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The Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo shaft revises the classic 850GH for higher launch and spin. A perfect match with today’s strong-lofted irons. Wonderful, smooth feel.
See what your fellow readers think about the 850GH neo HERE
Introduction
In 2019, Nippon gave their immensely popular NS Pro 950GH shaft a makeover with the neo version [review HERE]. For 2022, they’re doing the same for the lighter NS Pro 850GH. In this review, I’ll get into the details of the NS Pro 850GH neo and who it may be a fit for.
Looks
The NS Pro 850GH neo makes all the right choices when it comes to making a steel shaft visually interesting. First, as they always do, Nippon printed the graphics right on the shaft. That means no wrinkled stickers, no peeling, nothing at wonky angles. Second, they kept the graphics minimal and allowed for a “logo down” installation for players that want a clean address look. Finally, they picked a unique green color that sets the neo apart.
Feel
As someone who games the Modus Tour 115 shafts [review HERE], I’m no stranger to Nippon’s smooth feel. But even with that experience, the NS Pro 850GH neo overwhelmed me with its buttery feel.
From little pitches to full efforts, the 850GH neo is smooth on every swing. Some shafts only come alive on bigger swings, but the neo loads and kicks every time. The feel of energy transferring smoothly to the ball is addictive and made this a shaft I wanted to hit over and over.
Compared to the original 850GH, the 850GH neo is slightly softer in the butt and tip, firmer in the mid section. This change is consistent with what Nippon did to the 950GH neo. It enhances the soft, active feel and promotes a higher ball flight.
Performance
Nippon’s motivation in creating the NS Pro 850GH neo shaft was optimizing the performance of large, modern, strong-lofted irons. They note that the average player is hitting these clubs too low to hold greens or maximize carry. The neo can fix that by adding higher launch and spin to the equation.
In my testing, I saw both the higher launch and spin that Nippon advertises. I didn’t need a launch monitor to see the change – it was visible in my ball flight. As someone who has always hit a low ball, it was a little shocking, and a lot of fun, to see the ball fly so high without any effort.
In addition to the added height, a benefit of the 850GH neo is its light weight. At roughly thirty grams less than my gamers, these shafts felt effortless to swing. The light weight and smooth, active feel kept my swing dialed down to about 70% effort. This left me feeling like I could hit balls all day without ever tiring.
The Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo is available in two flexes – regular and stiff. The uncut weight of the regular is 84.5 grams; the stiff is 88 grams. To go even lighter, Nippon has the NS Pro 750 GH neo [review HERE].
Conclusion
If you’re interested in losing some weight but don’t want to go to graphite, the Nippon NS Pro 850GH neo is a wonderful option. These shafts feel great, launch the ball high for added carry, and relieve the strain of heavier shafts.
Visit Nippon HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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29 Comments
How would you compare these to the True Temper Elevate shafts (I play them currently, higher launch and spin, shock absorbing material)
Alex,
There are numerous Elevate models at this point, but my general thought is that the neo is much much smoother feeling. Performance will vary from one player to another.
Best,
Matt
Would love to try these shafts. Currently play Apex heads in AeroTech I90 regular flex. Looking for softer feel and higher launch. Sounds like these would be a better fit. 10.5 index.
Would love to try these shafts. The difficulty would be to decide if they were to be put in my Hogan Edges or my Pings. I am trying to learn to hit forged irons again and wonder if these irons would make the Edges a bit easier to hit? But even my Pings seldom reach the elevation I wish to achieve. I have had a couple of strokes and have mostly recovered from them, except on the golf course. There I am having far too many strokes and am looking for assistance in equipment. Would like to improve there too. At this time I am about a 20 handicap but practice several times a week and play at least once a week. I live near the Franklin fitting store and will visit soon.
John,
The right shaft can help you find the center of the face more often, but you can only figure out which shaft is right for you in a fitting. What these will certainly do is add some of that elevation that you’re currently missing.
Best,
Matt
Thanks for the review. Hope to try them soon!!
Matt; Just replaced 16 year old Mizuno MX25’s that had true temper dynamic gold S300 stiff shafts. Now have a new set of Taylor Made M6 with Nippon Modus 3 tour 105 shafts. Picked the M6 due to it’s profile at address almost the same as the Mizuno irons. What type of ball flight should I expect, haven’t hit them yet due to inclement weather in my area.
Del,
There’s no way for me to give a reliable answer to that question. What is your current ball flight?
