The Dream Begins... and the Definition of Excellence Evolves!
In early 1959,
the proven strength and durable flexibility of NHK Spring Co. LTD.'s
marketing-leading automotive value-spring alloy served as the genesis of what
would become a revolution in the golf shaft industry. And since its inception,
Nippon Shaft has developed proprietary golf shaft materials and specialized
heat-treatment processes resulting in a line of high performance golf shafts
that are superior in feel, consistency and performance. Nippon Shaft has
revolutionized the golf game, making its shafts the defining component of the
ultimate obsession.
When Nippon Shaft's N.S. PRO
950GH came to market in 1999, it was the first consistently-made sub-100 gram
steel shaft in the world. In addition, all Nippon Shaft products are
"constant weighted," meaning that every iron in a player's bag be it
a 3-iron or a pitching wedge weighs the same. Professionals demand constant
weighting for the sake of consistency. Amateurs and higher handicappers also
can benefit from constant weighting.
THE BACKGROUND
The product that propelled Nippon Shaft in to the elite group of golf equipment manufacturers was the N.S. PRO 950GH lightweight steel shaft, which was introduced in 1999. At 95 grams, it was the first sub-100 gram steel shaft that maintained the consistency of traditional steel shafts, which weighed in at approximately 125 grams.
The lighter weighted shafts enabled players to increase their swing speeds and therefore increase their distance. The stability of the shafts meant that their clubs would perform consistently and accurately.
At the time, the development of a lightweight steel shaft was significant because many golfers were enjoying the benefits of graphite shafts in their drivers, but they found graphite too light and too inconsistent to use in their irons.
Nevertheless, the slower swing speeds of most amateurs – and the eternal search for more distance by better players and pros – cried out for iron shafts that were both lighter and more pliable yet consistent. The N.S. PRO 950GH provided the light weight, pliability and, perhaps most significantly, the stability inherent in steel.
"Even low-handicappers and pros took note," says Hiro Fukuda of Nippon Shaft USA.
“Before the N.S. PRO 950, there was not a consistently-made, sub-100-gram steel shaft on the market,” Fukuda said. At the time, he said, the lightest steel shaft on the market with acceptable consistency weighed 115 grams.
In addition, all Nippon Shaft steel shafts are “constant weighted.” This means that every iron in a player’s bag weighs the same whether it be a 3-iron or a pitching wedge. The irons also are available in either parallel or taper tips, which is unique in the industry.
“Constant weighting is a Nippon Shaft specialty,” Fukuda said. “It doesn’t make sense to have a 3-iron that weighs more than your pitching wedge. The pros want a constant weight throughout their set for consistency. The concept not only works for pros but for higher handicappers, too.”
The real “magic” of Nippon Shaft sub-100-gram steel shaft is its ability to be both “soft” and “hard” at the same time. The marriage of pliability and stability is an apparent contradiction that is overcome by a combination of the type of steel Nippon Shaft uses in its manufacturing process and in the manufacturing process itself. Both can be traced to the company’s roots in the automobile industry.
AUTOMOBILE SPRINGS
Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of NHK, a Yokohama, Japan-based manufacturer of steel engine valve springs used in automobiles. Such springs must be both pliable and durable over the course of 100,000 miles. That same principle is at work when Nippon Shaft makes lightweight shafts for golf clubs.
“Essentially, we view golf shafts as springs,” Fukuda said. “That’s why we can manufacture our shafts to very precise weights and it’s why they can be both soft and hard at the same time.”
THE BACKGROUND
The product that propelled Nippon Shaft in to the elite group of golf equipment manufacturers was the N.S. PRO 950GH lightweight steel shaft, which was introduced in 1999. At 95 grams, it was the first sub-100 gram steel shaft that maintained the consistency of traditional steel shafts, which weighed in at approximately 125 grams.
The lighter weighted shafts enabled players to increase their swing speeds and therefore increase their distance. The stability of the shafts meant that their clubs would perform consistently and accurately.
At the time, the development of a lightweight steel shaft was significant because many golfers were enjoying the benefits of graphite shafts in their drivers, but they found graphite too light and too inconsistent to use in their irons.
Nevertheless, the slower swing speeds of most amateurs – and the eternal search for more distance by better players and pros – cried out for iron shafts that were both lighter and more pliable yet consistent. The N.S. PRO 950GH provided the light weight, pliability and, perhaps most significantly, the stability inherent in steel.
"Even low-handicappers and pros took note," says Hiro Fukuda of Nippon Shaft USA.
“Before the N.S. PRO 950, there was not a consistently-made, sub-100-gram steel shaft on the market,” Fukuda said. At the time, he said, the lightest steel shaft on the market with acceptable consistency weighed 115 grams.
In addition, all Nippon Shaft steel shafts are “constant weighted.” This means that every iron in a player’s bag weighs the same whether it be a 3-iron or a pitching wedge. The irons also are available in either parallel or taper tips, which is unique in the industry.
“Constant weighting is a Nippon Shaft specialty,” Fukuda said. “It doesn’t make sense to have a 3-iron that weighs more than your pitching wedge. The pros want a constant weight throughout their set for consistency. The concept not only works for pros but for higher handicappers, too.”
The real “magic” of Nippon Shaft sub-100-gram steel shaft is its ability to be both “soft” and “hard” at the same time. The marriage of pliability and stability is an apparent contradiction that is overcome by a combination of the type of steel Nippon Shaft uses in its manufacturing process and in the manufacturing process itself. Both can be traced to the company’s roots in the automobile industry.
AUTOMOBILE SPRINGS
Nippon Shaft is a subsidiary of NHK, a Yokohama, Japan-based manufacturer of steel engine valve springs used in automobiles. Such springs must be both pliable and durable over the course of 100,000 miles. That same principle is at work when Nippon Shaft makes lightweight shafts for golf clubs.
“Essentially, we view golf shafts as springs,” Fukuda said. “That’s why we can manufacture our shafts to very precise weights and it’s why they can be both soft and hard at the same time.”