KBS is primarily known for its steel shafts, but has recently increased the number of graphite shaft options. Previously, the KBS TD Wood shaft was all that existed. Now you can find a graphite KBS in every club. Kim Braly, the legendary shaft designer, hasn’t stopped working and put in a lot time and effort into this putter.
The GPS stands for Graphite Putter Shaft. That is what it is. KBS designed the GPS using premium composite materials to achieve the perfect balance between feel and stability. The GPS shaft is available in many colors, matte and glossy finishes, as well as two tip sizes.
Installing the shaft is simple and straightforward, just like with a steel shaft. Select the right tip size, remove the paint from the tip and use club epoxy to attach the shaft.
This shaft is only available as a straight shaft. No bends. So your putter must have a hosel that has the shaft inside. The most common hosels for this shaft are an L-neck, plumbers’ neck or center shaft. The GPS was not designed to work with slant necks or flownecks.
After a few practice swings, you’ll notice the GPS is stiffer than a standard steel shaft. The GPS shaft is not as stiff as some high-end putter blades. This allows it to provide a good feeling while still being rigid.
You can feel the stiffer feel of the GPS and the low torque immediately on both short and long putsts, as you know where your head is throughout the stroke. The same face awareness is felt on a 30-foot putt as it is on a 3-foot one. I never felt that the face was not square.
The GPS’s stability helps me start the ball on the intended line more frequently. The shaft helps me to reduce one of the putting factors for me. I still need to read the putt and hit it at the correct speed.
The GPS also adds some stability to those mishits on the toe or heel that we all make. The GPS is a great addition to the mallet putters that help you keep your putter square when you miss. Usually, I miss the toe. I felt like the shaft didn’t want to open up as much as the stock shaft. The GPS absorbs some vibration during impact, so the feel is improved.
The GPS is in a TaylorMade Spider X Tour Proto, with a fully milled-face. You can immediately tell a slight softness when the ball leaves the face compared with the KBS steel shaft in the original. The sound is also a little muted, and the pitch has been lowered a tiny bit to create a solider sound.
The KBS GPS putter is a great option for those looking to upgrade their putter shafts. It will give you more stability and a new feel. It may not be able to make your putts, but it will help you keep your putter pointed in the right direction. This should help you make good putts.
