I Tested All Four Fujikura Ventus Driver Shafts And It Threw Up Some Big Surprises

Fujikura's original Ventus line took the golf shaft industry by storm, and for good reason. They are built on a foundation of stability, with profiles meticulously engineered to suit a wide variety of swing types and speeds, and the tour adoption of the original profiles was nothing short of astounding.

As a dedicated gear tester, I've had the opportunity to put the updated versions of the incredibly successful original —the Ventus Black, Blue, and Red—through a rigorous testing process to understand their unique feel and performance characteristics.

In addition to those three familiar profiles, I was also sent the intriguing, ultra-lightweight Ventus White to put through its paces to see how that slots into the lineup and compares among the best driver shafts on the market.

How We Test Shafts

All of our shaft testing is conducted using the same TaylorMade Qi35 core head set to a precise 9 degrees (measured), with each shaft cut to an exact length of 45.5 inches, fitted with a Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R grip. Furthermore, all testing shots are struck from a white castle tee to ensure consistent tee height during testing.

The data is collected and recorded using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5x golf balls .

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Controlling these potential variables allows me to draw accurate and direct comparisons and form a clear picture of each shaft's performance and feel characteristics.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Shafts: Technology

The core (forgive the pun) of Fujikura's performance in the original Ventus family lay in its proprietary VeloCore Technology. This is a multi-material bias core that runs from the handle all the way through the tip section. Fujikura believes that it's the secret behind the incredibly stable and consistent performance the Ventus family is known for, effectively resisting twisting and bending in the areas where it matters most.

Building on the Velocore technology, the latest Ventus iteration features Velocore+, which has been upgraded to provide what Fujikura describes as “ultimate clubhead stabilization”, promoting consistent center-face contact, tightening dispersion, and increasing control of the club throughout the swing.

Featuring a re-engineered multi-material bias core, VeloCore+ has also been engineered to enhance the feel and performance of this Ventus line with an additional premium bias core material, promoting even tighter dispersion and increased ball speeds.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Black

According to Fujikura's profile scale, the 2025 Ventus Black features an ultra-stiff handle, a stiff mid-section, and an ultra-stiff tip (based on a scale of soft, medium, firm, stiff, and ultra-stiff for context), designed to be the lowest launching and lowest spinning option in the Ventus family, built for players who generate high speed and demand ultimate control and stability.

My first impression, as always, came from the pre-shot waggle, which backed up the Fujikura claims and gave me an immediate sense of a shaft that represented serious stability and heft. There was really not much play or give at this stage anywhere along the profile, and I knew instantly this was likely to be a shaft suited to players with a brisker, more aggressive tempo and change of direction at the top.

During the swing, this theme of stability continued, but in truth, it did not feel as stout or hard work as I felt it might from waggling it; in fact, if anything, it may have a touch more life to it in terms of feel when compared with the original black. Due to the robust overall profile, it very much felt like it stayed with me throughout my swing rather than loading and unloading much, which is a great feeling for a player who wants to feel a constant connection to the clubface. For quick tempo players, shafts with more obvious loading often require the user to wait for the clubhead to recover, and it can be difficult to sync up. No such issues here.

With my swing, I noticed that I really had to work my release quite hard through impact to avoid a leaky shot out to the right. The combination of the ultra-stiff tip and the relatively low torque (3˚) did not provide much help in squaring up my sometimes-open clubface through impact, which is a crucial point for a player considering this shaft; you very much have to generate your own clubface stability and release.

The overall sensation I was left with was one of substance and control. There weren't many moving parts, and the whole profile just stayed with me during the swing, but crucially, it also didn’t feel like swinging an iron rod. For those who crave that stability without the boardiness that sometimes accompanies it, the Ventus Black Velocore+ could be a great option.

Choose This Shaft If:
You have a brisk change of direction from backswing to downswing or you like the feeling of stability throughout the swing.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Blue

The 2025 Ventus Blue features a firm handle, a stiff mid-section, an ultra-stiff tip and is designed to be very much the middle ground of the Ventus family, offering a balance of feel and low-spin stability.

My first impressions from the pre-shot waggle, however, surprised me. The handle section felt a touch firmer than the scale rating would suggest, and there was more play in the mid-section than I expected, so I was interested to see how that would play out in terms of performance.

During my swing, I really enjoyed the kind of ascending levels of rigidity from handle to tip that this profile offered. It facilitated a nice amount of feedback and feel under the hands (more so in full motion than to at the waggle stage), giving me a sense of what the shaft was doing in terms of loading, but it provided more overall stability than that feeling would suggest in terms of its performance, presumably through the ultra-stiff tip section. It’s a very satisfying sensation—a controlled, lively feel that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of stability through impact.

In my testing, I noticed nothing in the way of a flight bias; the ball flights were fairly consistently neutral and straight, with no surprises or outliers in terms of launch angle, launch direction, or spin. This predictability is a huge asset for any golfer and, in truth, is not evident in every shaft I test, even at this very premium end of the market.

