Are Fujikura Ventus Shafts Worth It?

[Honeybadger]

I know this is a sort of a crazy question to ask on Golf Wrx, but are Fujikura Ventus shafts really worth the price? 
Of course asking people who have invested a few hundred bucks on a shaft whether in hindsight it was worth it is a rather loaded question, but I thought I would give it a shot.

 

[cookout14]

I might reframe the question as whether any aftermarket shaft is "worth" it.  The Ventus line is priced pretty squarely at market price of most manufacturers' premium shafts, and below some of the hyper premium shafts like Autoflex and LAGolf. 

 

For reference, they aren't even on the first page of Peoples Golf shafts sorted by price. 

 

I've really enjoyed the ones I've played, and I think they definitely outperform other shafts for me, but I also am also generally convinced that the finding the right aftermarket shaft can create real performance gains for the right player. 

 

In addition to Fujikura, Mitsubishi, GD, True Temper, KBS, etc all make really great products, that could be a better fit for any given swing.  On the flipside, having the wrong shaft in terms of weight/profile/flex can be a hurdle the average amateur just can't clear. 

 

So, there isn't going to be a ubiquitous answer to questions like these, but if a particular Ventus profile/weight/flex works for you, and you have the funds, then it's a hell of shaft :). 

 

[Ri_Redneck]

I have tried tons of $400+/- shafts and none of them have been life changing for me. Proper club weighting and balance is more important than what shaft you're using. I also have never bought at retail either. I grab them a couple years after they come out and typically spend less than $175.

 

BT 

[RoyalMustang]

Shafts are like shoes; no matter how much you love the style, color, or price; if they fit they fit, and if they don't, sorry.  

 

Outside of testing a bunch of shafts (and having a swing that isn't changing), spending big $$$ on a shaft is probably a bad idea

 

I got fitted a year ago but let's be honest: my swing has changed a lot since then.  I have a shallower swing, more set at the top, and better weight transfer.  Hands aren't in the equation as much.   My loading isn't as aggressive as it was. I used to find the Ventus Velocore 7X black to be a lot of shaft, but now it is smooth and gives me a decent launch profile, although a tad flat.  I have an Accra 65g M4 laying around that I used to hate (sprayed all over) and now my swing is smooth enough to hit it, although it is pretty flexy still.  I have a Ping Tour 65X that used to launch low: now it is a good shaft for me.  

 

If you are on a budget and actively working on a swing, try to find that 80% solution; something that works and is inexpensive (such as the Atmos black 6X for me) and play that. When you get to a point where your swing isn't evolving anymore, then get fitted and you may find some real performance gains.  

 

Buying a few shafts here with the tip you need and testing them out is fun, but probably more expensive than a fitting. Still, for people like me, I like playing around with gear as a hobby.  

 

 

Edited February 28, 2022 by RoyalMustang

[nitram]

If it fits you like the Graffaloy Blue fits Stenson, then yes.

[j.b.newton]

I would caution OP that there is a big difference in the Venuts with Velocore and those with out.....  Im not saying one is better than the other as it is personal preference - just beware they are different.

 

Yes - the Velocore Blue 6TX I won on here was a huge improvement to may ball flight.  So, it was worth signing up for the giveaway! 😛  Worth/Value are all personal, but properly fitted shafts are very important to maximizing flight parameters.

[chisag]

On 2/27/2022 at 8:50 AM, Honeybadger said:

I know this is a sort of a crazy question to ask on Golf Wrx, but are Fujikura Ventus shafts really worth the price? 
Of course asking people who have invested a few hundred bucks on a shaft whether in hindsight it was worth it is a rather loaded question, but I thought I would give it a shot.

 

 

 

... Beauty is in the wallet of the beholder. I just went through Rogue ST fitting and he thought a Ventus Red Velocore shaft would be a good fit but it just didn't work for me. The Graphite Design AD-IZ both performed and felt best of any of the shafts I hit. The bigger question is compared top my Tensei RAW Blue, the AD-IZ was just a hair longer with a little better dispersion and I also preferred the feel of the IZ. So is a $379 shaft ($220 upgrade) over a no upcharge shaft with just a little better performance and feel worth it? That is a question each individual must make because the big difference in price is much greater than the small difference in performance. That said if the Ventus Red performed and felt as good as the IZ I would not hesitate to pay the upcharge.  ymmv ...

