What’s red and black all over? The new KBS TD shaft

    Editor Dan Owen caught up with Tom Kalinowski, KBS R & D Tour Rep (PGA/LPGA) to find out all about the new KBS TD, the first graphite wood shaft from the iconic red and black shaft brand.

    KBS Designer Kim Braly last year told us he wasn’t sure he wanted to produce a driver shaft. What changed?

    We didn’t want to produce a driver shaft if we didn’t feel we could bring something unique and, in our mind, superior to the competition. I do a lot of the preliminary testing for our shaft models, and when I realised the shaft was better than what I’d been using previously, I put it into the bag for the Senior US Open. It doesn’t get much better than that.

    How would you describe the shaft?

    It is the culmination of years of shaft design being put into the most exciting club in the bag. We’ve once again mimicked the overall design philosophy of steel shafts with the added benefit that graphite brings as we did with the Hybrid shaft.

    We based the TD Graphite Wood shaft on the same EI profile as our KBS Tour Iron shafts incorporating the same feel and efficiency that the KBS product line is known for.

    It’s not what I would call a low spin shaft, rather I’d describe it as an optimal spin shaft to produce maximum performance at various swing speeds.

    How have tour players responded to the shaft?

    We’ve already had a win at the QBE Shootout which was amazing. Phil Mickelson has been using it and had over 600,000 hits on his Instagram post where he said he’s ‘hitting bombs’ with his new Callaway Mavrik KBS TD combination. Gary Woodland had it in play at the Presidents Cup. The number of players using it just keeps growing every week.

    Is the shaft reasonably priced compared to others?

    We wanted to produce a shaft that was affordable for everyone and we believe we have done just that. We’ve used high-quality materials, but we didn’t want to alienate anyone from upgrading and getting fitted into the perfect shaft for them.

    KBS are now able to fit throughout the bag. As a company how proud are you of that?

    We want to keep improving and offer as many custom fit options to golfers – whatever the club. To have every club in the bag available to KBS fitters is something we’re extremely proud of. We work closely with our distributors all around the world to ensure they have everything they need to deliver the best fitting, in any manufacturer, whether it’s for a Tour Pro or a high handicapper just starting out in the game. 

    The KBS TD Graphite wood shaft is available now in 40-80g weights at an MSRP price of £260 (approx.) / $325.

    More details can be found at www.kbsgolfshafts.com.

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    As an avid golfer since the age of eleven Dan lives and breathes all things golf.  With a current handicap of eleven he gets out and plays as often as his work life (and girlfriend) allows. Dan confesses to still being like a kid at Christmas when it comes to seeing the latest golf equipment. Having served as GolfPunk’s Deputy Editor, and resident golf geek for the past 13 years and working for golf's oldest brand, John Letters Dan brings to GOLF RETAILING an excellent understanding of the sector.