Tag Archives: Hiro Fukuda

Shafts

Golf Shafts – Nippon Shaft introduces new super-light N.S.PRO 750GH neo steel iron shaft

August 6, 2024 – Nippon Shaft has unveiled a new member of its family of super-light steel shafts designed to help golfers gain distance, accuracy and feel in their iron game, will be released this Autumn in Europe and the Americas.

Nippon Shaft’s new N.S.PRO 750GH neo steel iron shafts are designed to help golfers who use distance irons with larger head sizes maximize distance with optimal spin, according to Hiro Fukuda, member of the sales and marketing team at Nippon Shaft.

The 750GH neo is the third in a family of super-lightweight Nippon Shaft products, which include the N.S.PRO Zelos7 and the N.S.PRO 750GH. The 750GH neo was designed for the golfer who finds the Zelos7 to be “too soft” and the 750GH to be “too firm”.

“Nippon Shaft is very excited to add the N.S.PRO 750GH neo steel shafts to our family of super-light steel shafts,” Hiro Fukuda said. “Our goal is always to develop products that will bring more enjoyment to people who play the game. Adding the 750GH neo is just the latest product to do that.”

With the 750GH neo, Japan-based Nippon Shaft says that it has achieved an appropriate ball spin that stops on target even when matched with strong loft iron heads that tend to produce little or no spin.  Also, a comparatively smaller-than-standard grip size helps promote sharper swings.

More than 300 players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, DP World Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Japan LPGA and other major global tours use Nippon Shaft’s MODUS³ series steel shafts to help gain their desired distance, accuracy and trajectory.

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands. 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.

Shafts

Golf Shafts – Scottie Scheffler wins Arnold Palmer Invitational with Nippon Shaft

March 15, 2024 – The world’s No. 1 player, Scottie Scheffler, won the Arnold Palmer Invitational by five shots, using Nippon Shaft’s N.S.PRO MODUS³ Hybrid Tour X-flex shaft in his 3 and 4 irons.

The champion shot 15-under par 273 with rounds of 70-67-70-66 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando and took home $4 million by winning one of the PGA Tour’s new Signature events. It was his seventh PGA Tour victory and his first since last year’s Players Championship, where he will defend his title this week.

“Nippon Shaft is thrilled that the world’s No. 1 player won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in such dominating fashion,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft.

“We are gratified he felt that using our shaft in his utility iron would give him the best chance to win at one of the Tour’s most challenging golf courses. Nippon Shaft’s breakthrough hybrid technology in shaft design combines the best qualities of steel and graphite so that tour-level players and everyday golfers can get the best out of their abilities.”

More than 200 players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour and Korn Ferry Tour use Nippon Shaft’s MODUS³ series steel shafts to help gain their desired distance, accuracy, and trajectory.

Golf Companies, PGA Tour, Shafts

Nippon Shaft – New Tour van for the acclaimed japanese golf shafts on the PGA Tour

February 2, 2022 – Nippon Shaft recently launched its own new tour van on the PGA Tour, as the company continues its mission to help players and OEM companies have access to the best equipment available to compete in tournaments.

The 28-by-8-foot Featherlite trailer, covered with Nippon Shaft logos, made its first appearance at the American Express tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, California.

“Nippon Shaft is very excited to have its own home out on the PGA Tour,” said Hiro Fukuda, sales and marketing for Nippon Shaft.

“Our representatives have been travelling the PGA Tour since 2009 but having our own tour van makes it possible to have enough inventory to serve the OEMs and the players. This is a natural progression for us.” Previously, Nippon Shaft shared space with other companies in an independent van.

Legendary tour club fitter and Nippon Shaft associate, Lee Oyer, and club fitter, Class A PGA professional and teaching pro, Bill Constantine will travel in the van to nearly 30 PGA Tour events this season, according to Fukuda.

Nippon Shaft tour pros won more than 30 times on global professional tours in 2021, including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, PGA Tour Champions, Korn Ferry Tour, the LPGA Tour and others.

