QUESTION: Hi,

I have a carry distance of 150 yds -8 Iron, 170 6Iron-am I in the stiff
range-Thanks, TJ

ANSWER: Hi TJ,

Most golfers who create a lot of power typically play with a stiffer shaft flex. However, there are a hundred different ways to deliver the club in such a manner that will also affect your optimal flex needs. You may need a more flexible or less flexible shaft, or one of a dozen different flex ranges.

There exists no magical chart based on yardage to determine shaft flex and shaft geometry. Matching your flex to yardages is one of the least accurate methods of choosing flex.

Past experience, interactive trial and error, and finding a skilled clubfitter who is able to integrate your flex needs into the proper equipment via quality installation, are some of the proven methods of finding your optimum flex.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi Mark, What is the difference between the 1150GH Tour and Super
Peening Red or Orange models, other than weight differences? Specifically the
characteristics or properties of each.  Thanks, Adam

ANSWER: Hi Adam,

All of our shaft specifications for these models are on our site- www.nipponshaft.com.

The NS PRO Superpeening ORANGE model is a mid weight, mid kick shaft. The RED is lighter and a lower kick model. the NS PRO 1150GH Tour is also more of a mid weight shaft and gaining more and more popularity, especially with companies like MacGregor Golf offering the 1150 in one of their premium lines as a standard model. The 1150 has a slight counterweight feeling in the butt section, giving the feeling of an extra “snap” at impact as desribed by many golfers.

Both the 1150 and the ORANGE are available for immediate delivery through our Authorized Installation Centers. Best regards, Mark 

QUESTION: Hi Mark,  I currently play the Dynalite X100’s

in my Titleist 695MB’s. I like the shaft, but I am looking

to order the new Titleist AP2’s with Titleist NS PRO 970,

X flex, by Nippon Shaft. I am a 1 handicap and play with a

lot of feel. I had the 695MB’s with Project X 6.5, but had

no feel at all with them and I had trouble hitting it low on

punches, etc. I like the lighter shafts, it seems to help my

feel. What are your thoughts on the shaft I mentioned above? 
I have a fast tempo swing, with a pretty high swing speed,
which is about 118-120 with the driver. I have not been
tested for swing speed with the irons….any insight would
be great…thanks, Nick
 
ANSWER: Hi Nick,
Experimenting with another brand of shaft, or head, is a
worthy pursuit. However, being a 1 handicap, and it 
seems like a serious player, it makes sense to want to go
down this road with caution. I would go ahead and try the
new model of head and shaft, “but don’t give up your day
job”, meaning, don’t sell your existing set until you make
sure that you interact and perform well with your new one.
The NS PRO 970 is a premium shaft model, but it is lighter
in overall weight, and may or may not perform better for
you. Lighter models sometimes give us less sensation of
the golf club during the swing, and if you lose contact
with the club as you swing, your larger muscles are not
able to control the flight of the ball. 
So, I would still recommend this new combination, knowing
that you always have the performance option of your current
set.
As always, the best recommendation is to search out and 
connect with a competent clubfitter as an aid to answer 
all of your questions regarding equipment performance. 
Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: What cpm is for iron #5 with Nippon N.S. PRO 1050 GH at 37.75 inches shaft?

Thank you. Truly, Doug

ANSWER: Doug, Doug, Doug,

Surely you jest?

First of all, if you are asking about a butt frequency number, one must know the following;

head weight?, shape and weight distribution of head?, hosel design?, lie angle?, swingweight?, gripped?, ungripped?, type of grip?, size of grip?, clamp type and dimension?, how frequnecy machine is mounted?, clamping pressure?, how you determine the length- 60 Deg USGA method?, other length measurement method?

Second of all, if you were somehow able to acquire this cpm number- what would you do with it? Even on identical machines and identical club specifications with identical measurement methodologies, the 1050 butt frequency number and another shaft model with an identical number will not play with the same stiffness.

My uniformed assumption is that you may be inquiring as to the rating stiffness of the 1050 model. If this is true, the answer is- it depends. It depends on the actual building specifications. However, to best answer this question of how does the 1050 model play- if a 37.5″ raw shaft length, in an ’S’ flex 1050 iron model, is installed into a traditional weighted #5 iron head, with a traditional hosel design, a traditional lie angle, and a traditional swingweight, at a traditional length, then this model will play as a Stiff flex.

I am guessing that I probably haven’t provided the information you really are looking for, and I invite you to reply back. Regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi Mark,

If my swing speed is around 90mph in my irons, is there a major problem with
having the Rifle 5.5 flighted shafts and not the 6.0 or 6.5 shafts? what is the
difference going to be considering my swing speed? is there a downfall?   I used
to have an S300 flex, and I hit the ball very, very high- like hitting Jack Nicklaus 2
iron height).   Now I have the 5.5 rifles, and I’m not sure if I need to make a switch
to a 6.0 or 6.5? Thanks, JB

ANSWER: Hi JB,

First of all, if you are doing anything like Jack Nicklaus, I would keep on doing it.

