KBS TGI's

[Phabs]

I haven't seen very much info on these shafts here and even after searching I didn't come up with much.

 

I've been on a little bit of a graphite search since the middle of last year.  I went to club champion middle of the season last year to with the plan of finding an alternative to my 6.5's that don't eat up my left elbow.  I hit pretty much every offering they had from Steelfiber, KBS , axiom, MMT, UST and Accra and nothing really stood out.  The Accra felt the best to me but still felt a little light.  The axiom produced nearly identical numbers to my 6.5's in the sim but I don't always trust what I see on commission based fittings.   I've used the same fitter at CC every time I've been and he's a good fitter and I trust his advise but prefer to make my own decision after I can swing something outside for a while.  I always buy him lunch, pay for my fitting time and thank him for letting me use the inventory and his knowledge for an hour. 

 

On a whim I grabbed a set of 4-PW TGI 110's last week and shafted them up into a set of Hogan cavity blade combo FTX heads.  Took my time and dry fit everything / double and triple checked swing weights to make sure that they weren't going to need a crazy amount of tip weight like the MMT shaft I purchased prior.   The whole set ended up between D2 and D3.5 so I was pleased at the consistency of my garage build.  I do have about 4g's of lead tape on a few of the heads that came in light but outside that there weren't any surprises.  I've had two range sessions on them as of tonight and they're the best graphite option I've ever swung and definitely the first graphite option that I can seriously see myself eventually moving into down the road.   There was a decent 10-15 mph headwind that would usually eat up any poorly struck shot but the TGI's held just fine against it.  I've always thought the absolute hardest shot in golf is hitting a dead straight ball into a headwind - just seems like you can't miss it at all or that little bit of fluctuation in spin makes it go off the map left/right or balloon.   Obviously I can only speak for myself and my swing when it comes to the TGI's but I was pretty shocked to see how easily I could control the trajectory and flight it both ways with the TGI's.

 

I'm taking friends Quad out with me tomorrow for a twilight 9 hole round so I'll be able to get some decent data numbers with good golf balls.  I'm interested to see what it spits out versus what I saw last year in the CC simulator.  I was absolutely going to give up hope on the graphite mission if the KBS's didn't work out. 

 

I guess the moral of the story is don't always take the LM data as bible - don't be afraid to embrace the inner club hoe and take it outside and verify at a range where you know the landing zones and targets well.   I would have NEVER picked the KBS option after the CC fitting but found a decent deal and figured why not.  I'm glad I did 

Edited July 28, 2024 by Phabs

[MMB1500]

Bringing this thread back to life. 

 

Can anyone share any feedback on the TGIs? They tick a lot of boxes in terms of what I'm looking for but I'm interested to hear other's experiences. 

[b.helts]

7 minutes ago, MMB1500 said:

Bringing this thread back to life. 

 

Can anyone share any feedback on the TGIs? They tick a lot of boxes in terms of what I'm looking for but I'm interested to hear other's experiences. 

like OP, I moved from Rifle 6.5 to the TGIs. My story and my observations are almost identical to OP. I don’t have any trouble with them feeling light and they swing weight fine without the need for enough tape to make the shaft feel like a fishing rod. 
 

I don’t have any trouble flighting shots down, I can work the ball and shots are not too spinny to deal with wind. I can step on an iron to get a few extra yards and the shaft keeps up. 
 

KBS TGI are the closest thing I’ve found to be a 1:1 steel shaft alternative without sacrificing feel. 

[Golf Pig]

1 hour ago, b.helts said:

KBS TGI are the closest thing I’ve found to be a 1:1 steel shaft alternative without sacrificing feel. 

I couldn’t agree more. I love my TGI 80s.

