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KBS Tour 130 X Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft

When most golfers see the letter “X” in the title of a shaft they think, ‘heavy and stiff.’

At least with the KBS Tour 130 X that is a mostly accurate assumption. The KBS Tour 130 X is indeed in the heavyweight shaft class.

While the KBS Tour shafts may not be as popular as Dynamic Gold they are absolutely worth a look if you are a powerful or aggressive swinger.

But there is more to the KBS Tour 130 X shaft than just heft. In the following review, we will be examining this shaft and telling you exactly what it brings to the table.

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft Overview

As the name gives away, the KBS Tour 130 X is a 130 gram, extra stiff shaft.

It is also offered in taper and parallel tip options. As far as looks go, the KBS Tour 130 X sports the classic KBS minimalist style.

Most of the shaft is polished steel with the red and black lettering in a little box in the center.

It looks clean in the bag and clean at address. Most importantly, there are no gaudy graphics or flashy colors to distract you at address.

One of the things that left us flabbergasted about this shaft was how it felt.

We were expecting a shaft in this weight class and in this flex to feel boardy and unmanageable for everyone but the strongest swingers. That wasn’t the case.

The KBS Tour 130 X has an exceptionally smooth feel. Of course, it also feels very stable throughout your swing.

The bend point feels like it’s in the dead middle of the shaft. So while there is a definite kick, it’s smooth and contained in the middle so that the club head remains stable.

In the end, we were very surprised that such a heavy, stout shaft could simultaneously feel active and smooth.

While we still wouldn’t recommend it for slow swing speed players, the KBS Tour 130 X will certainly give fast swingers a boost in club head speed and distance without sacrificing any accuracy.

Why is the KBS Tour 130 X So Popular?

First of all, the KBS Tour 130 X is used by some of the best players in the world.

So right off the bat, it gets a lot of exposure.

But after testing this shaft, we could see how it would be a favorite among powerful swingers who want to avoid a boardy-y unresponsive feel from a heavy shaft.

How Does the KBS Tour 130 X Perform

As soon as you pick this shaft up, you can tell you will have no problem making consistent contact from a variety of lies.

Off the tee, it was very easy for our testers to find the sweet spot. Off the deck, they were easily achieving a nice middle launch with a sweet baby draw.

Of course, that’s all assuming that the player is used to a heavier shaft, which our testers were.

The KBS Tour 130 X actually launches a bit higher than we were expecting. This is by no means a shaft that will send the ball ballooning into the clouds; but it does promote a nice middle launch.

The spin rates were also in the middle/low range depending on the shot. At no point during our testing were we shocked to see intolerable spin rates – even in the short irons.

Shot dispersion was also very tight. We didn’t see any divergence greater than 12 yards. As we mentioned, the KBS Tour 130 X has a surprisingly active feel.

But the tip section is still plenty stiff so you can maintain control over the club head. The butt section also feels stiff, relegating all the action to the midsection.

For most of our fast swing speed testers, this was exactly where they wanted the action.

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft Specs

What flexes are available what swing speeds do they suit.

The KBS Tour 130 X in particular is only available in extra stiff flex.

This is a good flex if you are swinging 90+ MPH. Keep in mind though that there are other KBS Tour shafts in regular, regular+, stiff and stiff+ flexes.

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

Again, the KBS Tour 130 X specifically is available in 130g.

This would be a good weight for 95+ MPH swingers.

Why is it So Good?

We liked the KBS Tour 130 X because it somehow maintains a very smooth feel for a shaft in this weight class.

KBS Tour 130 X First Impressions

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft1

The first thing that struck us about the KBS Tour 130 X was how responsive it felt.

Even at 130g, you can feel the shaft load up and release in the midsection.

Key Features & Performance

The Tour Weighting is certainly the star of the show here.

It allows for supreme accuracy and stability for the most powerful and aggressive swingers.

KBS Tour 130 X Irons Review

It was very easy to make consistent contact from a lot of different lies.

This is a great shaft to pair with player’s performance irons as it will contribute to your accuracy.

KBS Tour 130 X Wedges Review

We were a little disappointed to find that we were unable to work a lot of spin into the ball with our wedges.

You still get good launch; but the spin may be inadequate for pitched greens.

KBS Tour 130 X Pros & Cons

  • Remains stable throughout your swing
  • It has a smooth feel
  • Great for powerful swingers
  • Accurate iron performance
  • Low spin in the wedges

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft

Overall Score: 96/100

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Who Should Buy it?

The KBS Tour 130 X would be a great choice for 90+ MPH swingers who want a smooth feel from their iron shafts but don’t want to sacrifice stability.

kbs tour 130 x review

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KBS Tour Iron Shaft Review

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kbs tour 130 x review

50 Words or Less

The smoothest shaft in the heavy weight iron shaft category.  Promotes a higher ball flight than its closest competitors.

Introduction

Most people would look at the stranglehold that Dynamic Gold and Project X have on the heavy weight iron shaft market and choose another battle to fight.  Kim Braly isn’t most people.  He jumped into the fight with the KBS Tour, and has converted thousands of golfers, including major champions, to his brand.  In this review, we examine why.

KBS Tour (2)

Where most heavy weight iron shafts are focused on stability, the trademark of the KBS Tour is its smooth feel.  There’s a distinct feeling of the shaft loading and kicking during the swing.  This is not to say that the shaft isn’t stable.  Most of the action is in the middle of the shaft, so you don’t sacrifice a stable tip to get this smooth feel.

KBS Tour (4)

Performance

Though it’s not a night and day difference, the KBS Tour does tend to promote a higher ball flight than its competitors Dynamic Gold and Project X.  This makes it an excellent choice for golfers who tend to be low ball hitters or those who simply prefer to see the ball in a higher trajectory window.

KBS Tour (3)

If you prefer a heavy weight iron shaft, but want a smoother feel, KBS Tour is for you.  It’s also a great choice for players who are seeking a slightly higher ball flight from their iron play.

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57 Comments

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What does the KBS Tour 120 shafts compare to vs S300 shaft? Driver swing speed of 95-98 mph 3/4 handicap

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“Though it’s not a night and day difference, the KBS Tour does tend to promote a higher ball flight than its competitors Dynamic Gold and Project X.”

