KBS Max 90 Shaft Review - Specs, Flex, Weight - The Ultimate Golfing Resource

KBS Max 90 Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

The KBS max series of shafts is generally regarded as the company’s premier lightweight steel shaft range.

Anyone who knows KBS shafts knows that they make fantastic mid and heavyweight steel iron shafts.

But the company is not as well-known for their lightweight shafts. In today’s review I will be shedding some light on an often-overlooked member of the KBS family: the KBS Max 90.

KBS Max 90 Shaft Overview

As you have probably already guessed, the KBS Max 90 is a 90g steel shaft.

And although this is technically still a lightweight steel shaft, the feel of it in my hands is more reminiscent of a midweight shaft. Not that it feels heavy; but the stiffness profile just reminds me more of a heavier shaft.

The KBS Max 90 bears a classic stepped design. You also get a white band in the middle instead of the classic red KBS midsection band. The white band is an easy and instant way to differentiate the Max series from virtually every other line of KBS shafts. Frankly, I kinda wish they stuck with the red band because at a glance, you can’t really tell that these are KBS shafts. Still, it is a refreshing change aesthetically.

Compared to other KBS shafts though, the KBS Max 90 is much easier to activate. The load is easy and feels seamless. On release, you can feel the shaft flexing just a little bit. There is only enough action to let you know that the shaft is working for you. The feel is amazingly smooth and the weight is nearly perfect for my swing which fluctuates up and down within the 90 MPH range. For me, there is enough stability. The 90g weight is a little light for me; but like I said, it has the feel of a heavier shaft so it is almost a perfect fit for my swing.

Why is the KBS Max 90 So Popular?

I would actually say that the KBS Max 90 is declining in popularity.

But that doesn’t make it a worthwhile shaft. During testing, I was really amazed that more players aren’t gaming this shaft. It’s an excellent shaft for mid handicappers who want the stability of a much heavier (and more popular) KBS shaft but the feel of a lighter shaft. It’s almost like having a graphite iron shaft in a very convincing disguise of a KBS Tour shaft.

How Does the KBS Max 90 Perform?

I started my testing off the tee with the 4-iron. I liked the distance I was getting.

After three swings after having warmed up, I was averaging a distance of 174.4 yards. The only thing I didn’t like was the dispersion. It wasn’t as tight as I would have liked and veered towards the mid-teens in yardage. While the shaft feels very stable through impact, it seems that the tip could use more stiffness to mute spin.

But as I worked my way up to the mid irons, the dispersion tightened up and I was reminded of the performance of the KBS Tour series. I hit the deck with my 7-iron and was able to get an average distance of 151.5 yards with much tighter dispersion. Things only got better as I got to the scoring irons. The launch was more than adequate and the spin rates helped me hold onto fast greens. Feedback was crystal clear and knockdown shots from tough lies still felt very smooth.

KBS Max 90 Shaft Specs

Specs	KBS Max 90
Available flexes	Regular, stiff
Weight	90g
Tip	.370”
Length	34.25”-37.75”

What Flexes Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?

The KBS Max 90 in regular flex would be a good choice for players swinging their irons between 80 and 85 MPH.

Stiff flex is better for players in the 86-95 MPH swing speed range.

What Weights Are Available? What Swing Speeds Do They Suit?

The KBS Max 90 is a 90-gram shaft so it is a bit on the light side.

In my opinion, this would be a good weight class for players who swing their irons between 80 and 95 MPH.

Why is it So Good?

The KBS Max 90 is a good shaft because it is lightweight but it performs like the much better-known KBS Tour shafts.

Dispersion in the long irons may not be up to par with the Tour series; but in every other sense the KBS Max 90 is a dead ringer.

KBS Max 90 First Impressions

I actually liked the fact that the KBS Max 90 had a stiffer profile than what I was expecting.

But that’s just me. I’m used to heavier iron shafts so the stouter feel was right up my alley.

Key Features & Performance

The KBS Max 90 produces a mid/high launch and mid/high spin rates. Despite the launch, which was higher than what I’m used to, I was still able to get distance comparable to my gamer shafts. This was most likely due to the faster club head speeds I was getting with the KBS Max 90.

KBS Max 90 Irons Review

Despite the stout feel, the KBS Max 90 shafts feel very fast plugged into my long and mid irons. I got good distance, but the dispersion was a bit disappointing.

KBS Max 90 Wedges Review

The KBS Max 90 shaft will give you the launch and spin you need to tackle your chip shots with confidence.

KBS Max 90 Pros & Cons

Pros:

Good stopping power
Similar performance to the Tour series
Stable feel
Lightweight design
Feels fast

Cons:

Wide dispersion in the long irons

Overall Score: 97/100

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Who Should Buy it?

The KBS Max 90 irons may be perfect for me if I had a slightly slower tempo.

The wide dispersion probably had to do with the speed of my transition and the weight of the shaft. But the KBS Max 90 would be ideal for players with a moderate tempo as it is likely to play long and straight for them.