We Tried It: N.S Pro 750GH Neo Iron Shaft

There‘s a lot of cool gear in the golf world that doesn’t always fit into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried

Nippon Shaft Pro 750GH neo

Your Reviewer

Phillip Bishop – Most Wanted Testing supervisor, recovering Ohio State fan, and lover of sushi.

We Tried It: N.S. Pro 750GH neo

Nippon Shaft has a rich history as one of the leading golf shaft manufacturers, specifically steel iron shafts. It seems that each iron shaft manufacturer specializes in a certain niche. Some are known for being stout and appeal to the better, faster-swinging player. Others tailor their offerings to a different demographic of the golfing population. Cue N.S. Pro 750GH neo, Nippon Shaft’s newest lightweight steel iron shaft offering.

Why N.S. Pro 750GH neo?

My first legitimate set of irons were KING COBRA Pro CB irons. I bought them pre-owned, off the rack, and didn’t have a clue about the steel shaft that was in it. All I knew was this: I LOVED these irons. The feel was pleasing and the performance fit my game. Some of my best rounds in high school were with these irons.

I eventually found out that those irons had a N.S. Pro 950GH iron shaft in them: a lightweight, mid-high launching shaft suitable for a wide range of golfers, including me.

I jumped at the opportunity to try out N.S. Pro 750GH neo. There is nostalgia, I’ve always known Nippon to mesh well with my golf game and what I need in a steel iron shaft. So taking a crack at a 78-gram steel shaft that produces a higher ball flight sounds like a potential match made in heaven to me. Besides, who doesn’t like to experiment with golf equipment? Some of us are constantly searching for that magically solution.

N.S. Pro 750GH neo is made for golfers who love playing a steel iron shaft but who need help with higher launch conditions and/or spin. It is also designed with modern iron heads in mind, especially those that fall under game-improvement or player’s distance. These types of irons tend to have stronger lofts which, for some golfers, may not produce optimum launch conditions.

This is me to a T. I need launch, spin and appropriate descent angles.

N.S. Pro 750GH neo data

How does the N.S. Pro 750GH neo perform? This is the ultimate question, especially as a lighter steel shaft.

I put the Pro 750GH neo through the ringer and hit it next to the Zelos, another lightweight steel shaft from Nippon.

For this evaluation, I hit shots with a pitching wedge, 7-iron and 5-iron. Each head was a player’s distance iron, Wilson Dynapower Forged.

Pitching wedge data

For pitching wedge performance, I saw three key data insights:

• Ball speed is 0.8 mph faster with the N.S. Pro 750GH neo.
• The N.S. Pro 750GH neo produces a 0.9 higher descent angle (49.9 degree average).
• N.S. Pro 750GH neo’s average peak height was one yard higher on average (31 yards).

All three of these performance outcomes took me by surprise. Yes, the differences in performance are arguably close but I didn’t expect to see a better descent angle or peak height given the design purpose of the N.S. Pro 750GH neo.

Feel off a pitching wedge is noticeably firmer with the Pro 750GH neo versus the Zelos. However, I felt more efficient with the Pro 750GH neo. With the firmer feel, especially in the tip, I felt like there was more control shot to shot.

7-iron data

After hitting the pitching wedge and seeing the data, I was intrigued to see how the 7-iron performance would unfold. I saw consistent outcomes:

• Ball speed is 0.6 mph faster.
• My average descent angle is 45.9, which is .4 degrees higher on average.
• Peak height for both iron shafts is 32 yards.

Progressing to the 7-iron, the firmer feel of the N.S. Pro 750GH neo is even more noticeable. The Zelos shaft for comparison is suppose to be softer and I was able to feel it, especially in the tip section. But don’t get “firmer” confused with “unpleasant.” It is a great feel. In terms of dispersion, you can see where the N.S. Pro 750GH neo offers a tick more consistency and I believe this is a direct result of the firmer feel and tip section. Essentially, it meshes with my swing and how I deliver the golf club just a bit better than the Zelos.

5-iron data

Five-iron performance is where N.S. Pro 750GH neo starts to bend, but not break, especially given how I deliver the club to the ball. Here are some key points:

• Ball speed again is higher on average with Pro 750GH neo, but only by .4 mph.
• Descent angles are close again but Zelos ousts Pro 750GH neo by .4 degrees.
• Peak heights are identical at 31 yards.

The 5-iron is where I anticipated seeing some performance differentials in favor of Zelos. This is purely because I know even a little lighter weight in a long iron is going to benefit me. Zelos offers that plus a tick higher launch angle versus N.S. Pro 750GH neo. However, the performance differential is negligible given the data in a 5-iron. Once again, the differences in feel are more present in the 5-iron. N.S Pro 750GH neo is a touch firmer.

Should you try N.S. Pro 750GH neo?

N.S Pro 750GH neo isn’t for everyone. If you’re a faster and stronger golfer, this isn’t for you. However, if you’re a golfer who has been considering a transition to a lightweight steel iron shaft, N.S. Pro 750GH neo is worth trying. This iron shaft is another great option if you aren’t ready to pull the trigger on graphite shafts.

Now, I purposely let you see my swing speeds in the screenshots above. If you’re a golfer with similar speed, you can see how N.S Pro 750GH neo is still providing me with playable launch conditions. Every shot was hit with a Titleist ProcV1, which I normally don’t play. These launch conditions have the potential to change positively with a golf ball change.

Additionally, it encourages me that N.S. Pro 750GH neo actually does account for modern iron head technology. Yes, Wilson Dyanpower Forged is a player’s distance iron. But maintaining performance in this scenario tells me it can also hold up with even stronger-lofted heads. Worst case: this also displays how Zelos might be a decent option for even slower swing speed golfers. A win-win for Nippon Shafts.

Ultimately, you need to determine what is best for your golf game.

This article was written in partnership with Nippon Shafts.