Nippon 950GH review

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remarkably good shaft

I played DGS300 since I was a kid, but last year my irons began to feel "heavy". When trying to make smooth, rhythmic swings, I felt the heaviness of the DGS300 made it a challenge. Compared to my irons, making smooth swings with my graphite shafted metal woods was relatively easy. So, I went in earch of a lighter weight iron shaft alternative.
Some of my playing partners use graphite shafted irons very well. These are 50-70 year old guys who carry legitmate +2 to 2 handicaps. I am not of that age and am just not ready to play graphite shafted irons, but I know the light weight iron shaft makes sense. Ping is my favorite iron brand and a Ping rep suggested the Nippon 950GH. I learned it had been around for more than ten years and was well known as a proven super light steel iron shaft. So, I ordered a Ping set of S56 irons with the Nippon S flex 950GH shafts.
It took me about 10 rounds of golf and a dozen range sessions to get comfortable with the super light 98 gram shafts. It's a big transistion to go from 126 gram DGS300 to a sub 100 grams shaft. Now, 30 or so rounds later, I am very pleased with the Nippon's. Making smooth, rhymic swings is much easier since "heavy weight" is not interfering with the swing or forcing me to work too hard. And after the round, or a range session, my body feels good instead of beat up from heavy weight.
The Nippon's are known as a "smooth feeling shaft", and I can attest to that reputation. Impact sound is pleasing. Not harsh or tinny sounding at all.
As for performance, the Nippon's are every bit as accurate as the DGS300's. In my 6 iron through 3-iron I get a little better height trajectory than I had with the DGS300's. I expected to like the Nippon's once I gave myself time to adjust my swing to the lighter weight shafts, and that worked out great. What surprised me a bit was how much I enjoy playing the Tour-S 52* and 56* wedges with the Nippon's. Light weight wedge shafts have helped me control my greenside chipping, pitching, bunker play swings much better than the heavy weight DGS300's.
Swingweight of my set is D3 9-iron through 3-iron. PW, 52*, and 56* are all D5. For those who may be concerned that super light iron shafts don't allow one to "feel the clubhead", if you have the swing weight up in the D2 to D4 range you will feel the clubhead just the way you like.

[lettucebcereal]

I hit these the other day and i agree with you that I had no issue knowing where the club head was. The flight was about the same as my project x's, which is weird considering the Project X should be lower flight. The Nippons just felt better and I'm thinking about making the switch.

Great review!

[TN22]

Great review. I just switched to Nippons last month after using S300's since... Forever. I'm happy with them and they feel so smooth.

Totally different feel but I like it.

[igman]

How do the Nippons do with a "quicker" transition?

[jkrew1994]

[quote name='igman' timestamp='1338401860' post='5001768']
How do the Nippons do with a "quicker" transition?
[/quote]



the 1050GH and 1150GH are made for "hitters", or those with a quick transition.

I use the 1150GH TOUR X flex, and My Driver speed is 122mph 6 iron is 100mph.

I have noooo problem with these shafts, and i have a super aggressive transition.

[jmck]

[quote name='jkrew1994' timestamp='1338438562' post='5003118']
[quote name='igman' timestamp='1338401860' post='5001768']
How do the Nippons do with a "quicker" transition?
[/quote]



the 1050GH and 1150GH are made for "hitters", or those with a quick transition.

I use the 1150GH TOUR X flex, and My Driver speed is 122mph 6 iron is 100mph.

I have noooo problem with these shafts, and i have a super aggressive transition.
[/quote]

+1. My driver/6iron s/s is more like 105/82, and I also have a quick transition. The 1050 is S suits me perfectly. 950 in S hardstepped once is also great for me. Amazing shafts. Wish I had switched years ago. Been playing them for two years now, and it's the best combo of feel and control I've ever found in an iron shaft.

[The GreekGrind]

[quote name='igman' timestamp='1338401860' post='5001768']
How do the Nippons do with a "[b]quicker" transition[/b]?
[/quote]

check the 1050 ... 1150 (preferably) ...
you'll probably be all over the place with the 950

specs and small write-ups for each ...
[url="http://www.nipponshaft.co.jp/english/steel/1050.htm"]http://www.nipponshaft.co.jp/english/steel/1050.htm[/url]

[url="http://www.clubcrafters.co.uk/products-of-nippon-for-shafts~7~13.aspx"]http://www.clubcraft...hafts~7~13.aspx[/url]

[Marengo]

Thanks for the review of these. i am looking all over the place for as much info as I can find about these shafts. I have a brand new set of JPX800's that I am putting these in and just wanted to make sure I made the right choice.

A little off topic but does anyone know how these compare with the KBS Tour's? I know these will are lighter weight and I am hoping that they are just as smooth feeling.