KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype
For years, KBS Tour shafts have been found in the irons of Tour Pros all over the World. Now, Kim Braly and KBS have upped their game, and stepped into the world of graphite shafts. Their first go? The KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype shaft: designed to bring the same signature feel and performance of a KBS Tour steel iron shaft, only in a graphite package for your hybrids.
The Looks
The KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype brings the familiar black and red color scheme that is synonymous with KBS, and brings it to a sweet, matte black hybrid shaft. I’ve always been a fan of matte black, and the Tour Hybrid Prototype looks sweet with the red KBS logo. And while matte black tends to get dirty or scratch easily, I found the Tour Hybrid Prototype to be very durable as well. Overall, KBS stuck to keeping it simple, and they really delivered in the looks department.
How Does it Feel?
My first thought after hitting the KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype was that it felt more like an iron shaft than a wood shaft. And I think that’s by design. Let me clarify. While the 95 and 85 gram options felt stout, it more-so felt in control and stable, similar to an iron shaft. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t have that signature smooth KBS Feel. I never got the sense of a “whippiness” to the shaft, and just felt in control (with the two heavier options). That gave me the confidence to really go after my hybrids when I needed to squeeze a few extra yards out of them, but also knowing I could hit the fairway when I need to.
I’ll say this for both the feel and performance, however, the weight of the shaft here is going to make a difference, so fitting is key. While I felt the 95 and 85 were more of a “steel shaft” type feel, the 75 gram option got a a little whippy on me.
Either way, it was a lot different than any other hybrid shaft I’ve ever hit, but in very good way.
On-Course Performance
When it comes to performance, I think weight selection is going to have a big impact on the overall performance of the shaft. In general, the KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype is advertised as mid launch and mid spin, which to me, is perfect for a hybrid. Enough launch and spin to hold a green, without killing distance.
As expected, the heavier shaft options gave me a lower spinning, penetrating ball flight. As I moved into the 75 gram option, I was launching it a little higher, with more spin. This also lead to more offline shots (to be fair and for reference, I do play a 70g shaft in my driver, so putting a 75g shaft in my hybrid wouldn’t make a ton of sense for MY game).However, if you’re looking for even more distance, say, if you’re replacing a fairway wood, a lighter version ma y be a better option. Looking to replace a long iron? Look into trying the heavier options.
When equipped with the right weight, I was able to dial in this shaft really well. The Hybrid Prototype delivers a nice, penetrating flight that has enough spin to hold greens without issues. The best part, for me, was the stability, for when I really need to push it out there. I had no problems keeping a consistent and accurate ball, even when giving it a little extra. The shaft didn’t get away from me, and I could really give it a good poke. If you’re looking to add some consistency to your long game, this might be the ticket.
Final Thoughts
Overall, KBS Tour‘s first dance in the graphite department is a good one, if you get fit into the right one. With five flex options and five weights in the KBS Tour Hybrid Prototype, they’re sure to have something to fit your game. What’s even better, is you can transition from your wedges, to irons, and now your hybrids, while still maintaining that same KBS Tour feel and performance.
