Any one here playing Nippon shafts? My club ho’ing has gotten the better of me again and I have purchased some more irons from Japan. My question is specifically on the Nippon NS pro 950 GH WF shafts but any Nippon shaft users can chime in. Do these play soft when compared to rifle, rifle flighted or PX. Any info appreciated.

I’ve played the 750s 850s 950s and the 1050s. The 950s play too flex and are as pure as the devils snow, the 1050 are more like a tour shaft profile and play a little stiffer, great shafts one of the best on the market. If your in brisbane i’ve got them in some players demos. You can have borrow if you like.Or if you like I can post you out one for free, just send us a dna sample so I can be sure I will get it back.

Thanks for the info. I won’t need a demo as my set should be here early next week but thanks for the offer anyway. Good to hear they play true but I ordered them in stiff even though I have been playing 5.0 and 5.5 rifles lately (gone are the 6.0 days!). All my searching around the traps I concluded that the 950’s were ‘soft’. If this is true than they should be just right. I am a little worried at the light weight as they are 20-30 grams lighter than what I have always played. Should be interesting though! thanks

Any one here playing Nippon shafts? My club ho’ing has gotten the better of me again and I have purchased some more irons from Japan. My question is specifically on the Nippon NS pro 950 GH WF shafts but any Nippon shaft users can chime in. Do these play soft when compared to rifle, rifle flighted or PX. Any info appreciated.

All of the Nippon shafts play a bit stiffer than their stated flexes. This is because in making them lighter ( the shaft weights ) the walls of the shafts are thinner, so the step pattern is alot closer/finer. Mens reg. plays more like medium stiff, mens stiff, plays inbetween S & X flex. You can soften the flex up by moving the 3ir shaft down 1 or 2 positions. Or you can get parrallel blank shafts and work them to a softer flex if required. I have done quite afew reshafts with Nippons and get great results for the client if they are the right profile match for them. Jon… ps: the S will play more like the 6.0, it will just feel light and will give you a faster CHS.

Have just started using the Nippon NS 1050 R flex (actually in a demo 6 iron that Nige built for me here in Brisbane a few weeks ago).

I’ve only just started to take an interest in the equipment side of things so I’m probably not able to give you detailed comparison with other shafts but I’m pretty happy with the feel of the 1050 so far. Very solid and feels good through impact (if it’s any help my 6 iron swing speed is apparently 85 to 86 mph).

Good decision to go stiff. I had some 950’s is R flex and they were just too soft for me. I think it was in comparison to the head weight that just made them feel soft and mushy. I also went from Rifle’s 5.0.

I have a slow swing speed but am a firm believer the lighter the shaft the stiffer you need it, due to the head weight to shaft weight ratio.  Not sure what the fitters think about this concept.

I now have DG SL S300 and they are brilliant.

Thanks Philsom68. The head weight factor with the lighter shafts was the main factor that I thought about when tossing up between Stiff and Reg. I want to go as soft as possible in flex but not at the expense of accuracy. I am not 100% certain on the raw head weight of the Tourstage forged irons I am getting but safe to say they are in the standard range of others out there. Always played rifles so this will be interesting, but by all accounts the Nippons are exceptional shafts. cheers

Here is a pic of what I have ordered:

Good decision to go stiff. I had some 950’s is R flex and they were just too soft for me. I think it was in comparison to the head weight that just made them feel soft and mushy. I also went from Rifle’s 5.0.

I have a slow swing speed but am a firm believer the lighter the shaft the stiffer you need it, due to the head weight to shaft weight ratio. Not sure what the fitters think about this concept.

I now have DG SL S300 and they are brilliant.

This is a very helpful thread, but I’m getting confused! lol I’m considering a new set of irons with Nippon shafts to replace my 15 year old mild steel Cobra’s. They originally had DGS300 and now have rifle 5.5.

I don’t have a high S/S these days, I hit a 28* iron in flat windless conditions 150M max. However, I’m a very consistent hitter and launch the ball fairly high. How does the launch of the nippons compare to the DG’s and rifles?

I guess I need to get out and do some testing. I’m actually happy with my rifle 5.5’s, but the clubs are 15 years old, there may be something out there that suits me better.

DG’s have a firmer tip and a lower launch. Nippons have a mid bend point therefore higher launch compared to DG’s.