 

 

[PNW]

I've played TGI 100 and 110 in a Srixon 4 utility iron for a few years and love it. As others said, it's very stable and most steel-like graphite I've played. I've toyed with the idea of played a full iron set with them but always shied away because of the weight. I tend to prefer 120-125g. But thanks to some much smarter members than myself I've realized the simple solution is to add some lead tape to the saft at the 14" fulcrum point. I'm now THIS close to ordering Wilson CB 5 and 6 irons with TGI 110 to go with my staff blades with PX 6.0. For anyone looking for an extra to try TGI and get new irons, Wilson offers the full TGI weight range as no-upcharge options. 

[MMB1500]

Thanks for the feedback, gents. 

 

I was a little confused about the profiles until I realised that flex is tied to weight, which is an interesting concept. 

 

Excess spin is also a concern insofar as I regularly play in the wind and hate shafts that balloon. 

 

Srixon are also offering them as a stock shaft on their new irons, which makes them a tempting proposition. 

 

 

Edited February 1 by MMB1500

[PNW]

4 hours ago, MMB1500 said:

Thanks for the feedback, gents. 

 

I was a little confused about the profiles until I realised that flex is tied to weight, which is an interesting concept. 

 

Excess spin is also a concern insofar as I regularly play in the wind and hate shafts that balloon. 

 

Srixon are also offering them as a stock shaft on their new irons, which makes them a tempting proposition. 

 

 

Yeah they are a really fair up charge price from Srixon. What shafts and weight are you currently in?

[is1ander]

On 1/31/2025 at 11:39 AM, MMB1500 said:

Bringing this thread back to life. 

 

Can anyone share any feedback on the TGIs? They tick a lot of boxes in terms of what I'm looking for but I'm interested to hear other's experiences. 

 

TGI are top shelf IMO. Slightly lower launch and lower spin than SteelFiber, a little smoother too. Seems a bit more stable than Recoil, not as tip heavy as MMT.

[MMB1500]

19 hours ago, PNW said:

Yeah they are a really fair up charge price from Srixon. What shafts and weight are you currently in?

 

I currently play the Modus 105 stiff. For me the 100-105 weight range is the sweet spot. I'm not getting any younger and that weight feels like I have enough heft without it being hard work. 

 

I believe the equivalent flex in the TGI is the 80, but that would be quite a weight difference (20-25g or so) which would be dramatic. Hence the need to test them, I guess. 

[PNW]

1 hour ago, MMB1500 said:

 

I currently play the Modus 105 stiff. For me the 100-105 weight range is the sweet spot. I'm not getting any younger and that weight feels like I have enough heft without it being hard work. 

 

I believe the equivalent flex in the TGI is the 80, but that would be quite a weight difference (20-25g or so) which would be dramatic. Hence the need to test them, I guess. 

The TGI weight 80 would probably be a good weight based on stiffness compared to Modus 105 S but I would caution getting them without a fitting. TGI EI profile is based on CTaper with a stiff mid section, whereas Modus 105 has a pretty soft midsection. That can definitely throw off someone’s timing unless you’ve tested it first to confirm. TGI is a much easier shaft to transition into for someone coming from CTaper or PX for example. 
 

However, there are a lot more options of mid bend graphite shafts worth considering as well. KBS has another line, PGI, that is softer than TGI and I think is a mid bend profile. The 80g weight would possibly be a good fit. MMT is pretty widely available too. Personally I still think it’s worth trying and testing first even in an informal fitting because graphite tends to have a wider range of feels in my experience. 
 

Regarding weight, I used to think the same thing that it would be a challenge sit most graphite shafts can be 10-20g lighter than steel equivalents. But I realized it’s an advantage because you can add weight as needed by using lead tape at the 14” fulcrum point of the shaft to bring it back up as needed. Maybe not  the full 20g, what whatever feels comfortable. It won’t affect swing weight by adding it to that place on the shaft. 

[ShortGolfer]

I put a  TGI 60 in a Callawy MD5 52/10S gap wedge.  34-1/4"club length.

47g for the shaft, epoxy, and ferrule.  About the same as a LA Golf A series 45g shaft.

 

I play ladies flex in my irons and wedges.  This gap wedge works really well.

 

I got a new unused shaft for $30 so I thought it was worth experimenting.

