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STEEL — the Professional's Choice for Irons

Steel shafts replaced hickory in the 1940s. Other golf shaft materials such as aluminum, titanium and graphite were developed in later years; however, none of these materials could sustain the confidence of professional golfers, especially in regard to their irons.  Today, steel shafts remain the choice of 98 percent of golf professionals worldwide for their irons.

Steel alloys have improved over the years.  Engineers were able to design steel golf shafts that are stronger and lighter than their predecessors.  However, the essential feature about steel shafts is its responsiveness in skilled players hands (sometimes referred to as feel). Other important attributes are stability on off-center hits and consistency from shaft to shaft.

The reason for this can be explained as a combination of two factors:

1. Steel has the density (modulus), to provide desired bending stiffness and torsion resistance (torque); ultimately, can be formed into the USGA’s required geometry.
2. Steel is also a homogeneous material.  In other words, it has equal properties in any direction.  For example, when the stiffness value of a shaft is increased in one direction along the length of the shaft, the rotational stiffness, (torque) will increase as well.

This combination of features demonstrates that steel can be both predictable in design as well as repeatable in the manufacturing process.

Some of the other materials mentioned earlier offered weight savings.  Carbon fiber (graphite) offers the greatest weight savings.  Lighter weight generally means more head speed which translates into more distance.  As a result, graphite shafts are used primarily in drivers and fairway clubs.  However, for irons, more distance at the expense of control and consistency is not a favorable option.  This is why we continue to see the prevalence of steel in irons among the best players.

There are many steel shaft models for irons on the market.  However, only a relative few have been accepted by touring professionals and continue to exhibit sustainability on tour.  Still, one new arrival, the KBS Tour, has done just that despite its recent introduction. Launched in early 2008, the KBS Tour has already been used in 14 professional tour wins in addition to over 60 top ten finishes.  To date more than 40 top-tier players have switched to the new KBS Tour shaft and that list continues to grow.

According to Kim Braly, FST’s well known technical director and designer of the shaft, “We stepped outside the normal parameters and applied a new design method in the development of the KBS Tour shaft.  The objective was to achieve a penetrating ball flight while increasing the responsiveness to the player. by maximizing the flow of energy in the shaft, like a whip.  By studying the MOI (moment of inertia) and the EI (flexural rigidity), we were able to maximize the transfer of energy in the shaft giving players better control and feel.”

Looking ahead, it appears that steel shafts will continue their dominant role in irons among the game’s elite players. This is made apparent by the interest players continue to demonstrate for new performance designs like the KBS Tour.
With the introduction of the KBS Tour, FST is dedicated to advancing the merits of shaft selection and its performance among skilled golfers. If you are interested in learning more about the KBS and steel shaft design we encourage you to sign up for our monthly newsletter found at the top of our homepage.