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Can i use this shaft for my wedges? Or this shaft is for iron only (3-9,P)?

KBS makes a wedge version.

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I just purchased Titleist AP2 Irons with KBS regular shafts, they are very balanced irons and mid-high ball flight. With this iron shaft there is no whipping and very smooth, I am 62 Years old but still can swing a club and I am very impressed with the combo, spending a little extra money for your irons is well worth it.

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My elbows struggle with vibration of steel shafts. I am 65 years old and still play competitive Senior Amateur Golf events. I like your c tapered 110 feel. Will adding an after market dampening rod help the vibration issues of your shafts. Any suggestions appreciated.

I’ve used vibration dampening products, and they do change the feel, but I don’t know if they will help with your pain.

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71 Young man, if you still have pain. Your left hand grip for righty is way to weak . Go stronger and don’t pull so much . Happy Birthday .

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What is an alternative choice for the KBS Tour S shaft? Best Nippon or True Temper Product Models as an alternative choice??? Please respond to my email address submitted, already get your newsletter.

Stock advice: work with a fitter to find a good solution. Blind guess: I would take a look at the Nippon Modus for smooth feel.

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I am currently playing Mizuno Pro 900 irons with the KBS tour x shaft. I am going to get a set of Mizuno mp-18 blade irons. If I go to the Nippon modus 120 x shaft am I going to have a similar feel but lighter. Mizuno does offer a KBS shaft in lighter shaft X flex. Thank you, J.Baker

I think you will find the Modus 120 to be a bit different than the KBS Tour. I would suggest working with a fitter to find something that fits your swing.

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I am purchasing Titleist 716 AP1 irons and are considering the Dynamic Gold or KBS shaft. I play of 10 but are wayward with my irons. Which shaft is better for a straighter ball flight and more consistency? Thanks Ben

That depends on which one fits you better. I would suggest working with a fitter before you lay down your money.

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I read your review on the Taylormade M2 TOUR irons and disagreed, then read the KBS review which is what I have on my M2 TOURS and I love them. Comment? Thanks, Jeff

Comment on what?

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Hi, I cannot find the perfect balance and feel I had on my old Pings i15 with the first version of the kbs tour S. What was the weight of those shafts?

I’m not aware of any substantial changes to the KBS Tour since it was released. KBS would have more information on that.

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Is the KBS TOUR stiff to heavy a shaft for a 13 handicapper swinging 90’s? I usually hit R300 really high but feedback and distance is hortible.

If you’re currently playing Dynamic Gold, the weight difference is negligible.

' src=

What is the difference between the kbs tour 130x and the tour v with tour spec 130x ?

We have a review of the Tour V here: https://pluggedingolf.com/kbs-tour-v-iron-shaft-review/

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Hi – is the True Temper XP 115 S300 (fitted, 88swing speed, mid launch and 6200 spin with 6i) a comparable shaft to the Tour Stiff?

The KBS Tour is heavier but otherwise there are some similarities.

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hi I currently play off 6 and play titleist ap1 with xp 95 shafts , I am considering changing to tailormade tp mb with kbs reg flex can give some advice ? I fear the kbs maybe to heavy ??? kind regards Graeme

Adding nearly 30 grams will be a significant change. Have you talked with a fitter about it? Tried some irons with similar weight shafts?

Pingback: Zurich Classic of New Orleans Recap - Plugged In Golf

' src=

Hi Matt, I currently play TaylorMade R9 irons with a Taylormade 90 by FST Stiff shaft. I’m upgrading to Tailor-made M4 irons with a Max 85 Shaft. Any thought on which would be more comparable to my existing shafts? The Stiff or a Regular Max 85? I think there both lighter than my existing shaft. Thanks.

I would suggest trying both with the help of a fitter to find the better fit.

' src=

May I know how much weights for the S shaft ?

The stiff weighs 120 grams.

' src=

What’s the weight? I have these in my a12 pros and I can’t seem to find any specs on them. Thanks

' src=

I purchased some Mizuno irons with KBS shafts. On the label they say KBS under that is Tour by FST, by the KBS it has a small R inside a circle. I am trying to find out if these are regular or stiff, nothing on the shafts say either regular or stiff.

That sounds like a regular flex, but without seeing a picture I can’t say for certain.

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No, small r inside circle is the registered trademark, not regular.

' src=

What shafts are used for the king cobra f9, beside fujikura atoms 6 one length or KBS 0.37 Tip

' src=

HI Matt, I’ve been gaming the original KBS since 2009 w/ my Mizuno MP 58’s MMC. I’m eyeing a set of MP 18 SC in the KBS tour. Would you say the shaft profile and characteristics is the same as the original KBS that I’m playing now?

To my knowledge, KBS has not changed the original KBS Tour since it was released.

' src=

I am currently playing Mizuno Hot metal withveylix Alpina 673 shaft. I am 72 and these irons are terrible for me. Handicap on way up

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Been fitted for X100s and KBS X shafts in new srixon zx7s. Numbers on the trackman are neck and neck. Averaging 98mph club head speed with 7-iron. A lot of comments I read say they prefer the X100s and that they flight lower than KBS x.

Thoughts on the two shafts? How much lower would the x100s flight and would it be worth taking into account?

Did you see a lower flight from the X100 in your fitting? My experience is that DG flies a bit lower than KBS Tour, but your results may vary.

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Hi , I am 47 and my handicap is 13, I ordered for Miura MC-501 iron sets but little confused whether i am gonna fit KBS Tour R 110 g or Stiff 120 g !!! Could you please suggest which one will be perfect for me ? Thanks in advance

The only way to know which shaft is best is to get fit. Online, all anyone can do is guess, unfortunately.

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There’s the occasional discussion on the internet from time to time about KBS Tour being ‘counterbalanced’ and ‘building to lower swingweights’ (I presume in comparison to DG). Is this true for this shaft?

That’s a good question. I’ve never noticed the KBS Tour to feel strongly counterbalanced, so I’ve never taken the time to measure. So, short answer: I’m not sure.

' src=

Just picked up a set of KBS Tour By FST shafts but they don’t have a weight or flex sticker on them. How can I tell what flex they are?

You could have a club builder check their CPM to get an idea of that.

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Does it get old telling people to work with a fitter to find the best shaft for them? lol

No, I never get tired of giving people the advice that will actually help them play better golf.

