January 13, 2016

Nippon Shaft to Introduce New Graphite Driver Shafts at PGA Merchandise Show

Best known for its world class steel shafts for irons, Nippon Shaft will introduce a new class of graphite driver shafts at the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 26-29, in Orlando.

The Japan-based manufacturer will introduce the N.S. PRO Regio Formula series, which consists of three different graphite shaft styles aimed at improving carry distance by emphasizing player-specific driver performance needs.

• The N.S. PRO Regio B graphite driver shaft is aimed at improving carry distance by virtue of improved initial velocity, decreased spin and optimized launch angle of trajectory. The Formula B shafts are 46 inches long and weigh between 52.5 to 78.5 grams. They come in four flexes – R2-R-S and X, and are ideal for players who use the N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 120 because of their similar shaft-bend profiles. The Formula B is a better shaft for players who release the club early on the downswing. The dominant color pattern of the Formula B is blue.

• The N.S. PRO Regio M graphite driver shaft is aimed at increasing carry distance through improved initial velocity, decreased spin and optimized launch angle of trajectory. The Formula M shafts are 46 inches in length and weigh between 52 and 80.5 grams with R2-R-S and X flex options. The Formula M is ideal for players who use N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 130 steel shafts in their irons due to similar shaft-bend profiles. The Regio M is the better shaft for players who release the club late on the downswing. The dominant color pattern of the Formula M shaft is red.

• The N.S. PRO Regio MB graphite driver shaft also is aimed at improving carry distance through improved initial velocity, decreased spin and optimized launch angle of trajectory. Formula MB shafts are 46 inches long, weigh between 53.5 and 81 grams and come in R2-R-S and X flex options. The Regio MB shafts are ideal for players who use N.S. PRO MODUS3 TOUR 105 and 125 shafts because of similar shaft-bend profiles. The Regio MB is better for mid club-release players.

“Although Nippon Shaft is best known for creating the first Tour-quality sub-100 gram steel shafts for irons, we always have been a comprehensive shaft manufacturer, and have designed and produced world-class graphite shafts for drivers for many years,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for the company.

“The new N.S. PRO Regio Formula series will offer golfers long-club graphite shafts designed to promote consistent performance – lower spin and higher trajectory – for three different swing types,” Fukuda said.

Nippon Shaft also will introduce the new N.S. PRO Zelos8, its latest steel shaft for irons, weighing in at between 84 and 87.5 grams. The N.S. PRO Zelos8 is designed with a low kick point and evenly distributed rigidity, which delivers effective flexibility from the tip of the shaft to butt. The Zelos8 is easy to handle and helps produce smooth swings along with lower spin and a ball-flight characterized by a high peak trajectory.

“The Zelos8 is a refinement on last year’s revolutionary Zelos7, weighing 10 grams more than the world’s lightest constant-weight steel shaft,” Fukuda said. “Both are aimed at golfers looking to combine the lightness, softer feel and flexing advantages of graphite with the performance and consistency of steel.”

Nippon Shaft will showcase its new products along with its full line of graphite and steel shafts at the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29, at Booth 711 in the Orange County Convention Center. Show attendees may hit clubs equipped with Nippon Shaft products at Bay No. 8 at the indoor driving range at the Convention Center.

Nippon Shaft also will showcase its products at Tee No. 8 at the PGA Merchandise Show’s popular Outdoor Demo Day on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Park. Attendees may hit clubs outfitted with Nippon Shaft products on the driving range.

The popularity of Nippon Shaft on the world’s major golf tours continued to explode in 2015, with 106 players on the PGA TOUR and European Tour combined utilizing steel shafts built by the Japan-based golf shaft manufacturer.

That computes to an increase of over 50 percent compared to the prior year when 70 major Tour pros used Nippon Shaft.

And it’s more than double the 48 players who used Nippon Shaft products in 2013.

“Nippon Shaft is proud and gratified that its product penetration continues to experience meaningful growth year after year on the world’s major men’s golf tours,” said Fukuda.

Nippon Shaft players won 16 times on the world’s top tours, including the PGA TOUR, European Tour, Web.com Tour, Challenge Tour and the LPGA Tour. Already in the 2015-16 wraparound season Nippon Shaft has posted three victories.

Seven of the 30 contestants in the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship used Nippon Shaft steel shafts in their irons and/or wedges.

The iron shaft models used by golf’s elite players were the N.S. PRO 950GH, the N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 130, N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 120, N.S. PRO MODUS3 TOUR 105 shaft, and N.S. PRO MODUS3 PROTOTYPE ORA steel shafts.

In addition, more than 70 players used Nippon Shaft N.S. PRO MODUS3 WEDGE shafts, which were designed exclusively for wedges, utilizing unique technologies that contribute to high levels of stability and feel in the short game. The WEDGE shafts were released to the public in March of 2015.

Meanwhile, Nippon Shaft continues to be the preferred shaft on the LPGA Tour, with several players having recorded victories on the world’s predominant women’s tour.

Over the years, Nippon Shaft recorded hundreds of victories on professional golf tours worldwide, as the best players in the world increasingly chose to install in their irons steel shafts manufactured in Japan to unparalleled quality standards.

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands. In addition, Nippon Shaft products are available through Nippon Shaft’s dedicated global club fitter network. Details of these can be found at nipponshaft.com

Nippon Shaft manufactures all of its steel and graphite shafts in a state-of-the-art factory in Komagane, Japan. The company’s integrated production lines are strictly monitored and controlled with thorough checks conducted responsibly through the entire production process. As a result, Nippon Shaft is able to control high product quality – from material selection to final testing.

Based in Yokohama, Japan, Nippon Shaft is the No. 1-selling steel shaft in Asia. Nippon Shaft is a privately-held subsidiary of NHK Spring Co. LTD, a Japanese automobile parts manufacturer. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Carlsbad.

Contact:
Barry Cronin
Cronin Communications, Inc.
847-698-1801 (office)
847-867-3032 (mobile)
bcronin@cronincommunications.com