FST Launches Steel Shafts 20 Percent Stronger By Weight. Golfers Will Barely Notice. The Fitting Matters More.
FST Corp. announced the KBS TOUR V-X family of steel iron shafts, comprising the KBS TOUR V-X and KBS TOUR V-X Lite models. The shafts were tested at up to roughly 20 percent stronger for their weight compared to many existing models. The two models cover weights from 90 to 130 grams and offer multiple flexes, available through KBS fitters, distributors, and online.
This demonstrates the engineering principle of specific strength, which is the ratio of a material's strength to its weight. The mechanism is called mass efficiency optimization: by improving this ratio by 20 percent, you can either keep the same weight and gain durability, or reduce weight and maintain performance. The takeaway for everyday consumers is that when a product advertises a strength-to-weight improvement, the real question is whether the end user can actually exploit that margin or whether it is marketing theater.
FST Corp., trading as NASDAQ: KBSX, is a Boulder, Colorado manufacturer of steel and graphite golf shafts. The KBS TOUR V-X family is available through KBS fitters, distributors, and online channels.
- Pick up a golf club you own and feel the shaft's weight by balancing it horizontally across two fingers at the grip end. You will notice where the balance point sits, which tells you something about weight distribution.
- Search online for a KBS fitter near you using the KBS website and look at the TOUR V-X and TOUR V-X Lite specifications, noting the 90 to 130 gram weight range. You will see how two shafts in the same family can differ by 40 grams while fitting different swing speeds.
- Schedule a fitting session at a golf retailer that carries multiple shaft options and hit the same clubhead with two different shaft weights. You will feel how a 20 percent weight difference changes your swing tempo and ball flight, which matters more than any lab-tested strength number.