More than 200 players on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, DP World Tour and Korn Ferry Tour use Nippon Shaft’s MODUS³ series steel shafts to help gain their desired distance, accuracy and trajectory.

Nippon Shaft products are available globally either as stock or custom shafts in many of the world’s top iron brands. Nippon Shaft’s North American headquarters is in Carlsbad.

Golf Companies

Nippon Shaft – Introduction of the ground-breaking N.S.PRO 950GH neo irons shaft

September 5, 2019 – Nippon Shaft has announced the release of the new N.S.PRO 950GH neo, an iron shaft designed with more flex in the tip section to promote a higher ball flight and softer landings.

This new offering has been created to meet the demands of modern, larger iron heads that tend to have a lower centre of gravity. With strong lofts and larger faces, these contemporary irons demand shaft designs with both rigidity and flexibility, optimally distributed via thickness and material-shaping technologies.

The neo’s mid-section is more rigid than Nippon Shaft’s best-selling N.S.PRO 950GH and has a greater amount of flex in the tip section. It also features a slightly reduced grip size (.600”), helping to launch the ball higher and enhance the ‘N.S.’ feel.

Even when attached to long irons where the centre of gravity is further from the head, neo promotes smooth wrist turns and increased peak trajectory and spin, resulting in controlled additional distances.

Available in R (Regular), SR (Stiff Regular), S (Stiff) and X (Extra-Stiff) flexes, and from 3-iron to pitching-wedge lengths, the N.S.PRO 950GH neo is a ground-breaking and innovative design. It features a bold, premium logo that exemplifies the shaft’s superior feeling and performance while also complementing the rest of the N.S.PRO lineup.

The N.S.PRO 950GH has been sold over 40 million times worldwide and has been used by more than 250 professional tournament winners in the last 20 years. The new N.S.PRO 950GH neo first went into play on worldwide tours in March this year and emerged victorious in its very first event.

The neo promotes a light swing weight at 95 grams which matches the requirements of most golfers, while creating a satisfying follow-through that brings out the full advantages of today’s high-performance irons.

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Weights: R = 94.5g, SR = 97.0g, S = 98.0g, X = 104.0g
  • Lengths: 39.5” – 35” (3-iron – PW)
  • Torque: 1.9 – 1.6
  • Balance Point: 51.5% from tip

“The incredible success of the N.S.PRO 950GH and the MODUS3 family inspired us to develop them further by better aligning our shafts to the demands of the modern iron head,” said Hiro Fukuda, Sales and Marketing manager for Nippon Shaft.

“This new offering provides the same high-level performance characteristics as the N.S.PRO 950GH that has experienced great success over the last 20 years, combined with new features designed to produce optimal performance levels with modern clubheads.”

Available now around the world, golfers should contact their local golf club fitting specialist for more details.

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. More information at www.nipponshaft.com.

Clubfitting, Golf Companies, Shafts

Nippon Shaft – N.S.Pro Zelos 6: World’s lightest Steel irons shaft now on sale

March 20, 2018 – The company that gave golfers the first sub-100-gram constant weight steel shaft today will release for public sale the world’s lightest constant weight steel shaft, the N.S.PRO Zelos 6, which checks in at a mere 68.5 grams.

The N.S.PRO Zelos 6 was introduced to the golf industry in January at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show to much fanfare and was tested thoroughly by many golf visitors who were impressed with the shaft’s stability and performance.

“As the lightest steel shaft ever made, the N.S. PRO Zelos 6 showcases Nippon Shaft’s unique design and engineering ability and our continuous effort to design shafts for golfers of all profiles,” said Hiro Fukuda, Sales and Marketing for the Japan-based company.

The ultralight-weight Zelos 6 is aimed at golfers who have driver swing speeds less than 75 mph range and whose drives travel 175 yards or less, according to Fukuda.

Unlike similarly weighted graphite shafts, the Zelos 6 features a proprietary spring steel that gives the shaft the stability characteristic of steel, Fukuda said. The Zelos 6 also features ease of launch, high trajectory ,and excellent spin, which helps shots hold the green.

