QUESTION: Mark,

Reading through your website FAQ’s on counterfeit shafts and that only
Shaftology and few others are authorized, I now have question.  My NS Pro 950GH
shafts do not appear badged as those shown on this website.  I specified these
custom shafts when I ordered the clubs, so I know they should be authentic. They
shipped direct from Mizuno but they have silver and black Mizuno N.S. Pro 950GH
wrap-around style labels a few inches below the grip.  Is this another common
way of labeling NS Pros?  I haven’t tried to remove a label to see if the
embossed label is underneath because I didn’t want to deface the shaft.  Thanks
again.  Burch

ANSWER: Hi Burch,

A company of the premium nature of the Mizuno firm would never utilize counterfeit or 2nd quality materials. Rest assured that when you purchase golf equipment from the Mizuno Company, that you are receiving original, premium branded parts.

And yes, many of the major manufacturers choose to order our shafts with a specific shaft screen, or apply a label of their own design. Regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi,

The Nippon website states that Nippon Shafts are only available through Shaftology Centers (install only), or Swing Science. However, Tourspecgolf.com offers the Nippon NS PRO 950GH shaft only. Any explanation? Are these shafts authentic?

Thanks for your time, Garth

 

ANSWER: Hi Garth,

There exists several web sites and auction sites that appear to offer genuine Nippon Shaft models, but in no way are they an authorized distributor of Nippon Shaft products. Purchasing from these entities might yield a counterfeit product, or a different model than advertised, or possibly even an authentic model obtained from the grey market that carries no warranty as to performance or quality.

My best recommendation is to always buy from an authorized agent of Nippon Shaft. We guarantee that you will receive our premium base materials, our specialized heat treatment, and our unique design geometry.

What you read on the Nippon Shaft site is the real deal.

Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi,

I see that Swing Science Co. is listed on your website selling the NS PRO 8950
iron shafts, but I do not see that model listed on NipponShaft.Com. 

I was shopping around for Nippon iron shafts at one of your store centers where
most Nippon shafts sell for $60 and up and I mentioned the NS PRO 8950 and the
$20 price at Swing Science.  The center responded to me by saying the NS PRO
8950 at Swing Science is not made by Nippon, but made by some other cheaper
manufacturer only with the Nippon logo.

Can you respond?

Thanks, Marcus

 

ANSWER: Hi Marcus,

Here’s the straight scoop.

Not every model manufactured by Nippon Shaft is listed on our www.nipponshaft.com site.

The NS PRO 8950GH is one of our premium models manufactured by Nippon Shaft, with the same proprietary NSGS8655V shaft material and our unique heat treatment processes.

The NS PRO 8950GH model is distributed by the Swing Science Company at www.swingsciencestore.com and currently is the only Nippon Shaft model available for direct consumer purchase.

Unauthorized copies, knockoffs and counterfeit models do exist and typically are sold  on auction sites and through non-authorized distributors.

In North America, the NS PRO models 750GH, 850GH, 950GH, 1050GH, etc., are sold through our Authorized Installation Centers, exclusively on an installation basis.

Pricing is often determined by the fitting and installation services offered as well as the specific marketplace. However, a product that is sold on a direct sale basis, versus on an installed basis, will always be quite different.

Hope I was able to answer your questions. Regards, Mark 
 

QUESTION: Hi, I am looking to buy the Nippon Shaft NS PRO 850GH. I have a set of Ping G 10’s but I only have 6-pw. Can I get just 5 shafts and if so how much? Nextal

ANSWER: Hi Nextal,

Authentic Nippon Shaft models are available, installation only, via the major equipment companies, and through our Authorized Installation Centers. Best regards, Mark

 QUESTION: Hi, I just purchased 2 - Nippon “RED” shafts

on E-bay.  Is there such a model?  If so, what are the

specs, or have I bought some knock offs?  Golfingly, RJ

 

ANSWER: Hi RJ,

With the success of our company and our shaft models 

comes a greater proliferation of activity on the net,

including sites like E-Bay.

 
We have purchased items off of the net that are 
absolutely counterfeit and of sub-standard quality.
So we know that some of the models that are offered
as Nippon Shaft models are fake and poor quality. 
Some companies do acquire our authentic models and
re-sell them on E-bay. None of the these firms are
authorized Nippon Shaft agents and because they have
no relationship to Nippon Shaft, they have no 
responsibility in insuring if the product is real
or counterfeit, and many of these firm could care
less, as long as they get their payment. It is a 
problem for E-bay, for every legitimate golf 
company, and every golfer. 
 
