Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 Shaft Review - Specs, Flex, Weight

Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 Shaft Review – Specs, Flex, Weight

The Zelos line of shafts from Nippon are all about making the accuracy of steel shafts more accessible to lower swing speed players.

I recently tested and reviewed the NS Pro Zelos 8 and I was impressed at how light and stable it was.

And as you may have guessed, the NS Pro Zelos 8 is an 80g weight class shaft. Even after getting my mind blown by the Zelos 8, I was still skeptical that the NS Pro Zelos 7 (a 70g weight class shaft) could hold up in terms of accuracy. Does the NS Pro Zelos 7 deliver on its promise of steel-like accuracy with graphite-like weight? Read on to find out.

Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 Shaft Overview

I find the color scheme of the entire Zelos line to be very refreshing.

I’m used to red/polished chrome from Nippon so it’s cool to see that they went with a blue/polished chrome palette instead. The NS Pro Zelos 7 is a stepped steel iron shaft that overall, looks very traditional.

The first thing that struck me when I swung this shaft was how smooth it felt and how easy it was to get it to load. Even on a light swing, I could feel the shaft load and release. Like the NS Pro Zelos 8, the NS Pro Zelos 7 feels active from tip to butt. The kick point is near the tip and the shaft gets progressively stiffer as you move up to the butt.

And yes, the NS Pro Zelos 7 feels very light in the hands and on the downswing. Perhaps a bit too light. I’ve got a fast swing speed with a moderately fast tempo so I felt like I was losing the shaft on some swings. My face angle was never atrocious which is a testament to the steel they used to make this shaft (or the manufacturing?); but the launch monitor data was better than what I was feeling in real-time.

In the end, I think I’m simply not a good fit for a shaft this light. After all, at 70 grams, the NS Pro Zelos 7 is as light as some graphite iron shafts which, at this point in my golf career, I am no longer used to.

Why is the NS Pro Zelos 7 So Popular?

Despite my trouble with the weight of this shaft, it is accurate.

I was able to hit fades and draws at will or keep the ball straight as needed. Slow swing speed players will likely be able to expect the same, making this shaft an elusive combo of playability and accuracy.

How Does the NS Pro Zelos 7 Perform?

I did a solo test session with the NS Pro Zelos 7 at the range.

After realizing I wasn’t the target demo for this shaft, I made sure I brought alone a slower swing speed tester for the course session. Again, the launch monitor gave me stellar figures despite how my swing felt. With the NS Pro Zelos 7 plugged into my 7-iron, I got an average of 251.6 yards after three swings. My testing partner averaged 244.8 yards. Solid distance overall despite our differing swing speeds.

Spin rates were a bit higher than what I usually get which led to wider dispersion. But my testing partner was getting much tighter dispersion with a more controlled swing. This was the most stark difference in our numbers: my off-line divergence was 16.7 yards on average, his was just 9.9 yards. Further proof that the NS Pro Zelos 7 prefers a moderate tempo.

Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 Shaft Specs

Specs	NS Pro Zelos 7
Available flexes	R2, regular, stiff
Weight	73.5g, 74g, 77.5g
Butt	.570”
Tip	.355”
Length	35”-38.5”

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

R2 would probably work for 65-75 MPH swingers. Regular may fit 76-80 MPH swingers. Stiff should be relegated to 81-85 MPH swing speed players.

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

The 73.5g version should be tried out by players in the 65-75 MPH swing speed range. If you’re in the 76-80 MPH swing speed range, try the 74g version. For 80+ MPH swingers, I would recommend the 77.5g version.

Why is it So Good?

The NS Pro Zelos 7 is a great option for moderate swing speed and tempo players who want to tighten up their dispersion and enhance their shot-shaping capabilities.

Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 First Impressions

The NS Pro Zelos 7 is instantly smooth and reminiscent of classic Nippon shafts. The feel upon impact is satisfying and you don’t have to work hard to load up on this shaft.

Key Features & Performance

The NS Pro Zelos 7 was constructed with NZNS60 steel – a pliable steel that maintains a high degree of rigidity. This material keeps the weight down while imparting stability to the shaft.

NS Pro Zelos 7 Irons Review

My testing counterpart noted that it was very easy to activate the NS Pro Zelos 7 in the long irons. I myself noted a very comfortable swing and transition in the short irons.

NS Pro Zelos 7 Wedges Review

The NS Pro Zelos 7 naturally wants to launch high and that inclination really comes through in the wedges. Good apex height, control and stopping power.

NS Pro Zelos 7 Pros & Cons

Pros:

Very light
Good for slow swingers
High launch
Easy distance
Easy loading

Cons:

Bad for fast swingers

Overall Score: 97/100

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Who Should Buy it?

So does the NS Pro Zelos 7 really deliver steel-like accuracy with graphite-like weight?

Yes…for the right kind of player. While my fast swing speed still got good distance with the NS Pro Zelos 7 shaft, I couldn’t deal with the wide dispersion. But if you have a moderate tempo and a slow to moderate swing speed, the Nippon NS Pro Zelos 7 ticks all the boxes: good distance, tight dispersion and smooth feel.