KBS Tour : Hardstep Reg x2 or Softstep stiff 1x?

RainShadow · July 24, 2012

Looking at i20 irons and am in between flexes.

Looked did a search for specifics but didn't really find an answer.

When hitting on the range into the wind I tried both the stiff and regular and hit the stiff consistently further.

Seemed like the regular flex was getting caught in the wind. Not really ballooning, just loosing a bit of distance.

I'm concerned Softstepping the stiff will promote too high a flight and too much spin, plus I'd like to stay with the lighter weight of the regular (10gm diff.)

If I hardstep the Reg. 2x will it lower the flight alot or just take some spin off?

My 6 iron SS is right around 80-82 with moderately fast tempo.

Any help is appreciated, Thanks.

lilmike24 · July 26, 2012

Do what feels right. Nobody knows your game and what you want better than you yourself.

RainShadow · July 28, 2012

Ended up going w/ the KBS Tour R flex hard stepped 1x.
Hope this works out.
When I talked with Conad at KBS he told me that the KBS Tour 90 shaft in stiffs actually softer than the Tour model in Regular, so based on my experience w/ the 90 and what I got off the
launch monitor, this should be a good fit.

avrag · September 11, 2012

How did it turn out?
I have the same 6 iron swing speed and the Mizuno shaft optimizer recommends KBS Tour in R or S softstepped, depending on the exact speed on any given day. When I tried them first, I di not like the feel, but improving my swing seems to have changed that, now I actually love the feel.
I like the weight and the feel of the R more but it definetly gets caught in the wind too much,and I play in windy conditions all of the time. I am also thinking about getting the R hardstepped, but there have been quite a few posts by clubmakers here, who say that hardstepping can cause issues, because you have basically the same shaft in the PW, the 9-iron and the 8-iron. I do not know if that is true for the KBS Tours as well, and I also do not quite understand what these issues are.

bok006 · September 11, 2012

I went with soft stepping the KBS Tour S in my JPX 800 Pro's as I felt it gave me better control. But that's just me.
Hope it worked out for you Rain Shadow.

golfdad907 · September 11, 2012

[quote name='bok006' timestamp='1347402694' post='5625473']
I went with soft stepping the KBS Tour S in my JPX 800 Pro's as I felt it gave me better control. But that's just me.
Hope it worked out for you Rain Shadow.
[/quote]

I did the same, SS Tour Stiffs, then added 1/2 inch for swingweight, they are sweet.

I don't necessarily agree with all the KBS spins too much, they are far less than DG, and a tad more than PX, yet feel better than either of those.

They hit the ball high naturally, but can knockdown, and when crush one, it goes very high (ever see how high PGA players actually hit the ball?) but still bores through wind and stops within a foot of where lands.

Try the Tours, might like them, or in the 90 I'd still soft step 1x over hard stepping 2x

RainShadow · September 16, 2012

[quote name='avrag' timestamp='1347400593' post='5625319']
How did it turn out?
I have the same 6 iron swing speed and the Mizuno shaft optimizer recommends KBS Tour in R or S softstepped, depending on the exact speed on any given day. When I tried them first, I di not like the feel, but improving my swing seems to have changed that, now I actually love the feel.
I like the weight and the feel of the R more but it definetly gets caught in the wind too much,and I play in windy conditions all of the time. I am also thinking about getting the R hardstepped, but there have been quite a few posts by clubmakers here, who say that hardstepping can cause issues, because you have basically the same shaft in the PW, the 9-iron and the 8-iron. I do not know if that is true for the KBS Tours as well, and I also do not quite understand what these issues are.
[/quote]
Very happy with my decision. Great flight and feel. Can still go after the ball hard if I want and no ballooning so far. I hit a lot of balls on a windy range. Only upshooters are my fault from flipping at impact.
Hardstepping more than once will cause issues, but once is fine according to KBS. All it seems to have done for me is allow me the flight I want in a lighter shaft.
These things are smooth as well. Good combo in the i20s.
I do notice they don't spin quite as much as my other irons, but from what I can gather, it's the heads. I just play for a little release on the 7,6,5 irons when the greens are firm.