Equipment
KBS launches ‘Tour-V’ iron shaft
KBS has announced the release of its new “Tour-V” steel iron shaft, which is lower spinning than the KBS “Tour” shaft and weighs about 10 grams less.
The Tour-V (known as the “Tour V2” in its prototype phase) has been in development since early 2012. It was first used on the PGA Tour by Phil Mickelson, who worked with KBS shaft designer Kim Braly to create a shaft that had the feel of the KBS Tour, but produced a lower launch and less spin.
Click here to see the other clubs and shafts Mickelson uses.
To make the shaft, Braly lengthened the step pattern of the KBS Tour, while also increasing the outside diameter of the shaft and thinning its walls. Those changes gave the shaft a lower ball flight, and also made it 10 grams lighter.
“Dispersion with the Tour-V is some of the tightest we have ever seen and it maintains our signature smooth feel at impact,” Braly said in a KBS press release. “Lighter weight has become more popular and this allows golfers to swing a little easier.”
The Tour V is available for pre-order immediately, and will begin shipping on Nov. 1. The shafts will be offered in three flexes: R (100 grams), S (110 grams) and X (120 grams). The Tour-V will also be the stock shaft offering for Callaway’s Apex Pro irons, which will be available in early 2014.
Click here to see what GolfWRX members are saying in the forums.
Above: The KBS Tour-V shaft (left), has a larger outside diameter and thinner walls in the tip section than the KBS Tour (right).
Above: Notice how the KBS Tour-V shafts, when paired side-by-side with the KBS Tour shafts, have longer steps (in both pairings, the KBS Tour is on the left and the Tour-V is on the right). This change, combined with the change in wall thickness and outside diameter, gives the shaft a more penetrating flight.
In June, the KBS launched its C-Taper Lite iron shaft, which filled a gap between the KBS Tour 90 and KBS Tour shafts. The Tour-V fits between the company’s C-Taper and KBS Tour shafts, offering the smooth feel of the KBS Tour with a launch and spin that is closer to the C-Taper.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Hamish
Aug 4, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Please make a new KBS Tour V shaft in Stiff @ 125g, and S+ @ 130g for us regular players.
Tour V X flex @ 120g are a tad lite, and too stiff, but I do like the stable mid section.
Jm
Jul 20, 2016 at 1:34 pm
V Tapers are great shafts. Sure, the availability of other shafts are at your fingertips however; know your equipment, know your game and master your skills. With that said, the V taper is lighter for a reason they’ll definitely help you slow that out of control swing down.
BET
Nov 15, 2013 at 4:54 pm
Just ordered a set of these and they are $30.00 per shaft. I play DG now & have been looking for something with a little higher launch & the same spin. I had the c-tapers and they were good but a little to low. Always loved the feel of KBS vs DG & PX I just hope these fit in where they say they will.
JS
Jan 11, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Any update on performance of Tour V? Compared to DG and PX? Thanks!
Alex
Oct 7, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Unbelievable, just crazy fantastic! These golf companies are beginning to sound like soap commercials. It has to be better because it’s new and improved. Sorry, but just does not blow my dress up.
Greg
Sep 30, 2013 at 11:27 pm
$44.95 lol. What makes these twice the money as the KBS Tour?
t120
Oct 1, 2013 at 5:10 pm
…charging twice as much?
Jack
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:39 am
Always try to charge more (in higher end lines) to capture more of the consumer surplus.
Al Coholic
Sep 30, 2013 at 6:53 pm
How many shafts can you make that are “lower launch, lower spin”….here is a newsbreaker….no amateur can hit thee like a pro…get yourself a great DG shaft and call it a day and take lessons
IRISH P1MP
Sep 30, 2013 at 9:49 pm
Al…..amateurs can hit these shafts. I was a 19 handicapper early this year playing super game improvement irons. I found the stock shafts to be too whippy in my backswing and my dispersion was all over the place. I was handed a set of Adam cmb irons with the kbs tour c-taper in 120 g stiff flex to hit and it was like instant magic dispersion is at an all time low and my handicap sits at a 9 right now. My club head speed for a driver is 104-107. I believe it all lies in proper fitting for correct shafts. I was typically a high ball hitter almost ballooning the ball too much with the game improvement irons. The c-tapers brought this down to where it should be.. I’m not saying it’s for everyone but darn worth trying out, you may just be surprised.
Cannon
Sep 30, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Maybe you should lay off the drinks and save some brain cells.
They’re s actually a lot of am’s that can hit it as good or better than most pro’s. But it’s a game called golf, not ball-striking.
t120
Oct 1, 2013 at 5:09 pm
….wait for it
…wait for it
SNAP!!!!
Club
Oct 7, 2013 at 1:45 am
+1 to Cannon’s comment. I know at least 2-3 golfers who can easily turn pro, but decided not to. They actually better than many players on Tour (Yes, I have played with them). Hey, they can play like a Pro doesn’t mean they have to be a Pro, or be on Tour.
Gary Lewis
Mar 15, 2014 at 12:27 am
DG shafts don’t work for everyone. Times changes things. There are more shaft options than there used to be and some golfers are going to like the Tour V a quite a bit better than the DG shaft.
g,f,g
Apr 11, 2016 at 7:01 pm
stiff and reg flexes are for us mortals dont be afraid. dg gold suuuuuux
Ryan
Sep 30, 2013 at 5:34 pm
$44.95 !!! Come on KBS !! I know it’s a special shaft but yikes.. It’s still just a steel shaft.