Equipment
Nippon N.S. Pro 950GH Neo lightweight steel shaft launched to mark the 20th anniversary of its original model
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Nippon N.S. Pro 950GH shaft, the first constant weight steel shaft in the less than 100 grams category, best-selling, and most successful lightweight steel irons shaft in tour history, the company has launched the N.S.Pro 950GH Neo.
The new addition, however, is not merely here to pay homage to its predecessor. Billed as “Reawakened” by the company, the N.S.Pro 950GH Neo contains several new updates to adapt to the distance balls and modern changes in the game.
For starters, the N.S.Pro 950GH Neo features a slightly firmer tip section than the original, resulting in a shaft offering slightly more spin and a one-to-two-degree higher launch difference. The firmer mid-section of the new shaft aims to stabilize newer clubheads throughout the swing and help players maintain acceleration.
The latest release from Nippon also contains a softer butt, with a diameter which has been reduced from .610” to .600” for enhanced feel.
The shaft’s signature profile has been updated also, with the previous silver/chrome graphics on the original release being replaced by eye-catching green in the 20th-anniversary model.
The new addition looks to emulate the success of the original Pro 950GH, which boasts over 40 million unit sales over the past two decades, over 200 Tour wins, as well as contributing in large part to every major steel shaft OEM now offering a sub-115-gram shaft option.
That may sound like a lot to live up to, but according to the company, the N.S. Pro 950GH Neo debuted on Tour in March and was “victorious at its first event”.
The Neo shaft will also be the standard steel shaft offering for the new TaylorMade P·790 Ti irons, whose release was announced last month.
The N.S. Pro 950GH Neo, which will be offered in four flexes with weights that range from 94.5 grams in an R flex to 98 grams in S flex and 104 grams in X flex, is available at retail today at NipponShaft.com and costs $35 per unit.
Equipment
Neal Shipley, AKA, the “Big Fridge’s,” custom stamping
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.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: L.A.B. Purple DF3 with Masters cover
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
Whats in the Bag
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
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




s
Sep 6, 2019 at 6:42 pm
Green, really?… sigh
Gurn Blanton
Sep 6, 2019 at 8:22 am
I prefer a firmer butt.
15th Club
Sep 5, 2019 at 7:52 pm
Why does a stiffer tip section result in slightly higher ball flight? That runs counter to most of what basics I know about shaft design.
A stiffer tip-to-butt profile should result in lower launch angles.
If I am wrong and called out for it, I hope that a detailed explanation is included.
Moe Selchen
Sep 5, 2019 at 2:34 pm
No “A” flex?
A. Commoner
Sep 6, 2019 at 1:47 pm
Why would one think marketing “geniuses” would consider needs of a group who is keeping golf on life support?