Equipment
KBS launches ‘Tour-V’ iron shaft
KBS has announced the release of its new “Tour-V” steel iron shaft, which is lower spinning than the KBS “Tour” shaft and weighs about 10 grams less.
The Tour-V (known as the “Tour V2” in its prototype phase) has been in development since early 2012. It was first used on the PGA Tour by Phil Mickelson, who worked with KBS shaft designer Kim Braly to create a shaft that had the feel of the KBS Tour, but produced a lower launch and less spin.
Click here to see the other clubs and shafts Mickelson uses.
To make the shaft, Braly lengthened the step pattern of the KBS Tour, while also increasing the outside diameter of the shaft and thinning its walls. Those changes gave the shaft a lower ball flight, and also made it 10 grams lighter.
“Dispersion with the Tour-V is some of the tightest we have ever seen and it maintains our signature smooth feel at impact,” Braly said in a KBS press release. “Lighter weight has become more popular and this allows golfers to swing a little easier.”
The Tour V is available for pre-order immediately, and will begin shipping on Nov. 1. The shafts will be offered in three flexes: R (100 grams), S (110 grams) and X (120 grams). The Tour-V will also be the stock shaft offering for Callaway’s Apex Pro irons, which will be available in early 2014.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying in the forums.
Above: The KBS Tour-V shaft (left), has a larger outside diameter and thinner walls in the tip section than the KBS Tour (right).
Above: Notice how the KBS Tour-V shafts, when paired side-by-side with the KBS Tour shafts, have longer steps (in both pairings, the KBS Tour is on the left and the Tour-V is on the right). This change, combined with the change in wall thickness and outside diameter, gives the shaft a more penetrating flight.
In June, the KBS launched its C-Taper Lite iron shaft, which filled a gap between the KBS Tour 90 and KBS Tour shafts. The Tour-V fits between the company’s C-Taper and KBS Tour shafts, offering the smooth feel of the KBS Tour with a launch and spin that is closer to the C-Taper.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Hamish
Aug 4, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Please make a new KBS Tour V shaft in Stiff @ 125g, and S+ @ 130g for us regular players.
Tour V X flex @ 120g are a tad lite, and too stiff, but I do like the stable mid section.
Jm
Jul 20, 2016 at 1:34 pm
V Tapers are great shafts. Sure, the availability of other shafts are at your fingertips however; know your equipment, know your game and master your skills. With that said, the V taper is lighter for a reason they’ll definitely help you slow that out of control swing down.
BET
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Just ordered a set of these and they are $30.00 per shaft. I play DG now & have been looking for something with a little higher launch & the same spin. I had the c-tapers and they were good but a little to low. Always loved the feel of KBS vs DG & PX I just hope these fit in where they say they will.
JS
Jan 11, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Any update on performance of Tour V? Compared to DG and PX? Thanks!
Alex
Oct 7, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Unbelievable, just crazy fantastic! These golf companies are beginning to sound like soap commercials. It has to be better because it’s new and improved. Sorry, but just does not blow my dress up.
Greg
Sep 30, 2013 at 11:27 pm
$44.95 lol. What makes these twice the money as the KBS Tour?
t120
Oct 1, 2013 at 5:10 pm
…charging twice as much?
Jack
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:39 am
Always try to charge more (in higher end lines) to capture more of the consumer surplus.
Al Coholic
Sep 30, 2013 at 6:53 pm
How many shafts can you make that are “lower launch, lower spin”….here is a newsbreaker….no amateur can hit thee like a pro…get yourself a great DG shaft and call it a day and take lessons
IRISH P1MP
Sep 30, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Al…..amateurs can hit these shafts. I was a 19 handicapper early this year playing super game improvement irons. I found the stock shafts to be too whippy in my backswing and my dispersion was all over the place. I was handed a set of Adam cmb irons with the kbs tour c-taper in 120 g stiff flex to hit and it was like instant magic dispersion is at an all time low and my handicap sits at a 9 right now. My club head speed for a driver is 104-107. I believe it all lies in proper fitting for correct shafts. I was typically a high ball hitter almost ballooning the ball too much with the game improvement irons. The c-tapers brought this down to where it should be.. I’m not saying it’s for everyone but darn worth trying out, you may just be surprised.
Cannon
Sep 30, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Maybe you should lay off the drinks and save some brain cells.
They’re s actually a lot of am’s that can hit it as good or better than most pro’s. But it’s a game called golf, not ball-striking.
t120
Oct 1, 2013 at 5:09 pm
….wait for it
…wait for it
SNAP!!!!
Club
Oct 7, 2013 at 1:45 am
+1 to Cannon’s comment. I know at least 2-3 golfers who can easily turn pro, but decided not to. They actually better than many players on Tour (Yes, I have played with them). Hey, they can play like a Pro doesn’t mean they have to be a Pro, or be on Tour.
Gary Lewis
Mar 15, 2014 at 12:27 am
DG shafts don’t work for everyone. Times changes things. There are more shaft options than there used to be and some golfers are going to like the Tour V a quite a bit better than the DG shaft.
g,f,g
Apr 11, 2016 at 7:01 pm
stiff and reg flexes are for us mortals dont be afraid. dg gold suuuuuux
Ryan
Sep 30, 2013 at 5:34 pm
$44.95 !!! Come on KBS !! I know it’s a special shaft but yikes.. It’s still just a steel shaft.