Regardless of what you think about upgraded putter shafts they are here to stay, and frankly, it’s about time that the shaft evolves to catch up with the change of putter head weight over the decades. The issue many have, is price. Enter KBS and their new One Step Putter Shaft hoping to add some competition at a lower price, but does it perform? Let’s find out.
Quick Take
An excellent performer offering exactly what it claims, at a fraction of the price of competitors. Though the multiple finishes will excite many, the current decision of offering a straight shaft only is missing an opportunity to fill a gap in the segment.
KBS Tour One Step Putter Shaft
The One Step shaft has a name that is pretty self-descriptive as to its design premise. It has an elongated upper portion that retains the same diameter as under the grip much further down than a typical putter shaft. Typical, until a single taper takes it down to the .370 tip size, which is currently the only option from KBS. Visually, it looks a lot like the Stability shaft, but full steel.
For those unfamiliar, putter shafts have become the new battleground for design as putter head-weights have become much heavier on average throughout the decades, but the standard shaft companies use is essentially unchanged. The One Step comes in at 38” and 130g in its raw state which is in-line with traditional steel putter shafts. This is a key aspect because it sort of goes in the face of some of the designs out there ballyhooing going to varied materials in order to increase the stability without simply increasing the weight. According to KBS, they have accomplished this with a full steel design.
Worth noting, the One Step is available in straight shaft only, which being all steel I feel it to be a miss on the part of KBS as the graphite competitors in particular have no way of accommodating single or double-bend designs, but all steel could. With that said, I’m hoping that this is a starting point and perhaps KBS moves to expand down the line if these are successful.
Installation and Performance
The KBS Tour One Step comes in three different finishes, chrome, black matte, and black gloss. I was able to get the black gloss in-hand and install it into a Mizuno M-Craft V putter which has a very modern head-weight of 355g. While there is little information out there at the time of this review on the One Step, there are murmurs of tipping the shaft for installation. We reached out directly to KBS and were informed that a straight in (butt trim to length only) install is recommended for most. However, it can be tipped up to one inch, although that is recommended only when using a heavy head or playing longer than 35”. For this review I put the shaft straight-in playing at 35” on the nose and it was as straight forward as any shaft installation.
Now, to the big question in the room, does it work? Well, it’s a putter shaft, so yes, it works. More focused, does it offer the improved stability, greater accuracy, vibration reduction, and amplified feel that KBS claims? That is an interesting one.
As to the feel and vibration reduction, the feedback that I got from the head and shaft combo I worked with over the past few weeks did not in any way leave me wanting. Was it drastically altered? I cannot say for sure, but there’s nothing lacking in feel. What I can tell you, based on comparing with the other popular putter shafts I’ve been able to review for THP, this one offers much of what they do, but at a much more palatable price. There is a connectedness that the One Step offers that is, pun intended, a step up from a standard putter shaft. Now, without getting on a SAM Lab, all we can really discuss is personal opinion, but confidence is everything in putting and for me it was there with the One Step. It also helps that though the look is non-traditional in taper style and location, still looks good at address.
The Details
Is the KBS Tour One Step a “game changer”? There is no way that I can tell you if it will be for you or not. What I can say is at a much more palatable price point ($64.95 – chrome, $74.95 – black matte and gloss) it is much more accessible for people to be willing to go out and try to see if increased stability has a positive effect on their games or not.
The One Step is available now worldwide at fitters as well as directly from KBS on their website. Are you going to give this one a try? Jump into the conversation below as well as on the THP community and tell us what you think!
Are you going to leave in your putter for awhile and are early indications it will it stay?
The taper is what creates the stability, it’s a key part of the design.
As it’s the one of only two over hosel options out there, it’ll stay for the time being. I’ve enjoyed it for almost two months now.
It’s the ultimate decision for the individual. It can be looked at that way by some, but for others it could be that after the cost of the putter, the shaft is a drop in the bucket.
That’s a valid point. If you’re spending $500 on a putter, it’s worth it to some to squeeze out every bit of performance to get the value. But if I can spend $65 and get even 75% of the same results as a $250+ Stability Tour, or similar results as the $129 Stability, it’s definitely worth considering. At that cost, any improvement over the stock option is a pretty reasonable value.
Edit: excellent use of ballyhooing, by the way
Need the bend! Would try it out instantly
I’d love to know why it’s not an option. I’m betting it has to be with not being able to keep the stability up
This is awesome. It’s maybe the most “normal” of the different putter shafts, which is strange given the shape. But again, it falls into the fact that it is indeed very stable, but impact on performance will be for the individual. I’m really enjoying my time with it in the V
It’s a sticker. Also, installed logo down like I did for the review, it’s not visible at address, at all.
This is very good news. They had a chance to corner a segment, the longer they wait though, the more that slips away potentially.
CT is good, I believe this is more competitive in the segment though. But, they definitely need to get other tip diameters out sooner rather than later.
I think everyone here will be chanting new
I do have one or two in mind..
But don’t leave us hanging, which 2?
Just wait.. lol
Been in my gamer since I reviewed it.
Mentioned in the article, but any straight shaft putter can have this installed into it
Got it, I actually saw that, but was not sure if it was an over the post or a in the hosel like an anser/plumbers neck. I always assumed those were different sizes.
When I was using the same head with he UST frequency filtered shaft – I had once thought it was super – but the difference is just remarkable. I took the old version of the putter to the Experience, and it stayed in the bag after the 2nd or 3rd hole – the eco 7s just felt so much better. I will do a putt off on course this weekend – but I think I have 2 putters that inspire great confidence now – that’s a great feeling.
Oh, for anyone asking, my shaft arrived with the shaft sticker not applied – so it’s optional (I assume).
I’ve still got it in the putter I did the review for, Mizuno M Craft V. My thoughts remain the same from the review many months and over 100 rounds in, what is it you’re curious about specifically?
I have been using one for 3 months now. I like it, I have a hard time defining what is different, but there is a difference to it. But I like it and just ordered a second to put in a different head.