[Thayneil]

On 2/27/2022 at 10:50 PM, Honeybadger said:

I know this is a sort of a crazy question to ask on Golf Wrx, but are Fujikura Ventus shafts really worth the price? 
Of course asking people who have invested a few hundred bucks on a shaft whether in hindsight it was worth it is a rather loaded question, but I thought I would give it 

 

Deleted too sensitive!

Edited March 2, 2022 by Thayneil

[CobbTiger]

I wanted the Ventus Blue to work for at my driver fitting last year.  But it just felt a bit dead at impact for my swing.  Ended up with Speeder Evolution VI instead.  Much better feel for me.  Its funny how some shafts are great for some, but not for others.  I had the Evo II in my previous driver.  And now have EVO VII in my fairways after recent fairway fitting.

[phizzy30]

Then Ventus line fits most golfers so in a way I would say it's worth it provided you are fit with the one that matches your swing the best.  I will say that nothing fit me better than the Ventus Black HB for my hybrid which is why I went that route.  I have had the Ventus Black in driver and Blue in 3 metal in the past. 

Edited February 28, 2022 by phizzy30

[Pepperturbo]

On 2/27/2022 at 7:50 AM, Honeybadger said:

I know this is a sort of a crazy question to ask on Golf Wrx, but are Fujikura Ventus shafts really worth the price? 
Of course asking people who have invested a few hundred bucks on a shaft whether in hindsight it was worth it is a rather loaded question, but I thought I would give it a shot.

 

Yep it's loaded alright.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn some people didn't benefit like me and others have.  The other influence is people see Ventus and think wow, I'll buy it, it's low-priced.  Real ones cost over $300 bucks. Low-priced ones are more likely the standard non-velocore shaft, lots of them out there.  Those may or may not have the same results.  Velorcore is the magic elixir... LOL

 

I have "3" Ventus Red Velocore shafts, a 59g 5 series 's' in Driver, a 65g 6 series 's' in 4wd and a 71g 7 series 's' collecting dust.   My experience with the Driver shaft has been amazing.  My prior shaft was Fujikura Fuel Tour Spec.  Are they worth it, to me a resounding 'yes', but I didn't gamble the rent or mortgage money to buy them? 

I have smacked some biggies near to 300yds too, but regularly getting it out there in the 240 + run out range, and 70yrs old.  I am still hitting my 2 iron with stout Tensei AV White AM2 90g 's' - 215-220yds.  Damn, I love fast conditions.  Not sure how long I can maintain my distances, but all is good for now.

 

Whether a person benefits or not depends on the person, their ball striking skill and patience to let improved results show up.  Most people want whatever yesterday, so they get what they put in.

[Honeybadger]

I began the thread by asking about Ventus shafts because you see so many tour pros using them and I was wondering if an average golfer (I’m a 5, so I guess above average) could benefit from them as well. And that IF is so related to the steep cost- a small benefit isn’t worth the price tag. I know the answer is always depends… results may vary etc.

So the only remaining question is how could I go about testing one in the cheapest possible way? 😜

[mcounci2]

Sure, if one fits you.  They aren't really exorbitantly priced- no more than the premium level Mitsubishi, Graphite Design (and others) stuff.  That's not to say they're inexpensive.

[Valtiel]

On 2/27/2022 at 9:23 AM, cookout14 said:

I might reframe the question as whether any aftermarket shaft is "worth" it.

 

My thought as well. The questions is how much a shaft that fits you makes a difference + how much you are willing to pay for that difference. My old boss with his messed up arthritic hands and multiple broken thumbs from playing college ball would say "absolutely not" since he can't feel the difference between, well anything really lol. If however you are sensitive to the differences between shafts and those feelings translate to actual performance then you'll need to decide for yourself how much that is worth. There is also the placebo/confidence component in simply knowing you have a high quality product that fits you, which can give you confidence which leads to better golf on average. 

