It’s been a pretty awesome couple of weeks for Kim Braly’s KBS Shaft company. Less than 2 weeks ago, KBS announced the release of their new C-Taper LITE shaft. The mid-weight CT LITE, which is slotted between the KBS Tour and KBS Tour90, not only completes the KBS lineup, but also gives KBS something that can compete directly with basically every other steel shaft manufacturer on the planet.
For just about any company, the release of a product that’s all but certain to generate a ton of interest from golfers would be the highlight of the month, for KBS, it’s probably only the 2nd most exciting thing that’s happened for the company this month.
Tour-Proven When it Counts Most
In case you somehow missed it, Justin Rose just won the US Open with KBS C-Taper shafts in his TaylorMade irons. Before that Adam Scott won the Masters with KBS Tour shafts in his Titleist irons. And while KBS can’t claim last season’s PGA Championship, as it happens Ernie Els won last year’s (British) Open Championship with KBS Tour shafts in his Callaway irons.
For those of you who aren’t so good with basic statistics, let me break it down for you:
3 of the last 4 Major Championships have been won using KBS Shafts.
Does the USGA now about this? Is this something we can ban?
While I’m not sure using KBS shafts amounts to an unfair advantage, I think it’s safe to say that KBS brings some seriously tour-validated technology to the table.
About the CT LITE
While the original C-Taper is a pretty damn awesome shaft, it’s reasonable to suggest that enthusiasm on the part of golfers and fitters alike led to an over-prescription of sorts for the original C-Taper.
The C-Taper LITE should generate that some type of enthusiasm while offering a better fit for a wider range of players.
The short of it is that KBS is billing the C-Taper LITE as basically everything that’s good about the C-Taper, boring trajectory, awesome feel, in a lighter-weight, mid-trajectory shaft that offers what KBS calls controlled spin. KBS tells me the lighter-weight design is more playable, and should fit a broader range of players than the original.
As you’re probably aware, the original C-Taper is full-weight (120g/stiff flex) shaft that offers the lowest trajectory and lowest spin of any shaft in the KBS lineup.
“The C-TAPER LITE is an exciting offering for KBS. With the success of the C-TAPER shaft, we have seen a growing demand from golfers of all skill levels who want to see the C-TAPER performance benefits but cannot fully maximize the shaft. With the C-TAPER LITE, we are giving these golfers a terrific option to gain distance and reduce spin for improved accuracy. Our team has been testing this shaft since early 2012 and today we are excited to bring it to market.” – Kim Braly, Director of R&D and PGA TOUR Operations at KBS Golf Shafts
Like the original C-Taper the KBS CT LITE features a brushed satin finish.
While nothing in the KBS press release mentions the competition specifically, it’s pretty safe to assume that with similar performance characteristics and weight (110g/stiff flex) the CT Lite is the direct alternative to Project X’s PXi series.
KBS C-Taper LITE Specs
Try It Before You Can Buy It
The KBS C-Taper LITE is available for pre-order from Authorized KBS Dealers right now. KBS is also running a 30 Sets in 30 Days Giveaway on Facebook.
Finally…and THIS is the really good part, 3 members of the MyGolfSpy Community are being given the opportunity to test and review the KBS C-Taper LITE. If you think you have what it takes to put the C-Taper LITE through a thorough workout, we strongly encourage you to register to test the new shaft.
Rules & Requirements
:: You must be a MyGolfSpy Newsletter Subscriber (Click Here to SIGN UP NOW).
:: Must be a resident of the US or Canada
:: Must be a MyGolfSpy Forum Member in good standing
:: Must be able to string sentences together in a coherent fashion (wit and humor are a bonus)
:: Must be capable of producing quality photos of golf equipment
:: Must have willingness, time, and ability to thoroughly test a set of KBS C-Taper LITE Shafts
How To Enter
Check out the KBS Website. If you think the new C-Taper LITE shafts could help your game, visit the Official KBS C-Taper LITE Testing Thread in the MyGolfSpy Forum and enter to become a MyGolfSpy Club Tester.
To enter, leave a comment in the forum thread that contains the following:
- Your current handicap (or your average 18 hole score)
- One (and only one) original photo of something (anything) golf-related
- In no more than 2 paragraphs, tell us how you would test the new shafts
:: ENTER HERE ::
DST
9 years ago
I also have played the KBS Tour 90 Taylormade badged shaft in TaylorMade irons. Not sure if it is a true Tour 90 or an OEM variant. Regardless, the Tour C-Taper is a far better shaft for me than the Tour 90. Feel is better. Smoother. A tad more weight. I have played TT DG, TT Lite SL, Apollo Phantom, Apollo Acculite 95, 80 gram graphite shafts from GolfSmith, TT for Golfsmith Formula One shafts and the Tour C-Taper Lite is by far the best of the bunch. Perfect for me.