KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron Shaft
The KBS Tour steel shaft – one of the highest regarded steel shafts in golf history. Smooth feel and strong performance raised the bar in steel shafts for good. Well, KBS is at it again. They’ve brought that classic smooth Tour feel, performance, and playability to a new graphite shaft – the TGI Tour Graphite Iron shaft. Though this isn’t the first graphite shaft ever produced by KBS, it’s the first in terms of irons. KBS offers the TGI Tour Graphite in eight different weights for players ranging from Juniors, to Women, to Tour Professionals.
The Looks
A deep flat black finish and bold red shaft label give the KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron shaft a slick look. The black look is subtle, but it’s super sleek and the red KBS label really pops. Regardless of how you hit the ball, your irons are going to look pretty sweet with TGI shafts in them.
How Does it Feel?
I would argue the hallmark of the KBS Tour steel shaft is often its smooth feel. Man, if you think that shaft feels smooth, wait until you try the KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron. I’ve hit graphite iron shafts before, but these are easily some of the smoothest I’ve ever felt. There is a gradual kick point with very little vibration in the shaft regardless of how you hit the ball. It’s almost startling how little a thin shot stings your hands. You feel you hit the ball low on the face and brace for the sting…and nothing. It just feels a little harder than normal, if that makes sense.
The TGI is definitely a lighter shaft and that is something to consider. If you’re a faster swing speed with an aggressive transition, you will need to adjust a good amount. That may be an added benefit, however, to get you striking the ball more pure and smooth out your tempo. Should you have a smoother tempo, regardless of swing speed, your adjustment will be minimal. Your tempo is the key to success with the KBS TGI shaft.
On-Course Performance
This is a fairly obvious and intuitive statement, but your performance experience with the KBS TGI Tour Graphite Iron will vary depending on your game. Profound statement, right? In my case, the biggest gain was in consistency. In the interest of transparency, I lost a bit of distance with my irons due to slowing my normal swing down for a smoother tempo. (Let’s face it, that’s largely a result of my skill set.) What I lost in distance, I made up for in control and accuracy. I felt the key to success was to always make a smooth and consistent swing, and try to avoid jumping on it. When I would try and really jump on a shot, it almost always resulted in a poor shot. This was easy to address by simply not having too much pride to club up if necessary.
Shot shaping was easy, and trajectory control was great. The balance of the TGI shaft is virtually perfect so it’s easy to control the shaft throughout the swing. As a result, hitting a wide variety of shots as needed comes with ease.
Final Thoughts
As KBS states, the TGI Tour Graphite Iron is designed for the player looking for “maximum steel like play-ability, shot control and performance in a graphite shaft.” My testing of the TGI indicates that KBS was dead on with its design. Yes, the TGI doesn’t feel exactly like the steel counterpart, but the smooth profile and playability is very similar. Let’s face it, if you wanted the graphite shaft to be exactly the same, you would be happy sticking with the steel shaft! In my opinion, the KBS TGI is great for players that are good ball strikers, but need a lighter-weight shaft due to more moderate swing speeds but demand versatile performance.
This article was very helpful. Am excited about my new Mizuno MP18 irons with the KBS TGI 60 shafts.
I am currently playing kind tour 110 c tapered in my Taylormade tp mb. I am 67 years old. What advantages will I have with kbs this 90 with p790 irons. Thank You. Eddie
Eddie, I feel like you’re comparing apples to oranges and not providing enough data for me to really answer that. You’re comparing a stout shaft with an extremely unforgiving blade with a lightweight smooth shaft and an extremely forgiving larger club head. Do you know how your own swing will respond to those different variables?
So, The TGI 80 would be considered a Stiff Shaft?
That’s what it looks like from some Googling.
Im currently playing the Aldila Rip 115 X on my callaway x forged and have been thinking of getting the new titleist CBs with the TGI 110 since the rips got discontinued. My driver swing speed is around 113 mph. You think the tgi 110 will perform similarly to the aldila rip 115??
That’s an apples to oranges comparison, I couldn’t tell you. It all depends on how you physically respond to the shaft with your swing and the equipment. You’re talking about switching up all of the elements in the club, so it’s hard to really make a blind assessment.
Additionally, a driver swing speed in relation to your iron shaft isn’t enough data – it would be a shot in the dark. For instance, Brandt Snedeker plays a 95 gram graphite iron shaft, but I bet you his driver swing speed is somewhere around yours or even a little higher.
I am looking at a golf set and I am trying find a shaft for a very slow swing speed does the kbs tgi 70 sr work for seniors
I wouldn’t say any shaft is a case of “work for seniors by default” but the right weight and flex will work with a slower swing speed. It will depend on a lot of factors based on how you swing the club.
I currently have the Aerotech steel fiber fci85 in my irons. Looking at a new set of irons how would these compare?
I haven’t hit any of the Aerotech shafts in a long time so I’m not sure I could really compare for you. Sorry.
