Golf shaft brand KBS has reported record sales figures for the second consecutive year as custom fitting becomes more commonplace for those golfers buying new clubs.
The Carlsbad-based brand has seen a growth in sales across the world of more than 30% this year compared to 2020, which was also a record sales year for the company.
“Keeping up with the global demand for golf shafts during a pandemic has been a challenge, but our team from fitters, warehouse workers, R&D, green grass professionals and many more have worked incredibly hard to keep the KBS name at the forefront of golfers minds when thinking about fitting and purchasing new clubs, said Rhett Taylor, Global Marketing Manager.
“Once again, the top-selling shaft this year is the KBS Tour, which has been our most popular shaft since the brand started back in 2008. But this year the KBS $-Taper and KBS C-Taper shafts have been the other in-demand shafts, as golfers look for that Tour-inspired feel and shot making shaft.
“Other shafts that have performed incredibly well this year are the KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid shaft, which is super versatile and creates that seamless transition from the KBS irons and wedges and going down the bag, and the CT Tour putter shaft has really flown off the shelves and is a stock shaft used by a well-known manufacturer and played by the new DP World Tour Champion and Race to Dubai winner,” he added.
The increasing demand for custom fitting has seen facilities like Precision Golf in West Byfleet, Surrey busier than ever catering for a mix of golfers of all abilities.
“Although closed for a period earlier in the year, since opening for business the level of demand has been very strong and we’ve seen growth in turnover compared to last year when we were open for a full 12 months,” said Simon Cooper, Director and Club Fitter. “We’ve always seen quite a variety of player standards, but with a lot of people coming back to golf after a number of years not playing, we have certainly seen a growth in players with higher handicaps wanting fittings, which is great for brands like KBS who cater for all levels of golfer in their shaft options,” he added.
Played by more than 300 Tour players worldwide, KBS partners with every club manufacturer in the game and has supported 28 worldwide wins this calendar year across all male and female professional tours. Standout victories included the oldest winner of a Major at the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island. The 50-year-old ‘lefty’ used a full bag of the KBS Tour-V 125 shafts in his irons and wedges to secure his second PGA Championship and sixth major overall.
KBS offers 30 different shafts through the golf bag, including 18 iron options featuring different weights and flexes. There is also the TG Graphite Wood shaft; popular Graphite hybrid and irons options, four wedge shafts offering different weights, flexes and trajectory; and two putter shafts, including the new 1 One Step. All KBS shafts are designed to benefit the game of the broadest range of golfers – from global Tour stars to accomplished amateurs and juniors.
This year also saw the opening of two KBS Experience centres, providing world-class fitting, shaft analysis and complete equipment builds in its own Tour Spec Department.
“The facilities in Carlsbad, California and Toyko, Japan have been an incredible success and it allows KBS as a brand to house all of our experience and knowledge in these facilities and provides golfers with that extra special fitting touch. We hope to open more venues in the near future,” added Taylor.