[wsupjs]

In my opinion, there are two big factors: Fit and Speed.

 

If one of the Ventus Velocore options is a good fit for your swing and you're a pretty good player (which it sounds like you are), it could be worth the extra money versus stock. It all depends on what is "worth" it to you.

 

I also think, which might be purely anecdotal based on my experience, is the further you get away from average swing speeds, the less likely the stock/"Made For" shaft option will fit you. For most of my adulthood, my driver swing speed floated in the low 120s according to Trackman, and I never found a stock shaft that worked well. Once I got fit and made the leap to aftermarket with a Ventus Velocore, everything about my driving improved.

[Boognish]

They maintain solid resale value at the moment.  Buy one in your desired profile on the BST.  If it doesn't work out, sell it onward.  Good luck!

[Thayneil]

7 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Yep it's loaded alright.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn some people didn't benefit like me and others have.  The other influence is people see Ventus and think wow, I'll buy it, it's low-priced.  Real ones cost over $300 bucks. Low-priced ones are more likely the standard non-velocore shaft, lots of them out there.  Those may or may not have the same results.  Velorcore is the magic elixir... LOL

 

I have "3" Ventus Red Velocore shafts, a 59g 5 series 's' in Driver, a 65g 6 series 's' in 4wd and a 71g 7 series 's' collecting dust.   My experience with the Driver shaft has been amazing.  My prior shaft was Fujikura Fuel Tour Spec.  Are they worth it, to me a resounding 'yes', but I didn't gamble the rent or mortgage money to buy them? 

I have smacked some biggies near to 300yds too, but regularly getting it out there in the 240 + run out range, and 70yrs old.  I am still hitting my 2 iron with stout Tensei AV White AM2 90g 's' - 215-220yds.  Damn, I love fast conditions.  Not sure how long I can maintain my distances, but all is good for now.

 

Whether a person benefits or not depends on the person, their ball striking skill and patience to let improved results show up.  Most people want whatever yesterday, so they get what they put in.

Real ones cost over $300 bucks.

 

only at retail.Dealer cost is  half of that.

[RoyalMustang]

13 hours ago, wsupjs said:

In my opinion, there are two big factors: Fit and Speed.

 

If one of the Ventus Velocore options is a good fit for your swing and you're a pretty good player (which it sounds like you are), it could be worth the extra money versus stock. It all depends on what is "worth" it to you.

 

I also think, which might be purely anecdotal based on my experience, is the further you get away from average swing speeds, the less likely the stock/"Made For" shaft option will fit you. For most of my adulthood, my driver swing speed floated in the low 120s according to Trackman, and I never found a stock shaft that worked well. Once I got fit and made the leap to aftermarket with a Ventus Velocore, everything about my driving improved.

 

Great point, and that makes a lot of sense.  Swing speeds are no doubt distributed normally: why anyone would make stock shafts for cheap that target only a few people on the extreme right side of the bell curve is a great way of adding manufacturing complexity and bleeding off the profits created by the mass produced "made for" shaft sales

 

Plus, if anyone is going to pay for a customized fit experience, it is the high level player.  1) they obviously value golf highly if they are that good; 2) a top level player will get more benefit due to the wider dispersion of results.  Adding 2 degrees of launch while wiping off 200 rpm and getting them closer to optimal launch for their AOA adds meaningful yardage: could be close to 10 yards.  The 90 mile per hour swing speed player isn't getting that kind of benefit

 

Why not make highly customized, very expensive shafts for those willing to pay for them?  Just like any industry.  Although, I wouldn't be surprised if they STILL lost money on these sales: independent design and testing is expensive, production is expensive, and materials are expensive. Manufacturing these takes away from the core product and complexity typically drives up cost far more than anyone looking at simple product P&L statements will realize.  Manufacturing down time, divided resources, added shared marketing costs, production line changeover, cannibalization, working capital tie-ups.....they still might not be profitable.  Once could argue that the pro-level customized visibility is important to the brand, and I am sure they do.  I am not weighing in on whether they should build these, just that often, the financial rationalization for building a more complex product portfolio doesn't fully take into account the factors it should.  