' src=

Old thread I know. Is there any whippy feeling with these in the tour flt 110 regular flex? My ball speed with 7 iron with true temper Amt red hovers around 115. Not sure swing speed. I know go get fitted, but how similar to the amt red would these fall? Of course not the descending weight, but as for whippy- I don’t want that lol.

Feel is subjective, so unfortunately I can’t tell you whether or not these will feel “whippy” to you.

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Matt: I love my new Mizuno JPX923 irons with KBS Tour Reg. Shafts. I have 4 Ben Hogan Wedges I really like but they have APEX 4 shafts which are too stiff for me now that I am 70 years old. In your opinion will the KBS Tour Reg. Shafts be good for my Hogan Wedges? Thanks

I can’t speak to your swing but I like having matching shafts from my irons through my wedges.

' src=

Are these like the c taper where most people play the stiff + if they are typically x flex?

The C Taper and KBS Tour are very, very different shafts.

' src=

I purchased p770s and didn’t do enough research and got kbs tour black shafts 120g.

My driver swing speed is about 97mph – are these shafts too heavy for me?

I hit the ball okay but notice my carry distances are much shorter than my old callaway rogue st max irons

I would never tell a player that a given weight is universally too heavy or too light for a given speed. What matters is A) fit and B) goals. If you want to get more distance, 120 gram shafts probably isn’t the way unless going lighter causes your ball striking to suffer.

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kbs tour 130 x review

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kbs tour 130 x review

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kbs tour 130 x review

KBS Tour 130X vs. X100: Which is Better?

In the past, the golf market was saturated with premium irons and wedge shafts designed for professional players.

Thanks to brands like KBS, the narrative is rapidly changing. The brand produces tour-caliber shafts that cater to different levels of golfers.

The KBS Tour Shaft is an excellent shaft lineup that provides a smooth feel, decent control, and more responsiveness.

It’s available in different flex options and models, including the 130X and X100.

This article will comprehensively review these KBS Tour shaft models to determine the best.

If you find this interesting, follow along as we discuss their features and characteristics.

KBS Tour 130X vs. X100

The KBS Tour X100 and 130X shafts are specific KBS Tour shaft series models.

They represent different stiffness and weight different from the standard KBS Tour.

The X means the extra stiff flex of the shaft, which is stiffer than the standard stiff flex. The number, however, represents the shaft weight.

The KBS Tour X100 is a shaft developed for players who want a stiffer and heavier shaft to maintain their aggressive swings and swing speeds.

This shaft is perfect for incredible penetrating ball flight and improved control to offer the perfect accuracy.

It gives golfers impressive power while playing, and its performance is beyond excellence.

Compared to the Standard KBS Tour, it has a stiffer tip section, and the overall weight is heavier, helping to promote a lower ball flight and tighter dispersion.

Generally, this shaft is not ideal for players with slower swing speeds.

On the other hand, the KBS Tour 130X is another KBS Tour shaft series model. It’s similar to the X100 in flex but has a heavier weight.

It is designed for highly skilled players who have a fast swing speed and need maximum stability and control.

Furthermore, similar to the X100 shaft, it features a stiffer tip section and heavier weight that can help golfers minimize spin, enhance a lower ball flight and improve accuracy.

This shaft is only recommended for highly skilled players with fast swing speed as it can be too heavy and stiff for average golfers.

Notably, both shaft models come in different finishes, and players can customize them with different colors or graphics to suit their preferences.

KBS Tour 130X vs. X100: Comparison

KBS Tour 130X vs. X100

Both shafts have a single-weight option.

The number coded in the name represents their weights, meaning the 130X shaft is heavier than the X100.

The extra weight in the 130X shaft can provide additional control and stability, so players who want to minimize spin and promote a lower ball flight will find it perfectly well.

These shafts both feature the “extra stiff” flex options designed for golfers with very fast swing speeds.

However, the Tour 130X shaft is slightly stiffer than the X100, making it great for golfers with faster swing speeds.

Length option is another significant decision-making factor.

However, both shafts come in the standard length options from 41°-43°, with players having the opportunity to customize the shaft lengths to suit their preferences.

Both shaft models are designed to offer a mid-to-low launch angle.

However, thanks to its stiffer tip section, the KBS Tour 130X can produce less spin and lower ball flight. As such, it’s ideal for players who want more control over their trajectory.

Generally, both shafts are famous for their incredible feel and feedback.

When compared, the Tour 130X provides more feedback than the X100. Hence, it’s suitable for players who need to sense the clubhead’s position throughout the swing.

Torque Rating

Another factor to consider is the torque rating of each shaft.

The Tour 130X has a lower torque rating which can generate more stability and control.

However, the demerit is that it can produce a harsher feel on mishits.

On the other hand, the Tour X100 has a slightly higher torque rating, helping to provide a more forgiving feel and dampen vibration on mishits.

However, some players can get more spin and higher ball flight due to this higher torque rating.

The USGA is a renowned golf body that manages rules that govern the production and distribution of golf accessories.

Every golf apparel must conform to these stringent rules to be considered legal for use.

These rules are necessary to ensure golf manufacturers only produce golf clubs that are safe and comfortable for use.

Fortunately, both KBS Tour shafts conform to the regulations and are considered legal to be used in any competition.

KBS Tour 130X vs. X100: Which Is Better?

This answer depends on several factors, and it can vary across different levels of players.

Generally, both shafts are excellent, and the “better” will depend on what each individual wants.

The Tour X100 offers high versatility as it caters to a broader range of players, especially those with slower swing speeds.

Compared to the 130X, it has a lighter weight and softer flex that can provide a more forgiving feel and clubhead speed.

Conversely, the 130X is most suitable for players with fast swings who want optimum stability and control from the shaft.

This shaft will help reduce spin and promote a lower ball flight to control trajectory.

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Kbs Tour Shaft Review

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kbs tour 130 x review

The KBS Tour Iron Shafts – Stiff Flex – .355 Taper Tip (4I – S – 120g) by Tour Shop Fresno are an excellent choice for golfers in search of reliable and compatible iron shafts. These shafts have been designed with careful consideration of technical details and customer feedback, resulting in a product that delivers exceptional performance. With precision engineering and high-quality materials, the script of these shafts ensures a responsive and accurate feel, making every swing a masterpiece. You demand the best from your equipment, and the KBS Tour Iron Shafts deliver just that.

