Composite creating 7-Axis Technology. This uniformity throughout the shaft assists with eliminating deformation yet provides the maximum amount of feel through the entire swing, increasing overall performance and stability. The Blur shafts take full advantage of unique and innovative design elements in every aspect of the shaft: It features Fujikura proprietary CAGE Technology, which is a new and innovative design methodology that allows us to create thinner, lighter walls with exceptional stability.

GRAPHITE DESIGN G SERIES
The G series performance characteristics favor a low- to mid-launch trajectory and mid-ball-spin. The new X Directional Technology–XDT–incorporates the use of the already proven Graphite Design MSI (Material Stiffness Integration) design method as well as this new and unique application of graphite-fiber alignment throughout the shaft structure. The result is a high-performance shaft with remarkable control, feel and distance.

GRAFFALLOY PROLAUNCH AMP
Grafalloy has cranked up the volume on its most popular shaft series of all time to develop the next-generation ProLaunch AMP. At the heart of ProLaunch AMP (Advanced Material Performance) beats the finest carbon-fiber materials available in a unique layup pattern to power long, straight drives. By incorporating Grafalloy’s exclusive Axis technology, Grafalloy engineers were able to reduce torque while providing increased hoop integrity in the grip and mid sections for maximum energy transfer.

MIYAZAKI KUSALA WHITE AND INDIGO
Miyazaki’s graphite shafts have already seen multiple successes on the PGA Tour, and with two new shafts offered in the Kusala line, one can expect that number to increase even more. The new Kusala White produces a soft yet stable feel in the hands with a very active tip section for increased speed and trajectory. Though active in the tip, the unique flex code works well even with high-speed players. The indigo is a constant flex-code shaft that balances flex across the shaft. Its extremely stable feel and low to mid-trajectory is best for aggressive swings.

MITSUBISHI RAYON FUBUKI K-SERIES
The K-Series profile utilizes the same Modulus Differential Technology (M.D.T.) found in the Fubuki Tour and Fubuki profiles in addition to Mitsubishi Rayon’s latest innovation: the Power "Ninja" Core. This new technology allows Mitsubishi Rayon to incorporate a thin layer of metal into the butt section of the shaft to increase stability and maximize the power stored during the loading of a shaft, unleashing maximum potential energy to the ball at impact.

UST MAMIYA PROFORCE VTS
The new Proforce VTS line from UST Mamiya is the only shaft collection to include torque as a variable in the fitting process, beyond the standard weight and flex variations. Each model’s weight/flex profile includes three torque options, allowing players to match the setup that best suits their unique swing DNA. Shafts are color-coded to indicate torque rating, with Black featuring the lowest torque, Silver in the middle and Red offering the highest. The benefits of dialing in on the proper torque include improved feel, higher ball speed, tighter dispersion and consistency.

NVENTIX NUNCHUCK
The Nunchuk_¨ Precision shaft by nVentix Golf is a one-size-fits-all graphite shaft that features Tri-Zonal Stability_ã_ technology. According to the company, the shaft is designed to eliminate flexing, twisting and, consequently, drooping, resulting in tighter shot patterns, lower spin and a launch angle consistent with the club’s actual loft. Golfers can expect to impact the ball with the "sweet spot" of the clubface every time, giving them the confidence to swing freely. Even at 103 grams, the counterbalanced Nunchuk shaft performs for all players regardless of varying swing speeds and attack angles.

KBS TOUR C-TAPER
The new KBS C-Taper Shaft has a Stiff Tip design for a lower ballflight, all while retaining a smoother feel through impact. This shaft also incorporates much of the same design tech as the popular KBS Tour, combining the Advanced MOI Constant Taper and Firm Shaft Design through the tip section. This means maximum energy transfer into the clubhead, outstanding feel and improved control–albeit this time, with a lower trajectory.

GOLF PRIDE NDMC WHITEOUT
Designed for Tour players and avid golfers alike, the Whiteout adds a new white material to the upper hand area while maintaining the performance characteristics that make the MultiCompound golf’s hottest grip. This high-performance hybrid grip provides comfort and responsiveness to the lower hand while the black BCT_¨ cord provides moisture management and improved traction to the upper hand, giving the player the confidence to make a solid shot, swing after swing.

LAMKIN R.E.L. 3GEN
Available in 11 new, nonfading colors and a complete assortment of size options, the R.E.L. 3GEN provides golfers with an unrivaled selection of grip choices. The grips’ distinctly minimal surface pattern helps maximize surface area contact with a golfer’s hands, providing extra comfort and reducing the amount of grip pressure needed to maintain control throughout the swing.

TACKI-MACITOMIC IT2
Itomic it2 incorporates negative ions with a velvet surface, combined with a new proprietary, ultra-tacki, ultra-lightweight compound for a unique look and feel for golfers. Like the original Itomic grip, it’s made from a revolutionary blend of thermoforming materials that are both durable and high performing in all weather conditions._Ê

WINN GRIP WINNPRO AND DRI-TAC
The new WinnPro Wrap’s polycord material is firm and textured while retaining excellent performance in damp conditions. The wrap design caters to players who like the classic feel of a wrap design. The new Dri-Tac (and Dri-Tac Wrap) grip is the tackiest grip Winn has made to date, with exceptional nonslip performance in all weather conditions.

FEELTEC
The new Feeltec grips have a multilayer design and a seamless structure than promise a comfortable feel, added durability and weather resistance. The seamless design also improves the grip’s shock absorp-tion for a better feel on both solid and off-center shots.

PURE GRIPS
Made from the same proprietary rubber used to make the PURE black grips, every colored grip from PURE provides the identical combination of tackiness, durability, weather performance and feel that has made these grips so popular. Plus, the colored grips even go on with the same tapeless installation. PURE grips are available in red, blue, green, white, pink and black.

BLACK WIDOW WIDOW MAKER
The new Widow Maker grips feature Softspikes’ traction-inspired interlocking "S" pattern, Web Traction Technology and an aggressive, anti-slip traction design that creates more friction for faster swing speeds and more distance. The Widow Maker features a hybrid best-of-both-worlds design, a corded top for all-weather traction and a smooth consistently textured bottom for feel and performance. This new grip will be available in both standard and midsize models.

GRIP SOLID
Although not a grip or a shaft, the Grip Solid is a our top pick for helping you make sure you take full advantage of a new grip/shaft combo. The FLEX BAR tech is placed in the palm of your grip to help ensure you place the club properly in the hands, and with the optimal grip pressure. Easy, convenient and a great tool for improving your grip.