KBS Tour V Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight
If you were a fan of the KBS Tour shafts but found them to be a bit too heavy or too stout for your swing then the KBS Tour V shaft should definitely be on your radar.
The KBS Tour V was specifically designed to perform as close as the KBS Tour shafts as possible while at the same time being lighter.
The KBS Tour V promises tight shot dispersion through muted spin and of course, the classic feel and performance of the original KBS Tour shafts. So does it deliver? Find out in the following review!
KBS Tour V Shaft Overview
The aesthetics of the KBS Tour V shaft is very on-brand for the company.
You get the almost obligatory polished chrome finish with the red band in the middle containing all the lettering. And like most KBS shafts, the KBS Tour V is a stepped steel shaft. So the looks aren’t anything special; but they will certainly appeal to you if you prefer the look of a traditional iron shaft.
Overall the feel of the KBS Tour V is more muted than the KBS Tour. There isn’t as much response in it. That doesn’t mean it feels stout. In fact, the KBS Tour V shaft feels much more manageable than the KBS Tour. But there is certainly a lack of feedback in it. The kick point is very hard to suss out unless you take a powerful swing. Then, you can feel it just under the grip.
Still, the transition is very smooth. You can barely feel the shaft release; but you know it’s happening because you get really good ball and club head speed with this shaft. Of course, a lot of the enhanced club head/ball speed will depend on how you swing your irons. For our testing group though, the numbers told the story. Almost all of us were seeing increases over our typical ball/club head speed numbers. The proof is in the pudding as they say.
In the end, we would say that the KBS Tour V favors a more aggressive tempo but it still plays nice with a more deliberate tempo as well. In both cases, you are likely to achieve a nice arcing draw and increased carry and rollout.
Why is the KBS Tour V So Popular?
The KBS Tour V owes a lot of its popularity to the original KBS Tour shaft and the KBS C-Taper shafts.
These are actually more popular than the KBS Tour V; but their success has prompted a lot of people to take a look at the lighter KBS Tour V.
How Does the KBS Tour V Perform?
After our test session, we concluded that the most beneficial thing about the KBS Tour V is distance.
Yes, we were increasing our ball and club head speed with this shaft and yes, that meant better carry. But there are a couple of other dynamics at play here. First of all, the KBS Tour V absolutely delivers on its promise of low spin. Sidespin is muted marvelously so that you get tighter dispersion and good rollout distance.
Secondly, the KBS Tour V is advertised as a mid launching shaft but we saw mostly high-arcing shots in our test session. The higher launch gave most of our testers better overall carry. So when you combine higher launch, muted sidespin and good rollout, you end up with an iron shaft that plays pretty long.
Of course, there is always the concern that low spin will produce too much rollout and that was certainly on our mind during testing. And in fact, some of us did roll off the green and into the weeds. But if you want to limit the amount of irons you need to get greenside, the KBS Tour V is at least worth a look.
KBS Tour V Shaft Specs
Specs | KBS Tour V |
Available flexes | Regular, stiff, extra stiff |
Weight | 100g, 110g, 120g |
Butt | .600” |
Tip | .355” |
Length | 37” – 40.5” |
What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
Regular flex is available for players in the 80-85 MPH swing speed category.
Stiff is a good choice for 86-90 MPH swingers and extra stiff would suit players in the 91-105 MPH range.
What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?
The 100g version is good for players in the 80-90 MPH range.
The 110g version may suit 91-95 MPH swingers and the 120g version would be good for players in the 96-105 swing speed spectrum.