KBS $-Taper

[mackepa]

I haven't heard much hype around these shafts yet and I wanted to attempt to stir some up. If you've tried these I'd love to hear about your results as well. I was able to get a set from KBS the other day. I was sent a set of $-Taper 125 S+ Prototypes to try out against my Tour V 120X. I shafted up my Razr MB's Friday and played with them yesterday. It was tough to get a real true idea of what they were like just because it was so wet and pretty darn cold as well. I did find them to launch a hair higher than Tour V's but it was still very flat which I liked. The greens were really soft so I'm not sure how much they were spinning but it didn't look like too much. The step pattern on these is pretty unique. They have steps but they're real subtle where it almost looks like a Project X. The best way I can describe the feel is that it feels like the KBS Tour where it's really smooth but it doesn't launch to the moon.

 

 

[DTown3011]

Have not seen much info on these or the KBS Tour FLT. Will be watching this thread for sure.

[Gnomesteel]

How do you say that name?

 

"Money" Taper? "Cash" Taper?

[mackepa]

How do you say that name?

 

"Money" Taper? "Cash" Taper?

 

They are called S-Taper but they use the $ sign on the sticker

[moonshine]

These have me interested but man are they giving a golfer lots of choices these days.

[nmorton]

Mackepa...have you played c-tapers? Curious how they compare? I played c-tapers for many years and I'm still looking for a good replacement. Based on their claims, these could be a good alternative.

 

[mackepa]

Mackepa...have you played c-tapers? Curious how they compare? I played c-tapers for many years and I'm still looking for a good replacement. Based on their claims, these could be a good alternative.

 

I have played C-Tapers. C-Tapers are definitely more harsh. The $-Taper feels like it loads much easier. The flight is similar

[Jagpilotohio]

I guess I'm not understanding something.

 

What exactly is the point? Are you unhappy in some way with your TOUR V 120x?

 

Are you trying the shafts because you want them to do something different than your current shafts?

 

I have the tour V 120x and I generally like them so I am just trying to understand what you want the new shafts to do for you. You didnt point out any problems with your current set up so I don't know why you want to change them.

[mackepa]

I guess I'm not understanding something.

 

What exactly is the point? Are you unhappy in some way with your TOUR V 120x?

 

Are you trying the shafts because you want them to do something different than your current shafts?

 

I have the tour V 120x and I generally like them so I am just trying to understand what you want the new shafts to do for you. You didnt point out any problems with your current set up so I don't know why you want to change them.

 

I do like my Tour V's a lot and they perform really well for me but I like trying out equipment. Something that I would like to achieve over my Tour V's is a a shaft that plays similarly but loads easier. I only have one round in the cold with the $-Tapers so I can't truly comment on that yet but I did like what I saw.

 

The only downside I really have with the Tour V's is I occasionally get quick with them trying to make them load when I don't need to do it. I have plenty of speed. It's just psychological.

[DTown3011]

I think the entire point with these is to produce a KBS tour with less spin. Same feel.

[mackepa]

I think the entire point with these is to produce a KBS tour with less spin. Same feel.

 

Yes, you're exactly right.

[Jagpilotohio]

Ah. I see. Mainly just general curiosity.

 

I got really tired of experimenting over the last two seasons. I had previously used a set of extremely stiff high kick low spin Daiwa tour department shafts from the mid 90's. I was briefly on their staff and got fitted at their headquarters in Huntington Beach. Used those shafts 20 years. Best graphite on the planet that basically wasn't available to anyone but tour guys and PGA staff members.

 

I Just finally realized they were too stiff for me in the last few years as my speed has dropped a bit. I've tried nearly every "players" graphite (110+ gram) on the market for 2 years and I can't find anything I like. I have terrible joint problems and arthritis or I wouldn't even be interested in graphite. When I bought my hogans they came with the TourV 120 x soft stepped one time. I stuck some sensicores in them and have been playing them for 7 months now.

 

The only thing I would want different is a bit softer feel to mimic my old graphite. They perform quite well. The trajectory and spin is great, they are just are a bit hard on my hands and fingers compared to graphite. After 20 years it's just hard to play steel again. I've tried modus and they feel wonderful, but there isn't a profile I like.

 

Maybe these S tapers would feel a bit softer? Perhaps I'll try a 7 and a 9 iron.

[BearQ]

I think the price point will be a huge turn off with most. Steel shaft not made from Japanese volcano/mount doom steel is hard to justify at $55 a piece...

[DTown3011]

I think the price point will be a huge turn off with most. Steel shaft not made from Japanese volcano/mount doom steel is hard to justify at $55 a piece...

 

Yes why so expensive?

[Jagpilotohio]

$55 each!?!? Holy bat$hit. Good luck going above $50 on steel. Just lost interest.

 

Maybe they have to absorb the cost of replacing so many shafts with bent tips!!

[BearQ]

I think the price point will be a huge turn off with most. Steel shaft not made from Japanese volcano/mount doom steel is hard to justify at $55 a piece...

 

Yes why so expensive?

 

KBS will try to justify it with state of the art technology and tolerances lol. I have no idea what makes it double the price of the KBS Tour, no clue. Until they lower the price, this will be a niche shaft that almost no one games because if you're paying $55 per/ you'd probably go outside of KBS anyways. I was excited about this shaft when the bend profile/tech was first talked about in email release.

 

Sorry to threadjack OP. Intrigued to hear how these perform for you when you can get out in better conditions.

 

PS. C-tapers were a nuisance for me too, bent tips not only ruin the shaft but they sometimes damage inside the hosel too.

[Golfingfanatic]

55 bucks is crazy.

[SirHoselRocket]

So is $850 for a driver....But people will buy it if it works. I agree though....a wee bit high in price. But these do perform. I have had a set for a little while. And I enjoy them...Perform as advertised. Mid launch low spin. Smooth profile...

[terapins]

So in essence are these similar to a tour-v just a tad heavier?

[Kingcat990]

$55 for an FST shaft? No thanks :)

[apprenti23]

KBs Tour Money Tapers

 

Regular KBs Tour with less spin

 

Come in black with white label or ones pictured above

[ZBigStick]

I guess they weren't fooling when they put the '$' on them.

[sriner18]

curious about these as well. There is not much on info on them yet, curious how they compare to Project X as that is the crowd he is trying to get with these.

[mackepa]

I've played these for a couple weeks now and I can definitely say that I love these. On a stock shot they peak higher than my Tour V's but are very very flat. What I've noticed is that even though they fly a hair higher on a stock shot I am able to flight these better when I need to.

[Jagpilotohio]

Still curious but still hung up on the price. Thanks for update. Glad they are working for you.

[nmorton]

Anybody offering these yet as an upgrade? Has anyone ordered a set of these with new sticks? KBS needs to get these in demo carts and catalogs...they're flying under the radar.

[wcbjr]

Any reports of bent tips yet?

[apprenti23]

Still curious but still hung up on the price. Thanks for update. Glad they are working for you.

 

How much are they?

[mackepa]

Still curious but still hung up on the price. Thanks for update. Glad they are working for you.

 

How much are they?

 

I think $55 per

 

Any reports of bent tips yet?

 

Nope. And I take a bit of a divot.

[apprenti23]

What is that like $10 more than previous custom color shafts? How can you be hung up on $100? Jeez