KBS C-Taper (my impressions)

Well, after two complete rounds with these in my Ping S57s I have to say I am very satisfied.

A little about me: I'm 6'3" and hover around 250 or there abouts. I have a long torso, and long arms, and am what Scratch Golf calls a digger/driver. My 5 iron head speed is a little over 90 when I'm fresh, a little below that when I get tired. Driver carry is 275-280 with a 8* i15 and standard length Diamana WhiteBoard 83g S flex.

These shafts DO flight lower than the KBS Tours, as advertised, which is something I desperately needed. When you waggle these things, they feel VERY stiff to flex. I have the S flex, 120g and as one young man at my local Big Box store said, "feels like rebar".

But...

When I swing these things, I absolutely love them. Firm, yes, but very very stable through the impact area. No harshness, or undo vibrations/flexure of the shaft at impact or through the divot. I am told by friends and playing partners that I have very active hands through the hitting zone, and am very aggressive (whatever that means). I do hit down on the ball, a trap-draw if you will, a rather upright swing, and will take anywhere from a buck to a buck-fifty divot with a 9 or 8 iron. My wedge divots would be classified as keepers if you were trout fishing...

The KBS Tours were simply too high and whippy for me. These are much, much better. Similar feel I guess, without the shaft flexing through impact. I've lost no distance, I even gained some on the long and mid irons. Go figure.

KBS advertised lower flight with lower spin, and I think they nailed it right on the head.

A note of caution: My playing friend tried the 7 iron and lost a significant amount of distance, with a very low ball flight. He hits his drives on average about 240, a 7 iron about 145-150 or thereabouts. He would need the R flex shafts if he decides to try these. I will admit, all the talk on that 'other board' had me a little nervous as everyone was/is saying they play really stiff to flex. I didn't find this to be the case, with me, but I may be an exception. Who knows.

These replaced the factory AWT X-flex shafts the clubs came with. I'm definitely too old for those puppies...  ;)

KBS are great shafts, but like all shafts, they are not for everyone. The extra feel I gained over the Dynalite XP was pretty mind blowing, and I only have the KBS Tours. Such is the the stableness (if thats a word) of them, my fitter recommended I stick to R flex (85-86mph 6i) and he was dead on the money. If I had stiff, in my mind I would be thinking I need to swing it harder even though it would not be the case. I thought about hard stepping the ones I have, but dont fix what isnt broke. I doubt I will ever need the C-Tapers with the ball flight they produce, but its good to hear great things about them..

I agree, these are not for everyone. I was trying to say that in my own way I guess.

One thing I forgot to mention was that these are very tip stiff, yet have a mid flex point (I think). They feel very stiff when you are wagging it around, but feel really good when striking a ball. Sounds  weird, but you'd have to try them.

I play with a couple of young bucks who would really benefit from these (one hits a 7 iron about 210...), but I think I'll take a little more of their money first. My approach shots are like throwing lawn darts now. Really cool.

No sense giving away my few remaining advantages just yet...  ;)