PING has selected Nippon Shaft’s N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 105 steel shaft as a stock shaft option worldwide for PING’s new i irons and GMAX irons, it was announced today.
The N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 105 will be a “stock” steel shaft for the i irons, and will be available as a no charge upgrade on the GMAX irons for customers who go through a custom fitting, Nippon Shaft officials said.
“Nippon Shaft is pleased and proud that PING has selected the N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 105 as a stock shaft option on PING’s new i irons and as a custom shaft option on PING’s new GMAX irons”, says Nobuyoshi Okita, Director of Global Sales for Nippon Shaft Co., LTD.
This marks the first time Nippon Shaft has provided PING with shafts for global release, according to Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft in the Americas. Previously, PING stocked Nippon Shaft solely for its Asian-distributed products.
“After many years of working closely with PING in the Asian market, we are proud to have the Tour 105 be the first shaft with PING for the global market,” Fukuda said.
“The N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 105 line presented a unique opportunity for us to partner with Nippon Shaft and be first to deliver this lightweight steel shaft to golfers that can boost ball speed and trajectory while maintaining tour proven consistency. Nippon Shaft has continued to demonstrate the utmost in manufacturing capabilities, shaft performance and tour success, and we’re excited to add the MODUS3 line to our worldwide fitting mix,” says Paul Wood, VP of Engineering at PING.
Tour players who have switched to the 112 grams (X flex) Tour 105 have seen increases in ball speed and distance, while maintaining dispersions and trajectory control which is often a challenge for elite players with lighter-weight steel shafts, according to Lee Oyer, head of Tour Promotions, who travels with the PGA TOUR week-to-week.
Professional tour golfers play the N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 105 because it delivers optimum control over three modes of ball flight – trajectory, distance and direction – by the optimum control over the three sections of a golf shaft. The Tour 105 is designed with:
1. Tip Section: Mid rigidity increases launch conditions (mid/high trajectory)
2. Mid Section: Mid rigidity promotes control of (easy) launch and tour level spin
3. Butt Section: Mid rigidity promotes control and soft impact feel
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.
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, California.