-Matt
I’m sorry, ball flight with the Mizuno irons was quite high, which was why I fell in love with them, they were in a pro shop, inch over and he couldn’t sell them. This was in 2007, I had the swing speed to handle stiff shafts. I’m now 71 and swing speed on my irons is hovering around 88, that’s why this shaft combination, along with reviews gravitated me to this combination. Shafts on these M6’s are inch over also, I’m 6’4.
Del,
The profile of the Modus is not that different than the DG, but you may see slightly higher flight thanks to the lighter weight. Also, I would expect that the M6 would launch higher than the Mizunos, but I’m not sure what the loft differences are – the stronger lofts may negate the larger head.
Best,
Matt
Thanks Matt, lofts are a little stronger than the Mizuno’s very thankful for all the work you put into these reviews, keep up the good work.
How would these shafts work on older irons that are less strongly lofted? I already hit my irons high and would worry about losing distance.
Frank,
It depends on what shaft you have in your irons now. If you’re currently hitting Dynamic Gold too high, switching to the neo is probably not the move.
-Matt
Would love to try these in my irons, as I’m historically a low ball hitter, who struggles to elevate the ball. My closest Club Champion is in Plano, TX. I’m a 6.0 handicap, and would want to try 5-GW shafts in stiff flex. Currently gaming Callaway Mavrik Pro irons with Project X LZ shafts.
I have the NS Pro 850GH R in my TM 790 / 2022 and love them. I had previously Cobra King Forged with UST Mamiya 780 SmackWrap but felt I needed better control and more reliable feel thru the swing and I gained that with the Nippons. I have Reg in I5-A and Stiff in TM3 W54 and W58. They are as easy to swing as graphite but better control , you feel where the head is which I lacked in the graphite shafts.
Club Champion close to me 4069 Richmond Rd, Warrensville Heights, OH
current shaft N.S. PRO NEO 950 stiff prefer regular shaft
Honma TR21x 6-10 prefer
PXG 5 iron 0311xp reg saft KBS
Love to try the N.S. PRO NEO 850 regular shaft
Thanks for the review.
Would the torque be a bit too much? How is the dispersion for such lighter, softer shafts?
Thanks.
Willy,
Too much torque for what?
-Matt
I’m very curious about the difference between 850gh neo vs zelos 8, it’s hard to tell them apart. Which model is a better fit for a 14 handicapper, Thanks
Alan,
There is no single shaft that is better for a given handicap, it’s a matter of fitting the individual and their swing.
I have a review of the Zelos 7 here: https://pluggedingolf.com/nippon-zelos-7-shaft-review/
-Matt
Alan-
Your post was a while back, but just in case you’re still wondering:
I’ve played both and the 850 plays much stiffer. The Zelos 8 “stiff” is more flexible than the 850 in regular, for instance. Not that the 850GH feels stout or boardy at all – they feel quite nimble and for me (smooth tempo, 78mph 7-iron speed, 3hcp) the 850GH is absolutely perfect – I have it in most of my iron sets. The Zelos are made differently and from a different type of metal, I believe. All the Zelos shafts are extremely whippy, and yet (for me) very stable through impact. Stronger, faster swingers with quicker tempos will have a tendency to sometimes close the face down and pull hook the Zelos, because the torque is not designed for them. It comes down to tempo between these two. A smoother, more deliberate tempo and transition might fit the Zelos better. I say “might” because there’s no way of telling if it works until you get it in your hands, and the best way is a fitting, as Matt always reminds us!
I have a set of clubs with neo 950s and want to go to these. How would the swing weight come out of the swing weight now is D2?
Dave,
I would guess a point or two lighter, but it would depend on a few different things including playing length.
Best,
Matt
I was just fit to the Nippon 750gh with the graphite wraps. Easy to swing with good distance but on one of the irons it’s making a metal “ting” sound which I just read can happen with the very thin and light shafts. If I decide to switch up to the 850gh have you heard of this happening before?
Chris,
I have not heard of this. Is it on every shot?
Best,
Matt
I was wondering how you would compare the Nippon NS Pro 850 GH NEO Steel to the True Temper Elevate 85 MPH 2023 Steel shafts? Would they have similar ball flights? Are they close in over all weight in Regular Flex?
Cliff,
They are close in weight, but I think the feel is substantially different. Ball flight will depend on fit.
Best,
Matt
Want to know, which shafts are more stiffer between SteelFiber i70 Regular and Nippon 850 Gh Regular?
Douglas,
I don’t know which one has a higher CPM.
Best,
Matt