Paul Liberatore

  • Description
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Key Features

Kbs tour shaft detailed review, design and technology, where can i find the best deals or discounts on kbs tour iron shafts, can i install kbs tour iron shafts on my own, or do i need to take them to a professional for installation, are there any specific club heads that the kbs tour iron shafts are not compatible with, can i customize the kbs tour iron shafts with different grips or colors, do kbs tour iron shafts come with a warranty or guarantee, how does the tour shaft compare, project x lz, kbs c-taper, n.s. pro modus 3.

Updated February 2024 to update current pricing information.

KBS is named after its owner and founder Kim Braly. KBS has worked closely with PGA professionals to build golf shafts that offer versatility and a controlled ball flight. The KBS Tour shaft was designed for players of all abilities. The KBS Tour steel shaft is a mid-trajectory iron and wedge shaft that gives the player a signature smooth feel. The KBS Tour maximizes energy transfer to give players more lift and easier launch with their irons and wedges. Amateur players will love the responsive feel of the KBS Tour and the control of this top-of-the-line golf shaft is trusted by some of the world’s best players.

KBS Tour Iron Shafts - Stiff Flex - .355 Taper Tip (4I - S - 120g)

  • 5% lower trajectory, less spin , and more distance gives players an easy-to-hit iron shaft that matches their swings.  
  • The KBS signature feel is smooth and responsive and gives players more options even at lower swing speeds .  
  • The range of weight and flex options make the KBS Tour available to golfers of almost any fee preference.

Impactradius

The KBS Tour golf shaft is designed with every golfer in mind. With 6 flex and weight ranges, the KBS Tour shaft can be built to any playing preference and ball flight. Used by some of the world’s best golfers, KBS shafts are known for their impressive responses and smooth feel. Players looking to get their irons fit for more distance and accuracy need to be testing the KBS Tour shaft. The first thing that stood out to me during my testing of the KBS Tour shaft was the signature feel that Mr. Braly promises. The KBS Tour shaft is one of the easiest shafts to hit and didn’t require my best swing to get a controlled and accurate ball flight. Playing my iron shafts at 125-grams, I tested the Stiff+ model of the KBS Tour shafts. I thought for the majority of golfers, the KBS Tour iron shaft is a fantastic option and would not hesitate to put it into the hands of players with a variety of swing speeds. KBS delivers a golf shaft that is easy to launch and a pleasure to swing. The KBS Tour is one of the best shafts for players that swing below tour-level swing speeds but desire the ultimate control with their irons and wedges. The KBS Tour shafts are truly versatile and great for players with smooth tempos, especially with high and mid-handicaps .

Kbs Tour Shaft Review

The KBS Tour Iron Shafts - Stiff Flex - .355 Taper Tip (4I - S - 120g) by Tour Shop Fresno are an excellent choice for golfers in search of reliable and compatible iron shafts. These shafts have been designed with careful consideration of technical details and customer feedback, resulting in a product that delivers exceptional performance. With precision engineering and high-quality materials, the script of these shafts ensures a responsive and accurate feel, making every swing a masterpiece. You demand the best from your equipment, and the KBS Tour Iron Shafts deliver just that.

  • Smooth feel and mid-launch attributes help the KBS Tour appeal to a variety of skill levels and swing speeds.
  • KBS technology delivers maximum energy transfer for more distance, less spin, and more control.
  • Aggressive players looking for a more penetrating ball flight may be better suited to a higher kick-point option.
  • The responsive feel may seem too active for players that prefer more rigid iron and wedge shafts.
  • Many sets will not come standard with KBS Tour shafts and may require an additional charge to purchase.

Kbs Tour Shaft Chart

The KBS Tour steel shaft comes in six unique models. Increasing in weight and flex, the KBS Tour is available in 110-gram regular, 115-gram regular+, 120-gram stiff, 125-gram stiff+, and 130-gram x-stiff. Each shaft is available in lengths cut to 1 iron through sand and lob wedge lengths and can be custom fit for golfers of any height.

The KBS Tour shaft is one of the best golf shafts for players that do not swing the golf club with an aggressive style or at tour-level speeds. Low, mid, and high handicap players that want more response and a smoother feel in their irons or wedges will love the KBS Tour shafts. By giving players more energy transfer in the shaft design, KBS has created a versatile, easy-to-hit golf shaft that can help a wide range of golfer’s games.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve found the best prices for KBS Tour iron shafts at online retailers. They often offer discount options and a wider selection compared to local stores. I recommend checking out multiple online retailers for the best deals.

I can definitely do a DIY installation of KBS Tour Iron Shafts. It’s relatively straightforward with the right tools and instructions. However, if you’re uncertain, a professional installation could ensure optimal performance. When comparing costs, check online retailers for the best deals.

I can install KBS Tour Iron Shafts on my own, but I need to ensure compatibility with specific club heads. It’s essential to check compatibility and consider professional installation for optimal performance. The shaft customization process should also consider warranty implications.

Yes, you can customize the KBS Tour iron shafts with different grips and colors to fit your preferences. However, it’s essential to consider how these changes may impact the shaft performance.

Yes, KBS Tour Iron Shafts come with a warranty. The warranty coverage ensures product guarantees. You can be confident in the durability and quality of these shafts, knowing that they are backed by a warranty.

The Project X LZ packages Project X performance and control into a smoother, easy to manage golf shaft. The Project X LZ is designed with Loading Zone Technology to give players better energy transfer and more distance. A thinner middle section allows golfers to launch the Project X LZ higher without losing control of their golf ball. Golfers of all abilities and swing speeds looking for a mid-launch iron or wedge shaft with improved feel and control should be testing the newest steel offering from Project X in the LZ model.

Project X LZ Shaft Review

Kbs Tour Shaft Review

The C-Taper is a perfect complement to the KBS Tour golf shaft. The C-Taper was designed from Tour player feedback to give players a more penetrating trajectory and greater shot control. Players looking to bring their ball flights down into more controlled windows can look to the C-Taper shaft to give them better distance and accuracy in a crisp feel. Aggressive players with a quick swing tempo can get better results with the C-Taper from KBS.

