Equipment
Nippon expands Modus line with Tour 105 and 125 iron shafts
Nippon iron shafts have gained the attention of many PGA Tour players in recent years. Proof can be found in our Tour/Pre-Release forum, where a thread published in November 2014 — “Is it just me or are a lot of pros switching to Nippon iron shafts” — has amassed nearly 2,000 replies and 165,000 views.
Most of the conversation in the thread has revolved around Nippon’s N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 and Tour 130 shafts. Expect the conversation to continue now that the company has released two new Modus shaft models: the Tour 105 and Tour 125.
Both the Tour 105 and Tour 125 are mid-launching, mid-spinning shafts, but as their names imply they use different weights to target two distinct audiences.
N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105
The Tour 105 is the company’s lightest N.S. Pro Modus3 iron shaft, and was known as the “Proto ST” during its 48-month testing phase on the PGA Tour that saw as many as 25 players using the shaft at one point. It weighs approximately 106 grams in stiff flex, and 112 grams in x-stiff flex, making it a fit for golfers who prefer the lightweight steel and composite/graphite shaft models that have increased in popularity in recent years.
[quote_box_center]”The Tour 105 really caught us by surprise,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft in the Americas. “We didn’t expect this shaft to do so well on Tour. We brought it out based on the recommendation of our tour reps, and the feedback was that its spin rate and trajectory was more consistent than other shafts in the 115-gram category.”[/quote_box_center]
OEMs have taken notice. Ping chose the N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 as a stock shaft option for its new “i” and GMax irons.
N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 125
The Tour 125 shaft weighs roughly 125 grams, and first gained traction on the Japan Golf Tour. It will launch higher than the company’s Tour 120 shaft, yet lower than the company’s Tour 130 shaft. According to Fukuda, the Tour 125 has been most popular with former Dynamic Gold players.
The Tour 125 uses Nippon’s MHT or “Multi-Heat Treatment” Technology, which allows the company to use different heat treatments on different areas of the shaft to fine tune feel and performance. The technology was also used on the company’s N.S. Pro Modus3 wedge shafts, which were released in April. In the Tour 125’s case, the heat treatment gave the shaft a slightly softer tip section and a slightly stiffer butt section.
Both shafts are currently available through Nippon’s network of retailers and fitters for $37 each.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Joe
Aug 13, 2015 at 11:09 am
In stiff PING says the Nippon Modus 105 actually weighs 100g, cut. The CFS weighs 110g, cut.
Mat
Aug 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
I could imagine the 105’s in some S55s would be rather enjoyable…
Dave
Aug 2, 2015 at 8:40 am
Just got fitted for Ping new I release. It came down to the Modus 105 or the True Temper Project X 95. It was so close. I was within 0.5% on ball speed, swing speed, smash factor, launch angle and average carry was identical. TT had a bit higher average spin for me 5357 vs. 5296 and total carry with a 7i was 172 with TT versus 167. I went with the TT based purely off of comfort and feel since they were so close. But these were very consistent shafts and if I have any second thoughts, I will move to these.
Mark
Aug 2, 2015 at 5:34 am
Our assistant has these in his AP2s. Very smooth to the point of feeling “soggy”. No discernable
difference in performance considering the upcharge.
Mats B
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Nippon rules! Smoothest iron shaft in the current market, with tight dispersion and great trajectory and spin. I play Modus3 120 Stiff in my forged Mizuno 850s and in my 50 deg. Titleist SM5 Gap Wedge. Thinking of changing my 54 and 58 deg SM5 Wedges to Nippon Wedge shaft as well. It may well happen, before the grooves are worn out. 🙂
Joe
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Ping calls the 105 a high launch shaft in their media. Yet in this article it’s called mid. Which is true? How does it compare to the CFS which PING calls “mid”. Thank you.
Mats B
Aug 1, 2015 at 3:51 pm
CFS:s can’t compete, if you ask me, I’ve tried them both in I25:s and S55:s. Doesn’t provide the same smooth feel and dispersion is not keeping up. At least not with my swing speed and the way I load the shaft…..F.Y.I I’m a swinger not a hitter.
KK
Aug 1, 2015 at 7:52 pm
I’m guessing it’s mid in X, high in R and maybe S. I think steel shafts have fairly similar specs per weight class and is differentiated more on feel and individual swing/iron head. That’s compared with graphite which can vary wildly in the same weight class because of the increased engineering potential of composites. You may draw your own conclusions based on the raw weight of CFS but of course, in-person demo is the way to go.
Joe
Aug 2, 2015 at 12:36 am
They just seem so similar spec-wise. Within a few grams. CFS vs MODUS 105. Hmmm
Mats B
Aug 2, 2015 at 1:38 am
Ask your fitter to put one of each in a 6 or 7 iron and try it out, using Trackmann or Flightscope on an outdoor driving range. Compare your feel with the given data. Make sure both clubs has the exact same swing weight to start with. Otherwise you’re not comparing the shafts. If you like your current 6 or 7 iron, use the same swing weight, with the CFS and Modus 105 shaft. I agree with KK graphite has a wider range of engineering dispersion. But for steel shafts engineering possibilities has changed dramatically over the past 5 – 10 years. And steel shafts currently has an advantage over graphite in one area, it might change in the future, but that is the shaping of the profile of the shaft, which in my opinion hugely influence, what we feel as players. All options brings out both pros and cons for us amateurs, unless we decide to stick to TT Dynamic Gold. If you ask me a regular set of Nippon iron shafts are delivered with roughly the same tight tolerances as TT tour issue shafts. To me that’s a quality mark. Good Luck, for more info, check out: http://www.golfwrx.com/231525/iron-shaft-shootout-top-rated-steel-and-graphite-iron-shafts-get-put-to-the-test/
Joe
Aug 2, 2015 at 7:09 pm
I’ve played x100 for years. It was more just a curiosity question. Tnx
Mats "PUMP 2" Bergsten
Aug 4, 2015 at 4:13 am
Fair enough Joe. Coming from X100:s you’d be looking more towards Modus, 120, New 125 or 130, if you’re looking for something to compete with your X100:s. 🙂