Fujikura Motore X F1 Shaft
Man…it’s FASCINATING how much the graphite golf shaft industry has evolved in the past decade. In 2010, Fujikura dropped the Motore F1 and F3 shafts on the market and the Motore legacy took off. I loved those shafts back in the day! Fast forward ten years later and the Motore name is back in the form of the new Motore X shafts! The newest Motore shafts were designed based on ten years of research using Fujikura’s enso analytics from thousands of swings from golfers at all levels (a pretty neat topic for another time). The end result is the Motore X line which focuses on speed with the stability required for tighter control. This review is based on my experience testing the Fujikura Motore X F1 which is the low-mid launch and spin option.
The Looks
The original Fujikura Motore F1 shaft was one of the flashiest shafts out there back in the day! The contrasting graphics were cool and the overall look was a far cry from the standard stock shafts you’d get in most clubs. Today’s Motore X shafts are a little more toned down while still paying homage to the original. The scheme is a matte black base with a silver Motore logo and red-ish/orange/yellow accents similar to the original Motore F1 graphics. Fujikura also used their proprietary “Phantium Finish” which is a lightweight paint technique that allows them to save weight in the shaft.
How Does it Feel?
I have to imagine that some people reading this review are interested to know how the new Fujikura Motore X F1 compares to the original. Allow me to go back in time with you for a moment. (For those not really concerned with the history lesson, feel free to skip ahead to the next paragraph.) The original Motore F1 was one of the first aftermarket premium shafts I’d ever tried. What immediately caught my attention was how smooth and consistent that shaft was. In fact, I would argue there was nothing smoother or sweeter on the market (at the time). As exotic shafts continued to evolve, other shafts caught up and there were better feeling options to be had. But that Motore shaft was definitely a milestone marker in exotic shaft history.
Fast forward about ten years and Fujikura did an excellent job capturing that magic smooth feel that made the Motore F1 so beloved, but the Motore X F1 is just flat out better. The Motore X F1 has a very familiar smooth flex profile but with more stability throughout the entire swing. Without diving into too much technical jargon, Fujikura used newer materials to reduce torsion in the shaft, with a heavy focus in the handle section. We’ll come back to that in the Performance section, but the impact to the feel is that the Motore X F1 feels solid when you really want to rip into one but still maintains the signature smooth Motore feel.
Going back to the comparison to the original Motore F1, the Motore X F1 definitely feels more responsive. There is much more feedback in your hands and better shaft response throughout each phase of the swing. Especially in the tip section.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114.1 | 171.2 | 13.5º | 2391 | 285 | 307 |
As mentioned earlier, Fujikura put a lot of focus on properly managing the torque in the Motore X F1. Based on their research, Fujikura used new materials to make the handle section of the shaft “torsionally stiffer” (it will hold its shape better throughout the swing and won’t twist) as well as specific construction methods to “create a balanced torsional strength” throughout the shaft. This makes the shaft more stable, but also promotes more ball speed due to holding its shape to prevent energy loss. This puts more energy back into the ball for faster speeds and more distance.
I think the overall performance goal was met with the Motore X F1 – a low-mid launch and spin shaft. My data confirmed that I had a steady medium launch with a comfortably low-medium spin. Most importantly, I was able to achieve those numbers at speed and without focusing on anything other than just swinging away.
Final Thoughts – Fujikura Motore X F1 Shaft
The Fujikura Motore X F1 shaft is a strong modern interpretation of a classic premium golf shaft. Fujikura’s Motore X F1 delivered a nice nostalgic experience while also holding its own against any other modern shaft’s performance. The smooth profile and general stability will make the Motore X shafts both appealing and playable to a wide range of golfers.
Your swing speed seems significantly higher with this shaft than others I have seen tested. Is that something you feel the shaft added, or have you naturally picked up a few mph recently? Also how did dispersion/stability feel vs the Ventus line?
I wouldn’t say it’s significantly higher. Most of my reviews on here for drivers and shafts will be somewhere in the 112-115 mph range, obviously with some exceptions.
I’d say the Ventus Black feels notably “tighter” in the tip. I think the Blue is too, but I can’t really tell you if that’s because I’m aware of the VeloCore so I expect it to be (placebo effect) or if it really is. I guess I’d sum it up by saying they’re all stable, but I feel like the Motore X seemed more gradual and the Venti (I’ve decided that’s the plural form) seemed firmer in the tip.
Love the reviews.
Can you compare the motore x to anything else you’ve hit recently in terms of feel (subjective, I know)
Also the motore x has a higher balance point than the original; did you notice the counterbalance effects at all while hitting it?
I’m not saying I couldn’t compare it to anything, but as you stated, it’s so subjective that I couldn’t do it a practical way that I’d want to post here.
As far as the counterbalance, it’s tough to say. I’ve been playing counterbalance shafts in my woods for awhile so I’m pretty used to it, but I also think a well executed counterbalanced shaft won’t jump out at you a ton because it’s just balancing the club better with modern heavier heads. That’s the whole reason the industry has gone this way in the first place.
Awesome review, very helpful! I would say the shaft feels, true / soft / stiff to flex? I have read it may feel soft to flex, just wanted your take on it. Thanks!
I’d say true to flex. It’s a smooth/gradual flex so people will mistake that lack of significant flex point and rebar to be “soft to flex” but it’s not true here in my opinion.
I have an old Motore F1 65 laying around at home. Would you say it is still competitive compared to the shafts today? HZRDS, Tensei Pro etc.
The old one at home, or the one from this review?
Hi,
First gen Motore F1 from 2009.
It’s competitive in the sense of if you hit it the better than the rest of them, it’s good. But a major point of the Motore X that I reviewed here is that it’s similar to the original but tuned to work better with modern head designs.
How does this compare to the HZRDUS RDX Blue? I am maybe thinking of tinkering with my driver and these are the two stock options for the new Cobra drivers.
In my hands, nothing alike. F1 is more gradual in its feel and easier to load, the Blue RDX is a little more stout and lower. That said, that’s in my hands with my swing. Would surprise me 0% if you had a totally different experience between the two.
I have the original F1 and bought a new maverick driver. It came with even flow riptide shaft.
Can you give your thoughts on these 2 shafts?
The original F1 from way back in the day, not this one?
I’m looking at a driver but unsure which shaft to get,there’s the one that you have reviewed here and also the hzrdus project x black..I’m a high handicaper currently off 19..any advice would be very much appreciated
You really need to test to see which one you hit better. Both options you’re mentioning are lower launching and spinning, which is not what higher handicappers usually need. That said, I don’t know anything about what kind of data and flight you produce, so I could be wrong. HZRDUS Black is going to be a lot of golf shaft, very stout.