Kbs C Taper Shaft Review

Kbs Tour Shaft Review

The Modus 3 is a complete golf shaft offering from Nippon Golf. The Modus 3 line of shafts uses a tier system to give golfers more options in their custom fit. Matching a swing weight and flex profile to golfer swing styles, release patterns, and club head speeds give Nippon an unmatched array of custom fitting options. No matter what your feel, ball flight, and weight preferences are, Nippon has created a Modus 3 shaft designed to help you play better golf. The widest range of weight-to-flex ratios help make the Modus 3 a club fitter and serious golfer’s dream.

Nippon Pro Modus 3 Shaft Review

Kbs Tour Shaft Review

Videos: Kbs Tour Shaft Review

KBS Tour 120 Iron Shaft v KBS Tour C-Taper 120 Iron Shaft - Is There A Difference?

As the Founder of Golfers Authority Paul Liberatore Esq. has spent the last 7+ years writing about the best golf equipment or instruction from the top golf instructors in the world. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated Golf and GolfWRX. After graduating with honors from Purdue University, he realized that he had a passion for the golf business and the law. When he's not practicing law, or creating golf content on YouTube, he can be found on his syndicated Behind the Golf Brand podcast talking with the most prolific leaders in the golf industry. 

Kbs Tour Shaft Review

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Review: KBS Tour FLT Shafts

kbs tour 130 x review

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

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

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

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

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

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

KBS_FLT

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

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

KBS_FLT_Shaft_Specs

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

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

KBSTour130Shafts

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

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

Apex_Pro_Test_heads

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

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

KBS_Tour_KBS_FLT

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

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

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

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

kbs tour 130 x review

Review: Single-length Sterling Irons

Review: TaylorMade M2 Fairway Woods

kbs tour 130 x review

300 Yard Pro

Jun 27, 2016 at 4:36 pm

KBS are yesterdays news.

kbs tour 130 x review

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.

kbs tour 130 x review

Jun 26, 2016 at 7:52 am

So basically the same what a joke.

kbs tour 130 x review

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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kbs tour 130 x review

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

kbs tour 130 x review

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.

kbs tour 130 x review

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

Titleist launches new Vokey WedgeWorks 60 “A” grind wedge

kbs tour 130 x review

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.

kbs tour 130 x review

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.”  

kbs tour 130 x review

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.” 

kbs tour 130 x review

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.

kbs tour 130 x review

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

kbs tour 130 x review

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!

kbs tour 130 x review

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The Brassie

KBS Tour 130 X Shaft: Maximum Distance and Control

Answered by Robert Akin

The KBS Tour 130 X is one of the most popular iron shafts available in the market today. It is designed to provde golfers with a mid-trajectory launch and low spin, making it an ideal choice for those who want to achieve greater distance and accuracy.

The KBS Tour 130 X is made from high-quality steel and features a unique step pattern that is designed to optimize performance. The shaft has a stiff flex, which is ideal for golfers with a fast swing speed. It is also great for those who prefer a more controlled ball flight and want to reduce their spin.

One of the key features of the KBS Tour 130 X is its versatility. This shaft is suitable for a wide range of golfers, from beginners to professionals. It offers a consistent feel and performance that golfers can rely on, regardless of their skill level.

Another advantage of the KBS Tour 130 X is its durability. The shaft is built to withstand the rigors of regular use and can last for years with proper maintenance. This is particularly important for golfers who play frequently or those who participate in tournaments.

In terms of performance, the KBS Tour 130 X has been shown to improve ball flight and distance. According to KBS, the shaft can reduce launch angle by 5% and spin by 5%, resulting in up to 10 yards more distance compared to competitor’s shafts. This is a significant improvement that can make a big difference on the course.

The KBS Tour 130 X is a high-quality iron shaft that offers excellent performance and versatility. It is ideal for golfers who want to achieve greater distance and accuracy, and is suitable for a wide range of skill levels. If you are looking for a reliable and durable iron shaft, the KBS Tour 130 X is definitely worth considering.

The Benefits of Tour X Shafts

The Tour X Shaft is a high-quality golf club shaft produced by Fujikura. It is designed to prvide stability and control for golfers who consistently hit the ball over 250 yards. The shaft is made from high modulus graphite, which is a strong and lightweight material that is commonly used in premium golf club shafts. The Tour X Shaft has a low torque rating, meaning that it resists twisting during the swing, resulting in a more consistent ball flight. This shaft is specifically designed for golfers with high swing speeds, and can handle the demands of even the most powerful swings. It is important to note that the Tour X Shaft does not come with an adapter or grip, and is not cut to any specific length.

Do Professional Golfers Use KBS Shafts?

Many PGA Tour professionals use KBS shafts, including former World No. 1 players. KBS Tour shafts are particularly popular among Tour players due to their versatility in spin and mid-trajectory launch. The brand offers a range of ball flights, weights, and dispersion options to cater to different player preferences and swings. Some notable players who have used KBS shafts include Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar, and Rickie Fowler.

The Benefits of Using X Flex

X Flex is the stiffest flex available for golf clubs. The X in X Flex stands for extra stiff, meaning that thee clubs require a higher swing speed and greater control than other flexes. This type of flex is typically used by professional golfers or those with a very fast swing speed. X Flex clubs have a lower degree of bend and a higher degree of accuracy, allowing for more precise shots. It is important to note that the X Flex may not be suitable for all golfers, and it is recommended to consult with a professional or experienced golfer before choosing this option.

What is C-Taper?

C-Taper is a type of golf shaft that is designed to provide specific benefits for golfers. This shaft is developed by KBS, a company that specializes in creating high-quality golf shafts. The C-Taper shaft is designed to reduce the launch angle of a golf ball by 5%, which means that the ball will travel lower and farther. Additionally, the C-Taper shaft is intended to reduce spin by 5%, which means that the ball will not spin as much in the air. This reduction in spin can result in more distance and better accuracy. The C-Taper shaft is also said to provide up to 10 yards more distance compared to other competitor’s shafts, which is a significant advantage for golfers lookng to improve their game. the C-Taper shaft is designed to provide golfers with a more consistent ball flight, better accuracy, and more distance, which can help them improve their game and play at a higher level.