Mickyboy,

let me state first that I am just an average hack golfer and not in the league of knowledge as I know many here at Iseek are in relation to golf components. However, I have just upgraded from Titleist 804 OS with NS Pro 970 in Stiff Flex to Callaway X-forged with Project X 6.0 Flighted shafts and boy do I notice some difference. I think both shafts are premium quality just differing characteristics, kickpoints and arguably flex stiffness (if you follow). I did read somewhere more recently that the Nippon shafts tended to be a little ‘springier’ in their characteristic when compared to GD S300s and other brands stiff shafts. The Project X I believe is a heavier steel shaft and thus its characteristics are different again.

For me, the project X 6.0 just seem to work really really well, guess the slightly heavier (if this is indeed the case) shaft and different characteristic of the shaft flex seem to suit my swing so much more. I have just been through the lengthy process of choosing iron and shaft combinations and unfortunately without the benefit of a club fitter in my area (remote NQ) I have had to rely on going to outdoor demo days and just trying different things until I found something I could hit consistently and felt good. For me that was the X-forged with the project X shaft.

My advice for what it is worth would be try out different clubs with different shaft types and brands until you find something you like or as has been suggested here by many, go see a proper clubfitter and get them to recommend and trial a few different combinations for you.

The NS shafts as far as I know are good shafts and for some great shafts, in fact the clubs I just got rid of were great clubs…. just my game is moving on and I found a shaft & head combination I like and hit so much better.

Cheers

Outcast

Mickyboy,

let me state first that I am just an average hack golfer and not in the league of knowledge as I know many here at Iseek are in relation to golf components. However, I have just upgraded from Titleist 804 OS with NS Pro 970 in Stiff Flex to Callaway X-forged with Project X 6.0 Flighted shafts and boy do I notice some difference. I think both shafts are premium quality just differing characteristics, kickpoints and arguably flex stiffness (if you follow). I did read somewhere more recently that the Nippon shafts tended to be a little ‘springier’ in their characteristic when compared to GD S300s and other brands stiff shafts. The Project X I believe is a heavier steel shaft and thus its characteristics are different again.

For me, the project X 6.0 just seem to work really really well, guess the slightly heavier (if this is indeed the case) shaft and different characteristic of the shaft flex seem to suit my swing so much more. I have just been through the lengthy process of choosing iron and shaft combinations and unfortunately without the benefit of a club fitter in my area (remote NQ) I have had to rely on going to outdoor demo days and just trying different things until I found something I could hit consistently and felt good. For me that was the X-forged with the project X shaft.

My advice for what it is worth would be try out different clubs with different shaft types and brands until you find something you like or as has been suggested here by many, go see a proper clubfitter and get them to recommend and trial a few different combinations for you.

The NS shafts as far as I know are good shafts and for some great shafts, in fact the clubs I just got rid of were great clubs…. just my game is moving on and I found a shaft & head combination I like and hit so much better.

Cheers

Outcast

Thanks, appreciate the input. Yep the PX shafts are nice. I had them in a set of X-20 tours and I actually have them in my wedges now – they are 6.0 flex but have been tipped an inch to play firmer. I have been fitted in the past. I play low single figures. I have a good feel for my swing and understand the mechanics very well. I normally always buy my irons stock lie & length and then adjust them as necessary. It’s always hard buying from Japan, language is the biggest hurdle, so is the distance. This purchase of the Tourstage was after much research. I wanted a players CB with forgiveness and a quality soft forging. I have played Epon before but decided to get the Viq’s this time as they are also forged by Endo. A pro I know uses and let me hit his type S which were really nice but they would be too much club when my swing was off. His had DG S400 as he sits on that side of the fence. At the end of the day I can always reshaft with my trusted rifles. In a really strange and perverse way experimenting has become more fun for me than actually playing the game. It’s a terrible disease! Anyway, thanks for the input and enjoy your sticks. cheers

Here are some more pics for those interested:

Is it just me or do some of these threads not display properly and some of the end words are hard to read…. At least that seems to happen on some of them on my Mac running Safari. I now can’t read all of my own post nor some of the response

Cheers

Outcast

If you push the quote button you can read the posts.

It’s not just you..admin will eventually fix the problem.

I’m not sure what happend this time, but I caused this a few times by leaving a space at the start of a paragraph.

Just watched a Japanese porno, Land Of The Rising Sons.

There were plenty of Nippon shafts in use, and they all performed.

