50 Words or Less
The KBS Tour-V iron shaft is designed to be a lighter weight shaft with a mid-trajectory, low spin, and a tight shot dispersion.
Introduction
After riding on the success of the C-Taper and Tour shafts, it was time for KBS to introduce a new option designed to be the best of both worlds. KBS’s Tour-V was designed to be a shaft that was lighter in weight, but had a stable tip section with less spin which ultimately results in a tighter shot dispersion. This review will dive into how well KBS executed on this goal.
Looks
If you didn’t know any better, you would look at the KBS Tour-V and think it was any other KBS shaft (except the C-Taper). It’s a basic chrome steel shaft with traditional steps in it and has the signature inconspicuous red and black KBS shaft label. To the naked eye, the only difference is that the shaft label says Tour-V on it under the KBS logo. If you want a traditional looking steel shaft in your irons, the Tour-V definitely fits the bill.
Feel
It’s important to open this section with our signature “every golfer will have a different experience with different equipment.” Personally, I think the KBS C-Taper has some of the best feel and response in steel golf shafts, but the KBS Tour-V feels like the other end of the spectrum for me. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t feel bad, but it doesn’t have the same response and feel that I love about the C-Taper. The Tour-V tends to feel a little stout much like the Tour-V wedge shaft and otherwise a little empty. I often found myself unsure what kind of shot I had just hit until I looked up at the ball.
Performance
When you have feel issues in golf, you’re more often than not going to have performance issues. The hallmark of the KBS Tour-V shaft is supposed to be an end result of tighter shot dispersion, but the lack of feel made it tough for me to groove the club to get that tight dispersion. That said, when I was hitting it well, I was getting a good trajectory with more draw than usual and definitely low spin. My biggest problem was that I had difficulty knowing when I was hitting that shot or a shot that sort of fizzled out short and didn’t draw. When I was hitting good shots, that little bit of higher trajectory gave me about eight more yards in distance, plus the rollout from the lower spin. The Tour-V definitely has potential for a few extra yards if you’re a good fit for the shaft in your irons.
Conclusion
After testing the KBS Tour-V shaft, I have to say that I generally agree with the claims made by KBS. As always, I strongly encourage you to get properly fit and test the Tour-V shafts before throwing them into your gamers to make sure they deliver in the way you need them to. You want to be sure that they not only give you the shape and distance you want, but also the control and accuracy you need.
Bill Bush
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It’s interesting in totally the other way around. I can’t get a feeling with the c taper shafts and it feels really harsh, but I love the tour v. As you say it’s all about fitting
You do not mention what stiffness you used. I too, have noticed that the shafts can be “hot”every once in a while and go extra far and tend to over draw. Glad to know it was just not me. I am tinkering with the 120x flex. Guessing you tested extra stiff as well? Can you provide more info on that?
Are you using C-tapers right now?
I currently use PX 6.0 and they are very playable to me. I dropped sensicores in them and they feel much better. Looking for a shaft that is smooth, workable (but not a lot), no distance loss etc. Pretty much described my 6.0’s but as I get older would be nice to have all of that plus a few extra yards to offset a declining sspeed. Was hoping the V’s or maybe the new LZ’s can do that. Any suggestions?
If you look in the pictures, they were stiff flex. I also didn’t say they were necessarily “hot” or “over drawing.” My point was they were an easy draw for me and that flight with the lack of spin resulted in a few extra yards for me when I hit them consistently well.
I do not play C-Tapers at this time. In regards to the suggestion you’re looking for, it’s very difficult for me to advise. Much of what you are looking for is subjective and will be best determined through a proper fitting. It’s well worth the investment.
Good luck in your shaft choice.
What’s the difference between the kbs tour v from the kbs tour v 110?
Lindsay,
I’m not familiar with the 110, and it doesn’t appear on the KBS web site. It’s possible that it’s a variant of the Tour V made specifically for a certain OEMs irons.
Best,
Matt
The “Tour V 110” is the stiff flex that you tested. It literally says 110 on the shaft. The 110 on the shaft is the weight of the shaft. Are you sure you even tested these?? It also says 110 on the shaft in your pictures. Shouldn’t have been that hard to put two and two together. If you weren’t in such a hurry to tell someone to get fitted with attitude you might have noticed.
Golf Clown,
Perhaps if you weren’t in such a hurry to leave a “gotcha” comment, you’d have noticed that I didn’t write this review, Bill Bush did. He no longer writes for Plugged In Golf, but I try to offer answers to “his” questions where I can.
-Matt
Got eeem! 😱
Golf Clown with the L 🤡
I got fitted with the KBSV 100s, and I noticed my accuracy and dispersion improved twofold. I love them I’m at 10 handicap 57 years old.