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First Look: KBS S-Taper and Tour Hybrid prototype shafts

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This week at the Shriners Hospital for Children’s Open, we spotted two new prototype shafts from KBS: an S-Taper iron shaft (steel), as well as a Tour Hybrid shaft (graphite).

We reached out to KBS to learn more about each of the new offerings. Read about each the new shafts below, and click here to see what GolfWRXers are saying about the new shafts in our forum.

S-Taper iron shafts

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The new S-Taper shafts are an extension of the KBS Tour line, and are made with the same bend profile. The difference between the two models is that the S-Taper’s step patterns have been elongated to lower spin, while maintaining a similar launch angle to the KBS Tour shafts.

KBS plans to launch the shafts at the PGA Merchandise Show in January, and they’re expected to be available in five weights/flexes: 110 (R Flex), 115 (S Flex), 120 (S+ Flex) and 125 (X Flex).

KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype

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The KBS Tour Hybrid prototype graphite shaft was made using E.I. Data from the KBS Tour shafts, or in other words, it has a similar bend profile as the KBS Tour shafts. That means the hybrid shafts will blend more seamlessly into your set, from irons up to the woods. And since they’re built more like iron shafts, you can expect a tighter dispersion from your hybrids, and more stability through the hitting area, according to the company.

Look for a soft launch of the new shafts on November 15, and a full launch to follow at the PGA Merchandise Show. The shafts are will be available with a 0.370-inch diameter and in the following specs: 65 grams (R, S, X flexes), 75 gram (R, S, X), 85 grams (R, R+, S, S+, X) and 95 grams (S, S+, X).

Related: For more discussion and photos on the KBS Tour shafts, click here.

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8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. BB

    Nov 4, 2016 at 5:56 am

    Is this Graphite Hybrid Shaft another High Dollar shaft with a made in Bangladesh sticker on it?

  2. Pingback: First Look: KBS S-Taper and Tour Hybrid prototype shafts – Swing Update

  3. Teaj

    Nov 3, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I wonder if you will be able to shave down the tip of the hybrid shaft to .355 to fit a driving iron? Also the thought of the lowing spinning KBS Tour is a great idea to me as it is the only reason I went to the C-Taper, I found the tours ballooned on me.

  4. Tom

    Nov 3, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    Expect tighter dispersion patterns from hybrids is good news.

  5. NLS

    Nov 3, 2016 at 11:02 am

    About time they made Fwy wood and Driver shafts.. if they can replicate the quality of their iron and wedge shafts, it’d be a winner

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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