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

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

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.
Equipment
Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report
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.






Whats in the Bag
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
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
Equipment
Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss
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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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?
Pingback: First Look: KBS S-Taper and Tour Hybrid prototype shafts – Swing Update
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.
KD
Nov 4, 2016 at 4:00 am
You’re scaring me
Teaj
Nov 10, 2016 at 10:30 pm
please do explain your fright?
Tom
Nov 3, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Expect tighter dispersion patterns from hybrids is good news.
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
Teaj
Nov 3, 2016 at 2:11 pm
where do you see Fairway and driver shafts?