VA Shafts Raijin
VA Shafts first entry as the hot new shaft company in the game was the VA Shafts Raijin. Company founder, Victor Afable, has spent decades in the golf industry and his ability to design and deliver a strong shaft is undeniable. For VA’s first offering, Victor set out to deliver a versatile mid-high launch shaft with incredible feel and a strong performance. Did VA Shafts accomplish this with the Raijin? Well, there’s only one way to find out…
The Looks
Heavily inspired by Japanese art and culture, the VA Shafts Raijin carries a standout dragon graphic between the shaft label and grip. To simplify my thoughts on this, I’ll just say I love it. I think it’s one of the coolest shaft graphics in the game. The rest of the shaft has tasteful, yet minimal VA branding and is predominantly glossy white. A Raijin in your bag won’t scream for attention on the course, but it’s unlikely it will go unnoticed either. In my opinion, the Raijin is a perfect blend of tasteful and bold without trying to draw a ton of attention to your golf club.
How Does it Feel?
An interesting and smart play VA Shafts made was that shaft characteristics change a bit between different weight and flex combinations for the Raijin. That said, the general feel of the VA Shafts Raijin is fairly neutral and has a nice and smooth flex profile with great response and an easy fluid kick. If you’re a more mid-launch, mid-spin player with a medium transition, the Raijin is perfectly suited for that feel. Even if you tend to step on the club a little bit, the feel is still great.
VA also gave the Raijin a slightly higher balance point. This means the club will have a more balanced feel and will be easier to control throughout the swing.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110.7 | 166 | 14.3º | 2725 | 284.2 | 304.3 |
After testing all three VA Shafts, the VA Shafts Raijin is definitely my “Goldilocks” of the bunch. It was definitely the middle of the group for launch angle, but my spin was highest (by about 100 rpm) and my distance was the shortest (by a yard). As you can see by my numbers above, the numbers are certainly more than serviceable. A more in-depth fitting session would easily knock the launch angle and spin numbers down enough to pick up a few more yards.
The reason I call the Raijin my “Goldilocks” of the bunch is because while the numbers are marginally lower, my accuracy was the most consistent with it. Playing controlled shots consistently gives the Raijin an almost instant “ole faithful” vibe to it. I’ve used the Raijin off and on over the past year when I need a reliable shaft that’s easy to hit under control to keep the ball in play and still find a little distance. It’s “just right.”
Final Thoughts
If you have a smoother tempo and put a premium on feel and accuracy, the VA Shafts Raijin is worth testing. I will of course stress that a proper fitting is key (as always advocated by VA Shafts). My experience is that the Raijin is a very reliable shaft that will appeal to a wide range of golfers. A smooth and controlled swing with the right weight and flex will deliver results. If you tend to have a more aggressive tempo and are more of an attacker, check out the VA Drago.
