Nippon Modus3 Tour 125 Iron Shaft

By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Club Maker
The Golf Center at the Highlands, Carrollton Texas

The Nippon Modus3 line released in the US in May 2015, it is available through Nippon Certified Dealers. I got my first look at two pullouts that were used at the PGA merchandise show two months ago. The profile was described to me as splitting the other two versions. The Modus3 profiles are unique. Nippon has put their substantial technical knowledge into the material and fabrication of these shafts.

There have been substantial changes to my measuring software since this shaft was first reviewed in May 2015. This update to the original review is based on remeasuring with the 4 point hoop deformation. It includes DataSheets for the golf professional subscribers.

Nippon Modus3 Tour 105

By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Club Maker
The Golf Center at the Highlands, Carrollton Texas

The N.S Pro Modus3 Tour105 was released to the US public in August 2015. I had seen a set of these earlier in the year, labeled Prototype ST. The Modus3 Tour 105 is the same shaft that has been available on tour for several months. The word Prototype has been replaced with Modus3. I have been told it was put in play by a number of players. Lighter weight iron shafts are gaining broader acceptance in the tour community.

I am revisiting this review with a new look at the charts and numbers. As I prepared graphics for a speech to European club fitters I saw something in the charts that got my attention. A close look at the shafts confirmed what I saw in the graphics.

Iron Golf Shafts – NIPPON N.S.PRO Zelos7

By Russ Ryden, Fit2Score, A Dallas Fort Worth Club Fitter & Club Maker
The Golf Center at the Highlands, Carrollton Texas

The Nippon Zelos 7 is now available in the US. Quality carbon fiber shafts dominate the lightweight iron shaft market. The NSPro 750 was the lightest steel shaft available from Nippon. The very thin walls of the butt of the shaft had to be reinforced with a woven graphite fabric. The Zelos7 is about 5 grams lighter than the 750. The graphite butt wrap is gone. Nippon is one of the largest manufacturers of automotive valve springs. They are using their metallurgical expertise in the design of golf shafts. The Modus3 shafts are one of my favorite steel iron shafts. The deliver great feel and exceptional dispersion control. The Zelos7 has quickly become a top seller in the Asian market. Using new alloys, Nippon design a 72 gram steel shaft that is stable. It is targeted at the slow smooth golf swing that is best fit into a light weight club.

I glued the review samples into some 6 iron heads and took them to the range. I was expecting a great deal of whippy dispersion from a shaft that had 4 pounds less stiffness than my current gamer. That was not the case. The S flex version was surprisingly stable and easy to control. The ball flight was higher, but that is to be expected with a shaft that is significantly softer than your ideal fit. I had no trouble controlling the Zelos7 and moved the samples immediately to my fitting system. If you are looking for a light weight iron shaft, you should be testing the Nippon Zelos7.