In the world of golf equipment, few names carry the weight and reputation of KBS golf club shafts. They have rapidly become one of the most influential and fastest-growing golf shaft brands in the industry. From Tour professionals to club golfers, KBS shafts are known for their unmatched feel, performance, and innovation across every club in the bag.
But who exactly are KBS? To find out we sat down with their Marketing Director, Rhett Taylor. In this Q&A, KBS breaks down what their famous three letters stand for, how they differ from their competitors, what makes them so popular on tour and much more.
No matter you playing ability, this is a golf discussion you don’t want to miss out on.
What does KBS stand for, and when was the company founded?
Kim Braly Signature, named after one of the most respected shaft designers in the golf industry, and it was established in 2008. KBS makes high end premium golf shafts for any club in your golf bag. KBS is the fastest growing shaft brand in golf since its inception in 2008. The company has grown to be the industry leader in shaft components for all major golf manufacturers worldwide Including Callaway, Titleist, Taylormade, Wilson, PXG, Cobra, just to name a few.
What distinguishes KBS shafts from competitors like True Temper/Project X/Nippon?
We like to think we differ because of our unique design philosophy, feel characteristics, and the fitting profiles we have covering every golfer from a high handicap golfer to a Tour professional through every club in the bag.
KBS shafts are utilized in leading club manufacturer’s irons and accepted in every manufacturer’s custom department. The most trusted shaft by PGA Professionals worldwide. Since our launch, we have been the fastest-growing steel shaft brand in the industry.
Which KBS shafts are most popular on professional tours?
Primarily the KBS Tour – our flagship iron shaft – C-Taper, and $-Taper irons shafts – each serving different player needs in terms of feel, launch, and spin. We have a strong presence on the PGA, DP World, LPGA and Korn Ferry Tours, thanks to our versatile and tour-calibrated designs.
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Working through the bag, the new PGW Wood shaft and Tour Graphite Hybrid shafts have been extremely popular on the LPGA Tour and our Tour-V and Hi Rev 2.0 wedge shafts are found in the bag of some of the best players in the world.
The Tour putter shaft is used as a stock shaft by the best two players in the world and winners of the past two Majors and our recent GPS putter shaft – available in eight different colours – has also been popular.
What innovations has KBS brought to the golf club shaft industry?
Kim is one of the most respected shaft designers in the golf industry and since he helped launched KBS, we have introduced several key innovations that reshaped the golf shaft industry, particularly in the steel shaft category. While many manufacturers focus heavily on materials or stiffness ratings, KBS emphasized a performance-based design philosophy that integrates feel, flight, and control into every shaft — something that hadn’t been fully harmonized before.
Here’s some (and not limited to) of the major innovations Kim and KBS have brought to the game:
Player-Tuned Performance (PTP) – Optimized feel and flight for different players
Hybrid taper profile – Smoother transition, better energy transfer
Lightweight and stable steel shafts – Distance gains without loss of control
Tour calibrated flight matching – Customizable launch/spin combinations
Wedge specific shafts – Enhanced short-game precision
Fitting-forward design philosophy – Helped normalize advanced shaft fitting for all
Are KBS shafts suitable for all skill levels, or more for advanced players?
All KBS shafts are designed to benefit the game of the broadest range of golfers – from global Tour stars to accomplished amateurs and juniors.
How do KBS shafts compare in terms of price, performance, and feel?
We hold a strong position in the market especially when compared to major competitors, but it’s easy for us to say that, but I think this would be backed up if you took a walk down the range and speak to the Tour trucks. Our shafts offer excellent value for money on the aftermarket category.
• Created by renowned shaft designer Kim Braly and built from player feedback, KBS Golf Shafts offer the most advanced shaft technology in the industry. To learn more, click here.
• This piece is part of a special series on golf shaft technology. Read more here.
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