Also, there is no warranty on ANY of these models.
The Mizuno company does the best at policing
some of these rogue companies actually naming many of
the offending sites and that they will not offer any
warranty on products sold through these sellers.
 
All of our open shaft model specifications, including 
our NS PRO Superpeening RED, are available at 
www.nipponshaft.com.
Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi Mark,

I bought a set of 8950 shafts and put them in a set of LT2 irons. Best shaft
I have ever used. I purchased them from My Ostrich Golf from my FGI Golf Forum. I am considering putting a set in my J33 CB irons so I’ve been searching for the best price. I understood that the 8950 shafts were the only Nippon Shafts you could buy over the counter. However, there is a person on e-bay selling 850’s, 950’s, 1050’s and 1150’s. What gives?? DK

ANSWER: Hi DK,

I am glad to hear about your success with our products. Our NS PRO 8950GH is a premium model made with our proprietary NSGS8655V shaft material and our specialized heat treatment processes, which makes the 8950GH a high performance shaft choice.

Because of the growing popularity of our models, several of the models that you list are finding their way onto ebay and other sites, some of which are genuine Nippon Shaft products, and some that are not.

Unfortunately, this has become a growing problem with several of the equipment manufacturers, as evidenced by the recent police raids in California and Florida on firms trafficking in counterfeit golf products.

As always, if you stay with reputable centers, your chances of being equipped with genuine Nippon Shaft products are excellent.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, i just purchased a set of Callaway X-20 irons from an online dealer. Nippon NS PRO 1100 shafts. My concern is, looking on Golfsmith and Callaway’s website it does’nt look like they offer this shaft as an option for X-20, even though these are ‘factory sealed’ and new. UPS shows delivery in a couple days, have you seen
this combination or heard, or have i been duped? Thanks, JRS

ANSWER: Hi JRS,

The NS PRO 1100 is a proprietary shaft model that we manufacture for the Callaway company. In any on-line transaction, your best bet is always to stay with the most reputable dealer possible and use your common sense. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi Mark,

I have a set of Callaway Pro Series irons that I want to try with one of the Nippon models and after talking with two of your dealers, it seems like there is quite a difference in price between your dealer prices to install them and what I can purchase them for, from the web via E-bay and other websites. Are these sites for real? Jed

 

ANSWER: Hi Jed,

Please remember a couple of things;

1) Our Authorized Centers offer both routine installations as well as very high end shaft alignment services. The one thing every Authorized Center has in common is that you are guaranteed to receive an authentic Nippon Shaft model produced in our plant in Komagane, Japan.

Golf shafts are not immune to the knock-off and counterfeit issues that plague many premium brands. The recent articles in our industry golf publications exposing the rather large problems of counterfeit items in our golf community, are testimomy to this reality. The last time I was in Japan, our agent from Australia brought with him a 950 model shaft that he had picked up in Thailand. Except that as I looked at it and held it in my hands, it was easy to see, and especially feel, that this shaft was not produced in our plant. Eventhough the shaft screen was copied well, the plating was of poor quality and the weight was much heavier. The Taylor Made counterfeit models that travel around the inernet that I have seen, are quite real looking, yet they measure and perform poorly. But, to an average golfer, I am sure it looks like the real thing.

2) Many of the sites that frequent the net, some of which are very poorly done, and some that are very slick, all are guilty of questionable ethics. Some traffic in counterfeit goods. Some deal in mostly legitimate goods with a shady grey market approach. Some have good intentions, and just don’t know that the products they are buying from a seemingly honest third party are actually counterfeit. Some of these sites are 100% frauds. Some premium companies, such as the Mizuno Company, actually list many of these internet operations on their websites stressing that warranties will not be honored if purchased from these sites. This is to their credit. How could Nippon Shaft, or Mizuno, or any company warranty a product that might not actually be an authentic Nippon Shaft product?

The one thing in common that all of these sites have is that they exist to trade product for profit, and they have zero concern for your welfare as a golfer, or for your hard-earned dollar.

Nippon Shaft, for sure, is a capitalistic enterprise. But we also want to be around for a long time and we want to make shafts that help golfers have more fun in their recreation and enjoy greater performance in their game. And part of our job is to speak out to protect our products, for both our sake and for that of our customers.

So my best advice is to seek out the real deal and enjoy your game. Best regards, Mark