KBS Tour Lite Vs Nippon Modus 105 Shaft Comparison Overview
I can remember a time when we didn’t have a plethora of lightweight steel iron shafts to choose from.
Now, the market seems to be flooded with them. While it may sound like I’m complaining, I’m really not.
Frankly, the glut of lightweight steel shafts excites me – especially as Father Time is starting to slow my swing speed down.
Today we’ll be taking a look at a couple of steel shafts that would be great for players switching from graphite to steel – or simply players like me who are experiencing a decline in swing speed.
KBS Tour Lite Shaft Overview
“For the taper tip option, you can choose regular flex (95g), stiff flex (100g), and extra stiff flex (105g).”
As you can see from the numbers above, this is a really light shaft. When we tested it, almost all of our testers remarked at how light it felt from backswing to follow-through.
For some of us, it was too light and felt too insubstantial.
Indeed, there was some variance at impact which led to some erratic ball flight and wide dispersion.
The spin rates were on the high side which helped with stopping power.
The KBS Tour Lite manages to feel exceptionally smooth though – so smooth that it was sometimes hard to tell when we mis-hit.
Compared to the Nippon Modus 105 shaft, the KBS Tour Lite also launched a bit higher.
Nippon Modus 105 Shaft Overview
“The Nippon Modus 105 is available in regular flex (103g), stiff flex (106.5g), and extra stiff flex (112g).”
Right away, the Nippon Modus 105 shaft felt stabler and more steady in the hands. A lot of that variance at impact was eliminated which led to tighter dispersion for me and most of our testing party.
While the Nippon Modus 105 is heavier than the Tour Lite, digging or thinning the ball was never a problem.
It was very easy to fall into a groove with this shaft. What’s more is that there is just enough heft in the shaft to help you keep track of the club head; but not enough heft that it slows your swing speed.
“In my eyes, the KBS Tour Lite would only be the better option if your swing speed has really slowed down or if you are a beginner/high handicap player.
Otherwise, the Nippon Modus 105 is the superior lightweight steel shaft option.”
Nippon Modus 105 First Impressions
The first thing that will strike most players is how consistent these lightweight shafts are.
The launch is no shocker; but the tight dispersion on all shots and even loading on all swings are what really stand out.
Key Features & Performance
The lightweight appointments are really what give this shaft its character.
It’s accessible and will help you improve your distance by about half a club.
Nippon Modus 105 Iron Review
Up to the 9-iron you get really strong trajectory and consistent spin/launch. It’s easy to get the ball in the air and you get a very smooth transition.
Nippon Modus 105 Wedge Review
The spin and launch really come in handy when you’re playing from a tight lie but still want to be aggressive.
KBS Tour Lite First Impressions
The first thing we noticed about these shafts was that they were incredibly light for steel shafts.
Key Features & Performance
The weight is the key feature here. It allows for improved club head speed without losing any accuracy.
KBS Tour Lite Wedges Review
We weren’t huge fans of the KBS Tour Lite on wedges because they covered up a lot of our mis-hits.
KBS Tour Lite Irons Review
The KBS Tour Lite is perfect for irons. It will tighten up your shot dispersion and help increase club head speed.
KBS Tour Lite Driver Review
There isn’t enough substance for the KBS Tour Lite shafts to be viable for drivers.
Nippon Modus 105 Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Consistent performance
- Good for a wide variety of players
- Smooth feel
- Lightweight
- Easy to swing
Cons:
- Relatively high spin
KBS Tour Lite Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Smooth feel
- Good vibration dampening
- Good for a variety of players
Cons:
- The smooth feel sometimes covers up his-hits