The stiffer tip section seemed to do its job well, providing a stable, low-spin flight without feeling overly boardy or harsh, and I noticed that with this and the Black profiles, both performed brilliantly well on toe struck shots. My hunch would be that this is down to a combination of the ‘ultra-stiff’ tip, and the Velocore+ resistance to twisting.

The new blue profile will genuinely be a great option for players craving stability but without the occasionally harsh feel that shafts in the ‘low launch and spin’ bracket often provide, and if you are a toe side misser, this could be a valuable addition to your bag.

Choose This Shaft If:
You value stability but still enjoy a somewhat lively feel.
Well worth a try if you are a consistent toe striker with driver.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Red

The 2025 Ventus Red features an ultra-stiff handle, a firm mid-section, and a stiff tip, which Fujikura has designed to provide a balance of stability and moderate launch.

In contrast to the firmer, slightly more aggressive feel of the Ventus TR Red, this new model felt like it had a touch more life in it with the initial waggle test. To me, there was a more even balance to the flex and kick than with the TR version, which I would hazard a guess is due to that softer mid-point allowing for a smoother loading sensation.

During the swing, I found the Ventus Red very easy to load without it feeling unstable in any way, which is very reassuring for someone with speed. Despite what felt like less unloading or "kick" near the tip section compared to the TR Red, I could very much feel the shaft loading and recovering in that mid-section in real time, which is a feeling I really enjoyed and made it feel very playable.

In my testing, I noticed a slight left bias to my ball flight and dispersion grouping. I felt the softer mid-section genuinely allowed the clubhead to catch up with me well through impact, which is a key characteristic for players who struggle with an over-fade or a slice. This effect is something those golfers should certainly experiment with, depending on their release pattern.

Crucially for me, as someone whose predominant miss is a low heel strike, I found that the softer mid-section aided shaft droop, which allowed me to find the center of the clubface much more consistently. The shaft drooped just enough to bring the center of the club closer to my body at impact, a notable improvement over the much firmer Black profile I've been using and may also explain the left bias I saw compared to the driver setup I currently have in play.

This is a personal performance benefit I will certainly be pursuing further, as it addresses a core inconsistency in my own swing. For a player who struggles with a specific heel-side miss, the Ventus Red's profile could be a fantastic solution. Don’t confuse the Red profile with just a shaft for those who need help launching it. If you’re smart, there are a number of ways you can utilise this profile to positively influence your shots.

Choose This Shaft If:
You are looking for an ultra-smooth feel.
You have a relatively smooth transition from the top.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ White

The 2025 Ventus White is a very interesting profile featuring a soft handle, a medium mid-section, and a firm tip. This shaft is all about stripping out weight, adding flex in all the right places to promote launch, but all the while incorporating the tech that makes Ventus what it is.

My first impressions from the pre-shot waggle were, predictably, that it felt exceptionally light and there was a notable amount of movement to the shaft with a little pressure. Much of this movement was to be expected, as I normally test X-flex shafts, and the stiffest version of the White profile is an S (stiff) flex (I tested the 4-S), but it gave me a very clear sense of the profile.

During the swing, I was genuinely surprised by the performance. While it was incredibly easy to move and I could very much feel the load and unload, the stability and consistency of something this light was genuinely shocking. It felt much more stable than its weight would suggest. This is definitely not a shaft designed for my swing speed, but it produced very consistent numbers for me, which was a huge surprise. The firm tip section held up remarkably well through impact, delivering a consistent ball flight and exceptionally consistent spin numbers, far beyond what I had anticipated.

For many slower swing speed players who often question the value of aftermarket shafts, believing they won't get the benefit, this shaft provides a compelling argument. I am not for a second saying that you will all of a sudden pick up 20 yards, but, if you are using an off the shelf stock option currently, I can almost guarantee that the consistency and manufacturing quality of this shaft will allow you to find the center of the club more often, which will for sure help dispersion and, over the course of a season, also your cumulative distance output.

The Fujikura Ventus White 2025, while niche, is an exceptional shaft for its intended audience. If you have a snappy or harsh transition, even if your overall speed is slow, this is one to avoid—look at the softer flexes of the stouter Blue and Black profiles. But for the smoother swingers among you who crave a lightweight, high-launch shaft with incredible stability, this is a dream.

Choose This Shaft If:
You are a moderate to slow swing speed player with a smooth tempo.
You enjoy a light feel in your driver shaft.

Fujikura Ventus Velocore+ Shafts: Data Comparison

As you can see from the data results, launch and spin between models do not always match up with what the manufacturer suggests for every individual.

For example, in my testing, I was spinning the Red profile around 300 rpm less than the Black which doesn't tally with the spiel that describes the design profiles of each shaft. However, we must bear in mind that we are not robots, we are human beings who all release and load the shaft in different ways and in different parts of our swing. The profiles of launch and spin that shaft companies assign to their models are merely guidelines to help categorise their ranges.

The only real way to know whether a shaft is going to suit you both in terms of launch monitor data and feel is to get out there and test them. I went through this process and hopefully you found it useful in narrowing down the shaft options that will work for your game.