The KBS Tour 130 X shaft is a high-performance golf club shaft that is designed to offer exceptional stability and control for golfers with high swing speeds. This extra stiff flex shaft is made from high modulus graphite, whih makes it strong enough to handle even the most powerful swings. The KBS Tour 130 X shaft is popular with many PGA Tour stars due to its versatility in spin and mid-trajectory launch. It is also renowned for reducing the launch angle and spin by up to 5% and providing up to 10 yards more distance compared to competitor’s shafts. the KBS Tour 130 X shaft is an excellent choice for golfers who are looking for a high-performance, extra stiff flex shaft that can help them achieve greater distance and accuracy on the course.

Which KBS iron shaft is best for you?

Published: 22 September 2022 Last updated: 17 January 2024

Which KBS iron shaft suits you?

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

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

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

EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment

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

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

Players’ models  

Kbs c-taper iron shaft.

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

KBS C-Taper iron shaft

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

KBS $-Taper iron shaft

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

KBS $-Taper iron shaft

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

KBS Tour iron shaft

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

KBS Tour iron shaft

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

RELATED: Which Taylo rMade iron suits me ?

How KBS players’ steel shafts differ in launch and spin

KBS iron shaft graphic

KBS Tour V iron shaft

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

KBS Tour V iron shaft

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

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

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

KBS Lite iron shafts

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

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

RELATED: Should you play the KBS TD driver shaft?

KBS iron shaft swing speed recommendations

KBS iron shaft swing speed recommendations

Average speed KBS iron shaft models

Kbs max and max ct80 iron shafts.

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

KBS Max steel iron shaft

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

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

RELATED: Which Lamkin grip best suits your game?

There are junior options too   

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

KBS Junior iron shafts

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

When should you go graphite?

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

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

How KBS graphite iron shafts differ in launch and spin

KBS graphite iron shaft chart

KBS TGI – Tour Graphite Iron shaft

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

KBS TGI Tour Graphite iron shaft

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

KBS PGI – Players Graphite Iron shaft

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

KBS PGI Players Graphite iron shaft

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

KBS Max graphite iron shaft   

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

KBS Max Graphite iron shaft

KBS graphite iron shaft swing speed recommendations

KBS graphite iron shaft chart

Get it right the first time

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

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

Don’t forget your wedges

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

KBS wedge shafts

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

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

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

How do KBS iron shafts compare in data?

KBS Iron shaft data

Verdict: KBS iron shafts

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

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

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

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

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

KBS Founder Kim Braly on a life spend designing golf shafts

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

How have shafts evolved over the last 150 years?

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

How did the Frequency Matching idea come about?

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

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

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

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

Kim Braly

What was the players’ reaction?

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

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

How have launch monitors affected modern shaft fittings?

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

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

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

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

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

Kim Braly

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

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

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

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

Kim Braly

Will graphite shafts ever be the norm through the bag?

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

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

KBS make 16 different iron shafts; why so many?   

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

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

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

READ NEXT: Best 2022 Iron Test

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kbs tour 130 x review

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KBS Tour FLT Iron Shafts Review

Kbs tour flt iron shafts.

The KBS Tour is easily one of the most popular steel iron shafts in the game of golf.  Known for its smooth feel and versatility, players have sworn by this shaft for years.  KBS has made an updated version of this shaft to offer an option to fit a wider range of players’ needs – the KBS Tour FLT.  The main idea is that the longer irons fly higher and the shorter irons fly lower for more distance and control.

How Does it Feel?

My thoughts on the KBS Tour FLT feel require a little bit of awareness for how the original Tour model feels.  Where the Tour feels fairly neutral with a smooth release, the Tour FLT feels a little more dynamic with more snap to it .  The overall feel is still very smooth like the original, but you can feel the FLT come to life and kick a little more.  As always, feel is extremely subjective whether it’s based on your hands or your swing.  You may have a totally different sense for either shaft.  Try them both, but make sure you do so all the way through the set if you want an accurate A/B comparison.

Performance 6

On-Course Performance

KBS designed the Tour FLT to fly higher from 6 iron down and lower from 8 on up.  This flight is also supposed to come with more distance and spin.  I actually found the Tour FLT and standard Tour to be pretty close when it came to spin.  However, the Tour FLT definitely launched higher for me .  While KBS wants the Tour FLT to launch lower in the shorter irons, I found them to launch higher as well.  Keep in mind, this will be heavily dependent on a player’s specific swing.  I just so happened to hit them higher than the the standard Tour.

From a performance perspective, where I really thought the FLT flourished was the control and ease of play.  Between the feel and launch, I generally found the Tour FLT very easy to strike the ball well with.  It was easy to get the ball comfortably in the air and just easy to control the shot.   My dispersion was tight and I felt like I could change trajectories and shapes as needed.  In short, the FLT played more forgiving to me than the original Tour .

KBS Tour FLT 2

Final Thoughts – KBS Tour FLT

I believe that KBS succeeded in creating a more user-friendly version of their signature Tour shaft in the FLT model.  It’s just flat out easy to hit and feels good .  That said, I think if you looked at the spectrum of players that more prefer the FLT, the majority will fall on the amateur side.  I could see better players launching these a bit too high or maybe finding some extra spin that I didn’t necessarily experience.  That’s the beauty of the fitting industry today, though.  You’ll be able to figure that out.  I liked this shaft a lot.  It even saw quite some time in my bag, and I think others will benefit from it too.

KBS-Tour-FLT-12

Related Posts:

Tour Edge Hot Launch 524 Group

Hi Bill, How do you think these compare to the C-taper lite? Thanks!

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Nothing alike. C-Taper Lite has a more stout feel and less spin. It just flights a little higher than the regular C-Taper as a result of the lighter weight. That said, that also heavily depends on you actually swing the club.

Tour FLT is going to play a lot like the KBS Tour. They’re designed to be very similar except the FLT will flight the long irons a little higher and the short irons a little flatter.

Great, thanks!

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What shaft is the equivelent of the the flt? flt is out of stock. In my club fitting stats the flt was by far the best results for the p770 that I was hitting

I wouldn’t say there is an equivalent. Unfortunately, due to the same supply chain issues impacting all industries, I know steel shafts, grips, etc have been difficult for vendors to restock.

Could a person tip the KBS 120 to make it resemble a FLT?

