KBS $ Taper vs Modus 130

drvrwdge · October 13, 2019

Looking for any comparisons between these two in x flex. Maybe from someone that has played x100’s or PX 6.5s. X100’s are starting to take their toll on my elbow and I’m not ready to go to graphite. Played some KBS Tours over the weekend and surprisingly got along very well with them, best part is no elbow pain. I do think I could bring spin down a bit though.

zbdubs · October 14, 2019

Always swung PX 6.0s but was getting too much spin. Recently had an iron fitting at True Spec and ended up in the $ Taper 130 (x flex). Could not believe how smooth they felt. Hit them side by side with Modus 120 X, DG X100, C Taper 130, etc... and they felt effortless as far as timing my strike. Paired them with Apex Pro heads. For reference, driver ss is about 106 mph, and my iron delivery is a little in-to-out and pretty shallow. I also deal with elbow pain which is why I'm more of a "picker". Definitely a huge fan of the $ Taper. You'll be surprised at how smooth they are.

toddmanley · October 14, 2019

I think a lot of the feel and spin around the $ Taper shaft could come down to how people transition their swing. My 6 iron SS is 94mph but I'm the opposite of agressive and I love this shaft. I also pick the ball and barely get any divot - different shafts for different swings.

getitdaily · October 14, 2019

Can't comment on the 130 but I've hit the 120 modus, 120 Ctaper, and 120 $taper. The modus felt really loose at the top. The ctaper feels really tight at the top. The $taper is goldilocks.

If ctaper and modus had a baby it'd be born with a $taper label...

I just transitioned from the ctaper (1 yr) to the $taper.

Krt22 · October 15, 2019

I play the modus 130X, demo'd the $taper 130X and liked it a lot as well. Trying to justify a set of MP20s since you can get the black $ taper for no up charge

drvrwdge · October 15, 2019

Ha I really want the black as well..

RichieHunt · October 16, 2019

I think the $ tapers may launch a hair lower, but they definitely get less spin. I also prefer the feel of the $ taper over the Nippon 130. The Nippon 120 may be the greatest feeling shaft I've ever hit, but I couldn't control the launch/spin. I had the Tour Issue DG X100's. Too heavy for me and took a toll on my elbow as well. The $ %apers feel more like the KBS Tour, but don't spin nearly as much.

I think they are good for higher launch players that can't handle the C-Taper stiffness. Although I am using the S+, not the X.

RH

ScottHutch2 · August 28, 2023

Wonder if there are anymore thoughts on there on this topic? I am going to get fit for a new set soon, Modus 130 (current shafts) and $ taper are both on my list. Any comments on how the two compare from a bend profile / feel / ball flight perspective?

Edited August 28, 2023 by ScottHutch2

Pnwpingi210 · August 28, 2023

I’ve played modus 130 extensively and tried to play kbs $ taper 130 (vanity, wanted all black irons).

in my opinion they feel nothing alike. Modus is stiff butt and mid, with a softer tip. I’m not sure of the kbs $ taper profile, but it felt like a counterbalances x100 to me. Since I already lose the head with x100, the $ taper felt like swinging a shaft with no head on it to me, even when swing weighted appropriately.

goje22 · August 28, 2023

$ Taper and Modus 130 are totally different profiles. if you are looking for the KBS alternative to Modus 130, the tour weighted KBS Tour-V 125 & 130 have a very similar profile.

The Modus 130 & Tour-V’s steep reduction in stiffness near the tip section combo’s w/ an extra stiff handle promotes a higher launch especially for a “late release”. I do not think anything feels identical to Modus 130 though.

$-Taper is a pretty different feel and design intent for launch characteristics.

ScottHutch2 · August 28, 2023

2 hours ago, goje22 said:

$ Taper and Modus 130 are totally different profiles. if you are looking for the KBS alternative to Modus 130, the tour weighted KBS Tour-V 125 & 130 have a very similar profile.

The Modus 130 & Tour-V’s steep reduction in stiffness near the tip section combo’s w/ an extra stiff handle promotes a higher launch especially for a “late release”. I do not think anything feels identical to Modus 130 though.

$-Taper is a pretty different feel and design intent for launch characteristics.

Thanks for the detail here. The fact they are different profiles is a positive in my mind. Not exactly looking for an alternative to the modus 130 per se, moreso looking to try new options and the $taper is a no up charge offering in the irons I’m looking at. Trying to better understand their bend profile and feel in the context of comparison to the shafts I play currently.

goje22 · August 29, 2023

19 minutes ago, ScottHutch2 said:

Thanks for the detail here. The fact they are different profiles is a positive in my mind. Not exactly looking for an alternative to the modus 130 per se, moreso looking to try new options and the $taper is a no up charge offering in the irons I’m looking at. Trying to better understand their bend profile and feel in the context of comparison to the shafts I play currently.

$ Taper should flatten out the flight from a Modus 130 if you looked into purely specs, but results may vary. While I didn’t love the feel of $ Taper when testing & prefer Modus 130, the numbers were super similar for me. I actually had higher spin / peak height with $ Taper than standard KBS 130X. (That’s why you test!)

Technically speaking, the EI profile is very similar to the OG KBS Tour just overall slightly stiffer in most measurement locations. It’s not as noticeably stiff as say C Taper 130X but definitely on the firmer side of the KBS spectrum.

In the same flex and weight category - assuming you’re confident in repeating your mechanics with a subtle change to feel - you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting acclimated.

**disclaimer: I only tested these products in the 130X category along with some other similar offerings.**