There is no denying that KBS Golf is on a mission to make sure golfers know that they are about a whole lot more than just iron shafts. In recent years, there has been a ton of focus by the brand put into showing that not only can they innovate when it comes to graphite wood shafts, but that they can do so while also creating a high performance option for everyone’s specific needs.
Most recently, they debuted their new PGW (Players Graphite Wood) that builds on the rest of their Players Graphite options. Not only are they designed with a plethora of weight and flex options to cover a wide variety of swing speeds, but at $165.00 there is a level of access not many other options out there offer.
When KBS came to THP about testing out the new PGW’s, we knew exactly the perfect people to put them through their paces. Who? Well, THP’ers of course.
The fact is, no one does forum driven testing like THP does. While other sites continue to try and imitate, the membership we have here has always been the true differentiator. The passion and education of THP’ers stands tall, so when we tasked seven from our community with leaving no stone unturned working with the weight and flex of their choice, they delivered. While you can check out their long term feedback here, we also wanted to let them showcase their bigger thoughts directly:
The KBS PGW is a fun shaft to swing and really emphasizes the importance of tempo. During testing I saw experienced a softer feel through impact with great feedback. I also found shots staying up in the air longer with less low bullets off the face. The PGW is a well rounded design for most golfers that looks great, too.
dAS0 – KBS PGW 60X
Even when I missed the sweet spot, I found my them to be extremely playable unless I made a truly horrific swing
Chef23 – KBS PGW 50S
In testing, I found the PGW to be very stable. Even when I missed the sweet spot, I found my them to be extremely playable unless I made a truly horrific swing. I also found that I could lean on the shaft and swing it smoothly. I do tend to be on the smoother side from a tempo perspective but when I wanted to get a bit extra out of a shot, I could go at it a bit harder.
For me trajectory and spin were both a bit on the lower side, but after I added a degree of loft to my driver it brought the launch and spin up into a good window for my swing speed. The PGW did outperform other shafts I own, each time I would go back to try a different shaft, I would keep coming back to the PGW.
This shaft really surprised me. It definitely has an active tip section but remained very stable. The best word I have to describe this shaft is: smooth. You do not need to give it maximum effort in order for the PGW to produce results, but if you want to swing all out, it can handle it.
Jfrigo1003 – KBS PGW 60TX
I would have to say that the PGW 60S was a great fit for me. With my swing speed it was easy to adapt to the new shaft right off the jump, I could swing 80-85 percent and the distance was there but the dispersion was much better than the stock shaft in my club.
The nice thing was that during testing I could push it up on the speed and the PGW just released the power and went straighter than my normal draw. Not to mention, the setup launched well and helped me to keep up with guys much younger than I.
Donny475 – KBS PGW 60S
The KBS PGW driver shaft successfully carves out its own identity in the competitive wood shaft market. It’s not trying to be the lowest spinning or lowest launching shaft available, instead, it delivers on its promise of a mid-launch, mid-spin profile. By offering a comprehensive range of options, 40-80g is quite a lineup, KBS has created a versatile workhorse that can help a huge number of golfers optimize their launch conditions, gain more distance, and enjoy a better feeling product while doing it.
If you struggle with a low trajectory off the tee and need help getting the ball airborne to maximize carry, the PGW is designed for you. Additionally, I know a lot of other shafts come with overly stiff or boardy feel, but even at 70g the PGW is much smoother and active during the swing. When utilizing the right tempo in the swing, this allows for me to really turn the ball over and hit consistent shots.
G-Man – KBS PGW 70S
If you’re someone looking for a tour quality shaft that will give you a little more height off the tee, the KBS PGW should be your first choice. It’s not easy finding a shaft that can deliver low spin while keeping higher launch, but KBS has managed to do just that at an incredibly affordable price.
BuffaloPlunger – KBS PGW 80X
Despite being way out of my normal wheelhouse as a stronger swinger of the driver, I took a chance on the 40X to really get a feel for the breadth that KBS is touting with the PGW. While I expected to battle “finding” the clubhead, what I experienced was instead a lightweight design that when built out properly brought forth a very languid and smooth sensation.
In terms of ball flight, if you are looking for a low-ball setup, this one clearly is not that. However, those seeking out more speed while also benefitting from added launch and a spin profile that keeps itself in the middle realms shouldn’t hesitate to take a look. With bang for the buck, and the best aesthetic package of any KBS graphite shaft yet, the PGW lineup has something for everyone.
Jman – KBS PGW 40S
We would like to thank our testers for being a part of THP forum testing and providing their extended feedback. If the KBS PGW sounds like something that could work for you, head over to their website for more information.