I’m looking to switch to graphite for arthritis issues and reduce overall fatigue on my hands and elbows……but don’t want to change much regarding KBS feel if that makes sense. I currently play KBS Tour 90 steel. The closest weight in the TGI would be the TGI 100. Is this the way I should be looking at the shaft switch? In other words will the 100g for basically 100g switch from steel to graphite basically respond the same? From what I’ve read they “should” be very similar but nobody addresses this outright and with a commentary on weight (not really looking to go lighter but want similar performance)
The KBS TGI 90 isn’t the 90 gram option like the KBS Tour 90 is the 90 gram option in steel?
Hi Bill, this is the very shaft I have been considering. I have developed golfers elbow and am somewhat of a range rat. I have played the Modus 120 Stiff for some time and really like the feel and weight. The graphite shafts I have swung have all been light 95g and under and don’t care for the feel. Are you able to compare and contrast the TGI 110 to the Modus 120? Thanks!
Apples to oranges. You won’t mistake the KBS for the steel Nippon I my opinion.
Looking to buy a new set of Taylormade irons, probably the P770. Have been to several pros for advice and they recommend an A flex set and I”m looking at the KBS TGI graphite , probably a 70G with a low kick point. Driver swing speed is between 79 to 83 mph without trying to kill the ball. I”m 72, fair shape but with minor shoulder and arm pains for my profession as a plumbing contractor. Any advice ????
I’m not fully clear on what exactly your asking. Can you clarify the question?
I am planning on replacing my graphfite shafts in a Miura set of irons. My swing speed in 6i or 7i is around 80. I am considering the
Mamiya Recoil 460 ESX F3 versus the KBS TGI tour 80 gram shafts. My principal goal is to lower the dispersion of my shots. My current shaft is a Matrix Radix S iv . Please comment
Thank you
Brian
Unfortunately I won’t be of much help. It really comes down to how your specific swing responds to the equipment and much more needs to be considered than swing speed. You won’t be able to determine which shaft gives you a tighter dispersion on paper.
hi, I am looking toward d9 forged…stock shafts are kbs lite or recoil dart…I am 50, 90mph driver speed. I thought also considering TGI 70, any help ? thanks a lot
Unfortunately I can’t really guide you there. Age and driver swing speed aren’t enough to go off of. You’re most likely to swing your irons a good bit different than your driver and most of it is going to come down to personal swing characteristics. Realistically, you need to get a fitting, or at the very least, test different combinations and see which feels best for you and produces the best results. Without doing those things, anything I’d suggest would just be a blind guess.
I can’t find any review of the KBS Players shaft. Any way to compare it to the other KBS graphite shafts?
I haven’t hit the PGI, sorry!
Interesting review, I have hit the KBS TGI 110 shaft recently and really liked it having played Project X 6.5 for several years, despite being a lighter weight the TGI 110 felt really stout and stable so I adjusted to it pretty quickly although I reckon the bend profile was not very similar to that of the KBS Tour 130X and my initial thoughts was that it would be more suited to players who have played a Project X or C-Taper as opposed to a Dynamic Gold, after getting a 6 iron built up with the TGI 110 I got a Challenge Tour player to hit it and he also agreed that its profile seemed more similar to a Project X and that shaft (at least in the 6.5 and 7.0 flexes) will never be suited to golfers with a slower tempo and smooth transition.
“…will never be suited to…” is pretty tough to say without knowing everyone’s specific feel, response to equipment, etc, but a stout shaft will definitely tend to lean toward more aggressive swings.
Stumbled upon this review. I am currently playing regular ust mamiya recoil 110g stiff currently. Thinking of moving to either a TGI 100 or TGI 110. Would you say that TGI plays more stout than the USTs? I’m trying to see if there is a graphite iron shaft which will give me more smooth feel and kick at release while keeping similar weight ranges.
I wouldn’t say I noticed either to play smoother than the other. They just have different feels to them. I’m in sort of a “mental blender” with graphite iron shafts these days where I feel like in-hand testing/fitting is so critical because there are just SO many subjective variables that will influence the “fit” of feel and performance.
I’m thinking of switching from my ctaper 120 s to the lbs TGI. Struggling to decide between the 100 or the 110.
You came to this post making this change at a very interesting time. I’ve actually been trying to put together a blog about this very same journey. I too am in strong consideration to switch to the TGI, albeit from Project X 6.5.
SO, barring a real fitting is what BOTH OF US should do…my contact at KBS said “generally speaking, the heavier weights are stiffer. So a 110 is closer to hitting a C Taper X. That’s far from a perfect science, but an interesting jumping off point.
If I were to blindly guide you, I’d say consider weight first. Like, I know I’ve historically struggled with too light of a shaft which has always made graphite iron shafts tough for me. THEN I considered flex. Ultimately, I decided everything balanced out for me on paper most around the 110 so that’s what I’ve been tinkering with and it’s gone well. Without knowing your speeds and tempos, I feel like I’d try the 100 first if it were me. But again, that’s very much a blind recommendation and may not be the magic sauce you’re looking for.