50 Words or Less
The Nippon Modus Tour 110 can help to reduce spin without adding extra weight to your irons. Smooth feel with a noticeable kick near the grip. Stiff tip and mid sections.
Introduction
For me, no other steel iron shafts come close to Nippon’s Modus series. The consistency, feel, and performance are unsurpassed, which is why I’ve gamed the Modus Tour 115 [review HERE] for several years without any thought of changing. To celebrate the 15th year of Modus, we’re getting the new Nippon Modus Tour 110. This is the sixth unique Modus iron shaft, and I got to test a set to see how it compares to its legendary line mates.
Looks
The Nippon Modus Tour 110 carries forward the classic appearance of the rest of the Modus line. This is a traditional stepped stainless shaft in a shiny chrome finish. The one thing that sets all Nippon shafts apart from the rest is the lack of stickers. I know it’s my OCD talking, but I can’t stand seeing a shaft sticker that’s mis-applied, bent, or, worst of all, torn. The screen-printed branding takes that out of the equation. Also, all the markings are kept to one side, so you can have a clean logo-down installation.
Feel
The Modus family is divided into two halves. The “5” Series – 105, 115, 125 – has a traditional EI Curve. Each of the “0” Series – 120, 130, and the new 110 – have unique EI curves that are unlike anything else on the market. For the Modus 110, Nippon created a shaft that gets progressively stiffer from tip to mid section with a softer butt section.
In testing the Nippon Modus Tour 110, what stood out most was the bend or kick just below the grip. In true Modus fashion, the kick is smooth and very consistent. Nippon notes that this shaft was designed to mirror popular driver shafts, and I can see that similarity. Players get the benefit of some softness, some “feel,” but the shaft is very solid from mid to tip. I do want to be clear that the amount of kick in the Modus 110 is nowhere near a shaft like the Zelos or NS Pro GH [review HERE], but it is noticeable when compared to a more traditional Tour-style iron shaft.
Performance
As I do with any iron shaft, I ran the Nippon Modus Tour 110 head-to-head against my gamers, the Modus 115. Starting with the wedges and scoring irons, the first thing that stood out was the spin reduction. The launch monitor was showing a meaningful change – as much as 1000 RPM. Additionally, I was seeing the ball draw more than usual. Despite the right-to-left flight and reduced spin, my apex was only a couple feet lower with the Modus 110.
Moving into the mid and long irons, those two changes were joined by a third: an uptick in ball speed. It wasn’t a big jump, but my ball speed was consistently up 1-2 MPH. With the longer clubs, the added draw was also more pronounced, which is to be expected with less loft. When I was able to hold the flight straight, the Nippon Modus Tour 110 was significantly longer than the 115 – as much as 10 yards with my 4I.
Before going any further, I want to give some boilerplate warnings. First, your results may – and likely will – be different than mine. This is just how I interacted with the Modus 110. Additionally, I’m comparing the 110 to a shaft I’ve been gaming for years, so please don’t leave this review thinking, “The 115 is more accurate or straighter than the 110.” The more correct takeaway is that the 115 is a better fit for me, or, at a minimum, it’s the shaft I know how to use better.
Moving to Nippon’s recommendations, they suggest the Nippon Modus Tour 110 for players who want to bring their ball flight down. This shaft is designed to reduce spin which can lower your apex, add distance, and minimize curvature. Also, being in the 110 gram range, it’s a great option for players who like the low spin of the Modus 130 [review HERE] but can’t handle the weight. Finally, the Modus 110 is an obvious choice for players who like the weight of the Modus 105 [review HERE] but don’t get along with that traditional bend profile.
The Nippon Modus Tour 110 shaft are available in regular, stiff, and X-flex in lengths from 41″ to 37″. The uncut weight of each shaft is 105 gram in regular, 110 in stiff, and 115 in X-flex. Look for them to appear in your fitter’s hitting bays in April.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a longtime Modus player or someone who has never tried one, the Nippon Modus Tour 110 is a great option for players who want less spin and less weight. If you’re getting new irons in 2025, make sure to try this during your fitting.
Visit Nippon HERE
Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf
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.