Equipment
All you need to know: Oban’s Kiyoshi White shaft
Oban’s “Kiyoshi White” shaft is the latest edition to the company’s Kiyoshi family of shafts, offering a different bend profile and improved stability through a new design pattern.
Oban, a high-end golf shaft manufacturer based in Chicago, released the first member of the Kiyoshi family, the “Kiyoshi Purple,” in mid-2011. The purple-colored shaft uses Oban’s Emersion Wrapped Frequency Technology to offer golfers a product with a high-launch and low-spin in a wide weight range (45-to-85 grams and hybrid, L-X Flexes).
1-6-2013 UPDATE: This shaft will be part of a High End Tmag Super R1 TP Driver Package for $900.00. Click here to see the R1 TP Article
Oban’s “Kiyoshi Black” was released in early 2012. It uses the same technology, but the Black was designed with less torque and a stiffer butt section that gave it a medium-launch and low-spin.
Like the Kiyoshi Black, the Kiyoshi White offers a mid-launch and low-spin. But a new design pattern that Oban calls “MultiPlex Design Technology” allowed it to be made with a softer butt section, which makes the shaft feel “more bendy,” especially at the top of a golfer’s swing.
“The [Kiyoshi Black and Kiyoshi White] are crossing over, but they offer two different feels,” said Victor Afable, president of Oban Composites. “For Tour players who like a stiffer feel – that’s the Black. Guys who like a shaft that’s softer in the handle – that’s the white.”
The Kiyoshi White is currently available at retail for $400 from Oban’s certified dealers. It will be available in a 55, 65, 75 and 85-gram models, in regular, stiff and x-stiff flexes.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour/pre-release equipment” forum.
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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Ben Kohles’ clubs in the forums.
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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whatisthis
Jun 7, 2014 at 3:17 am
I know that this is old, but I wanted to add my experience with this shaft. I think I may have gotten caught up with all the hype about the Super TP R1, and all the rave reviews. Maybe my SS/swing isn’t for this combo. I’m using a R11 TP with Fubuki Alpha 60 S flex, and I love that combo. I tried the R1 Oban combo, and I’m hitting all over the place, too low and shorter. I think I am getting more roll with the Oban though… I feel like I load the Fubuki well, but I don’t get that feeling with the Oban. I would like to try the R1 with a Fubuki Alpha, and see if it’s the head or the shaft. I have a feeling it’s the latter. I guess this shaft isn’t for everyone…
Dan
Sep 6, 2013 at 8:45 pm
I play the Kiyoshi White 65 Stiff in a Callaway X-Hot head. The combination of these two has given me unmatched results this year. While I attribute most of the great feel at impact to the head, the shaft gives me the feel of really loading at the top of my swing and the consistency at impact to keep it long and straight
Lane Holt
Aug 27, 2013 at 7:58 am
I hope you will someday mention what I consider the best iron shaft ever made– the Nunchuk XI. Made with the same
high quality strict specs. as the Nunchuk Driver and Hybrid shafts. Technology of the future!
Lane
Pat
Nov 23, 2014 at 8:41 pm
You obviously work for Inventix or whatever the parent company name is for the Nunchuk line. Take your advertising bs somewhere else.
Jeffrey
Aug 20, 2013 at 5:23 pm
This is in my R1 black. It is an absolute monster of a shaft. I cut my shafts down as I don’t like super long drivers, and even with my short driver, I was bombing it past my playing partners. Oban may soon have a few more customers.
Ernie Davis
Feb 5, 2013 at 9:51 am
I was just fitted at Club Champion for the Anser with the Oban White 65 Stiff and cannot wait to get it on the course. I’m going from the Diamana White Board to this and cannot wait to get that extra feel of the club. The “bend at the top” was a great feeling not found in the White Board, and the consistancy of the Oban shaft was amazing.
Sporto98
Dec 14, 2012 at 4:07 pm
I hit a 75X in an FT Tour 8.5* and the ball just wouldn’t stop flying. It was fantastic and had great feel. I look forward to getting one for myself.