“The Zelos family of shafts grew out of our Nippon Shaft philosophy that we want our customers to Play Steel for Life,” Hiro Fukuda said.

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.

Majors, Shafts

Nippon Shaft – The N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 120, winner of The Open 2016

Nippon-Shaft-NSPRO-Modus3

July 19, 2016 – The 2016 “Champion Golfer of the Year”, Henrik Stenson, played Nippon Shaft’s N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 120 steel shafts in his irons and wedges en route to an epic victory in cold and windy conditions at the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The 40-year-old Swede, who began playing the N.S. PRO MODUS3 Tour 120 X flex from May 2011, became the first male in his country’s history to win one of golf’s Grand Slam titles, shooting a historic final-round 8-under par 63. The round included 10 birdies and is considered one of best final rounds in major championship history.

The Champion shot a 20-under-par total of 264 with rounds of 68-65-68-63, the lowest 72-hole score in major championship history.  His final round 63 equaled the best round of the week, matched by his final round playing partner in the opening round, Phil Mickelson, and is the second player to shoot 63 in the final round of a major and win.

For the week, the Champion – regarded by many of his peers as one of the game’s best ball strikers – hit an average of 78 percent of his greens in regulation, hitting 83 percent in Round 1, 89 percent in Round 2, 50 percent in Round 3, and 89 percent in Round 4, according to tournament statistics.

“Nippon Shaft couldn’t be more proud and happy for this year’s Champion Golfer of the Year!  We are extremely pleased that he will now get the recognition he deserves,” said Hiro Fukuda, Sales and Marketing for Nippon Shaft.

It’s the second time in two weeks that Nippon Shaft products were used to win a Major championship. The winner of the U.S. Women’s Open, Brittany Lang, used Nippon Shaft N.S. PRO 950GH steel shafts in her irons and wedges to win the biggest championship in the women’s game.

“Nippon Shaft is proud and gratified that the world’s best golfers continue to experience meaningful results year after year on the world’s major golf tours,” continued Hiro Fukuda.

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.

Golf Companies, Shafts

Nippon Shaft – Introduction of new N.S. PRO Zelos 8, an ultra-light steel iron shaft

Nippon-Shat-Zelos-1

July 5, 2016 – Nippon Shaft has announced the release of the N.S. PRO Zelos 8, an ultra-light steel iron shaft that combines the lightweight properties of graphite with the stability of steel.

Designed with a low kick-point and weighing between 84 and 87.5 grams depending on flex, the Zelos 8 utilises a cutting-edge Nippon Shaft developed steel called NZNS60.

Aimed predominantly at golfers with an average 7-iron swing speed of between 75 and 85 mph, the Zelos 8 provides a lightweight steel option for those that struggle to generate club head speed, but still want to benefit from the stability that steel provides.

“By taking the playable, lightweight characteristics of graphite and fusing them with the shot-by-shot consistency of steel, the Zelos 8 represents the second iteration of our innovative Zelos series,” said Hiro Fukuda, Sales and Marketing for Nippon Shaft.

“As a result of swinging a lighter shaft, golfers are able to increase their swing speeds and generate more distance with every iron in their bag. Swinging an ultra-light steel shaft provides the kind of reliable consistency that cannot be obtained with a graphite shaft,” continued Fukuda.

“Whether a golfer is currently playing steel shafts and wants to remain with steel or has already switched to graphite but wants to return to steel without giving up the light-weight advantages of graphite, Zelos 8 provides the performance benefits that any player with a slower swing speed will enjoy,” added Garry Price, Sales Manager for Nippon Shaft Europe.

Over the years, Nippon Shaft has recorded hundreds of victories on professional golf tours worldwide, as more and more of the best players around the world have chosen to install their steel iron shafts which are 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 www.nipponshaft.com.

Nippon-shaft-3

NIPPON SHAFT manufactures all of its steel and graphite shafts in a state-of-the-art factory in Komagane, Japan, with the company’s integrated production lines strictly monitored and controlled with thorough checks conducted responsibly through the entire production process. As a result, Nippon Shaft is able to control high product quality – from material selection to final testing.

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.