[Pepperturbo]

15 hours ago, Thayneil said:

Real ones cost over $300 bucks.

 

only at retail.Dealer cost is  half of that.

Never heard of that on high-end OEM shafts, and I know more than a few dealers.  What dealers sell the real ones at Dealer cost?

[GolfTurkey]

Nope, Ventus shafts are known to completely wreck a player's game.

 

The Ventus TR 6x is the worst offender of the lot. Anyone playing that is guaranteed to "Smylie" and lose their game completely.

 

If you have one, I will nobly save your game and generously throw in ten bucks plus shipping for you to send it to me so I can safely dispose of it.

[Thayneil]

5 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Never heard of that on high-end OEM shafts, and I know more than a few dealers.  What dealers sell the real ones at Dealer cost?

Will pm you

 

 

[goudok]

18 minutes ago, Thayneil said:

Will pm you

 

 

I want some of that action.

[Nialler]

On 3/1/2022 at 3:40 AM, Thayneil said:

Real ones cost over $300 bucks.

 

only at retail.Dealer cost is  half of that.

Please tell me where I can get these for 150 😂

[hammergolf]

If you are wanting to reduce curvature and tighten dispersion I HIGHLY recommend!

[CactusGolf]

I would say yes, with a caveat.  Yes, if fitted into the right Ventus.

 

I've had a TON of success and performance with the Ventus TR Red that I played for about two years and then recently got fitted for a GT2 and Ventus Velocore Blue.  Looked great in the fitting, but hasn't really translated to the on-course performance I wanted.  Reshafted the Ventus TR Red into the GT2 and was night and day.  Went from a fairway average of 3/14 (last 3 rounds) to 9/14 the last round.  For me, the feels are much different between the two.

Edited April 3 by CactusGolf

[Kwalldo43]

Played 9 last night in my GT3 9* with the updated blue 6 s w/ Velocore+ last night and it gave me reason to be a believer.

 

I am typically a mid launch shaft guy, smooth tempo hover around 106-108 SS and the gen 1 blue and TR blue never really worked for me. Gen 1 blue felt wild and hard to time up, TR Blue was better but something else was always a bit better. This gave me low expectations for the gen 2 but thought I would give it a shot and it performed. Feels tighter to me overall and easy to control and time up.

 

I was striking the ball well but the curvature of the ball was really consistent. I like to see a draw and I had a swing last night where I got out in front of it and usually results in a block slice and would typically put me well right. With Ventus the ball faded a bit and really held its line and I ended up just in the right rough. Everything else I have been playing would have been way right from what I have seen.
 

Maybe it was maybe it was luck but I had one the best driver days in awhile. Oh and it generates some ball speed, it was cold here in Michigan and the ball was jumping off the face. 

[Ty_Guy]

I recently saw a chart that shows about 70-75 percent of Tour driver shafts are either Ventus or Mitsubishi with a decent gap to Graphite Design in a firm 3rd place. They only other piece of equipment that dominates to that majority is Titleist's Pro V1 ball.

 

That's about as good as a reason as any to at least add Ventus and Mitsubishi to everyone's fitting list.

[Howard_Jones]

On 3/1/2022 at 4:40 AM, Thayneil said:

Real ones cost over $300 bucks.

 

only at retail.Dealer cost is  half of that.

Shafts is NOT good business, and its not even close to 50% of retail.

[Frank Newport]

4 hours ago, Howard_Jones said:

Shafts is NOT good business, and it’s not even close to 50% of retail.

Is it not good business for the manufacturers or the retailers? How much does a major club builder or retailer pay Fujikura for a Ventus?

[Howard_Jones]

12 hours ago, Frank Newport said:

Is it not good business for the manufacturers or the retailers? How much does a major club builder or retailer pay Fujikura for a Ventus?

 

Retailers.

- i dont know the margins on Fujikura shafts, but if it is like TTs products who include PX graphite woods, we talk about 25- 30% from sugg, retail price to what the retailer pay for it.

 

its a needed part of it all, but shafts alone is not what brings food on the table, its the summary of it all, where club heads has the highest margins.