Equipment
Nippon expands Modus line with Tour 105 and 125 iron shafts

Nippon iron shafts have gained the attention of many PGA Tour players in recent years. Proof can be found in our Tour/Pre-Release forum, where a thread published in November 2014 — “Is it just me or are a lot of pros switching to Nippon iron shafts” — has amassed nearly 2,000 replies and 165,000 views.
Most of the conversation in the thread has revolved around Nippon’s N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 and Tour 130 shafts. Expect the conversation to continue now that the company has released two new Modus shaft models: the Tour 105 and Tour 125.
Both the Tour 105 and Tour 125 are mid-launching, mid-spinning shafts, but as their names imply they use different weights to target two distinct audiences.
N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105
The Tour 105 is the company’s lightest N.S. Pro Modus3 iron shaft, and was known as the “Proto ST” during its 48-month testing phase on the PGA Tour that saw as many as 25 players using the shaft at one point. It weighs approximately 106 grams in stiff flex, and 112 grams in x-stiff flex, making it a fit for golfers who prefer the lightweight steel and composite/graphite shaft models that have increased in popularity in recent years.
[quote_box_center]”The Tour 105 really caught us by surprise,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft in the Americas. “We didn’t expect this shaft to do so well on Tour. We brought it out based on the recommendation of our tour reps, and the feedback was that its spin rate and trajectory was more consistent than other shafts in the 115-gram category.”[/quote_box_center]
OEMs have taken notice. Ping chose the N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 as a stock shaft option for its new “i” and GMax irons.
N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125
The Tour 125 shaft weighs roughly 125 grams, and first gained traction on the Japan Golf Tour. It will launch higher than the company’s Tour 120 shaft, yet lower than the company’s Tour 130 shaft. According to Fukuda, the Tour 125 has been most popular with former Dynamic Gold players.
The Tour 125 uses Nippon’s MHT or “Multi-Heat Treatment” Technology, which allows the company to use different heat treatments on different areas of the shaft to fine tune feel and performance. The technology was also used on the company’s N.S. Pro Modus3 wedge shafts, which were released in April. In the Tour 125’s case, the heat treatment gave the shaft a slightly softer tip section and a slightly stiffer butt section.
Both shafts are currently available through Nippon’s network of retailers and fitters for $37 each.
Equipment
BK’s Breakdowns: Cameron Young’s winning WITB, 2025 Wyndham Championship

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
Whats in the Bag
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 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
Equipment
GolfWRX Members Choice presented by 2nd Swing: Best driver of 2025

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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Joe
Aug 13, 2015 at 11:09 am
In stiff PING says the Nippon Modus 105 actually weighs 100g, cut. The CFS weighs 110g, cut.
Mat
Aug 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
I could imagine the 105’s in some S55s would be rather enjoyable…
Dave
Aug 2, 2015 at 8:40 am
Just got fitted for Ping new I release. It came down to the Modus 105 or the True Temper Project X 95. It was so close. I was within 0.5% on ball speed, swing speed, smash factor, launch angle and average carry was identical. TT had a bit higher average spin for me 5357 vs. 5296 and total carry with a 7i was 172 with TT versus 167. I went with the TT based purely off of comfort and feel since they were so close. But these were very consistent shafts and if I have any second thoughts, I will move to these.
Mark
Aug 2, 2015 at 5:34 am
Our assistant has these in his AP2s. Very smooth to the point of feeling “soggy”. No discernable
difference in performance considering the upcharge.
Mats B
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Nippon rules! Smoothest iron shaft in the current market, with tight dispersion and great trajectory and spin. I play Modus3 120 Stiff in my forged Mizuno 850s and in my 50 deg. Titleist SM5 Gap Wedge. Thinking of changing my 54 and 58 deg SM5 Wedges to Nippon Wedge shaft as well. It may well happen, before the grooves are worn out. 🙂
Joe
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Ping calls the 105 a high launch shaft in their media. Yet in this article it’s called mid. Which is true? How does it compare to the CFS which PING calls “mid”. Thank you.
Mats B
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:51 pm
CFS:s can’t compete, if you ask me, I’ve tried them both in I25:s and S55:s. Doesn’t provide the same smooth feel and dispersion is not keeping up. At least not with my swing speed and the way I load the shaft…..F.Y.I I’m a swinger not a hitter.
KK
Aug 1, 2015 at 7:52 pm
I’m guessing it’s mid in X, high in R and maybe S. I think steel shafts have fairly similar specs per weight class and is differentiated more on feel and individual swing/iron head. That’s compared with graphite which can vary wildly in the same weight class because of the increased engineering potential of composites. You may draw your own conclusions based on the raw weight of CFS but of course, in-person demo is the way to go.
Joe
Aug 2, 2015 at 12:36 am
They just seem so similar spec-wise. Within a few grams. CFS vs MODUS 105. Hmmm
Mats B
Aug 2, 2015 at 1:38 am
Ask your fitter to put one of each in a 6 or 7 iron and try it out, using Trackmann or Flightscope on an outdoor driving range. Compare your feel with the given data. Make sure both clubs has the exact same swing weight to start with. Otherwise you’re not comparing the shafts. If you like your current 6 or 7 iron, use the same swing weight, with the CFS and Modus 105 shaft. I agree with KK graphite has a wider range of engineering dispersion. But for steel shafts engineering possibilities has changed dramatically over the past 5 – 10 years. And steel shafts currently has an advantage over graphite in one area, it might change in the future, but that is the shaping of the profile of the shaft, which in my opinion hugely influence, what we feel as players. All options brings out both pros and cons for us amateurs, unless we decide to stick to TT Dynamic Gold. If you ask me a regular set of Nippon iron shafts are delivered with roughly the same tight tolerances as TT tour issue shafts. To me that’s a quality mark. Good Luck, for more info, check out: http://www.golfwrx.com/231525/iron-shaft-shootout-top-rated-steel-and-graphite-iron-shafts-get-put-to-the-test/
Joe
Aug 2, 2015 at 7:09 pm
I’ve played x100 for years. It was more just a curiosity question. Tnx
Mats "PUMP 2" Bergsten
Aug 4, 2015 at 4:13 am
Fair enough Joe. Coming from X100:s you’d be looking more towards Modus, 120, New 125 or 130, if you’re looking for something to compete with your X100:s. 🙂