Regarding uncertainty of your optimum flex, the ONLY way to become certain, is to test the different models in a live setting. Experience is the only teacher when it comes to shaft flex.

Yes- it seems like there should be an easier way. Why can’t there be a chart?

Yes- it costs more in time, energy and money to do it this way.

Yes- it seems complicated and difficult, because how am I going to test identical clubs, with the only variation being the flex rating?

This question of swing speed equals what flex is asked thousands and thousands of times to every shaft manufacturer and no one has the magic answer for any of our customers. My best advice is to do it the same way every Tour Pro does, by testing different models and different flexes.

If you read some of the Q&A’s in the section under FITTING, you will begin to understand that you are asking me to place a ”static” chart onto your shaft in motion, that you are sensing and interacting with a very unique measurement system, your human body.

I urge you to discover the best equipment for your needs by searching high and low. It is a wonderful pursuit. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, I am considering Nippon Shafts in my new irons. I am 70 years young, golf professional, with a driver swing speed of 95 mph. What would you recommend for
a shaft that would be best suited for me? Thanks, BP

ANSWER: Hi BP,

As we age, for most of us, the club seems to be getting heavier and swinging slower. Therefore it only makes common sense to lighten the shaft in an effort to regain some of that lost speed. Since Nippon Shaft makes a superior line of lightweight shaft models, you have come to the right place. The only tricky part is to choose a shaft model that is not so light that you gain speed, but then lose feel and interaction and thus have a harder time with control and consistency.

I don’t know the shaft model that you have had the most success with, but my guess is to start with our 95 gram, NS PRO 950GH model, and maybe even our lighter 850 model if you are looking for something that swings quite easy.

If either of these models are too light, then our 1050 model at 105 grams may give you back some of that lost oomph.

Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi, I am 65, a 13 handicap, and hit a high ball.  I want a lightweight shaft, but I also want to bring the ball flight down. I hear good things about the Nippon 950.  I hit my 7 iron about 145 yards.  Should I go reg or stiff? Berry

ANSWER: Hi Berry,

Your shot trajectory is most affected by your swing tendencies, and then by the weight geometry in your clubhead. While the shaft choice can often lower the ball flight, I think you might be better off concentrating on the optimum iron head selection.

Most lighter shaft designs are built to get the ball in the air, and our 950 model is a mid launch, which will do the same. You won’t balloon your shots with the 950 model, and you will be able to hit a knockdown type shot, but you will not achieve a lower trajectory with this shaft model.

For help with shaft choice and trajectory needs, I suggest you contact one of our centers or find a shop/range/facility that has different shaft models for testing your trajectory.

Regarding flex selection, you want to choose a flex that you typically have success with in the past. The optimum flex is truly related to how you bring energy to the shaft and if it feels natural and consistent and efficient, then you have the right flex. If you try to rate your flex needs based on power, gender or swing speed, you might as well just make a guess. Best regards, Mark

QUESTION: Hi Mark, I’ve seen some Nippon Shaft V90 constant

weight shafts in some sets in Japan.  What are these and

where can I find more info. Do they compare to the 950 in

weight, flex, and profile? Thanks, Jackson

ANSWER: Hi Jackson,

You are very observant. You spotted one of our newest models,

our NS PRO V90, which demonstrates the depth of our design

and manufacturing capabilities. 

Here is the story of the V90 model- 

There is a Japanese golfer on the LPGA Tour who is extremely

popular in her homeland. I have seen this first hand a 

couple of years ago, while at the Mizuno Classic in Japan,

there were many “groupies” hanging around her as she played

and practiced that week. I have never seen so many people 

stand in the rain to watch someone practice her putting. 

(Of course, without a contract, we can not legally publish

her name here, but I am sure you must know who I am refering

to- she was part of the winning 2-some in the Inaugural 

World Cup, and was low qualifier at her LPGA Q School). 

So, Nippon Shaft very much wanted to outfit her with the

shaft that was most efficient for her body, swing and game,

and thus developed the V90 model for her set. The NS PRO V90

is similar to our NS PRO 950GH, but weighs in at just a few 

grams lighter, has a lower center of gravity, and a higher 

launch geometry. The result is a shaft design that swings a

bit lighter and easier, and produces a higher ball flight.

The V90 is made with our proprietary NSGS8655V shaft material

and our specialized heat treatment processes, as are all of

our high performance shaft models. 

The V90 is brand new and is not yet available in North

America. Also, we have not determined when the shaft will

be made available through our North American centers.

Best regards, Mark