Just watched a Japanese porno, Land Of The Rising Sons.

There were plenty of Nippon shafts in use, and they all performed.

I bet they were -1/2 or -1 tho.

sweet clubs. i’ve got the same in the stiff flex. knowing that they are stronger lofted, it has me hitting the most solid 3/4 swings with my normal distances i expect. i am much straighter and consistent. the shafts are very smooth. i swing a 6 iron 85-90 mph.

OK got the sticks today. Very high quality and real nice lookers too. Onto the shafts, well the Nippon stiffs are very similar to the rifles I have played. I really cannot say that these play any stiffer or softer, just different. I doubt they play softer but they do have a very nice ‘soft’ kick to them. Very similar to rifle 5.5. Glad I went with stiff as the reg’s would have been too soft for me. The ‘weight flow’ 950 GH shafts are great in the shorter irons, I really like those but the longer irons 4 & 5 I am not convinced with the light weight shaft. Being used to heavier rifles really played havoc with my swing in the longer irons. Will have to see how they go in play when the pressure is on. Overall I really like the soft feel of the Tourstage head and it is quite forgiving but I still got a few ‘stingers’ in the hands when I hit off the heel. And yes, they are stronger lofted, will have to underclub by one working off my yardages at the range. The leading edge grind is also somewhat different to what I am used to, but looks like it will give excellent relief from the rough. Can’t wait to miss a fairway to try it out! The heads are absolute top quality, the Japs really know something about quality control and finish. Tourstage and the high quality Jap brands could show the other oem’s a thing or two on how their products should leave the factory and be presented to the consumer. The Japs have this down to a fine art. Oh and Endo forgings are really really sweet. This particular Tourstage iron through all my research is recommended for HC’s from scratch to late teens, but I would not recommend them to anyone over 10-12 unless you are a good consistent ball striker. They have some offset and a wider sole than I normally like but you really need to hit them quite close to the centre to get them to go and if you normally see the right of fairways then forget it. These aren’t demanding but there certainly are more forgiving irons out there and I would say my Macgregor M685 are much easier to hit. cheers cheers

Any one here playing Nippon shafts? My club ho’ing has gotten the better of me again and I have purchased some more irons from Japan. My question is specifically on the Nippon NS pro 950 GH WF shafts but any Nippon shaft users can chime in. Do these play soft when compared to rifle, rifle flighted or PX. Any info appreciated.

OK got the sticks today. Very high quality and real nice lookers too. Onto the shafts, well the Nippon stiffs are very similar to the rifles I have played. I really cannot say that these play any stiffer or softer, just different. I doubt they play softer but they do have a very nice ‘soft’ kick to them. Very similar to rifle 5.5. Glad I went with stiff as the reg’s would have been too soft for me. The ‘weight flow’ 950 GH shafts are great in the shorter irons, I really like those but the longer irons 4 & 5 I am not convinced with the light weight shaft. Being used to heavier rifles really played havoc with my swing in the longer irons. Will have to see how they go in play when the pressure is on. Overall I really like the soft feel of the Tourstage head and it is quite forgiving but I still got a few ‘stingers’ in the hands when I hit off the heel. And yes, they are stronger lofted, will have to underclub by one working off my yardages at the range. The leading edge grind is also somewhat different to what I am used to, but looks like it will give excellent relief from the rough. Can’t wait to miss a fairway to try it out! The heads are absolute top quality, the Japs really know something about quality control and finish. Tourstage and the high quality Jap brands could show the other oem’s a thing or two on how their products should leave the factory and be presented to the consumer. The Japs have this down to a fine art. Oh and Endo forgings are really really sweet. This particular Tourstage iron through all my research is recommended for HC’s from scratch to late teens, but I would not recommend them to anyone over 10-12 unless you are a good consistent ball striker. They have some offset and a wider sole than I normally like but you really need to hit them quite close to the centre to get them to go and if you normally see the right of fairways then forget it. These aren’t demanding but there certainly are more forgiving irons out there and I would say my Macgregor M685 are much easier to hit. cheers cheers

I’ve played the 750s 850s 950s and the 1050s. The 950s play too flex and are as pure as the devils snow, the 1050 are more like a tour shaft profile and play a little stiffer, great shafts one of the best on the market. If your in brisbane i’ve got them in some players demos. You can have borrow if you like.Or if you like I can post you out one for free, just send us a dna sample so I can be sure I will get it back.