For many years Fujikura shafts have led the way in the professional game and that does not look like changing any time soon as the brand continues to dominate the driver and fairway wood shaft count on Tour. World Number One Scottie Scheffler continued his recent dominance by cruising to a four shot win at the Masters using a Fujikura VENTUS Black 7 X shaft in his driver, and in fact over half of the PGA Tour events so far in 2024 have been won by a golfer using a Fujikura shaft in their driver. So far this year, 38% of all driver shafts on the PGA Tour have been Fujikura shafts.
The VENTUS line is the brand’s most popular choice for professionals and unsurprisingly it also features prominently in our guide to the best golf driver shafts. At the heart of the success VENTUS has enjoyed since the launch of the original VENTUS Blue in 2018 has been VeloCore technology and for 2024 Fujikura has now introduced VeloCore+, which takes the original game changing technology to even further heights.
WHAT IS VELOCORE?
VeloCore is a multi-material bias core construction technique that delivers ultimate stability through transition and impact, while maximizing club head MOI and increasing velocity and smash factor. The material is three times stiffer than carbon fiber and it runs for the full length of the shaft to help control twisting. Shaft twist is usually only measured as an overall figure, but Fujikura’s testing showed them that twist numbers vary throughout the shaft, so they broke it down into sections after discovering that how each of those sections twist is much more relevant than the overall twist amount. This attention to detail is how Fujikura have become the market leaders in driver shafts and VeloCore has been the key to the huge impact VENTUSentus shafts have made on Tour.
VeloCore technology allows Fujikura to make the tip of the shaft unusually stiff which enables a low-mid launch and penetrating flight. This is especially helpful when playing into the wind and the overall performance benefits of VeloCore are significant, especially in terms of MOI and increasing that sweet spot size. A VeloCore shaft paired with a high MOI driver head will make slightly off center hits go just like you’ve nailed one out of the middle of the face.
GROUND BREAKING ANALYTICS
With almost 50 years of shaft making experience to lean on, Fujikura is always looking to break new ground in its search for optimal shaft performance. Key to the advancements over recent years has been the use of their proprietary ENSO 3-D motion capture fitting system.
While shot data is collected with the use of the best launch monitors, Fujikura realised that they were essentially only getting half of the picture with this, which is where “ENSO” comes in, providing data on what the shaft is doing on the downswing before it reaches the ball as well as throughout the full swing. This data allows Fujikura to meticulously navigate through the product development process and both VeloCore and VeloCore+ technology have been guided by this ground breaking analytics system.
WHICH SHAFTS HAVE VELOCORE?
Not all Fujikura shafts have VeloCore as the technology is limited to VENTUS and VENTUS TR in the driver and fairway category, as well as VENTUS HB (hybrids, utility clubs and driving irons) and AXIOM iron shafts. VeloCore+ technology, meanwhile, can currently only be found in the 2024 VENTUS Blue range.
It is also important to point out that not all VENTUS shafts have VeloCore or VeloCore+ technology, as VENTUS stock shafts that come with drivers bought off the shelf do not have VeloCore technology. VeloCore shafts must be purchased separately and can be identified by the branding near the tip.
A VeloCore shaft may seem like an expensive stand alone purchase (RRP is $350) and golfers may prefer to go with whatever stock options are available when picking up a new driver at retail, but in the long term it can actually be a more cost effective purchase. When you have the right shaft for your game you will not want to change it even if you fancy upgrading your driver head to the latest model. Buying only the driver head saves money if you already have the shaft you need, especially if you change each year.
One crucial thing to remember though is that if you change to a different brand of driver (TaylorMade to a Ping for example) then your shaft will not fit the new head and will require a different adaptor, as no two driver brands have the same adaptor.
WHAT IS VELOCORE PLUS?
The all new 2024 VENTUS range is the first to feature VeloCore+, which is the next generation of VeloCore and takes the original combination of ultra-premium bias core materials and enhances key elements of it. The main difference is that VeloCore+ not only enhances the original combination of Pitch 70 and 40 Ton materials, but also incorporates a new third material to increase speed, feel and overall performance.
Currently VeloCore+ is only available in the 2024 VENTUS Blue range but expect that to change in the future as Fujikura upgrade their VENTUS Red and Black ranges too. The 2024 VENTUS Blue range is a mid-launching shaft that comes in a variety of flex, weight and torque options to offer more distance, speed and a tighter dispersion to help golfers of all skill levels to reach their full potential.