I suppose it’s possible, but I don’t think you’d get the same profiles necessarily and it would be tough to figure out for each club, in my opinion. At very best, you’d likely not match the FLT all the close and just be changing the profile of the basic Tour to something else.

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How do these compare to $taper

Will vary player to player but I think $ Taper feels and a bit tighter. FLT feels softer (to me) and easier to get up in the air.

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KBS C-Taper Iron Shaft

Matt Saternus

By Matt Saternus October 18, 2011 in Forum Testing Reviews

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DSCN1073.JPG

Introduction

“5% Lower trajectory. 5% Less spin. 5% More distance.” These are the promises made by the new C-Taper iron shaft from KBS. They claim to deliver these benefits without sacrificing that signature KBS feel. Sound too good to be true? Read on, spies…

DSCN1072.JPG

Before we get started, let me own up to the fact that I'm a fan of KBS shafts. I have played KBS Tour shafts in my irons for over 3 years, and the KBS Hybrid shaft that I reviewed earlier this summer is still in the bag. Now, on with the review…

Let me summarize the feel of the C-Taper in one word: Spectacular. With regard to feel, the C-Taper truly does live up to the marketing. It manages to deliver the same smooth feeling that I have loved in the KBS Tour, but with added stout-ness (if that's a word). The C-Taper is clearly a stiffer shaft than the KBS Tour, but it does not feel boardy or hard to load. It still manages to give the smooth feel that encourages a smooth swing: the same characteristic I have enjoyed about every KBS shaft I have tried. If you are a fan of the feel of other KBS products, I strongly suspect you will like the feel of the C-Taper.

DSCN1067.JPG

Performance

Let's start by assessing the marketing claims. “5% Lower trajectory. 5% Less spin.” While I was not able to do any launch monitor testing with these shafts* I can say that, compared to the KBS Tour shaft that I normally play, the ball flight is decidedly lower and flatter. As for “5% More distance,” that is going to depend on the player. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I have a fairly shallow angle of attack, so I do not create a lot of “extra” spin. For me, the C-Taper was not any longer than my KBS Tour shafts. Players who have steeper angles of attack, or who simply hit the ball higher than I do, may see that 5% distance jump that KBS advertises.

As far as real world experience, the first day that I had the C-Tapers in my bag was an absolute honeymoon day. It was probably the best ball striking day that I've had all year, if not ever. I was painting flagsticks all day long, and hitting my normal distances quite consistently. I even hit four 5I shots from a tee box and landed them all in a space that you could cover with a beach towel. Needless to say, I was in love.

One thing that I noticed consistently during the testing: the dispersion of the C-Tapers is exceptionally tight. The ball does not seem to want to curve much in the air. It was akin to my experience with the Nunchuk shaft: you can push or pull a shot, but curving it takes work. This part of the shaft's performance I absolutely loved.

After that first day, however, I came to realize that the C-Tapers, at least in the stiff flex, might not be the best choice for me. I found that when I was not striking the ball well, my distances got a bit inconsistent. Flush shots went really well, maybe even further than normal, but mishits fell quite short. The dispersion was outstanding whether I hit the ball well or not, but the trajectory and distance were not always ideal.

This leads me to a point that I will make a couple more times before I'm done writing: if you're interested in these shafts, GET FIT! I know that when I picked the flex to review, I just went with stiff because that's what I always play. What I learned, through testing, was that I do not need a stiff flex in the C-Taper because of how stiff it is and how low launching & spinning it is. The C-Taper is a great iron shaft, but, just like anything else, it will not work as well as can if it is not fit properly.

*I did not do any launch monitor testing with these shafts because I was unable to compare them head to head against another shaft in the exact same iron. If the C-Taper becomes available on an OEM fitting cart in the near future, I will revise this review with the appropriate launch monitor data.

DSCN1074.JPG

Miscellaneous Notes

The look of this shaft is all business. The satin finish has an industrial quality to it that I absolutely love, and I can't recall showing it to anyone who disagreed.

The C-Taper is offered in Regular, R+, Stiff, S+, and X flex. The weights of these shafts start at 110 grams (regular) and go up in 5 gram increments to the 130 gram X flex.

As mentioned earlier, the C-Tapers are a bit stiff-to-flex: the Stiff comes in at a 6.3 frequency. Combined with the low launch, low spin profile, I need to stress that players should be fit for this shaft by a trained professional. Picking your flex based on ego could lead to some bad results.

The KBS C-Taper iron shaft retails for $30-35 dollars per shaft. Obviously this is at the top end of the steel iron shaft market, but for players who want the performance that this shaft offers, it is well worth it. Again, I must emphasize that it is important to get fitted for this shaft by an experienced fitter. $30 per shaft (plus install fees and grips) can get very expensive if you plan to fit yourself with the “Guess and Check” method.

Overall, I am very impressed with the KBS C-Taper iron shaft. The dispersion is extremely tight and the feel is tremendous: smooth but stout. It also delivers on the promise of lower launch and lower spin. The only caveat I will offer (one last time) is that you should be fit for the correct flex as these do play very stiff-to-flex.

***Just before I was about to publish this review, KBS launched an updated website with a web fit feature . I would strongly recommend taking a look at it: the results may not be what you expect, but it can give you a good starting point.

Follow me on Twitter: @MattSaternus

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COMMENTS

  1. KBS Tour 130 X Shaft Review

    KBS Tour 130 X Irons Review. It was very easy to make consistent contact from a lot of different lies. This is a great shaft to pair with player's performance irons as it will contribute to your accuracy. KBS Tour 130 X Wedges Review. We were a little disappointed to find that we were unable to work a lot of spin into the ball with our wedges.

  2. KBS Tour Iron Shaft Review

    KBS Tour Iron Shaft Review by PluggedInGolf.com. ... I am currently playing Mizuno Pro 900 irons with the KBS tour x shaft. I am going to get a set of Mizuno mp-18 blade irons. If I go to the Nippon modus 120 x shaft am I going to have a similar feel but lighter. Mizuno does offer a KBS shaft in lighter shaft X flex.

  3. Who is playing KBS Tour 130 x shafts?

    I currently have the 130's in T200 3 iron, T100S 4-PW, built with MCC +4 standard grips, 1 degree upright, 1/4 inch long, swingweighted to D4. 6 iron speed is 94mph on a slow day and 100mph on a fast day, with a medium transition. I find the 130's have tightened dispersion a fair bit from the 120's without any obvious negatives.