Edited February 2 by ShortGolfer

[WristySwing]

12 minutes ago, PNW said:

The TGI weight 80 would probably be a good weight based on stiffness compared to Modus 105 S but I would caution getting them without a fitting. TGI EI profile is based on CTaper with a stiff mid section, whereas Modus 105 has a pretty soft midsection. That can definitely throw off someone’s timing unless you’ve tested it first to confirm. TGI is a much easier shaft to transition into for someone coming from CTaper or PX for example. 
 

However, there are a lot more options of mid bend graphite shafts worth considering as well. KBS has another line, PGI, that is softer than TGI and I think is a mid bend profile. The 80g weight would possibly be a good fit. MMT is pretty widely available too. Personally I still think it’s worth trying and testing first even in an informal fitting because graphite tends to have a wider range of feels in my experience. 
 

Regarding weight, I used to think the same thing that it would be a challenge sit most graphite shafts can be 10-20g lighter than steel equivalents. But I realized it’s an advantage because you can add weight as needed by using lead tape at the 14” fulcrum point of the shaft to bring it back up as needed. Maybe not  the full 20g, what whatever feels comfortable. It won’t affect swing weight by adding it to that place on the shaft. 

 

I concur with this. Unless @MMB1500 finds some inhuman speed gains in the next little while I cannot imagine going from Modus 105S to X/XX graphite in the same weight would end up in any world of good. The benefit of graphite is supposed to be that you get the same playing effects/rigidity of steel at a much reduced weight with the bonus of shock absorption for any joint issues/arthritis. 

 

@MMB1500 I am a long time 110-120g guy, having played PX 6.0, DG120, Modus 120, C-Taper Lite, DG SL Sensicore, DG105, Recoil 110 Prototype, Elevate Tours, KBS $-Taper 120, and Accra i110 Tours in varying degrees of success over the past 15-20 years. Current signature an outlier experiment. The standouts for me as well have almost all been that 105-110g with Accra i110, Recoil 110, and DG SL Sensicore topping the list. In terms of feel, the Accras were by far the best. Typically these are their X flex, super stout model. I had them soft-stepped/trimmed to play like the 95s (their stiff) and they were great! Good kick, nice ball flight. For reference, I am 84/85mph 6i, when I stretch and play more regularly it can get to 88-90mph but those are pretty rare. I sit pretty comfortably in the mind 80s swing speed and 115-117 BS at 27/28* loft. The TGI unfortunately does not give you that flexibility, but the PGI does. It is unlikely you would be able to try before you buy a 100g X double soft-stepped, so you might just have to bite the bullet and do the experiment yourself to see first.

Alternatives that could work and would be available to test in several OEM fit carts would be SF 110, MMT 105. As above, I wouldn't rule out the PGI 85. I used it for a demo session at a grass range in AeroJet OL last year and found it to feel fine. Definitely stiffer than the current Elevate 95s I have. If you are looking for the premium experience, I would suggest going to True Spec, CC, Cool Clubs, etc., and ask them to hit only graphite options in their 85-105g range. It may surprise you what works best.

[is1ander]

14 hours ago, MMB1500 said:

 

I currently play the Modus 105 stiff. For me the 100-105 weight range is the sweet spot. I'm not getting any younger and that weight feels like I have enough heft without it being hard work. 

 

I believe the equivalent flex in the TGI is the 80, but that would be quite a weight difference (20-25g or so) which would be dramatic. Hence the need to test them, I guess. 

 

I have TGI 80s in my backup set. Great shafts but don't let the weight fool you. They are mid launch, mid spin and can handle a lot of speed. The way I maintain feel with lighter graphite shafts is to go +2" and E2 swing weight. That's quite extreme but something like +1" D6 or D7 might work for many golfers. IMO it doesn't make sense to try to maintain the same lengths as steel when many golfers will get more efficiency, distance and feel with longer graphite and greater swing weight. And I've lost no accuracy. It's naturally how graphite irons should slot between steel irons and hybrids when you think about it.