  4. KBS Tour 130X vs. X100: Which is Better?

    The Tour 130X has a lower torque rating which can generate more stability and control. However, the demerit is that it can produce a harsher feel on mishits. On the other hand, the Tour X100 has a slightly higher torque rating, helping to provide a more forgiving feel and dampen vibration on mishits. However, some players can get more spin and ...

  5. KBS Tour 130X vs PX 6.5

    Curious if anyone has any comparisons between the two or just experience with the KBS Tours in general. I'm a longtime PX player and hit down on the ball a lot with a 91-93 mph 7 iron swing and have had the best results with PX 6.5 but hit the KBS Tour 130X shaft in the simulator and got pretty similar numbers with better feel.

  6. KBS Tour 130X

    Posted November 30, 2021. I had a mizuno fitting a year ago. I was swinging quite aggressively at he session as it was indoors. My 7 iron speed was 91. It recommended KBS Tour 130X as shaft number 2 recommendation. My current swing speed is currently 85-86mph with 7 iron.

  7. KBS Tour Shaft Review

    The Tour does in fact feel incredibly smooth and easy on the hands. I would almost argue that the Tour is even forgiving on your hands on a mishit. Whereas a typical steel shaft may sting a bit, the Tour seems to absorb the blow more. Don't get me wrong, if you hit your MP-18 MB wrong, you're still going to pay for it in the hands.

  8. Kbs Tour Shaft Review

    The KBS Tour steel shaft comes in six unique models. Increasing in weight and flex, the KBS Tour is available in 110-gram regular, 115-gram regular+, 120-gram stiff, 125-gram stiff+, and 130-gram x-stiff. Each shaft is available in lengths cut to 1 iron through sand and lob wedge lengths and can be custom fit for golfers of any height. Conclusion

  9. Review: KBS Tour FLT Shafts

    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).

  10. KBS Tour 130 X Shaft: Maximum Distance and Control

    The KBS Tour 130 X shaft is a high-performance golf club shaft that is designed to offer exceptional stability and control for golfers with high swing speeds. This extra stiff flex shaft is made from high modulus graphite, whih makes it strong enough to handle even the most powerful swings. The KBS Tour 130 X shaft is popular with many PGA Tour ...

  11. KBS Tour Iron Shafts

    The shafts that I tested were the KBS Tour shafts in S+. These shafts weigh in at 125 grams. As I've noted in my reviews of the KBS Hybrid shaft and the Hi-Rev wedge shaft, the thing that I love about KBS is the feel, and the KBS Tour shafts are no exception. Of the three shafts tested here, KBS Tours feel the smoothest to me, and seem to ...

  12. Which KBS iron shaft is best for you?

    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).

  13. Nippon Modus 3 Tour 130 Shaft Review

    For me The Nippon Modus 3 Tour 130 x, DG x100, KBS Tour X, KBS C-Taper X don't compare very well. They all have different profiles form the Tour 130. The closest shaft that you can compare the Nippon Modus 3 tour 130 to is a ProjectX (PX) IMHO. The reason that I want to compare PX to Nippon Modus 3 Tour 130… The profile / ball flight are ...

  14. Kbs tour 130x vs x100? : r/golf

    Suspicious_Pay5509. •. X100 will launch lower than the KBS 130x in most cases. I would personally put the ctaper/x100/6.5 in the same category of lower launching than the KBS 130x. For me 6.5 handles fast transition, spins less, but launches higher than x100..but it's marginally. Ctaper was higher than x100 or project x.

  15. KBS Tour 130X vs $-Taper 130X

    MEMBER REVIEWS: Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience @ Pinehurst. KBS Tour 130X vs $-Taper 130X. By jac1292 December 30, 2023 ... forgot to mention my numbers are very similar with $ taper 130, used to play kbs tour 120 when I first started Edited January 1 by Yankees18 Added info Quote; Link to comment Share on other sites. More ...

  16. Tour

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

  17. KBS Tour FLT Iron Shafts Review

    The KBS Tour is easily one of the most popular steel iron shafts in the game of golf. Known for its smooth feel and versatility, players have sworn by this shaft for years. KBS has made an updated version of this shaft to offer an option to fit a wider range of players' needs - the KBS Tour FLT. The main idea is that the longer irons fly ...

  18. KBS Tour 130X vs. Nippon Modus3 120X

    MEMBER REVIEWS: Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience @ Pinehurst. KBS Tour 130X vs. Nippon Modus3 120X. By pepperdinepat August 18, 2020 in WRX Club Techs. Share ... P7MB, kbs tour 130 X (stock length) - I eliminated the blade since toe misses fell out of the sky like dead birds. 167, 7700, 43, 89, 118

  19. C-taper 120 vs KBS Tour 130 : r/golf

    C-taper 120 vs KBS Tour 130. The face dented on my Apex Pro 9i and Callaway preowned does not have stock to replace it with the c-taper shaft 120 (stiff) that I currently game. They are willing to send me a 4-PW set that have KBS Tour 130 (x-stiff). I'm not sure how these would compare so I was hoping for feedback from Reddit golfers.

  20. KBS C-Taper Iron Shaft

    As mentioned earlier, the C-Tapers are a bit stiff-to-flex: the Stiff comes in at a 6.3 frequency. Combined with the low launch, low spin profile, I need to stress that players should be fit for this shaft by a trained professional. Picking your flex based on ego could lead to some bad results. Value. The KBS C-Taper iron shaft retails for $30 ...

  21. KBS C-taper 130x

    MEMBER REVIEWS: Wilson Golf Product Testing and Fitting Experience @ Pinehurst. KBS C-taper 130x. ... I'm using c-taper 130 x in my irons 4-PW and looking to find the right wedge shafts. I'm a high flight high spin player and these shafts have been amazing. ... I've always played KBS tour 130x hardstepped in my irons 4-PW. However I put a ...

  22. KBS Tour 130 X-stiff shafts

    Valtiel is right, higher swing weight can make a club feel heavier even if the overall weight is similar. Most companies calibrate SW for length, but if yours are 1/2"+ longer it could be part of the difference. The other explanation is total club weight. If the shafts are the same, only variables are grips and heads.